The Christmas Tree Promotion Board is a U.S. organization established by federal law through a

commodity checkoff program In the United States, a commodity checkoff program promotes and provides research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands. It collects funds through a checkoff mechanism that is s ...

. The board was created when the

Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order The Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order is a provision of the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill that established a U.S. Department of Agriculture commodity checkoff program for cultivated Christmas trees. The program is funded through a $.1 ...

was signed into law as part of the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill.

History

The Christmas Tree Promotion Board was officially established by law when the

Agricultural Act of 2014 The Agricultural Act of 2014 (; , also known as the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill), formerly the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, is an act of Congress that authorizes nutrition and agriculture programs in the United States for ...

was signed by President

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, Obama was the first Af ...

on February 7, 2014.As Required by New Farm Bill, USDA to Allow Christmas Tree Research and Promotion Program to Move Forward
", press release, ''

United States Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of com ...

'', Agricultural Marketing Service, April 4, 2014, accessed November 19, 2014. The board is part of the Christmas tree checkoff program established by a provision of Agricultural Act of 2014 known as the Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order. The Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order is a

U.S. Department of Agriculture The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food. It aims to meet the needs of com ...

rule that was originally published in November 2011 and established a

to help U.S. Christmas tree growers.Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order
, ''

Federal Register The ''Federal Register'' (FR or sometimes Fed. Reg.) is the official journal of the federal government of the United States that contains government agency rules, proposed rules, and public notices. It is published every weekday, except on fed ...

'', Col. 76, No. 216, November 8, 2011, accessed November 19, 2014. The rule was rescinded in 2011 after it attracted criticism and political controversy before becoming law in 2014.Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Stay of Regulations
,
pdf
, ''

'', USDA - Agricultural Marketing Service, November 17, 2011, accessed November 19, 2014.Jackson, David.
Obama team delays Christmas tree fee
, ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virg ...

, November 9, 2011, accessed November 19, 2014.

Membership

The board has 12 members, 11 producers and one

Christmas tree A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer, such as a spruce, pine or fir, or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas. The custom was further developed in early modern G ...

importer.New Christmas Tree Promotion Board Calls for Nominations
, ''Wisconsin Ag Connection'' via USAgNet, May 29, 2014, accessed November 18, 2014. The producers are from different tree-producing geographic regions of the United States; five members are from the western region, two from the central region, and four from the eastern region.As Required by New Farm Bill, USDA to Allow Christmas Tree Research and Promotion Program to Move Forward
, press release, ''

'',

Agricultural Marketing Service The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture; it maintains programs in five commodity areas: cotton and tobacco; dairy; fruit and vegetable; livestock and seed; and poultry. These programs ...

, April 4, 2014, accessed November 18, 2014. When the board was established initial members were appointed for terms of two, three or four years upon approval by the

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture The United States secretary of agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other governments. The department includes several organ ...

. The terms were assigned in this manner in order to stagger future terms on the board. Board members after the initial members serve terms of three years.Electronic Code of Federal Regulations,
Title 7, Subtitle B, Chapter XI, Part 1214 - Christmas Tree Promotion, Research, and Information Order
, ''

U.S. Government Printing Office The United States Government Publishing Office (USGPO or GPO; formerly the United States Government Printing Office) is an agency of the legislative branch of the United States Federal government. The office produces and distributes informati ...

'', website current as of November 14, 2014, accessed November 18, 2014. In order to qualify for membership on the Christmas Tree Promotion Board producers and importers must have cut and sold 500 or more trees per year. The USDA began seeking nominations to the first iteration of the Christmas Tree Promotion Board in April 2014.

Funding

The board is funded through an assessment of $.15 per tree on growers and importers of fresh-cut Christmas trees.Christmas Tree Research and Promotion Order
", Research and Promotion Programs, ''

'' - Agricultural Marketing Service, last modified April 25, 2014, accessed November 19, 2014. Though the assessment amount can be increased it cannot exceed $.20 per tree and it can never be raised more than $.02 during a fiscal year. Growers and importers that produce or import less than 500 trees are exempted from the fee.

References

External links

Official site
{{Christmas trees Commodity checkoff programs Christmas tree production Christmas organizations