Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

Making every drop count

By — Posted

Using water efficiently in the greenhouse One of the most vital elements for growing plants is becoming more and more scarce. With agriculture, municipalities, and environmental communities competing over limited water supplies, growers have every reason to use it deliberately and efficiently.  Greenhouse growers have several options to consider that could help them do that, […]

Unsung perennials

By — Posted

A treasure trove of options is available for those who want to go beyond the staples Thousands of books are written about them, as are poems, and there are even songs sung about the flowers we know as perennials. Perennials are the backbone of most garden designs and some container gardens, as well. Consumers adore […]

Yoshitomi Brothers Inc.

By — Posted

Founded: 1960 by Ed, Fred, Robert and Kay Yoshitomi OWNERS: Don and Mariah KondoKNOWN FOR: Growing a wide variety of perennials (40%), annuals (40%) and vegetable starts (20%) wholesale, for delivery to retail garden centers.PEOPLE: Randy Gettel, production, logistics and maintenance manager; Gilbert Baltazar, head grower; Dan Bamberger, landscaper sales and production manager; Josh Stenson, […]

Understanding the new climate rules

By — Posted

Oregon’s new climate protection program is expected to increase certain business costs On December 16, 2021, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) voted to approve the Climate Protection Program (CPP). The CPP, codified in Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 340, Division 271, joins other Oregon climate-focused rules, including the Clean Trucks Program and Clean Fuels Program. […]

Fly like an EAGL!

By — Posted

I am heading to Austin, Texas shortly. I’m going to assist my brother, Chris (president of Robinson Nursery Inc.), and his wife, Marie (marketing director at Robinson), in finishing the capstone course for Dr. Charlie Hall’s EAGL program (Executive Academy for Growth and Leadership). For those of you who haven’t heard about this program, it […]

In Memoriam: Shawn Holt

By — Posted

The Oregon Association of Nurseries is saddened to report the death of Shawn Holt, who worked as a nursery sales representative for several Oregon-based wholesale nurseries and owned a nursery himself. He passed away from a rare autoimmune lung disease on November 17, 2021, at the age of 61. Shawn was born and raised in […]

Mycorrhizal Applications hires Southeast sales manager

By — Posted

Joseph Setter has been hired by Mycorrhizal Applications (MA) to be a new sales account manager for the Southeastern U.S., according to a release from the company. Based out of Greenville, South Carolina, he will support growers and distributors in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Setter […]

USDA hires state director of rural development

By — Posted

The U.S. Department of Agriculture appointed Margaret Hoffmann to lead a rural development office in Oregon, according to a report from Oregon Capital Chronicle (Salem, Oregon). She will be helping to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and loans from the agency to farmers and ranchers. The office distributed $680 million in assistance […]

February 2022 — Retail Outlook issue

By — Posted

As home gardening activity continues to grow during the pandemic, the February issue of Digger asks how independent garden centers are capitalizing on the moment. Retailers share how they’re following color trends, connecting with their customers in the store and online, as well as meeting homeowners’ other garden tool needs. Plus, researchers discuss testing ultraviolet […]