Ag groups urge an end to West Coast port labor dispute

Oregon agriculture and forest products groups have written a letter urging the state's congressional delegation to help bring an end to a long-running labor dispute affecting 29 West Coast ports, including the Port of Portland.

"This slowdown and possible lockout has a significant economic impact to not only the nursery industry in particular, but the agricultural sector as a whole," OAN President Mike Coleman said.

"Congress and the president must work together to resolve this dispute," OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone said. "It has gone on long enough and it is not helping anyone — not workers, not shipping companies, not farmers or producers, and certainly not the Oregon economy."

Fallout from the dispute recently prompted Hanjin Shipping Co. to announce its departure from the Port of Portland. The company is Portland's largest container shipper, responsible for 1,600 containers a week, which is the vast majority of the port's traffic.

"It is important that you recognize that there is nothing that we produce in Oregon in agriculture and forest products that cannot be sourced from somewhere else," the letter to the Oregon delegation states. "We can grow and process the best in the world, but if we cannot deliver our Oregon products affordably and dependably, the foreign customers will go somewhere else and may never return."

The letter has more than 350 signatories, including trade associations, businesses and some 20 nurseries.

Read the letter »

DHS funding showdown still unresolved

The U.S. House and Senate still have not resolved the impasse regarding funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which runs out on Feb. 27. Republicans in control of both chambers have vowed that they will not fund the agency without a repeal of the president's recent executive order regarding immigration. Such a bill passed the House, but lacked the votes to get past a Senate filibuster, despite three attempts.

According to an article in the Washington Post, Republican leaders currently disagree on how to proceed. Some Republican leaders feel a DHS shutdown is bad politics for the GOP, especially in light of the 2013 government shutdown for which they were largely blamed. Others argue that the issue will make the Democrats look bad, and that they will be forced to cave.

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Low snowpack threatens summer water availability

Historically low snowpack levels in the Cascade Mountains are threatening to negatively impact the availability of water resources for summer irrigation, officials with USDA and the National Weather Service told the Oregonian newspaper.

Although rainfall levels have been in the normal range, there are some snowpack monitoring stations in the Mount Hood area that have recorded no snow. It's the first time in at least 33 years this has happened. Further, spring rains can sometimes counterbalance this trend, but this year, meteorologists expect conditions to be warmer and dryer than normal.

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Orenco site added to National Register of Historic Places

The McDonald House, built by Oregon Nursery Company co-founder Malcolm McDonald, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, according to a report by oregonlive.com.

In the early 1900s, McDonald purchased 1,200 acres east of Hillsboro and founded the town of Orenco. The town name was an acronym for ORE-gon N-ursery CO-mpany. He erected a sprawling Craftsman mansion on the property in 1912, and his business sold smaller lots to its employees, who built their own houses.

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Feb. 15 is last day to get in the Wholesale Nursery Location Map

Don't be left out of the Wholesale Nursery Location Map, the listing of more than 100 wholesale nursery growing operations in Oregon and southwest Washington. The last day to subscribe is Sunday, Feb. 15. The four-color map shows all major highways as well as many secondary roads, making it an invaluable resource for truck drivers as well as those who simply want to plan a visit to some of Oregon's top wholesale nurseries. Learn more »

Garden Writers Association to meet at Yard, Garden & Patio Show — Feb. 27

The Garden Writers Association will host a networking event at the upcoming Yard, Garden & Patio Show. The goal is to enhance communications between like-minded groups and to create more opportunities to promote the entire horticulture industry to the gardening community.

The meeting will take place from 5:30–8:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, at the Oregon Convention Center. A panel discussion will feature representatives from the horticulture industry, including the Association of Northwest Landscape Designers, Oregon Botanical Artists, Oregon Flower Growers Association and Oregon Landscape Contractors Association. Cost to attend is $30 for GWA members; $40 for non-members.

Register Today »

Learn all about common insect pests and diseases of Sitka spruce

A new OSU Extension publication details the common insect pests and diseases of Sitka spruce on the Oregon coast. Written by Jim Reeb and David Shaw in the College of Forestry, it features color images and relevant information for nurseries and landscapes. It is free to download.

Download »

International Plant Propagators Western Region Annual Meeting set for Sept. 23–26

The International Plant Propagators' Society has set its Western Region Annual Meeting for September 23–26 in Modesto, California. "This location is enriched with agriculture, providing ample opportunity for conference attendees to share knowledge and learn from local tours," said Dr. Dharam P. Sharma, conference organizer.

