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Tom Ernst
T. Ernst Forest Products Ltd.
As extension forester with the Department of Lands and Forests, Tom played a significant role in forming the Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers Association in 1967. He assisted in establishing new grower associations, the formation of the Nova Scotia Christmas Tree Council, the promotion of research and demonstration lots, the training of Department specialists, and the delivery of extension programs. Through Tom’s hard work, Nova Scotia became the first non-state member of the US National Christmas Tree Association, and he has been the province’s only representative. In 1995, Tom was the driving force to designate Lunenburg County as the “Balsam Fir Christmas Tree Capital of the World.” Tom served as president of the Nova Scotia Forest Products Association, he was western regional woodlot owner of the year (2006) and was inducted into the Christmas Tree Hall of Fame (2008).
Seffernville Experimental Lot – Farm Tour
Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers Association
August 3, 2024
9:00 am (Group A)
3:45 pm (Group B)
In 1996 Murray was part of a small group of growers who started the Christmas TreeCooperative in Southwest Nova Scotia. The idea was to remove the middleman from the equation and return more tree revenue back to the grower members. The LBF Co-op shipped the first Nova Scotian trees to the United Arab Emirates proving that Nova Scotia Balsam Fir could be transported with proper care for extended travel periods. The LBF Coop has survived now for almost thirty years, Murray is the last of the original members and is presently serving as the President of the Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers Association.
Seffernville Experimental Lot – Farm Tour
Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers Association
August 3, 2024
9:10 am & 9:35 am (Group A)
3:25 pm & 3:50 pm(Group B)
The Seffernville Experimental lot was established in the early seventies. On the seventeen acres there are balsam fir Christmas trees growing on about 7 acres. The natural stand of balsam fir trees is growing on marginal land. This parcel of land can naturally regenerate balsam fir seedlings from seed produced by seed trees. We have developed an Exotic Fir Orchard with many species of true firs grafted onto balsam fir root stock. This genetic material has produced both seed and pollen which is in the early stages of producing and developing hybrid firs for future trials. Over the last two years we have been experimenting with raising the soil Ph to see if Balsam fir will show visual improvement from growing on soil with a higher Ph. This property has been the site for equipment demonstrations, shearing techniques, training new growers and workers, trialing soil amendments, pesticide products, improved genetics and many other industry related initiatives.
Marty works full time at the Christmas tree farm he inherited from his parents, assisted by his wife Wanda. He started his adult working life in 1982 by juggling part time teaching, a job in a provincial park and his Christmas tree farm. He now works only at the tree farm which has more than doubled in size over the years. He married in 2006 and has 3 adult stepchildren. Marty is heavily involved in community work and spends many hours volunteering. He and Wanda are passionate about Ruby’s Trail; a project they conceived in 2017 after the death of their 8-month-old granddaughter Ruby. The trail honors her memory and thanks the community for the kindness shown during Ruby’s struggles.
Marty Murphy’s Lot (& Twig the Elf) – Farm Tour
August 3, 2024
10:55 am & 11:30 am (Group A)
1:45 pm & 2:20 pm (Group B)
Marty will focus on the high level of regeneration on his tree farm and explain strategies employed to manage natural stand trees in close proximity to each other. He will also explain how tasks are prioritized to keep hired labor costs low while paying very generous wages. He gives high priority to growing another tree off an existing stump (stump culture) and will show examples of it. He will also highlight the challenges and successes of growing trees in less-than-ideal locations throughout his tree lot while keeping quality high. There will be discussion on how to successfully manage having public walking trails throughout the tree farm and all the challenges and benefits arising from this arrangement.
Wanda helps out with the Christmas tree farm. She studied Cosmetology but she began her working life years later as a personal care worker once her children got older. She spent several years working at a local nursery that produces Balsam Fir seedlings as well as other trees and plants. She spends countless hours maintaining Ruby’s Trail. She is very artistic and crafty and enjoys carpentry and rock painting. Her skills are especially evident along Ruby’s Trail where she did much of the work on Twig’s house. She now takes great joy helping take care of grandson Rex whenever she can and coming up with new ideas for Ruby’s Trail.
