VERTICAL FARM SITE SELECTION FROM THE NOVEMBER 2023 ISSUE OF INSIDE GROWER MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY DAVID KUACK NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: A major consideration when starting an indoor farm is site selection, which can have a direct bearing on efficiency and profitability. There are lots of factors to take into consideration, from the physical location to the utilities available, nearby neighbors and more. Here we break down what to think about before your next retrofit or build. Read the digi...
Nov 13, 2023•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast COMMON PROPAGATION MISTAKES FROM THE NOVEMBER 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY LYNN GRIFFITH NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Horticulture is an art as well as a science. Propagating plants vegetatively is even more of an art than growing in general. Sure, there’s research data on propagating the more common ornamental plants. However, variables such as variety, season, geography and structures can make large differences in what works and doesn’t work. Read the digital edition of G...
Nov 06, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast FLORAL PACKAGING EVOLVED FROM THE OCTOBER 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY SARA EVENSON NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: I’ll be the first to admit that navigating sustainability is complicated. It’s not enough to depict mountains of legal documents I’ve gotten lost under while trying to decipher the best path forward. Is it better to recycle or better to compost? What does post-consumer content even mean? What can I recycle at my house? I’ll even admit I spent the better part of t...
Oct 30, 2023•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast POINSETTIAS: THE FINAL STEP—SHIPPING FROM THE OCTOBER 2010 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY DR. P. ALLEN HAMMER NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Poinsettia growers have a responsibility for the post-production longevity of the plants we offer to consumers. Growers can’t afford to simply be happy to have the plants out of the greenhouse door. Satisfied poinsettia consumers make for repeat customers. As a poinsettia producer and marketer, you can do a great deal to maintain the potential ...
Oct 19, 2023•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast DIGITAL CROP TEMPLATES FROM THE OCTOBER 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY BILL CALKINS NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Remember when the walls of your greenhouse office were lined with file cabinets? Maybe they still are … but perhaps at least a few have been tossed to the curb with the contents now residing on computers and phones. Some of those drawers, no doubt, held files on past crops and your growers could pull a folder and see some notes from years gone by. Unfortunately, th...
Oct 13, 2023•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast PERFECTING PERENNIAL PROPAGATION FROM THE JANUARY 2020 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHRIS FIFO NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: My earliest memory of plant propagation was in second grade. I was taking cuttings off my mom’s Swedish Ivy and sticking them in a glass of water. I loved watching them grow roots. My passion for propagation had evolved by the fifth grade and I was propagating spider plants and giving them to teachers. I’ve come a long way since then and my career has focus...
Oct 09, 2023•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast ACRES & ACRES: GOOD QUESTIONS! (SO-SO ANSWERS) FROM THE OCTOBER 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHRIS BEYTES NARRATED BY THE AUTHOR, CHRIS BEYTES EXCERPT: Chris Beytes, as the editor of a horticultural trade publication, you have a unique perspective on industry trends. What recent developments in the horticulture sector do you believe will have the most significant impact on businesses and professionals in the coming years? I guess my answer is that we’re a maturing industry, ...
Oct 04, 2023•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast A WAKE-UP CALL FOR BABY BOOMERS FROM THE OCTOBER 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY AMY MORRIS NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: The work ethic of Baby Boomers was deeply rooted in their experiences of economic struggle, as many of them grew up during times of scarcity and uncertainty. This instilled in them the value of hard work and the importance of saving for the future. As a result, they often put in long hours and were willing to make personal sacrifices to achieve their career ...
Oct 02, 2023•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you haven’t already listened to part one of this episode, you’ll want to jump back in the archive and start there. This is part two and we continue the conversation, picking right up where we left off. LINK TO PART ONE: https://techondemand.podbean.com/e/benefits-of-dynamic-lighting-part-one-with-rose-michael-from-sollum-technologies/ In this two-part episode of Tech On Demand brought to you by GrowerTalks, host Bill Calkins talks to Rose Séguin (agronomist) and Michael Hanan (U.S. senior sa...
Sep 26, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this two-part episode of Tech On Demand brought to you by GrowerTalks, host Bill Calkins talks to Rose Séguin (agronomist) and Michael Hanan (U.S. senior sales director) from Sollum Technologies about “dynamic” LED lighting and how this new technology allows for multi-zoning to meet the needs of multiple crops, as well as the ability to control light intensity and spectrums. Learn why fully-dynamic LED lighting is good for your crops, as well as your bottom line. Rose and Michael share case ...
