Syngenta acquires Conrad Fafard
Syngenta Professional Products announced at last week's OFA Short Course that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Conrad Fafard Inc. for $133.5 million. Fafard, headquartered in Agawam, Mass., is an 85-year-old company that produces growing media for the professional grower and consumer markets. Fafard's sales for the year ending May 31, 2006, were $76 million. Fafard will become a stand-alone business unit in the Syngenta Professional Products group. Syngenta officials said the acquisition would assist the company in expanding its lawn and garden business. Fafard is adding to it production capacity with a new soil-mixing facility in Texas.
Perennial PGR guide now available
Joyce Latimer, ext. specialist for greenhouse crops at Va. Tech Univ., has written a 40-page product guide, "Using Piccolo with Herbaceous Perennials." Piccolo, which contains 0.4% paclobutrazol, works by reducing internode elongation through inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis. The guide provides general use guidelines for Piccolo applications on more than 90 perennials.
Michigan to test for wind energy
Mich. St. Univ. Floriculture Area of Expertise Team is seeking 4 growers who might be interested in testing the potential for wind energy. Anemometers, which are wind measuring instruments, will be installed on 100-ft.-tall towers. Participating greenhouses will be required to obtain the appropriate zoning and other permissions and will assist in data collection. The towers will be up for a year or more.
Santa Fe Greenhouses thrives in drought
Even though the city of Santa Fe, N.M. is experiencing drought conditions and its residents have to contend with water restrictions, Salman's Santa Fe Greenhouses has overcome these obstacles by promoting xeriscape gardening. New Mexico Business Weekly reports the company has installed a demonstration garden so customers can learn about appropriate plants, irrigation techniques, mulching and improving the soil. Santa Fe also posts articles on its Web sites, provides handouts, displays posters and conducts winter seminars.
AFE and FIRST complete merger
After talking about joining their 2 organizations for nearly a year, American Floral Endowment and Floriculture Industry Research and Scholarship Trust have merged. AFE, an $11 million endowment, will remain the name of the organization. FIRST, a $1.7 million endowment, will dissolve as an organization and become a part of AFE. Three members of FIRST will join the AFE board and several others will serve on various AFE committees. Board members of the organizations believe FIRST's strengths in scholarships complements AFE's strength in research. The merger is expected to bring more students into AFE's educational programs.
Worth a visit
Can you name the Top 12 unWanted Pests, as selected by the our readers? We can! Check out No. 5 this month. Only on GreenBeam.com.
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