Study reveals nursery demographics
An Ohio St. Univ. study shows never-before-documented details on the nursery work force. A survey of 1,548 nursery employees in 9 states reveals information on nationality, work experience, legal status, education level and salary. According to the survey, 70% of the industry's labor is Spanish-speaking or of Hispanic origin. More than half are from Mexico. More than 70% of those filling green-industry jobs are general laborers aged 18-34 with middle school being the highest level of education. Most surveyed do not have health benefits (70%), or do not know what benefits they have. Nursery workers surveyed are receiving less than the average U.S. hourly earnings. More than 75% earn $6-$10 per hour.
Landscape spending continues to rise
A Nat'l. Gardening Assoc. study found that homeowners spent a record $44.7 billion to hire lawn and landscape services in 2006. Services included lawn care and landscape maintenance, installation and construction, tree care services and landscape design services. An estimated 34.5 million households, 30% of the U.S. total, hire at least 1 type of lawn and landscape service. Installation and construction services were hired by 6.9 million households. Landscape design services were hired by 2.3 million households.
Southern Plant Conference goes to Alabama
The 10th biennial Southern Plant Conference will be Sept. 5-8 in Mobile, Ala. This event, put together by Southern Nursery Assoc. and Alabama Nursery & Landscape Assoc., is an intensive program focusing on new plants, plant production and plant breeding. Tour sites will include Dodd & Dodd Nursery, Van der Giessen Nursery, Martin's Nursery, Kinney Nursery, Twin Oaks Nursery and the Ornamental Horticulture Research Center.
Nursery grower discovers termite solution
La. St. Univ. is promoting vetiver grass (Chrysopogon spp.) for its ornamental value and its ability to keep termites at bay. About 13 years ago, Don Heumann, who was then a nursery and greenhouse operator in Metairie, La., noticed no bugs in his greenhouses where he was growing the plant. Gregg Henderson, LSU AgCenter urban entomologist, now believes vetiver grass could be a valuable termiticide. Vetiver grass also is used for erosion and sediment control.
USDA awards $1.3 million in market grants
USDA awarded more than $1.3 million in 26 matching grants to 21 states supporting ag. market research and demonstration projects, including nursery and landscape projects. The grants are provided by the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program. Mass. Dept. of Ag. Resources and Mass. Nursery and Landscaping Assoc. received $61,600 to develop a nursery marketing strategy to address water use and invasive plants. N.C. Dept. of Ag. and Consumer Services, N.C. State Univ. and N.C. Nursery and Landscape Assoc. received $61,400 to determine key factors that influence consumer purchases of nursery products and landscape services.
Worth a visit
New American Nursery & Landscape Association president Dwight Hughes Jr. discusses upcoming priorities for the national association. Only on GreenBeam.com.
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Syngenta remains committed to investing in every aspect of our ornamental business to bring value to growers for producing beautifully strong plants.
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