Fruits, vegetables, cereals… many crops have suffered the brunt of these months of drought in Franche-Comté. We could imagine then that our fir trees, intended to take pride of place in our living room for the end of year celebrations, had also taken a hit in the branches. And well imagine that they are much more robust than one could imagine.
To confirm this, we of course sought and called on one of our experts: Laurent Rivet, tree producer since 1984 in Vantoux-et-Longevelle, in Haute-Saône. In December, “there will be all the trees you want, small, medium, large” specifies the professional. “They are robust and then we are on wet land because the land is drained and therefore suffers less from drought”he adds.
– Virginia Vandeville
Magnificent Christmas trees
As a result, the spruces are “magnificent“, but a little smaller than previous years. A direct consequence of the drought. But that only makes them more beautiful, says Laurent Rivet. “In general, they make a second growth in August, which deforms them a little. There was none there.”
Of these 34 hectares of fir trees, Laurent Rivet nevertheless recognizes a loss of 30%. “It’s more than in past years. Normally, it’s 2-3%”. Losses that do not destabilize its 2022 production because these are the last ones planted. You have to wait about 7 years before cutting a tree. “We’re going to have to plant 2,000“. But nothing to disturb the professional.
A 10% increase
If production will be there, we will also have to deal with price increases. Between the cost of transport, energy costs, Laurent Rivet, which mainly supplies municipalities and schools, will increase its prices by 10% to cope.