Sep 26, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Tech On Demand brought to you by GrowerTalks, host Bill Calkins is joined by Dr. Jamie Gibson, technical lead for Syngenta Flowers, for a deep dive into dipladenia. If you’re listening in real time, plans for 2024 are most likely being made and if you’re like a lot of growers that means you’re looking to add tropical plants to the mix for next year. We’ve seen a lot of interest in Dipladenia recently—for many reasons—and new breeding and introductions are helping drive the cat...
Sep 21, 2023•34 min•Ep 85•Transcript available on Metacast HEADWINDS AHEAD? FROM THE SEPTEMBER 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY STAN VANDER WAAL NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: My father used to use the term, “Batten down the hatches,” which I feel is very applicable to today's business environment. The definition of my father’s term is, “To prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation.” With this thought in mind, I’d like to consider how we as operators and business owners can prudently plan and navigate the challenges ahead. Read the ...
Sep 19, 2023•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast THE LABOR DILEMMA FROM THE JUNE 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY AMY MORRIS NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Why does our industry face this dilemma? I believe it’s because prospective employees observe greenhouses and garden centers as offering the same compensation and career potential as the local McDonald’s. They see an entry-level temporary or transitional job when what we’d like them to see is a fun, challenging and rewarding opportunity. We all know the one thing holding us ...
Sep 18, 2023•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast ACRES & ACRES: NOT CUSTOMER SERVICE—HOSPITALITY FROM THE SEPTEMBER 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHRIS BEYTES NARRATED BY THE AUTHOR, CHRIS BEYTES EXCERPT: If you’ve been reading this column for a while, you’ll know I’m passionate about customer service. I’ve long felt it’s the one easiest (and hardest) place you can make your business stand out from the crowd. Easiest because so few businesses excel at it; hardest because it requires that your staff (and you) are at your abs...
Sep 06, 2023•5 min•Ep 82•Transcript available on Metacast GUIDE TO HIGH TUNNEL PRODUCTION FROM THE MAY 2022 ISSUE OF INSIDE GROWER MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY PATRICK MAHONEY NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Growers obviously want to minimize their expenses, but at the same time want to maximize crop growth and boost their profitability. This can be a tough balance to achieve, as newer growing practices can often come with a hefty price tag. However, with a high tunnel, growers can start to obtain some of the benefits of greenhouse growing, without having to ...
Sep 03, 2023•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast BUILDING A VERTICAL FARM TEAM FROM THE AUGUST 2023 ISSUE OF INSIDE GROWER MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY ERIKA SUMMERS NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: In my experience, here’s what I’ve seen work as the core makeup of a successful vertical farming implementation team. This team in the initial planning phase includes a grower, a mechanical engineer (or engineering firm) and a finance/business person. Other members of the team need to be added as the project progresses, but aside from someone raising funds...
Aug 30, 2023•9 min•Ep 80•Transcript available on Metacast For more than three decades, Dr. Will Healy was a technical services manager at Ball working with countless growers around the world to solve greenhouse challenges and grow amazing crops. Over that period of time, there was a phenomenon he saw over and over and made it part of his mission to figure out how and why it happened. Now retired but still constantly looking for ways to share knowledge with the horticulture industry, Will joins Tech On Demand host Bill Calkins to reveal what he’s learne...
Aug 22, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast BIOFUNGICIDES: WHAT TO CONSIDER FROM THE AUGUST 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY DR. ANN CHASE NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: You should be aware of some considerations before trying biopesticides in your operation. It might be simpler to convert completely to biopesticides, but it’s rarely practical due to limitations in controlling a wide array of diseases. There are some facts you need to know to make the most successful use of any pesticide—biological or conventional. This ar...
Aug 21, 2023•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Skip the intro and get right to the content—fast forward to 1:15. In the second part of this Tech On Demand discussion, Dr. Nathan Jahnke (Culture Research Manager at Ball Horticultural Company) and Deanna Felton (Production & Propagation Manager at Sunbelt Greenhouses) continue the foundation built in the previous episode, this time covering preparation, inspection and grading, as well as best practices for acclimation and the importance of providing feedback to labs and suppliers. Nathan a...
Aug 15, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the first part of this Tech On Demand discussion, Dr. Nathan Jahnke (Culture Research Manager at Ball Horticultural Company) and Deanna Felton (Production & Propagation Manager at Sunbelt Greenhouses) set the stage with an overview of commonly used terms, how exactly Tissue Culture material is produced and the most common product forms you can expect to receive from TC labs. Then they dial in on critical components for success before taking you crop by crop through common TC species—ranki...
