SHOW DATES: AUGUST 20-22, 2025 SHOW HOURS: Wednesday: 10am – 5pm | Thursday: 10am – 5pm | Friday: 10am – 2pm Contact: 503-682-5089

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Evolving Aphid Management with Biocontrols

Room B110

Speaker: Alison Kutz, Biocontrol Advisor and Owner, Sound Horticulture
Where does the rubber hit the road? Many growers have now determined where the use of biocontrols in their greenhouses makes sense — or not. In this presentation, we will be reviewing the latest tactics for aphid control which will cover banker plant management, mycoinsecticides, the expanding array of beneficial insects, and predator mites on the horizon.

Registration Required

Undercover Boss: Clues to Create a Team of Superheroes, Improve Culture and Decrease Attrition

Room B113

Speaker: Anne Obarski, Founder and CEO, Merchandise Concepts
If you become a frontline employee in your business for a day, what might you discover? Do you think there are items that could be changed or improved? What could you do with that information to create happier employees and an improved culture? It takes a special leader to be willing to take risks to discover what will make each employee part of your team of superheroes.

Registration Required

Practical Use of Plant Growth Regulators in the Plant Nursery

Room B116

Speaker: Dr. Jozsef Racsko, Technology Manager, Mycorrhizal Applications LLC.
In this technical seminar, attendees will learn about the commercial applicability of plant growth regulator (PGR) products; when and how to apply them, what rates to use, what factors influence their efficacy (weather conditions, water pH, plant health status), and how these products can be integrated into the production practices. The presentation will review results from commercial trials and research experiments and provide guidance to the audience on how to interpret such research information. This will help growers find the right solution tailored to their turf or ornamental crop and growing conditions. The presenter will discuss how growing protocols can be adjusted to specific conditions to take full advantage of PGR products.

Registration Required

Crop Adapted Spraying: Strategies for Use in Nursery

Room B119

Speaker: Brian Hill, Faculty Research Assistant, OSU NWREC Nackley Lab
Crop adapted spraying (CAS) is a systematic approach to air-blast sprayer calibration. It was designed in fruit and nut orchards as a way to spray more efficiently when the target is a canopy that changes over the growing season. CAS is a good fit for nursery production because of the many crops of different sizes and shapes that are grown closely together. This seminar covers the core concepts of CAS while taking a deep look at the implementation strategy for nursery production systems.

Registration Required

Extreme Weather: How it Affects Crop Production With Solutions Offered

Room B116

Speakers: Lloyd Nackley, Professor, Oregon State University and Dr. Drew Zwart, Plant Pathologist / Physiologist, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories
Extreme weather events are more common than ever. For example, in 2021 the north Willamette Valley had catastrophic ice storms in late winter. The winter melted into a warm spring and exceptionally hot summer that was exemplified by the 113 F “heat dome” in late June. While the average annual temperatures in our region will only increase by a few degrees each decade, these extreme (greater than 10 F above average) hot and low-temperature events have devastating and long-lasting effects on nursery producers. Learn about how climate change and extreme weather are affecting nursery production, and what growers can do about it.

Registration Required

The New or Improved Greenhouse: Labor-Saving Technologies, Mechanization, Innovation, Design and Layout

Room B110

Speaker: Paul Golden, Commercial Greenhouse Sales Manager, Prospiant Inc (formerly Nexus and RBI Greenhouses)
For many producers and retailers, the past two years have led to record-breaking sales and new challenges that come along with rapid growth during a time of unprecedented supply chain issues. Present conditions require operations to have a fresh new look at how they are building their greenhouse business. The practices and strategies of the past might not apply to modern-day needs. With ever-increasing labor challenges operators are having to ask themselves if their existing greenhouses layout, design, equipment, and processes are most labor efficient and how they should design their new operations going forward? This session will cover changes in trends in wholesale greenhouse production as well as technological improvements.

Registration Required

Gain the Upper Hand This Season on Root, Crown, and Foliar Diseases

Room B119

Speaker: George Grant, GGSPro Technical Specialist, Griffin Greenhouse Supplies
This session will take a deep dive into the prevention and control of common root and crown diseases, including water molds, Fusarium, Botrytis, Rhizoctonia, Thielaviopsis, and more. Learn how you can also maximize your chemical control toolkits by implementing microbial-based fungicide options. This session will provide detailed fungicide rotation strategies, cultural best practices, and practical prevention tips that will benefit growers at every level.

Registration Required

Cultivating Cultivars Seed to Tree: The 30-Year Timeline for Climate Resistant Urban Trees

Room B116

Speaker: Nancy Buley, Communications Director, J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
It’s a long and complex journey from seed to city tree. Many hands and a decade or more are needed to grow a tree from start to finish. It takes even longer to develop, select, trial, and introduce new and improved cultivars. Bringing new and improved urban tree cultivars to market is a multi-generational effort that may take 15–30 years or more, via the collaborative efforts of plant breeders, growers, urban foresters, arboreta, and academia. Understanding the timeline and processes of new tree introduction and the how and why of cultivar development will help you plan ahead for choosing, growing, and planting the best trees for the future urban forest.

Registration Required

H-2A: Tips and Tricks for Navigating Your Way Through

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Cheyenne Protz, H-2A Coordinator, Labor Consultants International
This FREE mini-session is included with your trade show pass!
At LCI, there is over 20 years of guest worker visa experience. Every day we help our clients expertly navigate the guest worker programs utilizing experience, intuition, and industry involvement. We have seen every situation, roadblock, and victory in this industry and are directly involved with every political, legislative, and industry discussion and forum for these visa programs. Let us share our knowledge with you to produce the best season possible with skilled, reliable labor.

