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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

  • 20/23 Vision: A Look Ahead in the Retail Industry

    Room B113

    Speaker: Danny Summers, Managing Director, The Garden Center Group
    Major shifts have occurred throughout industries, organizations, and the entire world over the past two and a half years. Garden Retailing is no exception. As we look forward to 2023, Danny Summers of The Garden Center Group will take a look back and share a collection of stats and observations to help you prepare for 2023 — and beyond. The Garden Center Group is North America’s resource for solutions for garden retailing — benchmarking, budgeting, inventory and margins, marketing, merchandising, brand building, property and site design, human resources, team building, succession, and more.

    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

  • Be an A.C.E. Garden Center: Eight Steps for Delivering the Astonishing Customer Experience for Your Retail Customers

    Room B113

    Speaker: Anne Obarski, Founder and CEO, Merchandise Concepts
    Through the pandemic, customers have grown accustomed to online ordering. However, today you are trying creative ways to get customers back in the store. This seminar will focus on eight critical areas in your store to deliver that “astonishing” experience at every single touchpoint you have with your customer. The A.C.E. grading scale includes marketing, exterior and interior, employees, merchandising, and three additional areas you probably have never thought of. This session will help you deliver an A+ astonishing experience for your customers at every turn.

    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

  • Reducing Plastic Pots: Adopt Air Pruning Strategies

    Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

    Speaker: Michael Taylor, Senior Nursery Specialist, Blackmore Company
    This FREE mini-session is included with your trade show pass!
    Learn about the Ellepot system and discover the benefits of air pruning roots. Air pruning reduces production costs, creates more root mass, uses less media, and reduces the number of plastic pots ending up in landfills. Plus, it helps the consumer have a better gardening experience!

    FREE

  • 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

  • A Baker’s Dozen of Pollinator Trees

    Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

    A Season-long Menu for Attracting Pollinator Guests to the Garden
    Speaker: Nancy Buley, Communications Director, J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
    This FREE mini-session is included with your trade show pass!
    Most pollinator research for determining the best nectar and pollen sources is focused on perennials and annuals. Garden centers can increase their tree sales throughout the year by offering a sequence of trees that bloom from early spring until fall.

    FREE

  • On the Floor: A Merchandising GPS for Increased Sales

    Room B113

    Speaker: Anne Obarski, Founder and CEO, Merchandise Concepts
    As customers return to physical stores, it’s the eye-catching displays that their attention and drive revenue. Has every product earned its right to be in your store? Are your lighting and décor drawing attention to your merchandise? Do you have an enticing floor plan? Are you struggling to create the “right” displays? This session will address the “new” ways to address your inventory and your store merchandising to receive a standing ovation from your customer.

    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

  • Soil Moisture: Top Factor for the Survival of Newly Installed Plants

    Room B110

    Speaker: Wei Zhang, Vice President of Research and Development, TreeDiaper
    Urban trees tend to struggle because it is not an ideal growing condition between pavements and buildings. Underwatering and overwatering are the most common causes. Water prescriptions are developed to address this problem, but too much of the water is wasted. The most important factor for tree survival is the soil moisture, not how much water is dumped onto the root ball. New methods of increasing plant available water and stabilizing soil moisture will be discussed.

    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

  • Improve Your Website With Data, Not Gut-feel

    Room B113

    Speaker: Timothy Howard, President/Founder, Clarity Connect, Inc.
    With tools like A/B testing, screen recording, heat maps and Google Analytics, you can take the guesswork out of improving your website. The tools available are free, or very low cost, and give you the data you need to confidently improve your website.

    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

  • Take Advantage of the Boom: Leverage Extra Cash for Long-Term Gains

    Room B113

    Speaker: Timothy Howard, President/Founder, Clarity Connect, Inc.
    In today’s market, most growers and garden centers, are selling virtually every plant they have. It is somewhat counter-intuitive to invest in your business when you don’t need to. However, now is the perfect time to leverage extra cash for long-term gains. This presentation will demonstrate multiple ways growers and garden centers can upgrade their websites, invest in employees, purchase new technology and tools, and increase marketing efforts, to help secure customers for the long haul while making it easier on their operations.

