Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

  • Digital-Ad-Campaign-FWS-2026_728x90.png
  • Nursery-Guide-Find-More-Banner-Ad_728x90.png
  • Digger-Employment_banner-2020-728x90px.jpg
  • Digital-Ad-Campaign-FWS-2026_560x75-04.png
  • MK-bug-728x90-NG.png
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Nursery News
    • Features
    • Plants
    • Growing Knowledge
    • Operations
    • Nursery Country
  • Issues
  • Events
  • Farwest
  • Columns
    • Director’s Desk
    • Mike Darcy
    • President’s Message
  • Employment Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Digger
You are here: Home / Archives for Columns / Director's Desk

Our mission is to serve

By Jeff Stone — Posted January 30, 2018

The Oregon Association of Nurseries wouldn’t have lasted for over eight decades without changing with the times, but the pace of societal change feels like it is accelerating. We must keep up.    All across the country, trade associations have struggled to demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) to their membership. They’ve presented a wide […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Benefits, Business, Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members, Politics

Turning the page to 2018

By Jeff Stone — Posted December 22, 2017

I have had the pleasure of working for the association for a dozen years. I have worked for a United States senator, been chief of staff to a regional government, but this industry is something special. I am a workaholic — our past president Mark Bigej endured well over 2,000 emails over the course of […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Business, Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members

Convention and the nursery family

By Jeff Stone — Posted December 7, 2017

Something special happened at this year’s OAN Convention, held in November at Salishan. Anytime there’s a large gathering of our membership, I find myself rejuvenated. The camaraderie is something to behold. You see titans of the industry interacting with up-and-comers and the future of the industry. They talk about trends, production and labor challenges as […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Business, Convention, Digger, Digger magazine, OAN, OAN Members

Going big on transportation

By Jeff Stone — Posted November 1, 2017

As Oregon’s largest agricultural sector, the nursery and greenhouse industry depends on an integrated transportation system so product can get to market. Nearly 75 percent of the nursery stock we grow ends up leaving our borders, with more than half ticketed for markets east of the Mississippi River. As a trade association, we have supported […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Economy, OAN, OAN Members, Politics, Regulations, Transportation, Wholesale Nurseries

A time for reasoned minds

By Jeff Stone — Posted October 1, 2017

October is upon us — the release of summer’s long grip on our operations, leaves rapidly changing into a wonder of colors, crisp mornings and celebrations of Columbus Day and Canadian Thanksgiving. It is difficult not to write about all the tumult happening around our great nation. It is not the first time nor the […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Immigration, OAN, OAN Members, Politics

A game changer

By Jeff Stone — Posted September 13, 2017

As a leader and innovator in plant production, Oregon’s nursery and greenhouse industry has an equal responsibility to make a difference on the environmental side of the coin.  We frequently remind our members of Congress and the Oregon Legislature that the industry sends ecologically friendly green products out of the state, bringing traded sector dollars […]

Filed Under: Columns, Director's Desk Tagged With: Business, Irrigation, Operations, Pesticides, Pests and Diseases, Regulations, Sustainability, Wholesale Nurseries

I’ll be there

By Jeff Stone — Posted August 1, 2017

The Farwest Show, located in one of the most productive nursery growing areas in the country, has it all.

Filed Under: Director's Desk Tagged With: Business, Digger, Digger magazine, Farwest Show, OAN Members, Operations, People, Plants

Answering the anthem

By Jeff Stone — Posted July 3, 2017

We sing it. But do we know the story behind “The Star-Spangled Banner?”

Filed Under: Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, People

A green industry means a green environment

By Jeff Stone — Posted June 2, 2017

The Oregon Association of Nurseries educates people about the benefits of the plant material grown in Oregon.

Filed Under: Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Education, Marketing, OAN, Plants

We are your advocate

By Jeff Stone — Posted May 1, 2017

OAN is working for solutions to the immigration and labor issues that plague the industry today.

Filed Under: Director's Desk Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Immigration, Operations, Politics, Workforce

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • Next Page »

NURSERY NEWS

Bailey Nurseries removed dams to build environmental resilience

The new NurseryGuide.com powers up with new features

Terra Gardens owner’s gesture for his mother opens the door to other wheelchair-bound gardeners

OAN announces 2025 Friends of Nurseries award winners

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

In memoriam: Bill Van Belle

Longtime employee buys Heritage Seedlings and Liners

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

August 2026 Digger: Farwest Show Edition

July 2026

June: The Shrubs Issue

May 2026: the Sustainability Issue

April: The Tree Issue

More issues of Digger

Pests and Diseases

Box tree moths pose a threat to Oregon nurseries

Managing Phytophthora: timing, temperature and emerging threats

Managing slugs and snails in Pacific Northwest nurseries

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

Prioritizing nursery pest challenges

More articles

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

2026 Farwest Show issues calls for speakers

Excitement, optimism prevail at 2025 Farwest Show

Dazzling plants, products garner Retailer’s Choice Awards

Youngblood Nursery wins Best in Show booth honors at the 2025 Farwest Show

Glow Sticks Fescue wins top honors from judges at Farwest Show’s New Varieties Showcase 

More Updates from Farwest

The Value of Membership

OAN members see benefits and rewards from serving ag industry organizations

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

OAN honors industry leaders at 2025 Convention

More member stories

​

Updates to exisiting subscriptions can be sent to info@oan.org

News

  • Nursery News
  • Growing Knowledge
  • Nursery Operations

Features

  • Plant Features
  • OAN Members
  • Oregon Nursery Country

Columns

  • Director’s Desk
  • Mike Darcy
  • President’s Message
  • Digital Growth

Resources

  • OAN Home Page
  • Job Listings
  • Subscribe to Digger
  • Advertise in Digger
  • Online Plant Search

© 2026 Oregon Association of Nurseries

Loading Comments...