Staff

Dec 25, 2024

Christmas Tree Farms Face New Perils

NBC News
NC State researcher Justin Whitehill said he believes that while Christmas trees may be able to survive the direct impacts of climate change, like rising temperatures, the stress put on the trees will make them more vulnerable to existing problems such as phytophthora.

Dec 20, 2024

Researchers Work To Stave Off Looming Threat Putting Christmas Tradition At Risk — Here’s What You Need To Know

The Cool Down
It is clear that Christmas trees can't adapt quickly enough to our warming climate. Researchers at North Carolina State University are studying how trees use their natural defense mechanisms to cope with the stresses of a changing climate and become more resilient.

Dec 19, 2024

Christmas Tree Industry Faces Economic Challenges

Hoosier Ag Today
The United States' Christmas tree industry is a vital and resilient sector, providing about $2.5 billion in annual revenue, according to Justin Whitehill, assistant professor at North Carolina State University and director of its Christmas Tree Genetics Program.

Dec 19, 2024

Podcast: Justin Whitehill of the Christmas Tree Genetics Program

WPTF Afternoon News
What happens as our changing climate changes the climate in which our Christmas trees can thrive? NC State researcher Justin Whitehill joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss a program that aims to help North Carolina Christmas trees for decades to come.

Dec 19, 2024

How NC State Program is Improving Growth of Christmas Trees

CBS 17
From root rot, disease, and pests, our Christmas trees are facing more problems due to climate change, which is something Justin Whitehill and his team of researchers hope to change.

Dec 17, 2024

North Carolina’s Christmas Trees Impacted By Hurricane Helene

CBS News
Hurricane Helene may have hurt some of North Carolina's Christmas trees grown for Americans across the United States. Justin Whitehill, an associate professor of forestry and environmental resources at North Carolina State University, joins CBS News with more details.

Dec 16, 2024

AI-Driven Satellite Analysis Helps Protect Rice Farming in Climate-Vulnerable Regions

Farms.com
A new study published by NC State researchers combines satellite imagery with machine learning technology to help model rice crop productivity faster and more accurately. The tool could help decision-makers around the world better assess how and where to plant rice, which is the primary source of energy for more than half of the world's population.

Dec 16, 2024

How ‘Thirsty’ Trees May Make Forests More Vulnerable to Climate Change

Morning Ag Clips
A new study suggests that increased maple populations may leave forests in western North Carolina more vulnerable to extreme weather conditions like flooding and drought.

Dec 16, 2024

Machine Learning and Satellite Imagery Could Help Protect World’s Most Important Crops

Morning Ag Clips
By combining satellite data with field data, NC State researchers trained their machine learning model to more precisely estimate rice crop productivity for the period from 2002 to 2021.

Dec 16, 2024

How a Hurricane and Climate Change May Impact Your Future Christmas Tree Buys in Florida

Miami Herald
“Helene was a thing that we hadn’t prepared for, or even knew was possible,” Justin Whitehill, a forestry expert at North Carolina State University, told the Herald.