Christmas Tree Growers to demonstrate drone technology at All-Island Harvest Field Day

Irish Christmas Tree Growers is an all-island group representing Christmas tree producers across Ireland

Irish and UK Christmas tree growers will gather in Co Down to explore new technology, share production expertise and compete for the ICTG Champion Grower of the Year title

Horticulture

22 September 2026

Irish Christmas Tree Growers (ICTG) will be joined by counterparts from the UK at the Irish Christmas Tree Growers annual Harvest Field Day at Laganvale Farm, Co Down, on Friday 2 October 2026.

The event, taking place at 55a Sandy Lane, Lisburn, Co Down, will bring together growers from across the island of Ireland and guests from the British Christmas Tree Growers’ Association (BCTGA) for a day focused on technical demonstrations, industry networking and competition.

A particular focus of this year’s event will be drone technology, with demonstrations highlighting its potential economic, environmental and health and safety benefits for Christmas tree growers as they manage and harvest plantations.

The technology has already attracted strong media interest, according to the ICTG.

Drones take to the Christmas tree plantation

The Harvest Field Day provides growers with an opportunity to see developments in production at first hand and exchange practical knowledge with fellow growers.

ICTG describes drone technology as increasingly providing growers with an aerial perspective of their plantations, with applications in monitoring, management and protection of Christmas trees.

The event takes place towards the end of the growing season and immediately ahead of the industry’s busiest trading period in November.

This timing allows growers to inspect their trees at an important stage of the production cycle while also discussing current market trends and practical approaches to production.

The event will be hosted by farmers Ian and Nadine Gilmore at Laganvale Farm.

Sharing knowledge across the industry

Joe Flynn, chair and secretary of ICTG, said the Harvest Field Day provides an opportunity for growers to come together and see innovations shaping the sector.

“The Harvest Field Day is one of the highlights of our calendar. It is a chance for growers to come together, share ideas and see first-hand the innovations that are shaping our industry – and this year’s drone demonstrations are a great example of that,” Flynn said.

He also welcomed the participation of colleagues from the BCTGA and praised the hosts for their contribution to the event.

“Ian and Nadine Gilmore have a great deal to teach us about maximising income from farming, and we are grateful to them for hosting us at Laganvale Farm,” he added.

Champion Grower competition

As the growing season comes to an end, ICTG members are also selecting and labelling trees for customers and choosing their finest specimens for the ICTG Champion Grower of the Year competition.

The competition offers the winner more than an engraved plaque. The successful grower will earn the honour of presenting a Christmas tree to the President of Ireland, continuing a tradition that has been in place for more than 30 years.

Flynn said the competition recognises the work involved in producing a high-quality Christmas tree.

“The Champion Grower competition is about more than a trophy. It celebrates the skill, patience and care that goes into growing a truly outstanding tree, and it is a wonderful way to mark the end of another season,” he commented.

The Harvest Field Day will provide an opportunity for growers to assess production practices, explore the potential of emerging technology and prepare for the important trading period ahead.