FREE

Research Revealed: Updates on Disease Control Products for Nursery Crops

Room B110

Speaker: Dr. Ann Chase, Co-founder, Chase Agricultural Consulting
Dr. Chase, a nationally recognized industry expert in her field, will discuss the most recent research results on industry standards, as well as newly available products for disease control on woody ornamentals. She will focus on what’s new, including Postiva, Avelyo and Seido and the benefits of products like KleenGrow and biocontrol products. She will also describe the best way to use all of these products in effective rotations.

Registration Required

SPANISH ONLY – Scouting for Boxwood Diseases

Room B119

Speaker: Dr. Luisa Santamaria, Associate Professor - Extension Plant Pathologist, Oregon State University
Boxwood plants are commonly seen decorating parks, public gardens, and even lawns. However, there are multiple plant pathogens of nationwide concern that can cause disease in boxwood. People who work around these plants must have a basic understanding of the pathogens, their biology, and the key signs and symptoms. This session will cover all that and more! Boxwood blight and Volutella blight will be highlighted. Additionally, participants will be trained in how to properly scout for disease, so that they may keep their plants healthy and green!

Registration Required

Cash Incentives for Energy Efficiency: Greenhouses, Nurseries, Orchards and Farms

Room B113

Speaker: Jessica Arnold, Outreach Manager, Industry + Agriculture, Energy Trust of Oregon
Cash incentives are available through Energy Trust of Oregon for eligible projects that save natural gas or electricity. Participating utilities include Portland General Electric (PGE), Pacific Power, Northwest Natural, Cascade Natural Gas, and Avista. Examples include projects from greenhouse shell and heating systems upgrades to controlled environmental agriculture optimization of HVAC, dehumidification, irrigation, lighting and more. Attend this session to learn all about the different programs, and get your questions answered.

Registration Required

Promising Plants for Native Plant Gardens in Western Oregon

Room B116

Speaker: Gail Langellotto, Ph.D., Professor of Horticulture, Oregon State University
Native plant landscaping and gardening are repeatedly listed as a hot trend for gardeners and landscapers. However, native plants represent a relatively small segment of retail plant sales, with many promising plants difficult to find in the retail marketplace. Based on OSU research, this presentation will highlight some promising plants for the native plant gardener and landscaper.

Registration Required

(PANEL) Simple Improvement Projects Every Business Should Take On This Year

Room B116

Moderator: Elizabeth Peters, Vice President, The Peters Company
Panelists:
Mark Bigej, Al’s Garden & Home
John Lewis, JLPN
Chris Robinson, Robinson Nursery
Ben Verhoeven, Peoria Gardens

Lean is a set of business principles and practices that has transformed green industry companies here in the Pacific Northwest. This panel brings together a group of Oregon’s most effective nursery, greenhouse and garden center leaders who have applied Lean thinking to their businesses. They will share simple improvement projects, based on Lean principles, that you can take to your organization. Come and glean wisdom from these outstanding leaders, and bring your questions for the Q&A session afterward.

Registration Required

Integrating Biological Control Agents with Chemical Spray Programs: Innovative Ways to Manage Pesticide Resistance

Room B119

Speaker: George Grant, GGSPro Technical Specialist, Griffin Greenhouse Supplies
Over the past decade, using “beneficials” or biological control agents (BCAs) to help growers deal with pest issues has grown dramatically. BCAs can play a critical role in preventing and managing pesticide resistance when used effectively. However, growers require a comprehensive knowledge of their life cycles, target pests, and compatibility with organic and conventional pesticides. This course will cover these topics for some of the industry’s most commonly used beneficial insects, mites, and nematodes along with how growers can begin integrating BCAs into their current crop protection programs.

Registration Required

Measuring for Change—the Lean Way

Room B116

Speakers: Rick Peters, President, The Peters Company | Elizabeth Peters, Vice President, The Peters Company
“In God we trust. All others must bring data.” This quote by W. Edwards Deming refers to the significance of data measurement in doing business. Why? Because measurements drive behavior; what you measure is what you get. How do we choose what to measure? Which metrics give us the best prospect of achieving our goals? How can we use data to manage and motivate labor effectively — and how do we use all this information to improve our business? This seminar looks at measures for different levels of a company. It also offers an approach to implementing metrics and common pitfalls to avoid.

Registration Required

Nowadays Tulipmania: Flower Bulb Extravaganza

Room B110

Speaker: Philipp Laagland, Country Manager USA, ADR Bulbs Inc.
Join internationally recognized flower bulb expert Philipp Laagland as he shares his knowledge about setting trends and current struggles within the industry. This session will examine the working flower bulb life circle from farmer to the homeowner in The United States and new landscape designs and retail concepts using flower bulbs.

Registration Required

Redheaded Flea Beetle: A Major Insect Pest of Nursery Production Systems

Room B119

Speaker: Raymond Cloyd, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Specialist, Kansas State University
Raymond will discuss the biology, ecology, and damage associated with redheaded flea beetle adults. He will then address the management strategies that must be implemented to mitigate damage to nursery-grown crops by redheaded flea beetle adults, and provide results from his research program.

