GrowerTalks

December 2024 Issue

Vol. 88 No. 8

Preserving the Past & Focusing on the Future

See the Digital Edition

Heading Into the Unknown

by Jennifer Zurko, Data Compiled by Industry Insights

NEWSLETTERS

Read and subscribe to a variety of Newsletters tailored to your industry interests.

COVER STORY

Preserving the Past & Focusing on the Future

Jennifer Zurko

I sat down with the third and fourth generations of Sants to learn how they’ve been able to continue the success of their business while also honoring the history of how they got here.

FEATURES

Be Candid With Candidates

Todd Downing

The multiple benefits of improved transparency in hiring.

Heading Into the Unknown

Jennifer Zurko, Data Compiled by Industry Insights

Our 29th annual survey of the industry on wages and benefits—and the second in partnership with AmericanHort—is a reminder that staffing continues to be top-of-mind for every greenhouse business during a time that could bring major change to the labor market.

Maximizing Trade Show Results

Rayne Gibson

Actionable marketing strategies for exhibitors.

Pay Attention to the Details

Mark E. Battersby

Managing your taxes may be the equivalent of getting a root canal, but there could be tax savings at the state and local levels that you may not be aware of.

Reducing the Risk

Traci Dooley

Key insights on horticulture insurance trends for 2025.

Six Questions for Scott Roskuszka, President of PanAmerican Seed

Chris Beytes

Long-time Ball Horticultural Company employee Scott Roskuszka recently accepted the role of president of PanAmerican Seed (PAS), the corporation’s seed breeding division. Scott succeeded Anne Leventry, who retired in March after 36 years with Ball, including almost 25 in the top position at PAS. Scott comes to his new gig with 23 years of experience across the corporation, including Finance, IT and Ball Seed, where he’s served as both Director of Customer Relations and Director of Supplier Relations. Most recently, Scott was PAS’ Global Director of Operations. We gave Scott six months to settle into his new office, then we cornered him with a few questions.

CULTURE NOTES

Growers Talk Production

Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?

Austin Bryant

The easiest way to stay relevant as a business is by looking at future talent as not only labor, but also as a bridge between each generation of consumers.

PEST MANAGEMENT

Biosolutions for Propagators

Jeremy Webber

As they begin their growth, this is the time crops benefit from a custom bioprogram so they can develop into quality, viable plugs by shipping time.

COLUMNS

Inside Look

Using Change for the Better

Jennifer Zurko

The key to getting through change is figuring out how to adapt to it.

Acres & Acres

You Can Quote Me

Chris Beytes

“I just sit at a typewriter and curse a bit.”

Paul's Pointers

Preventatives Make Sense (and Save Dollars)

Paul Pilon

When it comes to growing plants, it’s more costly and detrimental to wait to address crop issues rather than managing them when they first arise.

Growers Talk Business

I Thought Mental Health Days Were Ridiculous … Until I Needed One

Art Parkerson

Some days you just aren’t yourself and sometimes those bad days may drag into seasons. I get it now.

Guest Column

The Rapid Rise of Millenium

Lowell Halvorson

Lots of allium species and cultivars exist, but none of them had any real impact within the industry itself until Millenium came along.

DEPARTMENTS

JZ on D.C.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Meets With Agricultural Workforce

Jennifer Zurko

Secretary Tom Vilsack of the United States Department of Agriculture hosted AmericanHort President and CEO Ken Fisher, along with other principals of the Agricultural Workforce Coalition.

GT IN BRIEF

AFE Announces New Officers & Trustee Appointments

Beekenkamp, Dümmen Orange “Explore Closer Collaboration”

Caladium Harvest Starts Early at Classic

Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund Announces Research & Educational Grants for 2025

In Memoriam: Peter Orum

In Memoriam: Stanton Gill

COLUMNISTS

Chris Beytes

Jennifer Zurko

Albert Grimm

Art Parkerson

Paul Pilon

Bill Swanekamp

Amy Morris

Terri McEnaney

Stan Vander Waal

Austin Bryant

Stephanie Saccomano

VIDEOS

Watch More

N.G. Heimos Poinsettia Open House 2024

Caladium bulb harvest at Classic Caladiums

The Robo Cut Autonomous Tissue Culture Propagation Robot

Ball Seed Customer Days 2024!

Critical Chemistries (Recorded Live at Cultivate’24) with JC Chong

What's New From the Cultivate'24 Trade Show

Trending Now: Ball Seed & Philips Lighting Solutions

Trending Now: Floxcor Fungicide from Corteva

Trending Now: PDSI’s Better Boxwood

Darwin Perennials Day 2024

The Best Poinsettia for ... Part 2 - Whites, Novelties, and the Best of All Time

The Best Poinsettia for ... Part 1 - the REDS

Proven Winner Color Choice Shrubs for 2025

Proven Winners Perennials for 2025

Proven Winner Annuals for 2025

CAST 2024: Jaldety

CAST 2024: PRUDAC

CAST 2024: Hishtil

CAST 2024: Cohen

CAST 2024: Benary

CAST 2024: Takii

CAST 2024: Danziger

CAST 2024: HilverdaFlorist

CAST 2024: Syngenta

CAST 2024: Kientzler North America

CAST 2024: Dümmen Orange Perennials

CAST 2024: Dümmen Orange Annuals

CAST 2024: Sakata Seed Annuals

CAST 2024: Schoneveld

CAST 2024: Hem Genetics

CAST 2024: Westhoff

CAST 2024: Green Fuse Botanicals

CAST 2024: Plant Development Services, Inc.

CAST 2024: PlantHaven

CAST 2024: Pacific Plug & Liner

CAST 2024: Beekenkamp

CAST 2024: Suntory

CAST 2024: PanAmerican Seed

CAST 2024: Ball FloraPlant

CAST 2024: Selecta One

CAST 2024: Morel Cyclamen

CAST 2024: Burpee

A Tour of IPM 2024—the World's Largest Horticulture Trade Show

Trending Now: PDSI

Trending Now: Darwin Perennials

Marvin Teaches Us a New Word - Cyathium

Poinsettias are NOT Poisonous! A public service announcement from GrowerTalks magazine

GrowerTalks at the Heimos Poinsettia Open House 2023

TRENDING NOW

Gothic Arch Greenhouses Inc.
Gothic Arch Greenhouses

Lubing USA
Fogging Systems

Bartlett Instrument Company
Headgrower

Bejo Seeds Inc.
Marshall F1

Ball Seed
2025-2026 Ball Seed Cut Flowers Catalog

Nominate a Young Grower Today!

Congrats to the 2024 GrowerTalks/Ball Horticultural Company Young Grower Award winner, Drew Groezinger from Clara Joyce Flowers, Stockton, Illinois!

Do you know of an excellent, hard-working professional under the age of 35? You should nominate them for the 2025 GrowerTalks/Ball Horticultural Company Young Grower Award! For the last 20 years, we’ve recognized young horticulturists for standing out from the crowd in this tough business, who—for whatever noble reasons—have chosen to have a career in this industry.

After three finalists are chosen, each is asked to write guest editorials for the June issue of GrowerTalks, gets a free trip to Cultivate’25 and, while they’re in Columbus, attend a special dinner with Anna Ball and other industry luminaries. The winner is announced at the Unplugged event during Cultivate’25, will be the subject of our September issue cover story and serve as one of our judges for next year’s award.

An extra special thanks goes to Ball Horticultural Company, BASF and AmericanHort for sponsoring this year’s award!

This Month ...

Heading Into the Unknown