Agri-Tourism (Ruby’s Trail and Twig the Elf) – Farm Tour
August 3, 2024
11:05 am & 11:30 am (Group A)
1:55 pm & 2:20 pm (Group B)
Wanda and Judy will highlight some of the special features along Ruby’s Trail such as Twig’s Chalet and Ruby’s Spot that have turned the tree farm into a well-known tourist attraction and promoter of the Christmas tree industry. Twig will be on hand to greet visitors and tell how Santa sent him to look after the Christmas trees. The passion of Judy and Wanda will be on full display as they tell their stories about all they’ve done to make everyone’s visit memorable.
Judy was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, grew up in Moncton, New Brunswick and returned to Nova Scotia to attend Dalhousie University. Judy recently retired from the provincial electrical utility, and, along with her husband Mike, moved from Bedford to the New Ross area to live their dream on a lake. Judy recently authored, illustrated, and published a children’s book titled Twig’s Christmas Adventure. Judy volunteers as a director on the New Ross Regional Development Society (NRRDS), chairs the New Ross Christmas Festival, sits on the Board of the New Ross District Museum Association, is a member of the Garden Club, serves on the New Ross Affordable Housing initiative and is currently working on forming a local tourism group that will focus on promoting tourism in New Ross.
Agri-Tourism (Ruby’s Trail and Twig the Elf) – Farm Tour
August 3, 2024
11:05 am & 11:30 am (Group A)
1:55 pm & 2:20 pm (Group B)
Wanda and Judy will highlight some of the special features along Ruby’s Trail such as Twig’s Chalet and Ruby’s Spot that have turned the tree farm into a well-known tourist attraction and promoter of the Christmas tree industry. Twig will be on hand to greet visitors and tell how Santa sent him to look after the Christmas trees. The passion of Judy and Wanda will be on full display as they tell their stories about all they’ve done to make everyone’s visit memorable.
James has been involved in the farming and forestry industries in Nova Scotia for decades. He is dedicated to church, family, community, work and has been married to his wife Tina for over 41 years. Together they have 3 adult children, and four grandsons. James and his brother are partners on a mixed poultry, vegetable, beef and Christmas tree farm. James volunteers with the Christmas tree industry having served as a director and then as the president of the Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Producers Association. James has also volunteered as a director and then as the president of the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia. Currently James is the President of the SMART Christmas Tree Co-op.
DeLong Farms, grower introduction and history – Farm Tour
August 3, 2024
10:30 am (Group B)
2:00 pm (Group A)
DeLong Farms is a mixed family farm in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. The farm was started by Ottis DeLong in 1954. The farm is now operated by his two sons, Ralph and James, along with their sons Thomas and Joel. Egg production, grading and sales is the largest enterprise of the farm. Christmas tree production is the second most significant enterprise of DeLong Farms. With natural stands totaling 1,200 acres of Christmas trees under production. DeLong Farms produces a number of other commodities. DeLong Farms has a 50 head herd of Charolais cows. The forage and vegetable production is important for the environmental sustainability of the farm, utilizing the manure produced by the poultry.
Anzil Blackadar was born 1943, raised on a dairy farm and went to a one room schoolhouse. He attended New Germany Rural High, and after graduating went to work with the Bank of Montreal. After 6 years with the bank he went to work with the federal government and retired in 1995 to pursue a career in the tree business. Anzil is married to his wife Sue and they have two daughters and a son.
Small Producer Shipping and Exporting – Farm Tour
August 3, 2024
9:15 am & 9:50 am (Group B)
3:15 pm & 3:50 pm (Group A)
Anzil and Sue will discuss how the farm began and how it evolved to what it is today. This will include the cutting out of certain areas, the building of roads, the planting of seedlings, the numbers of trees cut over the years and as well how he secured the tree market across the border. Anzil’s tree shearer will demonstrate how he shears with a machete.