Registration Required

Biopesticide art-of-use in IPM

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Maryna Serdani, Product Development and Technical Service Manager PNW, Marrone Bio Innovations
This FREE mini-session is included with your trade show pass!
The use of biopesticides can form a very valuable part of an Integrated Pest Management program. However, it is critical to understand how these products are best used to optimize their efficacy as well as those of other inputs, such as classical biological control agents and conventional pesticides. In this presentation, Maryna will cover the various types of biopesticides, their art-of-use, how they fit into an IPM program and introduce some of the biopesticides from Marrone Bio Innovations that are available to growers.

FREE

Pruning / Topiary Demo

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Presented by: Bountiful Farms
This FREE mini-session is included with your trade show pass!
Join the Bountiful Farms team as they perform a LIVE demo of pruning and topiary techniques. Get some fun new ideas, tips, tricks, and best practices.

FREE

Soil Oxygen: Tips for Ensuring Plant Roots are Healthy and Thriving

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Wei Zhang, PhD, VP of R&D, TreeDiaper
This FREE mini-session is included with your trade show pass!
Inspired by Professor Linda Chalker-Scott and Mr. Jim Uraban, two well-known professionals in the green industry, this presentation will be interactive with a live demo! We will explore why we must water our plants so often, what makes Plant Available Water different from irrigation water, and why we can’t supply plants with 1 month of water at a time. Wei will explain why roots don’t grow deep in the soil, why compacted soil is bad for your plants, and why volcano mulching is bad for your trees while piles of leaf litter in natural forests is not, and so much more!

FREE

Beneficial Bugs: Putting Biocontrols to the Task

Room B116

Speaker: Alison Kutz, Biocontrol Advisor and Owner, Sound Horticulture
While many greenhouse producers have years of Biocontrol experience under their belts, the toolbox continues to expand. Understanding our pest complex before pressure mounts is critical to good planning. In this session, we will review thrips, mites, aphids, and fungus gnats. Then, we will discuss how best to handle these with the correct combination of biocontrols. The goal: let’s be more proactive, less reactive, and sleep better at night. Gain insight on designing a biocontrol program that fits your unique operation and gives you the upper hand.

Registration Required

Regenerative Landscaping: Small Changes, Large Impact – Protecting and Supporting Local Ecology

Room B110

Speaker: Nutmeg Minneboo, Lead Ecological Designer, SymbiOp Garden Shop and Landscaping
The way that we install and manage spaces in the landscaping industry has a large impact on the health and well-being of local ecology. Managing pests, plant diseases, water infiltration, and choosing plants for landscapes all directly affects local birds, pollinators, beneficial insects, and our local watershed. In this presentation, we will dive into ways we can learn to read the landscape. We will learn what to do when landscapes are out of balance and pests and diseases arise. Learning tips and tools for improving balance in a landscape naturally can help us protect local ecology.

Registration Required

New Can Yard and Traveler Irrigation Sprinkler Technologies: Save Water, Power and Labor

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Steve McCoon, Territory Manager, Nelson Irrigation Corporation
This FREE mini-session is included with your trade show pass!
Join Steve to learn about some of the latest sprinkler irrigation tools for saving water, energy, and labor in nursery irrigation. How can sprinkler selection and operation create droplets that best irrigate your crops? How does sprinkler mounting height really affect irrigation in a can yard? Discover what really affects irrigation uniformity, and how to improve yours. This session will also cover irrigation with a traveler, and ways to save labor and improve the application of that irrigation platform.

FREE

(PANEL) Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain: Tips for Moving Forward

Room B113

Moderator:  Jeff Stone, Executive Director, OAN Panelists:

  • Jana Jarvis, President & CEO, Oregon Truckers Association
  • David Anzur, Founder, Anzur Logistics
  • Dale Parra, Sales Manager, Transportation Services
  • Keith Leavitt, Chief Trade and Equitable Development Officer, Port of Portland
Join our panel of industry experts as they share their recommendations and best practices for moving through these challenging times of inflation, driver shortages, and policy changes. Our panelists come from large diverse backgrounds, which will provide a foundation for attendees to gain excellent insight from a wide array of experiences. Strategies for freight will be shared from the trucking, railroad, and shipping perspectives. There will be time for Q&A, so come prepared with questions.
Registration Required

SPANISH ONLY – Case Study: Applying Lean Principles to Pulling Orders at JLPN

Room B119

Speaker: Carlos Vergara, Lean Manager, JLPN
In February 2022, JLPN hosted a rapid improvement event (Kaizen™) focused on its process of pulling customer orders. Prior to the event, the process varied for different crew members: communication was inconsistent and crew members had to search the farm for the needed products. Learn how the team applied Lean principles to reduce motion and defects and increase productivity while improving communication and teamwork in their order pulling process.

Registration Required

Pruning / Topiary Demo

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Presented by: Serendipity Nursery
This FREE mini-session is included with your trade show pass!
The Serendipity Farms team will perform a LIVE demo of pruning and topiary techniques. Get some fun new ideas, tips, tricks, and best practices.

FREE

H-2A 101: What Your Business Needs to Know

Room B116

Speaker: Chelsea Ibarra, Deputy General Counsel, másLabor
Learn more about the program basics and the ever-changing landscape of the seasonal, non-immigrant worker program. This seminar will identify employer requirements, best practices, and important updates to the H-2A program. Come ready with questions whether you are just considering H-2A or are a seasoned participant.

