m. 



NOTES 



The Number One Concern 



Unless you've been out of the country for 

 the past year, you're probably aware that 

 there's a labor shortage here. Everywhere I 

 travel, the number one concern that growers 

 share with me is the availability of labor. In 

 most nursery and greenhouse operations, la- 

 bor can be up to 80% of their costs. What's 

 even more daunting is that this doesn't look 

 as if it will be changing any time soon. 



Growers who recognize this have begun 

 to mechanize their operations as much as 

 possible. Most operations now use some sort 

 of computer for billing, receivables, etc. But 

 it's in production that I suspect the biggest 

 changes will occur. Not too many years ago, 

 injectors and controlled release fertilizers 

 were unusual; now they're the norm, due in 

 part to labor costs. Fewer people are making 

 their own soil mix — not because they're dis- 

 satisfied with their mix, but because of lack 

 of labor and time. Seeders are often the 

 norm. Watering, one of the most labor-in- 

 tensive operations in a greenhouse, has 

 changed. Many larger growers are going to 

 ebb-and-flood; automatic booms have become 

 commonplace. Transplanters and potting ma- 

 chines, used previously in only the larger 

 operations, are making their ivay into 

 smaller and smaller firms. Belts and carts are 

 everywhere, helping to reduce hand labor. 



What makes this trend so interesting is 

 that, previously, people -would wonder how 

 these large operations could afford this large 

 equipment expense for a flat of annuals or 

 two-gallon juniper. 



But it appears they ^vere ahead on this learn- 

 ing curve regarding the labor issue. Being 

 more efficient with less labor may have a 

 high start-up cost, but will pay huge divi- 

 dends in the time to come. 



Jim Zablocki, Technical Manager of the 

 Northern Horticultural Group, the Scotts 

 Company, can be reached at 60^-224-^^8). 



1-800-447-4745 



visit our website: wwwJIwesternmainenurseries.coin 



ur bare-root conifer 

 seedUngs and transplants 



have helped to keep forest 

 »ndustries, nurseries, and other 

 landowners successfully in the 

 green for sevenr)'-five years. 

 Ask for a catalog, today! 



^^ESTERN 



^■n^ AINE NURSERIES 



^^^^^^^^^k ^^H ■ V ^^ ESTABLISHED 1923 



INC 



P.O. Box 2S0, Fryeburf;. ME 04037 

 Fax: (207) 935-2043 

 Email: wmntrecs@nxi.com 



%iSAM y -JB^Si^ & 



We're Here To Help You Grow! 



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Charter Oak Landscape 



29 Mountain Terrace Road 



West Hartford, CT 06107 



Toll Free 1-800-431-6625 



1-860-521-2638 



Fax 1-860-561-4130 



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^^P 



26 



The Plantsman 



