Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

A P. ramorum breakthrough

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Researchers probing linkages between the two North American strains and the European strain of Phytophthora ramorum – the pathogen that causes Sudden Oak Death – say they have found important clues to their origins. According to a USDA Agricultural Research service press release: Their evidence showed that the European lineage may be older than the […]

Plastic into oil

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People talk all the time about recycling plastics. Agri-Plas Inc. in Brooks, Ore., has gone a step beyond that by converting used agricultural plastics (greenhouse film, plastic pots, etc.) back to their source material — crude oil, which then can be refined into fuel. As noted by two publications (www.sustainablebusiness.com and www.environmentalleader.com), the company recently […]

The pros and cons of furloughs

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Sad though it may be, many employers resorting to layoffs and terminations as a means to reducing costs. After all, labor is the largest expense for many employers. During the current recession, a different option has become increasingly popular. Furloughs are mandatory, unpaid time off for a larger group of employees. Unlike layoffs, furloughs keep […]

The real dirt on what’s hot

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To paraphrase an old McDonald’s tagline, “Did someone say edibles?” Lest anyone doubt that edibles are going to be THE hot seller at garden centers this year, consider this. We received word from Patty Howe that Al’s Garden Center of Sherwood has already filled up “Getting Down in the Dirt,” an upcoming seminar on vegetable […]

Private enterprise steps up

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Last year, the Oregon Department of Forestry closed the D.L. Phipps Nursery for budgetary reasons, prompting foresters, Christmas tree growers and others to wonder where they would be able to obtain native seedlings. According to this article in the Capital Press (Salem, Ore.), IFA Nurseries has stepped in to become the answer to that question.

Royally resplendent

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Congratulations to the folks over at J. Frank Schmidt & Son, who have launched www.royalraindrops.com, a new Web site dedicated entirely to the Royal Raindrops® crabapple. Snoop around a little … you might find a link to a useful article (PDF) or two.

More metal enforcement

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We first talked about metal thefts back in January. Because the thieves often target irrigation equipment, nurseries have been particularly hard hit. Here’s an update: legislation is moving forward (Capital Press | Salem Statesman-Journal). The good news? Law enforcement is likely to gain greater tools to go after the perpetrators. The bad news? Felony status […]

Nurseries: the next generation

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Do you know a young person who might be willing to consider a career in nurseries, or just agriculture in general? www.thelandlovers.org is a nifty new site that provides information about the different careers that are available. A tip of the hat to Chris Guntermann for letting us know about this well-made and informative site.