November 2018 — The People Issue In Oregon, nurseries and their people ship close to $1 billion worth of ornamental nursery and greenhouse plants per year. That’s why you will seldom find a nursery owner or manager who does not appreciate the critical role of employees at every level. In this issue: Introduction: People. That’s […]
People. That’s what it’s about.
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It takes a number of essentials to transform a healthy seed, seedling, cutting or start into a market-ready plant or tree. There’s water. Fertilizer. Pest management. Growing media for containerized plants, or healthy soil for those grown in the field. If any of these are missing or unavailable, the product will suffer or die, but […]
The leadership farm team
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When people talk about the nursery industry’s human resource challenges, they often speak strictly in terms of labor. But the nursery industry needs people at all levels, from entry-level workers to crew leaders, supervisors, managers and above. To succeed in a challenging industry, nursery companies rely on the experience, technical knowledge, management ability and leadership […]
Working wonders
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Despite pervasive labor struggles, nurseries find ways to find workers There was a time, up until 2006 or 2007, when Robinson Nursery in McMinnville, Oregon would lay off at least 30 percent of its workforce every year, just after the fall season and heading into winter. Back then, the nursery industry’s labor pool included a […]
The essentials of retention
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Many growers can’t set the price of their products in the national marketplace. They are competing for business with growers from states that don’t have same high cost of doing business, which puts Oregonians at a competitive disadvantage. This means business owners must focus on collecting high-value returns on high-cost labor expenses. When compiling salaries […]
The ‘tangled root ball’
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Family-owned businesses must balance work, ownership and family roles Each June, family business owners interview with a panel of peers to compete in the Excellence in Family Business Awards. Judges consistently ask each CEO how they carve out time for their family. To date, the most memorable — and perhaps practical — “policy” came from […]
The Pacheco brothers
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Four decades ago, Doug Zielinski — then a recent Oregon State University graduate, fresh off an internship at Kraemer’s Nursery — decided to chase a dream by becoming a fourth generation farmer. Doug’s father, Ernie, had taken over the farm when he was just 15 years old, after Doug’s grandfather, Charlie, suddenly passed away. The […]
Support is critical
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My name is Mike Hiller, I work at Kraemer’s Nursery in Mt. Angel, Oregon, and I am proud to be your new OAN president. But how did I find myself in this position? Several years ago, Mike Coleman approached me to consider joining the Executive Committee of the OAN Board of Directors. I asked him […]
October 2018
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Sometimes customers want one thing and climate wants another, but this dilemma presents opportunities for the grower. Also in this issue, researchers and growers explore the use of drones in nursery production, Mike Darcy answers questions received at garden centers this summer, and we meet Ron Kinney — who has been an active member in […]
Grower guidance vs. customer demand
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Sometimes customers want one thing and climate wants another, but this dilemma presents opportunities for the grower If Mick Jagger had been a horticulturist, he might have sung, “You can’t always plant what you want.” Case in point: Sean Hogan, owner of Cistus Nursery (Portland, Oregon), was driving home from work in late August and […]
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