Meet Jane Stanley

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background in Ornamentals?

Jane Stanley (JS): I’ve always loved plants and got involved with horticulture in a formal way in college. After earning a master’s degree in horticulture, I went into production at a wholesale nursery. I’ve held a variety of technical roles over the last 10 years — from IPM and propagation manager, to grower, to production manager. I’ve spent the last several years in a leadership role managing all aspects of production for a container nursery.

Q: What do you love most about working in the Ornamentals industry?

JS: One of the things I love about horticulture is the opportunity to work at the intersection of research and applied science. For me, there’s nothing more rewarding than taking a new technique or technology, applying it in the field, and seeing the results first-hand.

Q: What are you most excited about in your new role with Bayer on their Green Solutions Team?

JS: As part of the GST, I’m looking forward to being a bridge between the innovative teams who are developing new technology and the growers who are implementing those solutions in the field and greenhouse. As a grower, I know how difficult it can be to bring in new products and try to figure out where they fit in an existing program, as well as the economic risk of something not working or causing an unintended problem. I’m excited to partner with growers to remove some of those barriers and help them be successful.

Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity in the Ornamentals industry?

JS: I think the biggest challenges are the same for the ornamental industry as for many others right now: supply chain issues and labor shortages. The pandemic has changed how many companies do business. Inventory management and employee retention at all levels are huge concerns. At the same time, the past two years have seen a renewed interest in gardening that none of us would have predicted. Our biggest opportunity right now is maintaining the attention and enthusiasm of a new generation of gardeners. If we can help new gardeners have a successful first experience, they will be back.

Q: Since you're working for Bayer, which of their solutions are your favorite and why?

JS: I’m a pragmatist at heart — I like things that solve problems. Bayer offers solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing growers right now. With residual control up to 8 months, Marengo is a key labor-savings tool, especially in spring when labor demands are highest. As for helping new gardeners be successful, our insecticide portfolio of Kontos, Altus, and Savate offers solutions for nearly every growing situation to ensure that plants reach the end consumer clean and ready to impress.