The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it will conduct a referendum among eligible Christmas tree domestic producers and importers May 22, through June 2, 2026, to decide whether to continue their research and promotion order.
The order requires USDA to conduct a continuance referendum every seven years. To be eligible to vote, current domestic producers and importers must have domestically produced or imported more than 500 Christmas trees during the representative period of Sept. 1, 2025, to March 15, 2026. The order will continue if it is favored by a majority of eligible domestic producers and importers voting in the referendum.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will conduct the referendum by mail and electronic ballot. AMS staff will mail ballots and voting instructions, including how to vote electronically, to all known eligible domestic producers and importers before the voting period. Completed mail ballots must be postmarked by June 2, 2026, to be counted. Completed electronic ballots must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on June 2, 2026, to be counted. Any eligible domestic producer or importer who does not receive a ballot by May 29, 2026, should contact referendum agent and USDA Marketing Specialist, George Webster, at (202) 365-4172 or (202) 720-8085 or George.Webster@usda.gov.
The notice was published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2026. More information about the research and promotion program is available on the Real Christmas Tree Board webpage.
Since 1966, Congress has authorized the development of industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool their resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight of 21 boards, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.