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Articles and posts by Curt Kipp

The Advocacy Issue, Part 5: The cost of doing business

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Rod Park once met a cattleman. The nurseryman and OAN past president was attending a conference years ago, talking to aggies from other sectors. The rancher reported that he had grown from raising 500 head of cattle to 1,000 head, but he was making the same net income. It was, essentially, double the risk, double […]

The Advocacy Issue, Part 4: The issues

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The OAN engages in a wide variety of issues affecting members Every legendary band or musician with a deep repertoire still has a song, like Lynrd Skynrd’s “Freebird,” they must play at every concert, usually during the encore. The Rolling Stones always end with “Gimme Shelter.” Bob Dylan plays “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Andy Williams […]

The Advocacy Issue, Part 3: The approach

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OAN focuses on issues rather than party politics It’s 2020, and Americans are more polarized than ever. Their political institutions certainly reflect it. That was true even before COVID-19 and other unusual events of this year layered on an added patina of surreality. OAN Government Relations Committee member Leigh Geschwill described the landscape as “treacherous, […]

The Advocacy Issue, Part 2: The team

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OAN members and experts work in tandem to protect nurseries Men and women roaming marble hallways in expensive attire — that’s what people may envision when they think of lobbying. And while professional advocates play a role, the OAN Advocacy Team has more players — and more layers. According to OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone, it […]

The Advocacy Issue, Part 1: The need

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With a season on the brink, OAN responds The season was on the line, and everyone knew it. Normally, the word “season” might refer to collegiate or professional athletics. But for nurseries this past March, it meant something else. Spring shipping. With the proliferation of the COVID-19 pathogen, states were restricting businesses and their ability […]

Nurseries remain Oregon’s top ag commodity

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Nursery and greenhouse products remained Oregon’s top agricultural commodity for 2019, according to new statistics released by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The agency estimated $955 million in nursery and greenhouse sales for the year, down from the 2018 estimate of $996 million. “Nursery sales continue to be strong,” OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone said. […]

Farwest Show launches virtual contest to crown 2020 New Varieties Showcase winners

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There is no Farwest Show this year in Portland due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore, no opportunity to see the hottest new plants in person. But there is still a New Varieties Showcase — it’s just being held online and in the pages of Digger magazine. Like past editions, the 2020 New Varieties Showcase, sponsored by Hip […]

Growing with the industry: Farwest memories

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Kathy LeCompte My husband Dave and I started Brooks Tree Farm in 1980, so we’re celebrating our 40th year in business this year. Our first year in the show was actually 1982. My mother and father had a booth with Drake’s Crossing Nursery, where I’d grown up on the farm. We developed a really unprofessional sales […]

Growing with the industry

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The Farwest Show has brought attention to the Oregon nurseryindustry over the years, along with more business It all began 47 years ago with high hopes and a little bit of hype. “All roads lead to Portland, September 11–13, for the Farwest Nursery, Garden and Supply Show: the biggest, boldest nursery show ever staged in […]