Aug 15, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast For the past couple years at the annual Ball Customer Day event in West Chicago, panels have been assembled to share thoughts on a topic during lunch in the big tent. This year, the topic was how to plan for 2024—a big question and one that has everyone in the industry talking. Following three unique seasons, it can be challenging (if not impossible) for you and your team to set sights on a plan for your operation next year. Because Ball Customer Day is now actually two days, the final Thursday ...
Aug 09, 2023•35 min•Ep 75•Transcript available on Metacast For the past couple years at the annual Ball Customer Day event in West Chicago, panels have been assembled to share thoughts on a topic during lunch in the big tent. This year, the topic was how to plan for 2024—a big question and one that has everyone in the industry talking. Following three unique seasons, it can be challenging (if not impossible) for you and your team to set sights on a plan for your operation next year. Because Ball Customer Day is now actually two days, the final Thursday ...
Aug 09, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Synchronous germination is the goal—uniform seedlings that germinate within a 48-hour window and grow uniformly throughout production. Dr. Will Healy joins host Bill Calkins for a deep dive into the germination process with a focus on pansy and viola crops. Will begins by explaining why water and oxygen are the most critical elements in pansy germination, as well as the importance of hydration levels from Day 0-4. He then shares ways to reduce the potential of creating a “gel layer” on seeds, in...
Aug 08, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast ACRES & ACRES: EMPLOYEES—BLESSING OR CURSE? FROM THE AUGUST 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHRIS BEYTES NARRATED BY CHRIS BEYTES EXCERPT: HR will never be easy. But perhaps looking at your people as a blessing rather than a curse is a first step toward creating a culture that attracts better people, who’ll be more pleasurable to manage, which will further foster a culture that attracts better people, and so on and so on. It kind of reminds me of something I heard years ago: “W...
Aug 04, 2023•6 min•Ep 72•Transcript available on Metacast 5 HERBICIDE MYTHS HOLDING YOUR PROGRAM BACK FROM THE AUGUST 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY BROCH MARTINDALE NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Weed management strategies commonly rely on multiple applications of pre-emergent and postemergent herbicides that are supplemented with handweeding. To help you build a robust program, it’s important to dispel some myths about using herbicides in your production. Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks & Green Profit Magazine—August 202...
Aug 02, 2023•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Tech On Demand brought to you by GrowerTalks, host Bill Calkins is joined by Dr. JC Chong, technical development manager at SePRO, to discuss the importance of pesticide rotation programs and how to develop and implement them in your operation. Rotating chemistries and modes of action not only gives you an effective approach to eliminating pests but helps ensure you can use the best products for years to come—without resistance and loss of sensitivity to pests. JC and Bill dig...
Jul 24, 2023•47 min•Ep 70•Transcript available on Metacast ACRES & ACRES: PANDEMIC NOT REQUIRED FROM THE JULY 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY CHRIS BEYTES NARRATED BY THE AUTHOR ... CHRIS BEYTES! EXCERPT: The main point here is how the overall season turned out, and based on your scores, 2023 (7.6/7.6) will be the third-best season since I started trying to keep score. Only the pandemic years of 2020 (8.1/8.2) and 2021 (8.2/8.1) beat it. In fact, no other season comes close! Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks & Green Profit Ma...
Jul 10, 2023•5 min•Ep 69•Transcript available on Metacast SIMPLE THINGS GROWERS MISS THAT AFFECT PLANT QUALITY FROM THE JUNE 2021 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY MIKE FERNANDEZ NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: In today’s digital world, we’re bombarded with information. That’s especially true if you’re new to greenhouse production. Best practices, expert advice, training and technology tips abound. The truth is many successful growers take a back-to-basics approach. Focusing on improving and perfecting just a few areas of your growing operatio...
Jun 27, 2023•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast THE ECHINACEA RENAISSANCE FROM THE APRIL 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY LOWELL HALVORSON NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Our modern echinacea grew out of this crisis. Breeders pulled back and reassessed their strategies, especially within the dominant innovators. Features that define a good echinacea today—such as heavy flower count, extended bloom window, long lifespan and slow-to-fade flowers—come from their “whole plant” approach toward selection and improvement. Rather than ...
Jun 23, 2023•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast PLANNING FOR 2024 FROM THE MAY 2023 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY STAN VANDER WAAL NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS EXCERPT: Planning considerations: Consult with your customers or prospective customers early about opportunities, but also clearly discuss timelines you need to work with to execute a successful 2024 season. Don’t underestimate the planning, supply chain run time or delays, or the time it may take to get the approvals you need for a given proposal. Cost review: Unfortunately, mo...
Jun 20, 2023•7 min•Ep 66•Transcript available on Metacast 