The meeting will kick off with a full day of pre-conference tours to local nurseries, followed by a reception, silent auction, research poster display and trade exhibition. Subsequent days will offer a mix of local industry tours, learning sessions, poster presentations and networking opportunities. The event will close out with an awards banquet and new plant introductions. For more information or to register, call 503-362-1353, e-mail ggredler@comcast.net or visit www.ippswr.org.

Learn more »

T&R Company grows sales team T&R Company, a manufacturer of landscape tree boxes and distributor of plastic containers for wholesale nurseries and greenhouses, has grown its sales team by two with the appointments of Courtney Lewis-Borts to the position of western Oregon sales representative and Gene Richau as director of sales. Read more »

Register by Feb. 13 for Women in Agriculture Conference and save $5

Save $5 off the $30 registration fee if you sign up by Feb. 13 for the fourth annual Women in Agriculture Conference. Presented by Washington State University Extension, the event will bring together women in 28 locations along with inspirational speakers sharing stories and practical advice for improving farm management skills. The conference will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, and through the magic of technology, it will link conference sites in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska, allowing attendees to network with other women producers across the region.

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ONF scholarship applications due by April 1

The Oregon Nurseries Foundation (ONF) awards scholarships to students preparing for a career in ornamental horticulture and related fields. In all, 16 different awards — ranging from $500 to $1,500 — are sponsored by individuals and OAN chapters as a way to support the next generation of green industry professionals. Applications must be postmarked by April 1. Read more »

Energy Trust posts updated rebate forms for 2015

Energy Trust of Oregon, the independent nonprofit organization that helps utility customers save energy and money, periodically reviews the rebates offered and makes adjustments. This year, no changes were made to the greenhouse natural gas heating rebate offer (PDF), but a few of the irrigation rebate offerings were changed. Gone are the 75 cent wheel line leveler incentive and the $175 nase boot gasket on center pivot systems incentive; neither was used very often.

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Wanted: New plants for the New Varieties Showcase at Farwest

Do you have one or more exciting new plant introductions? The New Varieties Showcase at the Farwest Show is the place to show them off to garden centers, growers, landscape designers and architects, trade publications and garden writers.

The showcase is now accepting submissions for the 2015 show. We're looking for plants with such characteristics as new colors, better manners, increasingly compact shape, extended seasons of interest, and improved landscape and production performance. The submission deadline is Friday, March 27, 2015. Contact Crystal Cady with questions at 503-682-5089 or ccady@oan.org.

Learn more »

Welcome to OAN's new members

Seven new companies and individuals joined the Oregon Association of Nurseries in January. To these new members, welcome!

Membership includes opportunities to market your business and save money. Our member savings calculator helps you quantify your membership return on investment. If you're an existing member and haven't renewed your membership for 2015, renew today and stay part of the action!

Renew today »

Pioneer Dinner
♦ July 21 - Save the date for the Mt. Hood Chapter Annual Pioneer Dinner

Forestry official: Inspections miss 72 percent of plant pests

As legislature convenes, OAN serves as industry voice

Dogwoods star on the cover of the February Digger

Scholarships offered to Clackamas County students — Applications due April 3

Save the date: Soil School 2015 — April 4

Ag Summit provides overview of Oregon's upcoming legislative session

OSU reports 2014 second-hottest recorded year in Oregon history

Red palm weevil eradicated from California

2015 Farwest Show will host the 2015 International Trials Conference

'Hot goods' charges against blueberry growers dropped

OAN Nursery Map app now available on Google Play

Bee experts challenge controversial study linking neonics and colony collapse disorder

Farwest signs customer service expert for keynote address

OAN Publications and Events: Plant your brand and watch it grow

Looking to grow your business? Want to make the most of your marketing dollar? OAN offers a full portfolio of respected publications, events and electronic media that help you reach your targets, your way. As an OAN member, you get exclusive discounts on ads and sponsorships, and you can save even more by buying into multiple publications or issues. Download our 2015 Media Kit today for all the details. To schedule your ads for 2015, contact the OAN at 503-682-5089 or ads@oan.org.

© Copyright 2015 Oregon Association of Nurseries
29751 SW Town Center Loop W., Wilsonville, OR 97070
Ph: 503.682.5089 ♦ 888-283-7219 ♦ F: 503.682.5099 ♦ info@oan.org ♦ oan.org

Send your story ideas, tips and comments to publications manager Curt Kipp via e-mail, or call him at 503-582-2008.

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