Arkansas Agriculture
Newsletters
Arkansas Re-leaf
Volume 3, Number 4 -
September 2002
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Jim's Corner · What's Up ·
Department News ·
Interesting Web Site ·
Upcoming Events
Jim’s Corner
Jim Robinson and Ron Rainey
We are pleased to announce the Cooperative Extension Service and Arkansas
Agriculture Statistics Service will conduct a first-ever statewide
horticulture survey! The survey will include ALL areas of horticulture
including the production, sales and service sectors of turf,
ornamentals, fruits, vegetables and herbs.
Our preliminary findings suggest that the total economic impact of all
horticulture sectors could be greater than traditional areas of agriculture such
as rice, cotton, soybeans and poultry. The collection of numbers that truly
represent our industry, its size and its economic contribution to the state’s
economy are important to the sustained growth of our industry. These results are
important to understanding the research needs of our industry and ensuring
adequate research and promotional efforts are ongoing. We all know that the big
dogs are the first to eat. The same holds true whether it is setting research
priorities, examining legislative/regulatory assistance or providing development
and/or promotional programs. We need your help to show researchers, policy
makers and industry stakeholders just how much our industry contributes.
We discovered while working with individual producers/industry organizations
on this project that one of the biggest concerns in conducting this survey is
confidentiality of individual responses. We want to assure all prospective
survey recipients, that your individual responses will be kept completely
confidential.
Summarized data collected from this survey will be used by trade associations
and other groups to promote and enhance horticulture in Arkansas. Seven (7)
different surveys will be distributed investigating in detail the size and needs
of different sectors of our industry. These are Turf production, Golf courses,
Vegetable/fruit production, Vegetable/fruit processors/sales,
Nursery/greenhouse production, Ornamental sales and service (landscape
installation and maintenance; arborist; florist; garden centers) and Landscape
architects.
The original plan was to have four surveys, but we found that the length of
each survey was too long and cumbersome. For some of you, your business may
encompass more than one area. For example, you may have a significant greenhouse
operation and also operate a significant garden center business. In some cases,
we know who you are and will mail you more than one survey. If you feel the
survey you receive does not adequately reflect your business, you will have an
opportunity to contact us to receive other pertinent surveys.
We encourage all horticulture businesses to complete the survey, as the
quality of the survey is dependent on your responses. The importance of this
survey is recognized and supported by the Arkansas Green Industry Association,
the Arkansas Turfgrass Association, the Arkansas Farm Bureau and other
horticulture trade associations.
What’s Up?
Notes from the Plant Board:
David Blackburn
Talking about regulatory horticulture makes me feel a bit like Elizabeth
Taylor’s 8th husband. I know what to do and say, but there’s really no way to
make this news any more interesting or new. However, bear with me and we’ll get
through this. There are several topics that probably need to be “refreshed” and
revisited.
First of all, lets talk about the FFF, the Florida foliage folks. You know,
the ones that set up circus tents on vacant fields or parking lots selling
tropical foliage plants. Most of them have run into us before and know that we
don’t regulate “house” plants in Arkansas; however, some slip up and carry in
some woody plants that will survive an Arkansas winter (i.e., nursery stock).
For those we require a nursery dealers license. Hibiscus is one that they
sometimes bring which poses another problem. Pink Hibiscus Mealybug has now made
its way up through the Caribbean and has now been detected in Florida. This bug
is a “bad actor” to be sure. It has wide host range, and although not figured to
be a real problem with outdoor host this far north, it can certainly cause major
problems in the environs of our greenhouse industry. (Look it up on the net or
call me for more info.) Anyway, as you are out and about and see the FFF, give
your local Plant Board Inspector a call to see if they’ve checked on them. I’ve
said it before and you’ll get tired of me saying it again, but the more tips and
help we receive from you, the better we can enforce the law.
