Saturday, August 28

GROWER SESSION

Sponsored by

9 a.m. - Noon

Integrating Nursery Irrigation Systems for Automation: Basing Daily Irrigation Decisions Using Real Time Data
Speakers: Dr. Jim Owen, assistant professor, Oregon State University, Michelle Frey, vice president of products, PureSense; Grower Panel

Room B 117 - 119 | Moderator: Ben Piper, sales manager, Wilbur-Ellis Company

The high cost of irrigation in the industry, coupled with the need to turn product as quickly as possible, has brought new challenges to the daily decision maker. The nursery industry needs a cost effective solution for irrigation management decisions using real time data. Along with two local Oregon growers, three entities have partnered in a pilot project to bring that solution: Oregon State University, Wilbur-Ellis Co. and PureSense. The first part of the session you will learn about emerging sensor technologies, along with the results from this year's pilot. The remaining time will be left for a grower panel discussion to help drive the direction of the industry.

9 a.m. - Noon

RETAIL SESSION

Partnered with

Today's Garden Center's Pulse of the Industry

Room B 113 - 114 | Moderator: Crystal Cady, nursery manager, Garland Nursery

9 - 9:55 a.m.

Retail Trends for 2010

We'll share the results from Today's Garden Center's Industry Pulse Surveys and this year's Revolutionary 100 Roundtable. From buying to products to merchandising ideas, we'll talk about the trends retailers need to know to finish strong in 2010 and be ready for a successful spring.

10 - 10:55 a.m.

Revolutionary 100 Panel Discussion - Best Ideas in the Business

A panel of independent retailers from TGC's 2010 Revolutionary 100 will talk about how they're approaching these trends in their own operations. They will share real-world examples of strategies that have worked for them, and maybe some that haven't.

11 a.m. - Noon

Steal This Idea

Today's Garden Center's second annual "Steal This Idea" issue will be just around the corner. We'll provide a preview of some the great ideas independent retailers across the country have developed for their businesses and attendees can put into action in their own garden centers.