    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

  • Grow Profits Using Job Costing to Identify and Eliminate Waste in Your Company

    Room B116

    Speaker: Rich Thiebaud, Director of Sales, Landscape Management Network (LMN)

    With more than 25 years of experience, Rich will bring a wealth of knowledge to this seminar giving an overview of the importance of job costing and how to keep it as simple and automated as possible. Most importantly, Rich will give an overview of the nine wastes of landscaping, which are the biggest reasons landscape companies lose efficiency and profitability, and how to snuff those wastes out for good.

    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

  • 20/24 Vision for Garden Retailing

    Room B110

    Speaker: Danny Summers, Managing Director/Chief Instigator, The Garden Center Group

    Garden retailing has experienced major growth in new customers and sales since 2019. As we look forward to 2024, Danny will share insight of the The Group's 150+ Garden Centers performances and the Best Practices Benchmarks from The Group's Annual P&L Studies of 2020, 2021, and 2022 plus additional observations and trends to help you prepare for 2024–and beyond.

    Registration Required

  • Stressed Out: How to Diagnose, Treat, and Avoid Environmental Stress in Landscape Plants

    Room B116

    Speaker: Linda Chalker-Scott, Ph.D, Professor and Extension Specialist in Urban Horticulture, Washington State University

    This seminar will present a diagnostic approach to discovering the cause behind landscape failure. Many landscape plants fail to thrive, or even die, because of avoidable errors in selecting, transplanting, and maintaining trees and shrubs. Without understanding the underlying reason behind landscape failure, homeowners and professionals often resort to pesticides and fertilizers in an unsuccessful attempt to fix the problem. An alternative set of suggested best practices will be presented based on recent and on-going research, which ultimately will help landscape managers avoid the unnecessary use of chemicals.

    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

  • Solving Pest Problems – an Overview of the Oregon IPM Center (Spanish Only)

    Room B113

    Speaker: Silvia I. Rondon, Professor and Extension Entomology Specialist, Oregon State University; Director, Oregon Integrated Pest Management Center

    This presentation will provide an overview of the Oregon IPM center with focus on our new Solve Pest Problems. Some unrestricted pesticides information will be mentioned during this presentation.

    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

  • Landscape Zombies! Myths That Refuse to Die

    Room B116

    Speaker: Linda Chalker-Scott, Ph.D, Professor and Extension Specialist in Urban Horticulture, Washington State University

    Professional horticulturists want the latest plant and soil science information to use in managing landscapes, but how can you tell what’s science, and what’s pseudoscience? Landscape professionals can quickly lose their credibility — and cause damage to plants and soil — when they end up promoting products and practices that aren’t based on reputable science. This seminar will provide some guidelines for evaluating products and practices based on the most current and relevant scientific information available.

    Registration Required

  • 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

  • Make Signs People Will Read

    Solution Center (end of Aisle 10,000)

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

    Bridget will present research-based information about how consumers read or ignore signage in the retail store. Signage is essential to communicate many things about the plants (and other products) people can’t know without you telling them.

    FREE

  • 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

  • Soil Oxygen: The Real Limiting Factor For Trees

    Room B119

    Speaker: Wei Zhang, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development, Zynnovation LLC

    This presentation answers common questions, such as: Why do we have to water trees so often? Why can't we supply them with one year's water supply at a time? Why don’t roots grow deep? Why is compacted soil bad for urban trees? Why is volcano mulching bad for trees while leaf piling against tree trunks in natural forests is good? Why is deicing salt bad for plants? What makes the space under sidewalks so attractive to tree roots? One thing in common with all these problems - Soil Oxygen! Join us for live demonstrations throughout the seminar.

    Registration Required