Along this same line, let’s just talk about licensing a bit. If you are a
landscape contractor or a nursery dealer and bid a landscape job against an
outfit that you’re not familiar with, call us and we can tell you if they are
licensed. And if they’re not, any information you can provide us will definitely
help and will be in confidence. We want fair competition so help us get apples
to apples. Your industry’s image is worth protecting.
If you are just starting out or expanding into different horticultural
services or maybe just want to brush up on being in the business, I highly
recommend an excellent Cooperative Extension publication compiled by Dr. Jim
Robbins titled “Ornamental
Horticulture Businesses: License.” These are available from any Cooperative
Extension office or can be downloaded off their web site at:
http://www.uaex.edu. This fact
sheet has a wealth of information as to what type of business needs license and
how to get them and much more. If there are still questions, you can contact the
Plant Board (Plant Industry Division) via phone at 501-225-1598 or via our web
site at:
www.plantboard.org. License applications, rules, regulations and lists can
all be downloaded these days.
One of the items to note for the coming license season is that after 18 years
of holding the line on nursery fees, alas, the rates must rise. As you receive
your particular nursery category renewal notice for the 2003 season (generally
in the mail around the end of August or early September), you will notice the
minimum license fee is now $150 and that we have eliminated the acreage add-on
fees. Although the size increments increase $150 per level, the vast majority of
our small businesses will qualify for the minimum fee level. I realize that none
of us like fee increases. All I can say is that the Plant Board has been able to
operate efficiently in the past and is committed to continually providing better
service to you in the future.
(Jim’s Note: After many years at the helm of the Plant Industry Division,
David has elected to go back into the field in a different capacity for the
Plant Board. Early this fall he moved to the Fayetteville area. Our sincere
THANKS to David for his incredible leadership and open minded thinking which has
benefitted the green industry for so many years!)
Horticulture Department News
The Department of Horticulture has established a new Horticulture Alumni
Scholarship as a way for past students to help those of the future, according to
David Hensley, Department Head. The endowed scholarship will accumulate funds
and draw interest until it reaches its goal of $25,000. The endowed Horticulture
Alumni Scholarship will provide funding for students in perpetuity. “This is a
long-term effort that will provide dividends far into the future,” according to
Hensley.
A scholarship is critical to higher education for many high ability students.
Providing more financial opportunities enhances the horticulture industry in
Arkansas. A major goal of the Department of Horticulture and the Bumpers College
of Agriculture, Food, and Life Science is to increase the quality and quantity
of the student body. “The Horticulture Alumni Scholarship will play a
significant role in meeting this goal through the creation of an endowed
scholarship fund for worthy students in the department at the University of
Arkansas,” according to Mark Powers, Director of Development for the Bumpers
College.
According to Mark, this effort is a unique way for the department and its
alumni to reach out to future students. Gifts can be in any amount. If each of
the department’s alumni gave even a small donation, we could quickly reach the
goal for the first awards. Donations are also tax deductible. Donations in any
amount can be sent to: Horticulture Alumni Scholarship, Bumpers College of
Agriculture, Food and Life Science, U of A, E-204 AFLS, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
Their phone is (479) 575-2270. Dr. Hensley may be contacted at 479-575-7319 or
dhensley@uark.edu.
Interesting Web Site!
I can’t remember how I found this, but for those interested in a simple
primer on the biology of soils, this is a great site:
http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/SoilBiology/soil_biology_primer.htm.
Upcoming Events
Oct. 4-5:
Tennessee Nursery Association (MTNA) Horticultural Trade Show.
McMinnville Civic Center, McMinnville, TN.
Contact: 931-668-7322.Jan. 7-8 – Arkansas Turfgrass Association 15th
Annual Conference and Trade Show. Hot Springs Convention Center, Contact
501-224-4840.
Feb. 7-8 – Professional Landscape and Nursery Trade Show. Hot Springs
Convention Center, Contact
AGIA at 501-225-0029.
By: Jim Robbins, Extension Specialist -
Ornamental Horticulture
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