FREE

Solving Plant Problems Virtually

Room B110

Speaker: George Grant, GGSPro Technical Specialist, Griffin Greenhouse Supplies
Whether a grower is working internally with their cultivation team or externally with cooperative extension personnel, product vendor representatives or technical specialists often rely on some form of virtual communication (e.g., cellphones, emails, or video conferences). We are all familiar with the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” but knowing what picture to take and what information to gather before reaching out for consultation is important in diagnosing an issue correctly and efficiently. The objective of this presentation will be to build a checklist growers can use for gathering valuable information once they have identified an issue in their production setting.

Registration Required

Healthy Soil: All the Key Elements for Maintaining the Healthiest Soil

Room B116

Speakers: Alicia Leytem, President, Oregon Society of Soil Scientists, Instructor at OSU
Vance Almquist, Vice President of Oregon Society of Soil Scientists, Instructor at OSU
Join soil scientists Alicia Leytem and Vance Almquist as they discuss the principles of soil health and their relevance in Oregon. Learn common misperceptions regarding regenerative agriculture and how to spot misleading information when it comes to implementing soil health management and regenerative practices. Attendees will learn why soil health is important for your farm and the environment.

Registration Required

How to Deal With Mite Pests in Landscapes and Nurseries

Room B119

Speaker: Raymond Cloyd, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Specialist, Kansas State University Raymond will discuss the different types of mite pests, and the biology, ecology, and

Registration Required

Pesticide Coverage of Difficult to Spray Plants Such as Boxwood

Room B119

Speaker: Jay W. Pscheidt, Ph.D., Extension Plant Pathology Specialist, Oregon State University
Fungicide used to manage diseases, such as boxwood blight, depends on good pesticide coverage. Research using common airblast sprayers with and without smart sensors indicates high gallonage is needed for good coverage. Coverage of nursery-grown boxwood plants using sprayers routinely used at nurseries also indicates the need for better attention to spray coverage. Join this session to learn all these intricacies.

Registration Required

Soil Moisture Sensors: Should You Use Them?

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Ahmad Dowlatabadi, PhD, Principal, Aivaka
This FREE mini-session is included with your trade show pass!
Soil moisture sensors are intended to help us conserve water, reduce plant disease, and save both our time and the environment. But do they? In this session, we will examine how sensors work, how to use them, if they are worth the effort and cost, and if they can simply be integrated into an existing irrigation setup. Join Ahmad as he presents a summary of his journey in search of the perfect sensor and lessons learned along the way.

FREE

Overcoming Substrate Shortages with a Proven Solution

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Shahin Ashraf, Head of Sales, North America Sunterra Horticulture, Profile Products / HydraFiber
This FREE mini-session is included with your trade show pass!
The horticulture industry continues to endure raw material shortages and faces numerous logistical constraints. Profile Products has a proven solution with HydraFiber® - a domestically produced, engineered fiber substrate that is readily available and reliable as a high-performing replacement for other raw materials. Top growers across North America have already adopted HydraFiber into their mixes, and are now increasing inclusion rates to help overcome shortages of other raw goods. Learn more about this game-changing technology and how it can transform YOUR operation.

FREE

Current Market Demands New Approaches to Container Growing

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Co-Presenters: Tom Springer, Chris Murphey, NurserySource
This FREE mini-session is included with your trade show pass!
NurserySource’s and RediRoot’s goal is to help nurseries and grow operations integrate new approaches to container production and gardening. Their markets span nursery, cannabis and home gardeners giving them a unique look into the ways all growers are learning from each other and improving their production. They see the pressure labor and regulatory costs have upon different operations and work to help clients mitigate those challenges. This seminar will briefly detail their observations and recommendations.

FREE

The Art and Science of Pricing Products

Room B110

Speaker: Bridget Behe, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University

There is more to pricing than simply calculating costs and mark-up. Bridget will discuss some pricing strategies and share some research-based findings on how consumers react to pricing in communications. Price increases are always a concern. The presentation includes some ways for you to consider increasing prices that consumers will accept.

Registration Required

Biochar in Propagation Substrates: Good or Bad?

Room B119

Speaker: Ben Hoover, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sustainable Nursery Production, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

We will talk briefly about the complexity of biochar, how it performs in propagation substrates, and what role it might play in the future. You'll see root development pictures of cuttings in biochar substrates. We will talk about the guidelines for propagation substrate selection and how biochar fits into the story. The big question: “Is biochar really sustainable?”

Registration Required

Crop Protection and Cultural Considerations When Propagating

Room B113

Speaker: George Grant, GGSPro Technical Specialist Supervisor, Griffin Greenhouse Supplies

Propagation is a balance between maintaining an environment conducive to young plant production while managing a myriad of insect and disease pests that also thrive in these conditions. We will walk through various cultural, chemical, and biological inputs useful when propagating to ensure an efficiently and cleanly grown product. Strategies discussed during this presentation include moisture management, biological and conventional pesticides for below and above ground pests, cleaning up material using plant dips, sanitation steps, use of plant root stimulants and more!

Registration Required

Transforming vs. Evolving: Turn Your Vision into Dramatic, Measurable Results Using Policy Deployment

Room B119

Speaker: Rick Peters, President, The Peters Company

Every leader faces the challenge of translating vision into results. Most have goals to achieve over the next 3–5 years; the difficulty is converting long-term goals into daily activities that can be measured. Oregon nurseries are using policy deployment ("Hoshin Kanri") to develop annual improvement targets that align and link with their long-term strategies. The process engages team members at every level. Each person understands how they can impact the organization's goals. Bring your leadership team for an introduction to this powerful tool. Learn how Robinson Nursery uses policy deployment to transform the business and achieve their mission of “growing people and plants to change the world.”

