A consortium of researchers from universities, private industry and the federal government is taking a new look at how robots could be used in specialty crop production. Several heavy hitters are on board, including Carnegie-Mellon University, so this is an effort to take seriously. One such technology already being used in fruit orchards is called […]
It’s official – Climate Friendly Nurseries Project launched
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The Oregon Association of Nurseries and the Oregon Environmental Council have created a partnership known as the Climate Friendly Nurseries Project, the two organizations announced Thursday morning at the 2009 Farwest Show in Portland, Ore. Over the next three years, the partners will work together to help nurseries to reduce energy use and emissions of […]
Save big on Farwest Show registration
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Everyone’s talking about Oregon’s nursery showcase, the 37th annual Farwest Show, which is set for Aug. 20-22 in Portland, but time is running short! You only have a few more days to save big on admission to the show. This Friday, July 31, is the deadline for early bird registration, which will save you $10-$20 […]
Knocked for a hoop
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This spring, the Oregon Department of Revenue (ODR) proposed a rule change that would tax hoop houses as if they were permanent structures – a move that could greatly add to the tax bills of growers who own dozens if not hundreds of the poly-film enclosures. OAN Director of Government Relations Jeff Stone testified before […]
Protecting growers against theft
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With Oregon’s legislative session winding down, it’s reckoning time for proposed bills that would offer nurseries and others in agriculture greater protection against metal theft and other kinds of agricultural theft. The Oregon Association of Nurseries and other groups have been active in promoting a pair of bills: Senate Bill 570 (HTML|PDF) would address metal […]
Do ask, do tell
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Metal thefts long have been a concern for nurseries and growers. The thieves target irrigation pipes and other pieces of equipment, and then sell them anonymously to scrap metal dealers for cash (often to fund drug habits). That’s why the Oregon Association of Nurseries has been among the strongest voices asking for greater enforcement and […]
REAPing the rewards of green energy
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Oregon growers such as Northwoods Nursery (Molalla, Ore.), Harts Nursery (Jefferson, Ore.) and McKenzie Valley Bamboo Nursery (Springfield, Ore.) have already made the commitment to install renewable energy and energy efficiency projects (such as this efficient in-ground heating system) with help from the USDA Rural Energy for America (REAP) grant program. If you would like […]
Tuesday afternoon Green Industry Seminars kick off Oct. 28
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The 2008 Willamette Valley Green Industry Seminars will be every Tuesday afternoon from Oct. 28-Dec. 14 at the Oregon Garden’s Natural Resource Education Center, Silverton, Ore. Each class is from 1-4:15 p.m., and the cost is $45 per session, $105 for any three, or $225 for all of them. The initial seminar, Oct. 28, is […]
Nursery icon passes away at age 86
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Nursery industry innovator Jack McConkey passed away Sept. 3, 2008 following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 86. His association with the nursery industry began in 1964, when he purchased McLean Bulb Farms, which was just then starting to pioneer the development of plastic containers. He changed the name of the company to […]