Nursery News – Page 26

Farwest Show marks second straight year of higher attendance

By Curt Kipp — Posted August 31, 2016

The Farwest Show continues to grow — just like Oregon’s high quality plants, trees and shrubs. More than 6,300 industry professionals turned out or the 2016 edition of the national nursery and greenhouse industry expo. It was a 6 percent increase over 2015, making it the second consecutive year that attendance went up. The show also […]

Oregon nurseries approach $900 million in annual sales

By Curt Kipp — Posted August 23, 2016

Oregon nurseries and greenhouses sold $894 million worth of plant material in 2015, according to a new estimate by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. This was good enough to make nursery and greenhouse products Oregon’s number two agricultural commodity, behind cattle and calves at $914 million. It represented an 11 percent increase in sales from […]

Bipartisan group calls for comprehensive immigration reform

By Curt Kipp — Posted August 4, 2016

A bipartisan group of Oregon civic leaders held an immigration reform Day of Action on Wednesday (August 3, 2016), calling on Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform. “We may not agree on everything, but we can agree that all people should be treated with dignity and respect,” said Oregon Speaker of the House Tina Kotek (D-Portland).

Administration raises threshold for overtime exemption

By Curt Kipp — Posted May 25, 2016

The White House announced on May 18 that it will essentially double the threshold at which salaried employees performing certain executive, professional or administrative duties are exempt from overtime pay. The current threshold is $23,660 and will roughly double to $47,476. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez told reporters the exemption was originally intended for high-paid executives, […]

2016 Farwest Show to feature guest speaker Judy Sharpton

By Peter Szymczak — Posted May 10, 2016

2016 Farwest Show guest speaker Judy Sharpton focuses on garden retail’s key demographic, where the customer lives, with Homestyle Merchandising® program

Willamette Chapter Plant Sale raises more than $4,700 for horticulture education

By Peter Szymczak — Posted April 27, 2016

Willamette Chapter Plant Sale raises more than $4,700 for horticulture education < photos: Ag Fest

Oregon nurseries launch Lean consortium

By Peter Szymczak — Posted February 24, 2016

A consortium of four Oregon nurseries announced a year-long effort to learn and apply principles of Lean — also known as the “Toyota Production System.” Lean is a method for eliminating waste that results in more value to customers, delivered at a lower cost, in a shorter time, with fewer defects and less human effort. […]

Oregon horticultural sales hit $932 million for 2014

By Curt Kipp — Posted February 1, 2016

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service has released its new 2014 Census of Horticultural Specialties, which was the first taken since 2009. The massive, 583-page document contains national as well as state-by-state data for various industry sectors as well as individual plant genera.

Oregon Flora Project takes first comprehensive look at state’s plants in a half century

By Peter Szymczak — Posted November 16, 2015

A new book by the Oregon Flora Project is the first comprehensive assessment of the state’s native and naturalized plants since 1961. “Flora of Oregon: Volume 1: Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Monocots” was published in the fall of 2015 by the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. It can be ordered for $75 online at oregonflora.org. Volume […]

Court puts new ‘waters of the U.S.’ rule on hold

By Curt Kipp — Posted October 9, 2015

A federal court has put on hold the EPA’s new “waters of the United States” rule, which was announced back in the spring and was widely criticized by leaders from both major political parties as a case of federal overreach. Opponents, including most agricultural groups, fear the rule, if implemented, could subject marginal waterways to […]