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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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Audio Files: Acres & Acres—Pandemic Not Required

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 Magazine—July 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_23_07/index.aspx

Audio Files: Simple Things Growers Miss That Affect Plant Quality

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 operation can make you more successful. Here are a few reminders of simple things new and experienced growers alike can use to increase plant quality, efficiencies and profits.

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks & Green Profit Magazine—June 2021: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_21_06/index.aspx

Audio Files: The Echinacea Renaissance

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 walking through a field of samples and picking out cool flower tops, breeders judged plants by their ability to survive winter, create multiple growing points and pass through TC production successfully.

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks & Green Profit Magazine—April 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_23_04/index.aspx

Audio Files: Planning For 2024

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, most operating costs haven’t gone down. Lay out your plan to clearly articulate what you’ll need for cost increases.
• Do you need to build? Depending on the size of your expansion this may be a challenge. We now plan and give final approval two years ahead. I’ve heard there’s some capacity with builders, and if your expansion is five acres or less, you may be able to complete it for 2024 production.
• Don’t forget the internal capacity building: your team. What positions will you need to fill? Do you have the experience and ability to support your growth plans?

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks & Green Profit Magazine—May 2023: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_23_05/index.aspx

Audio Files: Putting Your Media to the Test

PUTTING YOUR MEDIA TO THE TEST

FROM THE JULY 2021 ISSUE OF GROWERTALKS MAGAZINE

WRITTEN BY ED BLOODNICK & TROY BUECHEL

NARRATED BY BILL CALKINS

 

EXCERPT: Comparative product evaluations, product demonstrations and product trials are important for growers when evaluating new products, plant varieties and even growing media. This is the best way of determining what new product can benefit your business. But there are certain protocols that should be followed to ensure products are evaluated properly and the results can be replicated should you decide to move forward with a new product.

 

Read the digital edition of GrowerTalks & Green Profit Magazine—July 2021: https://www.ballpublishing.com/magazine/gt_21_07/index.aspx