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

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
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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