Digger magazine

Forestry official: Inspections miss 72 percent of plant pests

By Peter Szymczak — Posted February 3, 2015

According to a story published by Capital Press, the importation of live plants into Oregon and the U.S. is a primary pathway for invasive insects and pathogens, some of which could cause severe damage to forests and nurseries. The statement was made by Wyatt Williams, an invasive species specialist with the Oregon Department of Forestry […]

Protecting our resources

By Mike Coleman — Posted February 1, 2015

As nursery people, our livelihoods depend on caring for and protecting our resources, both natural and human.

Drought spouts new opportunities

By Mike Darcy — Posted February 1, 2015

California’s water restrictions could have a positive impact on Oregon’s green industry.

A dogged approach to dogwoods

By Elizabeth Petersen — Posted February 1, 2015

Years of research have yielded hardier, more decorative Cornus hybrids

The quality control journey

By Kym Pokorny — Posted February 1, 2015

From propagation to pulling orders, and every step in between, growers have many opportunities to impact plant quality.

February 2015

By Peter Szymczak — Posted February 1, 2015

Get the scoop on the February 2015 issue of Digger magazine.

The greening of turfgrass

By Alec Kowalewski — Posted February 1, 2015

OSU’s Turf Program looks for ways to improve the environmental and economic sustainability of turfgrass management.

Your voice matters

By Jeff Stone — Posted February 1, 2015

As state legislatures and the U.S. Congress begin to find their footing in the new year, the push and pull of the political process has begun. I have stated more than once in my time writing the director’s column that democracy is a participation sport. It is true. My former boss, U.S. Sen. Bob Packwood, […]

Red palm weevil eradicated from California

By Peter Szymczak — Posted January 29, 2015

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) declared the eradication of red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) from the Laguna Beach area of Orange County, California. The pest was first discovered in August 2010. Red palm weevil is one of three giant palm weevils that are native to Southeast Asia and known to occur […]

OSU reports 2014 second-hottest recorded year in Oregon history

By Peter Szymczak — Posted January 28, 2015

The year 2014 was the hottest on Earth in 134 years of record-keeping. In Oregon, it was the second hottest year since records were kept beginning in 1895, according to researchers with the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute at Oregon State University. “We had a warm summer, and now a warm winter,” said Kathie Dello, […]