TECH ON DEMAND brought to you by GrowerTalks

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

Audio Files: Biofungicides—What to Consider

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 article was originally published in the first edition of our Biosolutions Guide, which came out with the June issue of GrowerTalks. 

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks & Green Profit Magazine—August 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_23_08/index.aspx

Tissue Culture: The Next Frontier (Part 2) with Dr. Nathan Jahnke & Deanna Felton

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 and Deanna wrap up with some of their tips for TC, based on a lot of experience with this product form. Be sure to listen to part one if you haven’t already!

 

 

In part one, Nathan and Deanna 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—ranking them in terms of difficulty to produce.

 

Over the past 50 years, commercial greenhouse production has been revolutionized many times—from seed to plugs to vegetative material, just to name a few evolutions. The newest frontier for professional growers is Tissue Culture (TC): The growth of cells derived from living tissue in an artificial medium.

 

Producing from Tissue Culture is certainly cutting-edge, although it’s not brand new to the world of horticulture. As more and more crops are offered from TC and production teams gravitate to this type of young plant input for many advantageous reasons, there’s bound to be a steep learning curve. TC plantlets are not like unrooted cuttings, plugs or liners—they are quite different and require new skills.

 

There is significant research underway and new strategies for TC production being published and now is the time to begin learning ways to produce TC-raised crops efficiently and effectively. That is the basis of this video series.

 

Join Dr. Nathan Jahnke, Culture Research Manager at Ball Horticultural Company and Deanna Felton, longtime Production and Propagation Manager at Sunbelt Greenhouses in Georgia for a 2-part podcast diving deep into Tissue Culture production—approaching the topics from both research and application angles.

 

DOCUMENT—Tissue Culture Language & Commonly Used Terms: https://ballseed.com/PDF/Tissue-Culture-Frequently-Used-Terms.pdf

 

WATCH THE VIDEO PRESENTATIONS FROM THIS PODCAST—DIVIDED INTO SEVEN PARTS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8NX3KFjAfBliX4GfYRnSDWfcFa7WNU4i  

Tissue Culture: The Next Frontier (Part 1) with Dr. Nathan Jahnke & Deanna Felton

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—ranking them in terms of difficulty to produce.

 

Part two covers preparation, inspection and grading, as well as best practices for acclimation and the importance of providing feedback to labs and suppliers. Nathan and Deanna wrap up with some of their tips for TC, based on a lot of experience with this product form. Be sure to listen to part two when you’re done with this one!

 

Over the past 50 years, commercial greenhouse production has been revolutionized many times—from seed to plugs to vegetative material, just to name a few evolutions. The newest frontier for professional growers is Tissue Culture (TC): The growth of cells derived from living tissue in an artificial medium.

 

Producing from Tissue Culture is certainly cutting-edge, although it’s not brand new to the world of horticulture. As more and more crops are offered from TC and production teams gravitate to this type of young plant input for many advantageous reasons, there’s bound to be a steep learning curve. TC plantlets are not like unrooted cuttings, plugs or liners—they are quite different and require new skills.

 

There is significant research underway and new strategies for TC production being published and now is the time to begin learning ways to produce TC-raised crops efficiently and effectively. That is the basis of this video series.

 

Join Dr. Nathan Jahnke, Culture Research Manager at Ball Horticultural Company and Deanna Felton, longtime Production and Propagation Manager at Sunbelt Greenhouses in Georgia for a 2-part podcast diving deep into Tissue Culture production—approaching the topics from both research and application angles.

 

DOCUMENT—Tissue Culture Language & Commonly Used Terms: https://ballseed.com/PDF/Tissue-Culture-Frequently-Used-Terms.pdf

 

WATCH THE VIDEO PRESENTATIONS FROM THIS PODCAST—DIVIDED INTO SEVEN PARTS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8NX3KFjAfBliX4GfYRnSDWfcFa7WNU4i  

Ball Customer Day 2023 FRIDAY Panel Discussion: Planning for 2024—Your Business, Plants and People

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 and Friday in July, this episode only covers one panel. Be sure to check out the other panel discussion (also posted as a podcast) because the participants are different, and the ideas are unique.

 

On Friday, moderator Bill Calkins spoke to Kate Terrell, second generation owner of Wallace’s Garden Center, a grower-retailer located in Bettendorf, Iowa. Also on the panel was Tom Seery, also second generation as a Ball Seed sales rep and Midwest Regional Manager. The third panelist was Jim Kennedy, national sales manager at Ball, who shared how Ball Seed is planning as a supplier and ways Ball Seed can assist your team when strategizing for upcoming years.

