Thank you to all who responded to my editorial in the last issue.  Points made by those who responded:

1. It can really cost more (in lost income) than I stated if a business has few or no employees and has to close down in order to attend a meeting.  My response:  Perhaps, unless you learn something that in the long run can make you more money.
2. Most of the information is simply a repeat of information conveyed in other venues.  My response:  This may be true, but sometimes we hear things differently or are in a different place in time when listening.
3. Information is good, but tends to be more valuable when someone is new in business and just starting on the learning curve.  My response:  See #2
4. Unless its a really innovative idea - don't need to hear ideas that aren't working all that well.  My response:  You won't know if it is really innovative unless you hear it. 
5. Most of the time presentations are posted on-line so all you need to do is see the summary.  My response:  This point has some validity and is something many meeting organizers struggle with.  However, so much can be lost in the translation. . .the question and answers, etc. 
6. Finally, several comments were made that the deck is stacked and small businesses aren't going to survive much longer anyway. . . . .that one I can't respond to except to say that I don't believe that to be true.  Life as a small independent may change a lot, but for those who truly want to be there, they'll figure out how to do it.

The garden center/greenhouse retailers aren't the only independents in the Wisconsin Green Industry or even in Wisconsin agriculture as a whole who are trying to hold on.  As a product of a small dairy farm I understand all to well the "independent mentality" found throughout agriculture.

Maybe it is time, however, to think more about working together to preserve all of us, rather than one by one silently slipping into oblivion.  Some segments  of the agricultural industry are learning to work together without losing their individuality. Maybe the various aspects of the ornamental industry need to start thinking about this.

 Source: USDA October 17, 2011

Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service announced it plans to eliminate its annual floriculture and nursery reports in 2012 due to "funding reductions."  

The agency said that in light of funding reductions in fiscal year 2011 and the likelihood of additional reductions in FY 2012, it had conducted reviews of all its programs "against mission- and user-based criteria, aimed at finding cost savings and forward-thinking business efficiencies so that key timely, accurate and useful data remains available in service to agriculture."

As a result of this review, the agency is discontinuing or reducing a wide range of agricultural survey programs including the floriculture and nursery reports.

To learn more, please visit the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service website.  

 "If you change nothing, nothing will change"

Danny Takao, the former OFA president, suggests a non-profit organization serve as the vehicle that collects annual dues from the entire supply chain. Takao writes:

My daughter put a sign in my office. It reads, "If you change nothing, nothing will change."
  
As I look at all the events around the country and abroad, I'm wondering what will the new normal be like for our industry and how will our new consumer think and spend their monies. I don't think it's in our best interest to sit back and wait.
 
Here are some interesting and scary facts: 

The Garden Center Symposium will be presenting three $1,000 scholarships at their 2012 event on January 11-12, 2012. Deadline is November 15, 2011. 

For information on scholarship requirements

The 2012 Symposium is scheduled for January 11-12, 2012 in Waukesha, WI.  For program and registration information go to www.gardencentersymposium.com. 

Check out what Chris Beytes from Ball Horticulture has to say about his participation in the Symposium.

Chris Beytes, Ball Horticulture

Trial Information 

Source:  Greenhouse Product News

A new, free, supplemental marketing avenue for independently owned garden centers and retail greenhouses.

The UW-Madison Department of Horticulture and UW Extension have developed a web-based map dedicated to showing the plant buying public the locations and a summary of contact and product information for each participating retail garden center and greenhouse.  The address for this website is http://wrgc.horticulture.wisc.edu.

Information on participating via a list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found here. 

The existence of this map will be publicized through popular press, garden clubs, master gardeners, extension channels, travel and tourism links and any other method that will reach the gardening public.

Feedback can be provided via the website or directly to the Department of Horticulture