Registration Required

A Milkweed Contamination Study Spotlights Pollinator-Safe Growing – An Oregon Nursery Shows the Way

Room B113

Co-Presenters:
Sharon Selvaggio, Pesticide Program Specialist, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
Sam Bidwell, Integrated Pest Manager, Log House Plants; Founder, Sunnyside Sam’s Wholesale

People across the country are working to help restore monarch butterflies by planting milkweed. A recent study showed that milkweed plants purchased from garden centers across the country contained a wide variety of pesticide residues, putting monarchs at risk. In this seminar, we invite a thoughtful conversation about how nurseries can use practices that result in pollinator-safe plants. We will present the findings and implications of the milkweed study and share examples of how a local nursery, Log House Plants, puts pollinator-safe growing into practice.

Registration Required

Keynote Address – Katie Tamony

C123-124

Speaker: Katie Tamony , Chief Marketing Officer, Monrovia Nursery Company and Former Editor-in-Chief of Sunset Magazine and Sunset Books FREE to all registered Farwest Participants. Many of us have spent years in our industry, and it’s easy to forget what it’s like not to know what we know. It’s also natural to fall into habits of seeing problems and patterns a certain way. But holding a “beginner’s mindset” can help us solve problems more effectively, adapt to change more easily, and actually create more original ideas. So how do we change our perspective and see things with fresh eyes? Looking at the familiar in an unfamiliar way can help us be better leaders and refresh our teams and our approach to our business. Using examples from throughout a career where she has been forced to be a “beginner” operating at a high level, she will share some techniques and ways of leading and innovating with fresh perspective.

FREE to all registered Farwest Participants.

Selecting Plants for Success!

Room B116

Speaker: Ben Hoover, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Sustainable Nursery Production, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Millions of plants are purchased and planted every year in the United States. Many of those plants are destined for failure. Selecting the right plants and location for planting them appropriately can increase your credibility, customer base, and profitability. We will talk about making good decisions, communicating your expertise with customers, and benefiting the environment and your company at the same time. FYI: your concept of a native plant might be challenged!

Registration Required

Fixing Workplace Conflict

Room B110

Speaker: Chris Sheesley, President, In-Accord

You're surrounded, but don't give up. Being a member of an organization inevitably places you in situations of conflict, but there are ways to reduce its negative impact on you and your coworkers. The savvy response to the uncomfortable messiness of workplace discord is to develop keener insights and skills. Through this engaging presentation, you'll gain easy-to-remember and easy-to-apply mindsets and tools to be an effective resolver whether you are a participant or in a position to be helpful to others.

Registration Required

Profiting With Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Mary Choate, Chief Operating Officer, Pest Wizard Brands LLC

Integrated Pest Management is good for the environment, but did you know it is also good for your bottom line? IPM is a great tool for improved profitability for Independent Garden Centers (IGCs) and for growers. Learn how to implement an effective IPM strategy in your greenhouse or nursery to reduce costs and decrease loss from pests. For IGC, we’ll discuss how IPM can be a key marketing strategy to improve sales through cross-marketing and upselling for your entire line, from irrigation to green goods.

FREE

Succession Planning 2-hour WORKSHOP

FREE WORKSHOP (open to all attendees)

Succession Planning, Part 1: Working with an Attorney 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Speaker: Maria Schmidlkofer, Attorney, Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt Join attorney Maria Schmidlkofer for the first hour as she discusses engaging in estate planning early, elements of a successful succession plan and general timeline for implementation. She’ll talk through important information that you need to know about your operation to make the process run smoothly, legal tools that can help the succession process, and tips for mitigating Oregon estate tax. Stay for the second hour to take a deeper dive into conservation easements on working lands with Ivor Kincaide of Oregon Agricultural Trust and discuss how they can be used as a tool for succession.

Succession Planning, Part 2: Introduction to Conservation Easements on Working Lands 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Speaker: Ivor Kincaide, Farmland Program Director, Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) A growing number of Oregon farmers and ranchers are conveying easements in exchange for cash or tax benefits to help with succession or business expansion or to make the land more affordable to the next generation. Join Farmland Program Director Ivor Kincaide to learn more about conservation easements on working lands, the benefits of easements, the process of conveying an easement and how an easement can help with farmland succession. He'll discuss Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT) and the role a Land Trust and other organizations such as NRCS plays in partnering with landholders to protect ag land in perpetuity.
FREE

Save Energy, Save Resources, Save Money: A Grower Panel Discussion About Efficiency Project Implementation

Room B119

Moderator: Whitney Rideout, Program Manager, Industry and Agriculture, Energy Trust of Oregon
Panelists:

  • Al's Garden & Home / Mark Bigej
  • Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas Inc. / Kyle Fessler
  • Robinson Nursery Inc. / Chris Robinson

This panel discussion includes growers and retailers who have improved their bottom line through a wide range of energy efficiency projects, from lighting, to boilers, to watering systems. This discussion will provide real-world insights about these projects, and the results and side benefits you can expect.
Registration Required

H-2A 101: What Your Business Needs to Know

Room B110

Speaker: Chelsea Ibarra, Deputy General Counsel, másLabor
Free Session (Open to all attendees)

This session will cover the ins and outs of the H-2A program for growers. The session discusses the program’s requirements, barriers to entry, and best practices for employers, including pertinent current events. As the labor landscape continues to be difficult, more and more businesses are turning to H-2A to solve their shortages.

