Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

Throttling back the burn

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Efficiency improvements can help nurseries mitigate natural gas costs Whether you’re talking annuals, perennials, houseplants, veggie starts or other tender plants, it takes a variety of investments to get greenhouse-grown plants out the door and delivered to paying customers. Property expenses, labor, pots, other supplies, plant material, taxes and fees, and finally, freight are among […]

Stretched to the limit

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Extreme weather wreaks havoc on greenhouse poly film With 15 acres of greenhouses under his management, Jeremy Dewar at North American Plants in McMinnville, Oregon, replaces polyethylene (poly) film on a recurring basis. Lately, however, he is replacing it at a higher rate than usual. Like other greenhouse operations in Oregon, the greenhouses at North […]

Low-water lawn alternatives

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Miniclover, ecolawn and a variety of groundcovers grow landscapes that are green and drought tolerant Expansive lawns in Europe and the rising popularity of golf in the late 1900s launched America’s obsession with a perfect plot of grass. The invention of the rotary mower and the development of climate-adapted grass varieties made a landscape of […]

OAN Member Profile: Oregon Flowers Inc. 

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The Meskers family comes from generations of bulb producers in Holland. Since Martin Meskers emigrated from Holland to Oregon, he has grown a wholesale cut flower business called Oregon Flowers Inc. The business ships approximately 6.5 million stems per year to nearly all 50 states, mostly to the West Coast and the Northeast. Company president […]

Dogging your voles

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Researchers explore whether hounds can assist in timely vole management By Dana Sanchez and Nick Andrews In the big picture, burrowing animals contribute significantly to natural ecosystems and the soils on which our own economies and lives depend. Burrowers contribute to soil aeration, provide nutrients and soil organic matter, participate in redistributing nutrients to the […]

Everyday things matter

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As Benjamin Franklin left the Constitutional Convention, he was reportedly asked what kind of government the founders would propose. He replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” This phrase has resonated through American history. It has been tested through a civil war, world wars, and even the toxic sludge of political discourse we are […]

Speaking for the trees

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Recently, I found myself thinking about the classic children’s book “The Lorax,” written by Dr. Seuss. In his typical writing fashion, Dr. Seuss weaves profound lessons within the book’s fun and whimsical pages. In this story we meet two polarizing characters: the Once-ler, a greedy industrialist who made a living by cutting down beautiful truffula […]

NWFCS, Farm Credit West create new association

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Stockholders of Northwest Farm Credit Services (NWFCS) and Farm Credit West overwhelmingly approved a merger of their associations. The new association, AgWest Farm Credit, will serve more than 22,000 customers throughout seven western states. The merger was effective January 1, 2023. The new association will be led by past Farm Credit West President and CEO […]

Bailey Nurseries announces leadership transition

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Bailey Nurseries’ Chief Executive Officer Terri McEnaney will step away from the day-to-day operations to focus on strategy and the future of Bailey, the company announced in a press release. “It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve in this role,” McEnaney said. “The legacy of humility, long-term strategic thinking, active industry participation, […]