Digger magazine

An important partnership

By Jim Simnitt — Posted July 29, 2020

In 1888, the Oregon Agriculture College (OAC) established a horticulture department with sights on building a single greenhouse and creating its own laboratories to conduct experiments. In the subsequent 132 years, OAC became Oregon State University (OSU) and the horticulture department has grown. When I graduated from OSU in horticulture 20 years ago, there were […]

OAN postpones Hawaii convention to 2021

By Bill Goloski — Posted July 17, 2020

The Oregon Association of Nurseries has postponed this fall’s planned OAN Annual Convention in Hawaii. The get-together had been planned for November 12–14, 2020 at the Grand Wailea Resort on Maui, but with travel to Hawaii uncertain at best due to COVID-19, holding the convention in Hawaii this year was untenable. A one-day virtual version […]

July 2020

By Bill Goloski — Posted July 9, 2020

Open this issue to discover a diverse range of crape myrtle options, as well as pest management tools for minor crops. We also have a basic introduction to search engine optimization, and the president of the OAN updates the readership on changes at the OAN. In this issue: Creative crape myrtles: Covering many climates and […]

Nurseries report a profitable spring despite pandemic

By Bill Goloski — Posted July 8, 2020

The greenhouse and nursery industry continues to predict high profits during the pandemic, according to the latest market snapshot by Northwest Farm Credit Services. In a straw poll, container and B&B growers in the Northwest reported a 12.05% increase in sales in 2020, although most of the gains were reported by the container growers — […]

Pest management tools for minor crops

By Danielle Lightle — Posted July 1, 2020

How IR-4 and OSU are working for you With a 2018 farm gate value just shy of $1 billion, it is no secret that the ornamental plant industries in Oregon (nursery and greenhouse) are important and viable enterprises that contribute greatly to the state’s economy. Controlling insect, disease, and weed pests is an important part […]

Creative crape myrtles

By Tracy Ilene Miller — Posted July 1, 2020

Covering many climates and color options, Lagerstroemia is a reliable seller for growers Lagestroemia (crape myrtle) is thought of as a southern U.S. plant, yet it is on the City of Portland street tree list and has grown in Oregon for more than a century. A pair of crape myrtle Portland Heritage Trees can be […]

Search engine optimization: Helping customers find you

By Shelly Weasel — Posted July 1, 2020

Previously, I offered some tips on putting your website to work for you. This month, I’m back to help make sure your website can be discovered by search engines, such as Google, which is vital to helping both customers and other businesses find you on the internet. The primary goal of search engine optimization (SEO) […]

America needs our vote

By Jeff Stone — Posted July 1, 2020

At a time of national challenge, we can either look at what divides us or what unites us. Our nursery community is a critical ingredient in the great American experiment. We are a blessed and privileged few. America is only as strong as her citizens. Our nation is a cauldron of different perspectives, ideologies and […]

OAN takes a financial hit

By Jim Simnitt — Posted July 1, 2020

I miss baseball. Due to concerns related to COVID-19, the start of the Major League Baseball season was postponed. I’m hopeful there will be some baseball games before the end of summer. I’m not a die-hard fan by any means, but I played a lot growing up. Summer was a time for batting gloves, infield […]

June 2020

By Bill Goloski — Posted June 2, 2020

Learn how wholesale growers are implementing additional precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on the job, and what changes are being made in the retail garden center experience. This issue also includes Part 2 of our white blooming plants stories, and a leader profile featuring Chris Robinson of Robinson Nursery Inc. Plus, OSU students […]