BOONE, N.C. — Jeffrey Pollard is a second-generation farmer. He is the owner of Pollard's Riversbend Farm and said they have been doing an inventory to find out how many trees are ready for this year.  He said when Helene came through it caused a lot of damage to many Christmas tree fields. 

What You Need To Know

  • Helene caused a lot of damage to many Christmas tree fields

  • Farmers may actually be cutting extra trees this year and having to cut down ones that would normally remain for years so they will survive

  • A major problem is many roads have been destroyed, so it may be difficult to get the trees to homes before Christmas 

In one of his 10 fields he has around 18 trees down due to a landslide. He said instead of a shortage, farmers may actually be cutting extra trees this year and having to cut down ones that would normally remain for years so they will survive.

"We have lost from 2 foot all the way to 10 foot," Pollard said.

He said others in the area weren't as lucky.

"From what I have heard some growers have lost 10,000 to 20,000, but you know there is a good number of trees out there," Pollard said.

On one farm, the landslide even took some of his Christmas trees and pushed them down the hill.

"Definitely going to present a lot of challenges. We are going to make the best out of our roads," Pollard said.

He said the challenges this year aren't about the number of trees they lost but are instead about the roads that were destroyed that they need to get them out. One of the main roads had holes made by water that were 6 feet deep.

"I have heard they have makeshift bridges with tractor trailers underneath them to support them," Pollard said.

Some farmers will be using a temporary bridge made by the Army Corps of Engineers, and others are even looking into flying the trees out of their fields. Pollard said no matter what it takes, they need to get the trees out.

"Our livelihood counts on it a month and a half out of the year," Pollard said.

Pollard said they need to make sure all the trees get to homes in time for Christmas.

"Definitely prayers and patience as we try to navigate. There might be temporary shortages at times due to trying to get them out, but keep in mind that we are going through times that we have never encountered with some of the main roads gone. The trees may take longer than it normally does. We can get trees there, but it might take longer," Pollard said.