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Emerging threats to conifer foliage

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Growers and nurseries should be on the lookout for these diseases By Jared LeBoldus, Dave Shaw, and Paul Reeser Two new foliage diseases of Douglas fir and several other conifer species are emerging in Oregon, and they could be a threat to conifer growers and nurseries. The pathogens include Phytophthora pluvialis, the cause of Pytophthora […]

Pest control for Christmas trees

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Evaluating new and old insecticides, and beneficial insects, for aphid control By Chal Landgren, Judy Kowalski, David Howell, Paige Kuchy Aphid control on Christmas tree and other conifer plantings can be a yearly headache for growers. This is especially true for growers of grand fir which, for some reason, seems especially “tasty” to aphids. Over […]

Grapes as a nursery opportunity

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Grapes are one of the ancient commodities, as they have been important to agriculture and human history for centuries. The growth of grapes and production of wine are rife with tradition. As a result, wine grapes are one of the least improved crops in modern agriculture. The wine industry’s strong tradition has growers in both […]

Here comes the sun

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Researchers continue to evaluate soil solarization as a weed management technique By Carol Mallory-Smith, Jennifer Parke and Nami Wada In 2017, nursery and greenhouse producers added $947.7 million to Oregon’s economy, according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture. And for this very valuable Oregon industry, and all agricultural systems, weeds are a major issue impacting […]

Turf care without herbicides

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Research evaluates the use of IPM for weed control on turfgrass By Emily Braithwaite, Brian McDonald, Tim Stock and Alec Kowalewski It is speculated that proper cultural management practices can reduce weed populations in turfgrass without the use of herbicide applications. With new laws restricting access to certain pesticides within turfgrass management and increased pressure […]

Up in the air

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The popularity of drones, aka unmanned aerial vehicles or systems (UAVs/UASs), has dramatically increased over the past decades. Like global positioning (GPS) technology, walkie-talkies and Jeeps, drones initially were developed for military use. Although the U.S. Air Force’s Predator and Reaper drones continue to appear on the evening news, and as a plot device in […]

Farwest Show speakers talk about woody breeding and boxwood blight

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At the 2018 Farwest Show, seminar speakers Dr. Ryan Contreras of Oregon State University (OSU), and Jill Calabro of AmericanHort/Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), will deliver talks of particular interest to nursery growers, sharing insights on new breeding for woody plants and developments in the crisis of boxwood blight. Dr. Contreras’ seminar, “Moving, Shaking and Remaking: […]

Let it bee

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The Oregon Bee Project will help explore market opportunities for nurseries Oregon nursery operators play an important, but frequently overlooked, role in protecting pollinator health. They produce pollinator attractive plants that are destined to be planted in urban areas across the United States. These plants provide bees with pollen and nectar resources and contribute to […]

July 2018

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Growers can read about the pros and cons of creating a display garden for buyers to explore on site, or check out the colorful varieties of Agastache which are becoming a perennial favorite in this month’s Digger issue.  Plus, the Farwest show is almost here! Explore the Farwest Show New Variety Showcase insert to see the latest […]