Colin Hughes was born and raised in New Ross, Nova Scotia. Colin attended school inNew Ross; at the age of 12 he started working after school and weekends with his uncle and father in Christmas trees. Colin furthered his education at Kings Tec Vocational School to become a fully licensed Bus & Transport Mechanic. After sharpening his skills and expanding his knowledge, Colin returned to New Ross to join his father, Gilbert Hughes, in the family business. Colin has been blessed with three amazing children; Rustin, Whitney and Matthew, and four beautiful grandchildren. In his spare time Colin has been a member of the New Ross Family Resource Centre, New Ross Citizens on Patrol, New Ross Farmers Association, New Ross Volunteer Fire Department, Forest Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association and the Lunenburg County Christmas Tree Association, to name a few.
G & C Hughes Enterprises – Farm Tour August 3, 2024
10:15 am & 12:00 (Group A)
1:15pm & 3:00pm (Group B)
Hughes Christmas Trees – Session Description; Loading Yard
We will touch on topics involved in Hughes Christmas trees innovative procedures from our tree lots to our processing yard to shipping. In 2010, we fabricated our own mechanical palletizer, this allows us to meet the demands and requirements of the box – sto re markets. We will discuss and explain the benefits of the implementation of this equipment. Our most recent project, a Christmas tree storage building, was started in 2022. This building will give us the ability to store, process and ship Christmas trees in a climate controlled, environmentally stable atmosphere.
Hughes Christmas Trees – Session Description;
Natural Regeneration Lot (Forties Road)
The lot we will visit is known as the Hughes Lot. It was the original Hughes homestead of Colin Hughes’ Great Grandfather. After a lifetime of waiting, we were able to purchase the land and return it to the family. The land was logged between 2017 and 2023, with the intent to turn it into a natural regeneration tree stand, this process does differ from others and the results will be apparent. The lot has since been roaded for access
and we have begun fill planting as necessary.
Michael Cunningham
Michael is the Canadian Forestry Business Manager for Belchim Crop Protection Canada. Michael is a graduate of Forest Engineering from UNB. Earlier in his career, he worked in private woodlot management, Christmas Tree woodlot management and industrial forestry. His work has transitioned to a primary focus on vegetation management. In his present role he manages the forestry business and industrial vegetation management opportunities. He is the lead in the development of new forestry/industrial solutions from the robust pipeline of products within Certis Belchim’s R&D. The most recent introductions are Katana and LongRun Herbicides. Katana was the first new active ingredient introduced to the Canadian Forestry Market in over twenty years.
Dr. Andrew Schofield
Assistant Professor
Dalhousie University Biology Department
Dr. Schofield is a consultant with the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia (CTCNS) and is an Assistant Professor (Part-Time Academic) at Dalhousie University where he teaches Genetics, Cell Biology, and Plant Biology. His research in agriculture has focused on plant molecular genetics, post harvest physiology, and tree improvement. His early work developed somatic embryogenesis techniques for Balsam fir and generated dozens of clonal varieties that are currently in field trials and commercial production. Currently, he is a part of the amazing team of academics, extension specialists, and growers who guide germ plasm development for CTCNS.
Initial Seedling Site & Plumdale Grafted Orchard – Farm Tour
August 3, 2024
2:10 pm & 2:35 pm (Group A)
10:40 am & 11:05 (Group B)
Dr. Schofield will discuss the CTCNS tree improvement program. His talk will highlight the use of traditional seed orchards to select improved trees for traits like post harvest needle retention, flush time, and architecture. It will describe the use of somatic embryogenesis to generate clonal varieties of balsam fir trees, will outline the program’s progress, and will feature some varieties with enhanced characteristics.