The Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Smith County are co-sponsoring a workshop on Christmas tree production Aug. 24 in Tyler.

The Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association 40th annual conference will follow on Aug. 25-26. 

The workshop is $45, and advance registration is encouraged. It will be from 1-5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 5701 S. Broadway Ave.

The course is designed to provide valuable information for beginning and prospective growers as well as those with some experience in Christmas tree production.

Bob Jones, of Spring Creek Farms in Magnolia, will be the lead instructor along with experienced growers Francis Frederick, Wintergreen Tree Farm, Van Alstyne; Jim Hingst, Pipe Creek Tree Farm, Pipe Creek; Steven Huebner, Huebner Christmas Tree Farm, Normangee, and Archie Abrameit, Abrameit’s Tree Farm, Luling. Topics will include site selection, variety selection, soil considerations, planting, weed and pest control, diseases, equipment needs, pruning and shearing, irrigation and marketing.

The program will close with a grower panel discussion and to allow attendees an opportunity to field additional questions. The course is open to the public and tailored toward beginning growers or those interested in the Christmas tree industry.

To register, contact the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association at 512-454-8626 or 512-850-0365 or www.texaschristmastrees.com. For more information about the course, contact Jones at 713-252-0634 or Abrameit at 512-922-0975.