The March 2023 issue of Digger takes a deep dive into the nursery industry’s use of water, the essential input for the propagation and growth of plant material. 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. Please […]
Finding your flow
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Today’s technology can automate every aspect of irrigation, saving labor and water, but it comes with a price With irrigation controls at your fingertips and data on soil moisture levels and plant stress a click away, today’s nursery producer has more control over plant health than at any time in history. And with labor and […]
High times for low-water plants
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Retail garden centers increasingly turn to drought-tolerant varieties that beat the heat The summer of 2015 was a turning point in the Northwest, which suffered the longest heat wave in 75 years. Portland had more days above 90 degrees Fahrenheit than any other year in recorded history up to that time. That year marked a […]
Ponds with new purpose
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Capturing more “free” water, containing runoff and reusing costly fertilizer are benefits of keeping nursery ponds in tip-top shape Like all irrigation systems, nursery ponds require maintenance for continued smooth operation. In addition to routine inspection, testing and maintenance of pipelines, pumping plant components and other mechanical components, most ponds will require periodic cleaning, regrading […]
Water right transfers
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The future of water allocation in Oregon In this year’s water issue of the Digger, you’ve had an opportunity to read about the importance of this vital resource. In recent years, the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) has come under intense pressure from the press and Secretary of State’s Audits Division to better manage the […]
How nurseries can protect water quality
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Conservation districts can provide technical assistance to help operators meet state rules Nurseries can’t survive without water. However, the precious resource that keeps plant stock thriving, healthy, and green can also send pollutants into adjacent waterways if not managed properly. Nursery operators face many challenges when it comes to protecting water quality. At the forefront […]
Making every drop count
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Using water efficiently in the greenhouse One of the most vital elements for growing plants is becoming more and more scarce. With agriculture, municipalities, and environmental communities competing over limited water supplies, growers have every reason to use it deliberately and efficiently. Greenhouse growers have several options to consider that could help them do that, […]
Small business loans for nurseries affected by drought
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Small, nonfarm businesses — including nurseries — in 13 Oregon counties and neighboring counties in California are now eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These loans are intended to offset economic losses caused by drought conditions in the following Oregon counties: Grant, Josephine, Baker, Crook, Curry, […]
OAN thanks six ‘Friends of Nurseries’
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The Oregon Association of Nurseries issued this press release today: The Oregon Association of Nurseries will recognize six Oregon elected officials as “Friends of Nurseries” at its 2013 Convention, to be held Friday at The Oregon Garden resort in Silverton, Ore. The six include three Republicans and three Democrats. They are Gov. John Kitzhaber (D), […]
Can a native also be considered invasive?
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Eastern Oregon grassland with encroaching Western juniper. Photo courtesy of Oregon Department of Agriculture. Dan Hillburn, administrator of the Oregon Department of Agriculture Plant Division, blogged on Saturday about the dilemma posed by Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) choking out grassland habitat in Eastern Oregon. As he explains, these trees are native, but the Native Americans […]