FREE

What Do Washing Dishes and Sanitation for Plant Production Have in Common?

Room B113

Speaker: George Grant, GGSPro Technical Specialist Supervisor, Griffin Greenhouse Supplies

Regardless of your standard operating procedures, sanitation is a key factor in having a successful season. Very few management practices have the duality of being preventative, curative, and cost-effective whereas a strong pre-season and mid-season sanitation plan does. For this reason, we strongly focus on maintaining clean production spaces, inputs, and equipment to manage a wide variety of plant-related issues. Surprisingly, there are scenarios we run into in our daily lives that overlap with plant production such as washing dirty dishes. We will use these common scenarios to help demonstrate the cultural and chemical steps necessary for effective sanitation.

Registration Required

10 Effective Ways to Communicate the Value of Your Products

Room B110

Speaker: Katie Tamony , Chief Marketing Officer, Monrovia Nursery Company and Former Editor-in-Chief of Sunset Magazine and Sunset Books

In this seminar, Katie will present 10 effective ways to communicate the value of your products or services to a demanding consumer in today’s market. Using examples from Monrovia and other premium brands, Katie will share insights and success stories that will help you retain customers in the long term and grow your perceived value.

Registration Required

People, Plants and a Backyard – An Exploration of How and Why We Interpret Urban Landscapes the Way We Do

Room B116

Speaker: Alan Shay, Senior Instructor, Horticulture Department, Oregon State University

In this presentation we will examine the cultural heritage we in the west have inherited that leads us to react to management in landscapes in a particular fashion. Can we afford to prioritize aesthetics over functionality in a world of rapidly diminishing resources and climate change? How can we design landscapes sensibly, that look good and still make a profit for ourselves? It's all about education.

Registration Required

What it Takes To Build A Robust IPM Program & Resistance Management

Room B113

Speaker: Brock Martindale, National Nursery & Greenhouse Strategic Account Manger, Corteva

Broch will cover the importance of building a robust IMP program and how you can avoid building resistance in your facility. You are bound to find several things that you can take back to your facility to improve your process. Broch will cover the 7 steps to success and a deep dive into preventing resistance.

Registration Required

The UC Landscape Plants Irrigation Trials (Part One)

Room B116

Speaker: Lorence Oki, Ph.D., Specialist in Cooperative Extension, University of California, Davis

The University of California Landscape Plants Irrigation Trials project evaluates performance of plants exposed to three different irrigation treatments based on evapotranspiration (ETo). The data collected leads to recommendations for irrigating those plants that are used by landscape designers and architects to design landscapes that comply with California water conservation regulations. This project started in 2004 as a graduate student research project, was expanded periodically, and then duplicated at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center in 2017. We will discuss plant lists, data collected, irrigation recommendations, and project background.

Registration Required

Trial Garden Report: Best in NEW Annuals and Perennials for Spring 2024

Room B119

Speaker: Allison Pennell, Sales Representative and Horticulturalist, McHutchison Horticultural Distributors

This session will report on new introductions from trial gardens across the country. Annuals and perennials from your favorite breeders will be the focus. Ali will share garden performance results from trial sites to help you decide what to add to your own production plans for 2024. This session’s focus is on spring and summer selling crops. Breeders covered will include: Dummen Orange, SelectaOne, Syngenta, Danziger, Ball, Pan American Seed, Westhoff, Terra Nova Nurseries, Sakata, Think Plants and more!

Registration Required

Phytophthora Root Rot – Understanding a Complex Problem

Room B113

Speaker: Dr. Jerry Weiland, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-Agricultural Research Service

Phytophthora root rot has been a persistent problem in the nursery industry for almost 100 years. Yet, despite decades of research, there has been little progress in improving control of this disease. This session will explain why root rot has become more difficult to control over time and will cover the latest research on pathogen biology and fungicide management. Case studies will be used to illustrate the consequences of nursery production decisions on overall disease control and management recommendations will be provided.

Registration Required

Prune Clematis Like a Pro! (Pruning Demo)

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Linda Beutler, Rogerson Clematis Garden

Forget everything you have ever heard about Clematis pruning. Linda, the curator of the Rogerson Clematis Garden, North America's only accredited collection of clematis through the Plant Collections Network, will share her wealth of knowledge is this fantastic pruning demo. Rather than learning the "rules", follow some common sense-based suggestions to open a world of beautiful possibilities for your garden and your clematis.

Green Pests that Plague Production: Algae, Moss, Liveworts and Nostoc

Room B113

Speaker: Dr. Ann Chase, Co-founder, Chase Agricultural Consulting

Dr. Chase will start with an overview of the most common green pests from algae and Nostoc (blue-green algae) and moss to Liveworts. She will share how these pests become problems in plant production including where they come from and how we make them worse. The final section will review the products that are used to prevent or control them from herbicides to disinfestants and even biologicals. Knowing which products work best in the greenhouse or nursery, as well as what your legal options include will be covered.

Registration Required

Topiary Demo

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Todd Nelson, Bountiful Farms

Join Todd Nelson, as he shares his topiary knowledge with the audience in this one-of-a-kind demo! Learn tips and tricks to the art of clipping shrubs into ornamental shapes such as boxes, spirals and spheres.

