Report for FW04-026

Annosus root rot is threatening the sustained production of Noble Fir Christmas trees in the Pacific Northwest, reducing yields by as much as 40% on second and third Noble Fir rotations. Removing stumps and roots of harvested trees can halt the disease cycle because the pathogen cannot survive without the woody host. Jim Puffer of Yule Tree Farms will use his Western SARE grant to compare the traditional excavation method for removing stumps and roots with two different types of stump grinding. The information will allow Christmas tree producers to make educated decisions on which method of removal works best for their farms and potentially provide them with integrated, biological approaches to sustain production of Noble Fir Christmas trees.