TECH ON DEMAND brought to you by GrowerTalks

Audio Files: A Wake-Up Call for Baby Boomers

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 goals.

 

The children of Baby Boomers, spanning multiple generations, have grown up in a vastly different world. The advent of technology and the rise of the Internet have transformed the way people interact, communicate and work. This has led to a divergence in work ethics, as the younger generations have been exposed to new opportunities and challenges that their parents’ generation could not have fathomed.

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine—October 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_23_10/index.aspx

Benefits of Dynamic Lighting (Part Two) with Rose & Michael from Sollum Technologies

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 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 studies, new research and a fresh approach to LED lighting.

 

In Part Two, the team from Sollum explains why the dynamic solution they provide can be installed in just about any greenhouse facility, as well as how true partnerships with grower clients lead from goals to outcomes. Rose and Michael share case studies and past experiences with breakthrough results. Then they detail how their team is constantly learning and using data to help growers make improvements from crop to crop, season to season and year to year. Furthermore, partnering with leading researchers in academia promises to bring even more knowledge to the table that can be implemented at clients’ operations.

 

You’ll want to listen all the way to the end of this episode as Rose and Michael share thoughts about the future of dynamic lighting and how new research is opening up opportunities to consider how light can be used to reduce disease and truly optimize plant health and quality for growers in all segments of horticulture.

 

If you have plans to explore new lighting technologies and want to learn more about the potential of dynamic lighting in enhancing plant health and reducing disease in horticulture, this episode is for you! It’s a perfect blend of science and real-world application with two guests who bring passion and tremendous knowledge to an energetic discussion about a critical topic.

 

Be sure to subscribe to the Tech On Demand Podcast, brought to you by GrowerTalks on your favorite podcast app—that way you’ll never miss an episode!

 

Resources discussed in the podcast episode:

 

Sollum Technologies website: https://www.sollumtechnologies.com/

 

Smart Greenhouse with Dynamic LED Lighting: https://www.sollumtechnologies.com/white-papers/smart-greenhouse-with-dynamic-led-lighting

 

White Papers: https://www.sollumtechnologies.com/en/white-papers

 

Case Studies: https://www.sollumtechnologies.com/en/case-studies

 

Contact Michael Hanan: michael@sollum.tech

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 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 studies, new research and a fresh approach to LED lighting.

 

In Part One, The team from Sollum and Bill discuss exactly why the ability to control spectrum and intensity via software (versus simply turning lighting like HPS on or off) leads to flexibility and adaptability for specific crops—even down to the variety level. They dig into the ability of this kind of lighting technology to dial into specific stages of crop development—from young plants to finished material—and also how dynamic lighting can be customized to deliver specific outcomes based on diverse crop mixes or monoculture ranges.

 

Rose and Michael explain the science behind Sollum’s lighting strategies by walking listeners through questions frequently asked and discussed when planning new projects, as well as how their team helps solve problems and put new users at ease. As a partner and not simply a supplier, they don’t install and walk away.

 

If you have plans to explore new lighting technologies and want to learn more about the potential of dynamic lighting in enhancing plant health and reducing disease in horticulture, this episode is for you! It’s a perfect blend of science and real-world application with two guests who bring passion and tremendous knowledge to an energetic discussion about a critical topic.

 

Resources discussed in the podcast episode:

 

Sollum Technologies website: https://www.sollumtechnologies.com/

 

Smart Greenhouse with Dynamic LED Lighting: https://www.sollumtechnologies.com/white-papers/smart-greenhouse-with-dynamic-led-lighting

 

White Papers: https://www.sollumtechnologies.com/en/white-papers

 

Case Studies: https://www.sollumtechnologies.com/en/case-studies

 

Contact Michael Hanan: michael@sollum.tech

Success with Dipladenia ft. Dr. Jamie Gibson from Syngenta Flowers

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 category by helping you produce amazing crops that fit different sizes, profiles and uses.