FREE

Defining and Building Your Culture to Create a Thriving Team (SPANISH ONLY)

Room B119

Speaker: Elizabeth Peña, Value Stream Leader, Peoria Gardens Inc.

A culture is how you solve problems and how you behave toward others. You must strike a balance between knowledge and behaviors, between head and heart. If you want your team to thrive, you must first define your culture, then do the important work of building your culture into everything you do together. You are invited to learn how Peoria Gardens, a second-generation greenhouse in Albany, Oregon, defined their culture, then built that culture into a business that continues to be recognized as one of the best places to work in the horticulture industry.

Registration Required

Butterfly Bush: Sterility and Availability

Room B113

Co-Presenters:
Ryan Contreras, Ph.D., Associate Department Head and Professor, Oregon State University
Kara Mills, Lead Horticulturist, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA)

OSU has conducted extensive research to evaluate nearly three dozen cultivars for their seedling production and attraction to pollinators. This work has identified the relative fecundity of all selections within the context of current regulation for Buddleja. The Oregon Department of Agriculture will describe how Butterfly Bush is currently regulated and forecast the future of these regulations in light of new data.

Registration Required

Marketing to Capture Consumers Environmental Focused Purchasing Habits

Room B110

Speaker: Andony Melathopoulos, Associate Professor, Pollinator Health Program, Oregon State University

There is considerable 'buzz' about Millennial-aged consumers and the shift in their plant buying preferences. Analysts have suggested that Millennial's are inclined to 'cause purchasing' and value additional environmental or social benefits. In this seminar, Andony will talk about research to specify how pollinator benefits should be displayed on plant labels and some strategies to maximize the benefits of different nursery plants to pollinators.

Registration Required

The Climate Ready Landscape Plants Project (Part TWO)

Room B116

Speaker: Lorence Oki, Ph.D., Specialist in Cooperative Extension, University of California, Davis

The University of California Landscape Plants Irrigation Trials project evaluates performance of plants exposed to three different irrigation treatments based on evapotranspiration (ETo). The data collected leads to recommendations for irrigating those plants that are used by landscape designers and architects to design landscapes that comply with California water conservation regulations. This project started in 2004 as a graduate student research project, was expanded periodically, and then duplicated at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center in 2017. The project recently has expanded to the University of Washington, Oregon State University, Utah State University, and the University of Arizona that facilitates the comparison of plant performance in response to deficit irrigation treatments across the western region of the U.S. We will discuss plant lists, data collected, irrigation recommendations, and project background.

Registration Required

Pesticides and Water Quality

Room B113

Co-Presenters:
Kathryn Rifenburg, Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Coordinator, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA)
David Green, Columbia River Coordinator, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

The Pesticide Stewardship Partnerships (PSP) program is a locally led, voluntary program to identify potential concerns and improve water quality affected by pesticide use. Partnerships combine local expertise and water quality sampling results to encourage voluntary changes in pesticide use and management practices. This presentation will give recommendations for keeping pesticides on site and protecting water quality and regional biocontrol projects happening around the state.

Registration Required

Values as a Business Model: The Story of Botanical Interests

Room B110

Speaker: Curtis Jones, Co-founder and Former Co-owner/President, Botanical Interests Inc.

The co-founder and former co-owner/President of Botanical Interests Inc., Curtis Jones, speaks out about how his and his business partner Judy Seaborn’s personal values influenced the success of Botanical Interests seeds in a stagnant seed packet market and changed the direction of packaging in horticulture. Curtis will describe the new and unique direction Botanical Interests has taken in order to further educate the gardener, increase brand loyalty, and support their retail stores. During the presentation, Curtis might sneak in a funny or harrowing story about the 28-year journey they experienced.

Registration Required

Mycorrhizae: Benefits and Use in Grower Operations and the Landscape

Room B119

Speaker: Jason Padden, Sales Account Manager, Mycorrhizal Applications

Explore the science behind beneficial mycorrhizal fungi, with a focus on how growers and landscapers may utilize the power of mycorrhizae in their operations. Participants will learn how the addition of mycorrhizal inoculant products helps plants increase their efficiency of water use, nutrient uptake, and boost other plant health treatments. We will discuss how these benefits reduce plant loss by increasing plant vigor helping to grow hardier while saving time and money. Mycorrhizal inoculants have been used in sustainable growing systems for decades. Those that use them have been able to reduce the stress to both the plants they are growing and themselves.

Registration Required

Biopesticides: The Ideal Team Players in Plant Health Programs with a Focus on Biofungicides

Room B113

Speaker: Michael Brownbridge, Ph.D., Biological Program Manager, Plant Diseases, BioWorks Inc.

In North America, moves to adopt more biological inputs in plant production are driven by issues with pesticide resistance, market trends and restrictive re-entry intervals. This is where biopesticides can help. Their unique modes of action bring value in resistance management. The fact that they are derived from natural sources makes them more acceptable to consumers, and their safety means they can be applied with minimal disruption to day-to-day crop management activities. Yet there are still many misconceptions around what biopesticides are, their efficacy, and where and how they can be used. This presentation focuses on the use of biofungicides and their effective positioning in plant health programs.

Registration Required

Drop-In OFFICE HOURS

Room B119

Speaker: Chelsea Ibarra, Deputy General Counsel, másLabor

Stop by at any time during this hour (no appointment necessary) to ask our in-house expert questions about H-2A. This is a great opportunity if you missed the Thursday seminar or had additional questions not answered yesterday.

