GrowerTalks

June 2023 Issue

Vol. 87 No. 2

The State of the Horticultural Automation Sector

See the Digital Edition

Remote Controlled

by Bill Calkins

NEWSLETTERS

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

COVER STORY

The State of the Horticultural Automation Sector

Dr. Alexandra Grygorczyk

Challenges, opportunities and the way forward.

FEATURES

A Focus on DLI

Iro Kang & Roberto Lopez

Successfully rooting tropical foliage plants and succulents.

At Home in Homestead

Jennifer Zurko

Eric Andersen’s deep familial roots in his local community provide the perfect environment to run a successful foliage business.

Avoiding Tax Audits

Mark E. Battersby

The right way to reduce your chances of getting a call from the IRS.

Ideas & Inspiration From Other Places

Jennifer Zurko

This year’s finalists for the 2023 GrowerTalks/Ball Horticultural Company Young Grower Award discuss where they find ideas and inspiration outside of the horticulture industry.

Make It Tropical With Mandevilla

Massy Sanaei

One class that effortlessly transports any backyard garden to the tropics is mandevilla.

Other Options

Andrew Pidgeon

Because of its many benefits for plants and the environment, cocopeat is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional peat moss.

Remote Controlled

Bill Calkins

Technology improvements in remote environmental sensors and data loggers are taking monitoring a range of factors to a new level. Here are reasons to consider adding them to your toolbox and a look at some of the products available.

CULTURE NOTES

Growers Talk Production

The Post-Season Greenhouse Blues

Albert Grimm

Whether we admit it or not, we find excitement, pleasure and gratification in the continuous mental and physical overload that engulfs us during the seasonal rush.

PEST MANAGEMENT

The Effects of Insecticides on Two Beneficial Insects

Nathan J. Herrick & Raymond A. Cloyd

The direct and indirect effects of insecticides and miticides should be considered to avoid disrupting the ability of biological control agents to manage insect or mite pest populations.

Thrips parvispinus: An Emerging Invasive & Regulatory Pest in the United States

Muhammad Z. Ahmed, Cindy McKenzie & Lance S. Osborne

A team of researchers have been actively working on the emergency situation in Florida and other places nationally and internationally.

COLUMNS

Inside Look

A Balancing Act

Jennifer Zurko

A way to maintain a good balance is to look toward the future, while also using the lessons you learned in the past.

Acres & Acres

I Think We’ve Answered the Question

Chris Beytes

In spite of the questionable economy, when the weather is good, customers are buying our products.

Paul's Pointers

Can You Adapt?

Paul Pilon

Plans will always change—are you willing to adapt and change with them?

Growers Talk Business

The Labor Dilemma

Amy Morris

I believe our industry has its fair share of employment challenges, but there are ways we can combat some of those issues.

Guest Column

Bolster Your Marketing & Boost Profitability With AAS & NGB

Alicain Carlson, Ph.D.

Think of these non-profit organizations as trialing, marketing and PR firms working on behalf of the horticulture industry—our industry’s only non-profit brand ambassadors and influencers!

Guest Column

The Nuances of Lavandulas

Lowell Halvorson

For lavender, money isn’t made at the national level, it’s made regionally.

DEPARTMENTS

JZ on D.C.

Legislative Effort Seeks to Reverse H-2A Wage Rule

Jennifer Zurko

As previously reported, on February 28, 2023, the Department of Labor (DOL) amended its regulations concerning the determination of required wages for H-2A workers and any U.S. workers performing duties in common.

GT IN BRIEF

BioWorks Introduces Product Compatibility Tool

California Enacts Tough Rules for New Glasshouses

HydraFiber Receives UL Solutions Certification

In Memoriam: Sinclair Adam

Just in Time for Tulips

On The Move

Outback Plants, Ball Horticultural Join Forces

Regis Berger Honored by Peat Industry

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

Cool Products from TPIE 2023

I Never Knew a Poinsettia Had THIS!

GrowerTalks Tours the 2022 N.G. Heimos Poinsettia Trial

How GrowerTalks Gets Printed—A tour of Schumann Printers

DS Cole Growers' annual open house 2022

Pleasant View Gardens Open House 2022

Harvey robots and Ideaal spacing forks

Ball Seed Customer Day 2022

What's new from Cultivate'22!

Young Grower Finalists on Facing 2022's Challenges

Darwin Perennial Day 2022

Ball Tech On Demand At Risk Crops: Tomato

CAST 22: Benary

CAST 22: Syngenta Flowers

CAST 22: Burpee

Osvaldo Tries the Garlic Ice Cream

CAST 22: Southern Living/Sunset/Encore Azaleas

CAST 22: PanAmerican Seed HandPicked Vegetables

CAST 22: PP&L

CAST 22: PRUDAC

CAST 22: Schoneveld

CAST 22: Morel

CAST 22: Jaldety

CAST 22: HilverdaFlorist

CAST 22: Hishtil

Cast 22: Kientzler

CAST 22: Ball Ingenuity

CAST 22: Suntory

CAST 22: Takii

CAST 22: Kieft Seed

CAST 22: Darwin Perennials

CAST 22: PlantHaven

CAST 22: Green Fuse

CAST 22: Hem Genetics

CAST 22: Beekenkamp

CAST 22: Sakata

CAST 22: Danziger

CAST 22: Selecta One

CAST 22: Westhoff

CAST 22: Ball FloraPlant

CAST 22: Dummen Orange

CAST 22: PanAmerican Seed Annuals

TRENDING NOW

GrowSpan Greenhouse Structures
Gothic Premium Greenhouses

PanAmerican Seed
Petchoa Caliburst Yellow

Beaver Plastics Ltd.
Hortiblock 162/28

Lubing USA
Evaporative Plastic Cooling Pad System

BioSafe Systems LLC
TerraGrow Liquid

Mitchell Ellis Products
EZ Potter Super Max

Who will be this year’s Young Grower winner?

We’ll be awarding this year’s GrowerTalks/Ball Horticultural Company Young Grower Award at the Unplugged event during Cultivate’23. If you’re heading to Columbus, make some time to join us Monday night to see who will be on the cover of our September issue. There will be networking and your first drink is free!

WHEN: Monday, July 17 at 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Gaswerks
487 Park Street, Columbus, Ohio

Finalists for the 2023 GrowerTalks/Ball Horticultural Company Young Grower Award:
Laura Reese - Green Circle Growers, Oberlin, OH
Matthew Tyson - Costa Farms, Miami, FL
Elora Wannop - Brookdale Treeland Nurseries, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

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

This Month ...

Remote Controlled