 

In this episode, Jamie explains how important it is to start dipladenia with the end in mind. This means you should know your target dates to ship and sell, as well as what the end use of the crop is intended to be. As mentioned, new breeding is allowing for careful selection, both with inputs (URC, callused URC, liner, enhanced liner and prefinished), as well as plant profile and habit (from mixed container components to vigorous stand-alone specimens). If you have a plan, you can find a dipladenia to fit it.

 

Once you know the goal, it’s time to dial in a production plan. Jamie walks you through this piece of the puzzle from propagation from the different forms through finish, with special attention paid to start times and cultural management. He discusses ideal greenhouse environment, nutrition, pest and disease control, pinching and trimming, PGRs and even post-harvest recommendation.

 

One part of this presentation that you’ll want to pay close attention to is the “recipe” Jamie shares for the final 10 weeks of production. These final weeks of a long crop can make or break your success and sell-through.

 

The Syngenta Flowers team has put a lot of time and trialing into dipladenia and much of what they learned went into the launch and support of their new collection called Madinia, which includes three types—Petite, a medium-vigor size and Maximo— all with core colors.

 

Resources discussed in the podcast episode:

 

Syngenta Flowers Dipladenia Madinia Landing Page—FULL RESOURCES AND COMBINATION VIDEOS: https://www.syngentaflowers-us.com/webcast/dipladenia

Audio Files: Headwinds Ahead?

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 digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine—September 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_23_09/index.aspx

Audio Files: The Labor Dilemma

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 back from making greenhouses and garden centers the best place to work: compensation.

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine—June 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_23_06/index.aspx

Audio Files: Not Customer Service—Hospitality

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 absolute best at the hardest times possible: when face-to-face with a customer. And it requires having staff who are willing to learn and practice the fine art of service.

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks Magazine—September 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_23_09/index.aspx

Audio Files: Guide to High Tunnel Production

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 make a large investment or overcomplicating their grow. A high tunnel hoophouse offers a cost-effective solution that can significantly improve an operation’s efficiency, while providing a number of other benefits along the way.

 

A key advantage is the potential for a high tunnel grant, which is offered through a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) program. This grant allows growers who qualify government funding that alleviates some of their production expenses.

 

For growers who want to stick to soil, a high tunnel is the perfect way to enhance in-ground crop production, solve general outdoor issues and increase profits.

 

Read the digital edition of Inside Grower Magazine—May 2022: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/IG_22_05/index.aspx

Audio Files: Building a Vertical Farm Team

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 for the venture, these are the “three pillars,” as I refer to them.

 

Read the digital edition of Inside Grower Magazine—August 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/IG_23_08/index.aspx

MYSTERY SOLVED! Slime, Moss & Algae with Dr. Will Healy

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 learned about this mystery. The topic is slime, moss and algae in greenhouse production.

 

This is not only a mysterious (and somewhat gross) topic, but also one that’s key to successful propagation and finishing of crops. Moss and algae growth supports fungus gnat and shorefly infestations and limits water movement leading to non-uniform growth—both situations you want to avoid at all costs. With these issues in mind, Will begins this discussion all the way back at the time of media selection. He then moves to how your flat filling equipment can positively or negatively impact media and the formation of an algae or moss “crust”.

 

How and when you apply irrigation often directly affects the formation of a crust on plugs and pots you want to avoid, as well as leading to hydrophilic or hydrophobic growing media. Answering the questions, “Where did slime, mold and algae come from?” And … “How do I avoid it?” Will explains that dry, fine fiber in media floats hydrophobic fibers to the surface, which in turn causes flooding of cells and compaction of the upper layer of media leading to smooth surfaces on each cell that encourages slime and algae growth. Thankfully, there are ways to avoid this, and Will has the solution to this phenomenon.

 

Training Your Team to Water Properly Video: https://youtu.be/SCPPT0IXlLY?si=_Tct1UkqGN3QnupW