Registration Required

A Plantsman’s Notebook: New Plants and a Reminder of Some ‘Smokers’ We Often Forget About

Room B119

Speaker: Nicholas Staddon, Company Spokesman/Plantsman, Everde Growers

In this session, we will look at a number of new plants that have appeared on the marketplace in recent years. There will be something for everyone, trees, shrubs, perennials, and a few surprises! Staddon will also nudge our memories on a few of the great plants from the past. Nicholas will cover a few of the notable trends he believes hold water for us. As always, he is an avid reader and will share a few choice titles with the audience. With terrific pictures, supported by an informative and humorous narrative, this session is not to be missed if you are into plants.

Registration Required

Flathead Borers in Nursery and Orchards

Room B113

Speaker: Melissa Scherr, Ph.D., Research Associate, Nursery Crops, Oregon State University Extension

Flathead borers can be serious pests of nursery trees and tree nut and fruit crops in the Pacific Northwest. In particular, two flathead borers in the genus Chrysobothris — C. femorata (flatheaded apple tree borer) and C. mali (Pacific flatheaded borer) — contribute damage in many different deciduous trees and shrubs grown commercially, weakening or even killing trees by girdling the trunk or branches. A third species, C. nixa, attacks cedar and juniper nursery trees. The flatheaded apple tree borer is a common pest in the Eastern and Central United States, while the Pacific flatheaded borer and flatheaded cedar borer are only found west of the Rockies. The Pacific Northwest region is home to all three species.

Registration Required

Pollinators of the Rogerson Clematis Garden

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Linda Beutler, Rogerson Clematis Garden

Linda, the curator of the Rogerson Clematis Garden, North America's only accredited collection of clematis through the Plant Collections Network, will share the Clematis that attracts pollinators and which pollinators those are. Additionally, she will share her knowledge of the many native, native-vars, and non-native companion plants that enhance our clematis garden.

FREE

Discover the 50% Off Solar Project USDA REAP Grant Program

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Zachary Peek, Owner, Atlas Consulting LLC

Join this session to learn how Nurseries, Farms, Ranches and Rural Small Businesses are eligible to receive an award equal to 50% of the total solar system cost. Zack will describe eligibility, timing considerations, and next steps for interested organizations. Attendees will also learn how all the available incentives can be combined to bring the payback period of a solar installation to just 1 or 2 years.

FREE

Reduce the Cost of Spraying Your Nursery

Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

Speaker: Timothy Schaal, CEO, Airtec Sprayers, Inc.

Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of spray applications in your nursery by selecting the correct sprayer for the application. Using the correct equipment to manage pests and diseases is critical to reducing waste and improving efficiency.

FREE

OMRI: Your Organic Secret Weapon

Room B116

Speaker: Roger Plant, Marketing Manager, OMRI Eugene, Oregon based OMRI is the largest material review organization in North America. This presentation will help you find

Nursery Science Summit: Plant Pathology

Room B119

  Speaker 1: Jay W. Pscheidt, Ph.D., Extension Plant Pathology Specialist, Oregon State University Title: Smart Spraying Grapes Leads to New Boxwood Blight Management Description:

The Fundamentals of Resistance Management

Room B113

Unfortunately, Raymond Cloyd is not be able to attend the show this year. Speaker: Raymond A. Cloyd, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Specialist, Kansas State University

Nursery Science Summit: Insect Pest Management

Room B119

Speaker 1: Jana Lee, Ph.D., USDA Entomologist Title: Using Natural Enemies in Outdoor Nurseries, and Silicon for Pest Management Speaker 2: Man-yeon Choi, Ph.D., USDA

IPM Strategies to keep Pesticides in the Toolkit

Room B113

Speaker: Alison Kutz, Consulting Director, Sound Horticulture Pests trying to outwit you? This talk will cover best practices for keeping beneficial insects and microbial controls

Top Consumer Garden Trends to Drive Sales

Room B110

Speaker: Katie Tamony, Chief Marketing Officer and Trend Spotter, Monrovia Nursery Company Want to know what home gardeners are thinking? Every year, Monrovia conducts large

IPM for Horticulture Crops

Room B113

Speaker: Vanessa Vassilaros, M.S., Consultant Attendants will learn about steps to prevent, decrease, or contain pest and disease pressure using integrated pest management strategies in

The Retail Experience: Boxwood Problem Solving

Room B119

Speaker: Pat Reilly, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, Saunders Genetics LLC and NewGen Boxwood Landscapers, garden center staff, growers, and homeowners alike encounter issues with boxwood. Attention to

Advancing Boxwood Blight Monitoring Techniques

Room B113

Speaker: Luisa Santamaria, Ph.D., Professor, Extension Plant Pathologist, Oregon State University Boxwood plants, which are widely utilized in gardening and landscaping, are seriously threatened by

Copyright® 2024 Farwest Show
The Farwest Show is produced by the Oregon Association of Nurseries
SHOW DATES: AUGUST 20-22, 2025 | SHOW HOURS: Wednesday: 10am – 5pm | Thursday: 10am – 5pm | Friday: 10am – 2pm
SHOW LOCATION: Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
MAILING: 29751 SW Town Center Loop W., Wilsonville, OR 97070
Phone: 888-283-7219 | 503-682-5089 | farwest@oan.org
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