 

Panelists shared thoughts on these questions:

 

• How did your team create a plan for 2023? What went into this planning and how did the season go?

• The big question heard around the industry is, “How do I plan for 2024?” How is your business thinking about your 2024 plan at the moment?

• With change and turnover constant in any organization, developing teams and team members is more critical than ever. Please share how your company goes about training and education of staff members. Why invest in this? Does it pay off?

• Because Customer Day is focused on innovative new plants, as well as tried and true varieties, please share some of the plants and concepts you feel will make an impact in 2024.

• Finally, please offer one key to success for 2024.

Ball Customer Day 2023 THURSDAY Panel Discussion: Planning for 2024—Your Business, Plants and People

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 and Friday in July, this episode only covers one panel. Be sure to check out the other panel discussion (also posted as a podcast) because the participants are different, and the ideas are unique.

 

On Thursday, moderator Bill Calkins spoke to Johannes Pieterse (JP) and Brent Troost, co-owners of Countryside Greenhouse and Flower Shop, a grower-retailer with locations in Elburn and Crystal Lake, Illinois. The third panelist was Jim Kennedy, national sales manager at Ball, who shared how Ball Seed is planning as a supplier and ways Ball Seed can assist your team when strategizing for upcoming years.

 

Panelists shared thoughts on these questions:

 

• How did your team create a plan for 2023? What went into this planning and how did the season go?

• The big question heard around the industry is, “How do I plan for 2024?” How is your business thinking about your 2024 plan at the moment?

• With change and turnover constant in any organization, developing teams and team members is more critical than ever. Please share how your company goes about training and education of staff members. Why invest in this? Does it pay off?

• Because Customer Day is focused on innovative new plants, as well as tried and true varieties, please share some of the plants and concepts you feel will make an impact in 2024.

• Finally, please offer one key to success for 2024.

Achieving Uniformity: Pansy & Viola Germination

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, instead moving them into the germination stage effectively. Next, Will explains best practices for flat filling with uniform moisture and ways to avoid dry spots and “checkerboarding” in young plant production.

 

Moving down the seeding line, pansies and violas should be top coated with a coarse media but distribution of the media is the key element. At the end of the line should be a water tunnel but, again, there are protocols to follow, and Will explains them all. Lastly, when your plug trays are filled, there’s always the discussion of whether bench production or a chamber is optimal. Will explains pros and cons for both.

 

Resources mentioned:

 

3-Part Pansy Production Video Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8NX3KFjAfBmWBYPrzYNf-bbG3pc5Z4ru

 

Training Your Team to Water Properly Video: https://youtu.be/SCPPT0IXlLY

 

Optimize Your Seeding Line Video: https://youtu.be/dW-0wa55lZI

Audio Files: Employees—Blessing or Curse?

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: “What if I train my people and they leave?”

“Yeah, but what if you don’t train your people and they stay?”

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks & Green Profit Magazine—August 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_23_08/index.aspx

Audio Files: 5 Herbicide Myths Holding Your Program Back

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 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_23_08/index.aspx

Developing a Pesticide Rotation Program (and more) with JC Chong

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 into exactly why resistance programs are critical to reducing resistance and why resistance leads not only to reduced options and crop issues but also higher costs. Then they move into resources and tips to navigate the oftentimes puzzling world of insecticide rotation. JC explains why rotating modes of actions and not trade names is necessary, as well as how many modes of action should be used in an effective rotation. Finally, they go even deeper into how you can customize rotations for your needs using the tools and resources JC employs when he consults with greenhouse and nursery growers.

 

Because JC is a true insect and mite pest expert with more than 15 years-experience as a professor and researcher, Bill picks his brain on a current hot-button topic … Thrips parvispinus, the specific thrips that led to quarantines in Florida and spread to many states on tropical plants in 2023. JC offers his expertise on the pest, his outlook for Fall 2023 and 2024 and a new rotation program he developed at SePRO that’s available to download and save for use if you need to battle this particular bug.

 

Resources discussed in the podcast episode:

 

Insecticide Guide Poster

www.sepro.com/bugposter

 

Thrips parvispinus Rotation Guide

www.sepro.com/thrips

 

Ornamental Solutions Tech Sheet

https://www.sepro.com/media/3807/sepro-all-ornamental-20-sheet.pdf

 

SePRO Ornamental Products

https://www.sepro.com/Hort/Products

 

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