Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

Bailey hires new CFO and chief HR officer

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Bailey Nurseries, a wholesale nursery based in St. Paul, Minnesota, has appointed Tim Jacobson as chief human resources officer and Katie Huth as chief financial officer. The company said both will play key roles in steering the strategic direction of the company and driving continued growth.  Jacobson most recently served as vice president of people […]

$250,000 shifted to P. austrocedri research

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Officials have quickly reprioritized $250,000 in federal horticulture research funds to immediately begin developing and implementing effective strategies to prevent the spread of Phytophthora austrocedri and minimize its impact on the horticultural industry. P. austrocedri is a destructive pathogen threatening valuable ornamental crops including cypress, arborvitae, juniper, and cedar, which could have serious consequences for nurseries, landscapes, […]

September 2024 Digger

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In addition to stories recapping the 2024 Farwest Show, the September issue of Digger includes green industry news and features. Let’s dig in! Columns: Growing Knowledge, an ongoing series provided by Oregon State University in collaboration with the USDA and in partnership with OAN. Download a PDF of this issue.

New boxwood varieties shore up defense against spreading boxwood blight

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As boxwood blight was spreading in the U.S. in the 2010s, executives at Plant Development Services in Loxley, Alabama, and Saunders Brothers Nursery in Piney River, Virginia, were looking for solutions. Plant Development Services looked to Europe, where blight had been a major issue since 1998, while Saunders Brothers looked to germplasm it had on […]

Growth, challenges, and the road ahead for the nursery industry

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Jeb Fields, and Ryan Contreras In a recent article published in HortTechnology, titled “How Natural Resources, Consumer Perceptions, and Labor Are Transforming the U.S. Nursery Industry,” nursery science researchers from across the United States examined the current state and future of the nursery industry. The paper, available free online (TinyURL.com/IndustryPaper), highlights the substantial economic impact […]

The sprint to November begins now

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Every four years, we hear from the political pundits that “this election is the most important one in our lifetime” or “our nation and its survival is at stake.” Alternatively, we might get a pervasive feeling of dread that our vote won’t matter in the end. Well, this election is very important. The direction (not […]

Excited for a new season and a new year

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Fall is almost here, and I can feel the change happening. To me it is always the most obvious that seasonal change is upon us first thing every day. There is nothing like that cool, crisp morning with a beautiful sunrise and a light layer of fog covering the ground. I thoroughly welcome that change […]

Looking back, ONF scholarships made a big difference in launching the careers of winners

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The Oregon Nurseries Foundation has given 588 scholarships since its beginning, totaling just over $530,000. The scholarships have helped the recipients complete their education and start their careers.Digger caught up with five former scholarship winners to see where they are now and how they’re doing. Their stories provide an inspiration for the industry and reinforce […]

Sense of excitement prevailed at Farwest as nursery industry ‘Meets the Future’ 

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A sense of optimism and excitement prevailed at the 2024 Farwest Show as the exhibitors put their best foot forward, forged new customer connections, and strengthened existing relationships. “This year’s Farwest Show floor had great energy with over 4,000 in attendance and more than 300 exhibiting companies representing many segments throughout our industry,” said Allan […]