One of the perks of attending a NAFDMA event is the collaborative spirit that’s harnessed by attendees. While there are a plethora of scheduled educational sessions during each annual conference, impromptu talks take place as well. At the most recent International Agritourism Association’s conferenc...

If you think the retail shops that put up Christmas decorations as soon as they take down their Halloween ones are early in focusing on the holiday season, you should talk to a Christmas tree farmer. On average, it takes between six to eight years to grow a crop of Christmas trees to a marketable he...

As Halloween enthusiasts begin their “spooky season” countdown, those garden centers, nurseries, farms and other ag enterprises that like to decorate their operations will require a lot of artsy jack-o’-lanterns – or will hire teenagers to scare people during haunted hayrides, who will need frighten...

Greenhouse growers routinely scout for numerous insect pests. A recent addition to the scouting lineup is Thrips parvispinus , first discovered in a Florida greenhouse. Dr. Lance Osborne, professor of entomology and associate center director at the University of Florida, discussed parvispinus during...

The original purpose of farmers markets was to connect consumers with agriculture, providing a source of fresh and local foods. That remains the same today with an added twist. With the addition of processed and prepared food vendors, artisans and entertainment, they have become more than just a pla...

Obtaining labor for agricultural operations is an ongoing challenge. Programs such as H-2A and H-2B for obtaining workers can be difficult to navigate, and employers should understand the differences between the two programs. In a presentation by AmericanHort , Megan Wright, másLabor ’s director of ...

It was Benjamin Franklin that said “When the well is dry, we’ll know the worth of water.” That was over 200 years ago, yet the statement holds true today. Recent global reports on the future availability of water emphasize the fragility of this valuable resource. When it comes to commercial greenhou...

There has been much discussion lately about the reporting of scope emissions, but the topic isn’t new. What is new is how it may affect the world of agriculture. The EPA created its Center for Corporate Climate Leadership back in 2012 to “establish norms of climate leadership by encouraging organiza...

After working with greenhouse crops for 35 years, Brian Whipker has found there’s a system for detecting plant problems. Whipker, professor and commercial floriculture Extension specialist at North Carolina State University, addressed abiotic issues (caused by non-living factors) during the Northeas...