Workshops

Perennial Production Workshop

Sunday 8am

Raymond Cloyd, Kansas State University
Margery Daughtrey, Cornell University
Paul Pilon, Perennial Solutions Consulting
Allen Pyle, Raker
Erik Runkle, Michigan State University

Geared toward experienced and novice growers alike, this full-day workshop will focus on key topics important to succeeding with perennial production. The first half of the day will be spent in the classroom at the hotel, followed by a quick bus ride to Lockwood’s Greenhouses, a Central New York perennial production facility that will be our host for the afternoon.

Through lectures and hands-on demonstrations, you will delve into a range of topics designed to improve your success with perennials. Topics may include the best new perennial varieties, maximizing propagation success, forcing and scheduling perennials, vernalization and overwintering, using PGRs, fertility and nutrition, and pest management.

This session may be eligible for pesticide recertification credit.

Registration includes transportation to Lockwood’s Greenhouses and lunch. Buses will return to the hotel by 5:30 p.m. Advance registration is required. Seating is limited.

How to Increase Your Profits Through Benchmark Analysis

Sunday 1pm

Robin Brumfield, Rutgers University
Alan Hodges, University of Florida
Paul Thomas, University of Georgia

Given the number of economic challenges facing growers and retailers today, it is critically important to keep a finger on the financial pulse of your business. But how do you do that? How do you look at your income statements, balance sheets, and any other financial document that you or someone else generates for you to effectively glean the needed information to understand your business’ relative vigor and point to ways of improving its vitality?

This workshop will walk you through the steps with case studies, so that you can evaluate your own business, and more importantly understand how to use your evaluation to guide changes in your business plan or production regime. Paul, Robin, and Alan will lead you through to an understanding of financial benchmarks and their underlying ratios, what they mean, and how to use them to take the pulse of your business and chart changes that will positively affect your business’ bottom line.

The workshop will feature and demonstrate readily available computer- and internet-based programs that can simplify your efforts.