Digger magazine

Serving the Northwest Nursery Industry for Over 50 Years

  • Digger-Employment_banner-2020-728x90px.jpg
  • NG_banner-2020-728x90px.jpg
  • FW_banner-2022-728x90px.jpg
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Nursery News
    • Features
    • Plants
    • Growing Knowledge
    • Operations
    • Nursery Country
    • Meta
  • Issues
  • Events
  • Farwest
  • Columns
    • Director’s Desk
    • Mike Darcy
    • Pivot Points
    • President’s Message
  • Employment Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
You are here: Home / Christmas tree marketing fee delayed

Christmas tree marketing fee delayed

By Curt Kipp — Posted November 9, 2011

Just one day after it was announced, USDA officials have decided to delay implementation of a 15-cents-per-tree marketing fee to pay for the promotion of natural grown Christmas trees.

Growers in favor of the plan hope to launch a campaign to promote a preference for natural over artificial trees. Such an effort could be similar to the “Got milk?” campaign for dairy, “It’s what’s for dinner” for beef, “The incredible, edible egg” for eggs, or “The other white meat” for pork, all of which are funded by commodity checkoff programs.

The USDA, initially under president George W. Bush and now under President Barack Obama, endorsed the plan. Officials opened a comment period, with a majority of those commenting in favor. The Nov. 8 fee announcement was greeted, however, by a chorus of critics. Cultural conservatives called it a “tax” on Christmas, libertarians said the government should stay out of the natural-versus-artificial-tree debate, and some growers expressed concern about the timing of the fee. They said making it effective during the middle of Christmas tree shipping season was a bad idea, not to mention an accounting headache for growers.

If, down the line, the fee is approved, it would be in effect for three years. After that, a referendum of growers would determine whether it continues.

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Christmas trees, Marketing, Politics, USDA

About Curt Kipp

Curt Kipp is the director of publications and communications at the Oregon Association of Nurseries, and the editor of Digger magazine.

The Value of Membership

Meet the Leader: Rod Park

President’s Awards Banquet recognizes vital contributions

Meet the Leader: Mark Bigej

More member stories

NURSERY NEWS

Six decades of support

Bailey hires trade communications specialist

Pursell Agri-Tech hires director of turf and ornamentals

Fall Creek hires general counsel

Oregon State hires dean of agriculture sciences

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

June 2022 — The Sustainability Issue

May 2022 — The Technology Issue

April 2022 — The Tree Issue

March 2022 — The Greenhouse Issue

February 2022 — Retail Outlook issue

More issues of Digger

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Virtual is the new reality – for now

Trade shows in the time of COVID

A demand ‘renaissance’ for nurseries

Western Nursery & Landscape Association falls victim to pandemic

MANTS 2021 to move online due to COVID-19

More articles

Nursery Guide LIVE

Nursery Guide LIVE clicks into place

Booth spaces still available for Nursery Guide LIVE March 17–18

Nursery Guide LIVE virtual marketplace postponed due to winter storm damage

Keynote presentations at Nursery Guide LIVE virtual marketplace provide insight on green industry trends in 2021 and beyond

More Posts from this Category

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

Tailored to today’s customers

Little Prince repeats as Best in Show booth winner

Two stand out at New Varieties Showcase

Retailers’ Choice Awards embrace discoveries at Farwest

Farwest marks a gathering of new, returning faces

More Updates from Farwest

Connect with us online

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
​

Updates to exisiting subscriptions can be sent to info@oan.org

News

  • Nursery News
  • Growing Knowledge
  • Nursery Operations
  • Meta

Features

  • Plant Features
  • OAN Members
  • Oregon Nursery Country

Columns

  • Director’s Desk
  • Mike Darcy
  • Pivot Points
  • President’s Message

Resources

  • OAN Home Page
  • Job Listings
  • Subscribe to Digger
  • Advertise in Digger
  • Online Plant Search

© Copyright 2020 Oregon Association of Nurseries · Admin