After years of research, nurseries looking for a machine to selectively apply fertilizers and chemicals to their plants — and only their plants — finally have what they wanted. The USDA Agricultural Research Service has licensed its smart sprayer technology to Smart Guided Systems LLC, the agency and the company announced. Orders are being accepted […]
Nursery Operations
The next generation of green minds
Seed Your Future launches BLOOM!, a vibrant national campaign which packages a discovery quiz, short videos and a library of educational materials from Scholastic that even businesses can use Retailers and wholesale businesses alike know that launching a new marketing campaign comes standard with a certain number of uncertainties. Will your audience like your message? […]
Where plant demand is headed
Nurseries navigate a new landscape as consumer demand evolves Americans love their pets. A lot. In 2017, they spent nearly $70 billion on their animal companions, and that number’s expected to rise to $100 million by the end of the decade, according to the American Pet Products Assocation. They also, it seems, love their smartphones, […]
Plant Features
The lowdown on low conifers
The interest and versatility of these slow growers makes them attractive for residential and commercial settings Conifers grow with such variation of habit that even of the low-growing types, the options are vast, offering a number of combinations of texture, color and height to meet a variety of landscape needs. From prostrate to spreading, low-growing […]
Native tree selections for urban shade
Approximately 80 percent of the population of the United States now lives in urban environments where trees are both beloved — and imperiled. Estimates are that urban environments are home to 77 percent of invasive species introduced for horticulture and 13 percent for forestry. Species such as Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) and Norway maple (Acer platanoides) […]
Plants for pollinators
Strong consumer interest drives demand for pollinator friendly plant selections As bees and other pollinators decline, the importance of building habitat in home gardens, parks, fields and commercial properties has edged into the public consciousness. Wholesale and retail nurseries can benefit from the market demand for plants that attract and nourish bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. […]
The Value of Membership
House panel revives agricultural visa proposal
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee and Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia) on July 18 introduced a revised proposal to create an agricultural guest worker program. The Ag and Legal Workforce Act (bill / fact sheet) would create a new H-2C program to give farmers and ranchers access to a reliable workforce. It is similar to the Ag Act […]
Growing strong roots
The Oregon Nurseries Foundation supports incoming or continuing college students who are preparing for careers in ornamental horticulture and related fields Please join us in congratulating the Oregon Nurseries Foundation’s 2018-19 Scholarship Award Winners. Students were evaluated based on academic achievement, nursery industry commitment and financial need. Scholarships are applied for during winter term and […]
