News Updates

D.S. Cole Growers receives MPS certification
During the OFA Short Course, D.S. Cole Growers in Loudon, N.H., was the first North American grower to receive MPS certification. Headquartered in Honselersdijk, Netherlands, MPS is an international organization whose activities focus on encouraging sustainable practices in the horticulture industry.

In April 2009 GMPRO (Page 10), owner Doug Cole said his company’s sustainable practices and reduction of inputs is ongoing. He continuously looks for ways to reduce energy costs, use water more efficiently, decrease pesticide applications and limit the company’s waste stream. Cole said the perpetual process of being more sustainable and its international experience are reasons MPS appealed to him. He has been working with MPS for over a year.

MPS offers a stair-stepped certification program which it calls A, B and C levels. MPS works with growers in more than 50 countries.
 
For more: D.S. Cole Growers, (603) 783-9561; www.dscolegrowers.com. MPS, telephone 011 (31) 174-615715; www.my-mps.com.

Conference to reveal perennial secrets
The 2009 OFA Perennial Production Conference, Sept. 20-22, in Buffalo, N.Y., will focus on perennials through a grower tour, hands-on experience workshops, educational sessions and a trade show. Educational sessions will discuss various aspects of propagation and production, pricing and profitability, insect, disease and weed control, several aspects of sustainability including green roofs, new crops and marketing.

Five sessions have been developed specifically for Spanish-speaking employees covering insect and disease control, new perennial requirements, the impact of light and temperature on flowering and how to manage growing media, fertilization and watering. 
 
For more: OFA, (614) 487-1117; http://www.ofaconferences.org.

Smart growing can save a lot money
There are some simple things that are environmentally friendly and more profitable that growers can do to save thousands of dollars a year. University of Georgia horticulture professor Paul Thomas said it could be something as simple as changing light bulbs.

Switching from incandescent to compact fluorescent bulbs, he said, could save a grower $700 per greenhouse each year. Growers could save even more if they installed diode array light bulbs. Additional savings could be realized from installing energy curtains to retain heat and drip irrigation to save water and limit runoff.

University of Georgia economist Forrest Stegelin suggests growers start looking at alternative energy sources, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, anaerobic digestion which captures methane, and biomass sources such as corn and wood.
 
Stegelin also suggest that growers use financial benchmarks to determine where their money is going. Thomas said using benchmark analysis a grower can obtain a very close and accurate estimate of how small changes can affect profit. 
 
For more: Paul Thomas, University of Georgia, (706) 542-2340; pathomas@uga.edu. Forrest Stegelin, (706) 542-1961.

Super Floral Show changes name, venue
Diversified Business Communications has changed the name of the Super Floral Show to the International Floriculture Expo to reflect the expansion and broadened focus of the event. The Expo will address each stage of the floral and foliage production cycle showcasing live products and equipment technology and education necessary for cultivating and retailing.

The Expo, which will have a permanent location at the Miami Beach Convention Center, is scheduled for June 23-25, 2010. 
 
For more: International Floriculture Expo, (207) 842-5508; www.floriexpo.com.

Canadian floral sales decline
Sales of Canadian greenhouse products declined 7.6 percent from 2007 to $2.1 billion in 2008. Greenhouse operators reported total sales of flowers and plants amounting to $1.3 billion, down 13.6 percent from 2007.
 
Sales fell in all categories of flowers and plants. Sales of potted flowers and plants reached $647 million, representing nearly one-half of all sales of flowers and plants. They were followed by sales of ornamental plants for transplanting, valued at $226 million, and sales of cut flowers at $126 million.
 
The nursery sector also experienced a slight sales decrease. More than 1,000 Canadian nurseries sold trees, shrubs and plants valued at $610 million.
 
Sales of greenhouse fruits and vegetables increased 3.7 percent in 2008 to more than $813 million. The discovery of a phytosanitary problem in the Mexican tomato production process in summer 2008 provided a boost to Canadian producers, whose tomato sales rose 4.5 percent to $372 million. Sales of peppers, cucumbers and lettuce were also up.
 
Total greenhouse area amounted to 225 million square feet, down from 225.7 million square feet in 2007, the second consecutive annual decline.
 
For more: Statistics Canada, (800) 263-1136; www.statcan.gc.ca.wwww.

Minnesota sees demand increase for locally grown
In five years, the number of farmer markets in Minnesota has nearly tripled to 130, reports The Star Tribune. There are more than 50 markets in metro areas and as many as 24 suburbs have one or more.

Minneapolis and St. Paul along with Chicago, Atlanta and Madison, Wis., are considered to be the metropolitan areas with the most activity, according to USDA data. Over 14 years the number of farmers markets nationwide has grown from 1,755 to 4,685.

About 400 Minnesota growers are trying to extend the growing season with the use of solar-heated high tunnels. The tunnels have allowed growers to start their season five weeks earlier in the spring and to extend production five weeks longer in the fall.
 
For more: Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, (763) 434-0400; www.mfvga.org.

Avoid high medium pH problems
A high growing medium pH can cause chlorosis in petunias, calibrachoas and gerberas. Michigan State University horticulture professor Erik Runkle said these species and other acid-loving plants do best in a medium with a pH of 5.4 to 5.8. A higher pH results in iron in the root zone not being available.
 
It’s the irrigation water’s alkalinity, not its pH, that increases or decreases the medium pH. If the water’s alkalinity is greater than 150 parts per million, Runkle said injecting an acid into the water to lower the alkalinity down to around 100 ppm. If the medium’s pH is above 7.0, consider injecting more acid so the water alkalinity drops down to 0. Once the medium pH returns to a desirable level, cut back on the amount of acid. Too much acid can result in phytotoxicity.
 
Application of an acidic reaction fertilizer can also be used. Fertilizers with a moderate to high percentage of ammonium can lower the medium pH over a few weeks.
 
If a quick fix is needed, Runkle said consider applying an iron product that is soluble at a high pH. The most effective product is a drench of iron-EDDHA (e.g., Sequestrene 138 or Sprint 138) at a rate of 10 ounces per 100 gallons of water, which delivers 45 ppm of iron. Apply the solution ensuring generous leaching and rinse off any solution on the foliage to prevent leaf burn. 
 
For more: Erik Runkle, Michigan State University, Department of Horticulture, (517) 355-5191; www.ipmnews.msu.edu/greenhouse.