Social Media Use in Nurseries?

I have often advocated the use of social media for increasing sales of plant material to customers and the general public at large.  I just read an article mentioning that this year there will be more folks belonging to the Millennial generation (those born from 1981 to 1997) than the Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964).  So it might be time to start delving into how the Millennials get information to make purchases and how those purchases might be plants.

Another thing you might like to participate in is a research study on social media use in the green industry. Kansas State University is working on a question of how social media is being used by nurseries and garden centers for marketing.  Here’s an opportunity for you to get some answers about online marketing efforts by participating in a research project.  Questions in the survey will focus on marketing practices, their effectiveness, and their economic impact. Results of the survey (available to participants who submit their email address) will benefit nurseries and garden centers across the country by learning how to reach customers more effectively.  We invite you to participate in the survey.  In addition to helping our industry, there are personal incentives (two chances to win a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate)! Click on the link below to get started (works on mobile devices as well). 

https://kstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_a5V6agkkvuTjz3T&source=NNES 

 

Or copy and paste the URL above into your internet browser.

Private Applicator Exam Review and CEUs

If you are looking to take the Private Applicator exam or just need a few more CEUs for your licence, here is an opportunity for you.  Our Private Applicator Exam Extension Team will be co-teaching in Pasco County at our next event.  Here is the information below.

Pasco County Extension Office will host a private applicator and CORE General Standards Exam Review on Thursday April 16, 2015 from 8:30am to 2pm.

 

Register online at the following links:

CORE General Standards: https://pascoaprilcoreexamreview.eventbrite.com Approved for 2 CEUs.

Private Agricultural Pesticide Applicator: https://pascoaprilpesticideexamreview.eventbrite.com Approved for 2 CEUs

 

The cost is $30 for both or $15 for one. The General Standard (CORE) starts at 8:30am and the Private Applicator at 11:35am.

 

Don’t want to register online? Please call 352-569-6872 to RSVP with Cami Esmel McAvoy

 

If classes do not fill, they will be canceled and fees refunded.

Agriculture Pesticide Collection Day

If you are a commercial nursery producer, I am sure that you have  jugs and bags of agricultural chemicals that have been left over and probably have no idea what they are anymore.    Here is just the day you are looking for.

Hillsborough County to Host Free Agriculture Pesticide Collection April 30^th

Hillsborough County’s Agriculture Industry Development Program is organizing an Agriculture Pesticide Collection Day on April 30  from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. at EQ Florida, 7202 E. 8th Ave. in Tampa.

The Agriculture Pesticide Collection Day is in partnership with the Hillsborough County Extension Service, and the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County. The collection effort is part of an initiative to provide a free pesticide disposal service for Hillsborough County agricultural operations. Pesticide manufacturers and distributors, homeowners, universities and government institutions, including state, county and local government pesticide users, are not eligible to participate.

The purpose of the program is to eliminate potential public health and environmental hazards from stored pesticides that are out-of-date, suspended or unusable. The program also further educates agricultural pesticide users on proper handling, storage, and management practices.

Funding for the collection has been made available through the Environmental Protection Commission Pollution Recovery Fund. This funding is limited; therefore once it is exhausted the collection will be closed.

For more information, contact Simon Bollin, Agriculture Industry Development Program Manager, Hillsborough County Economic Development Department, at (813) 276-2735.

Green and Growing Youth Activity

I thought I would share this opportunity with Hillsborough County youth who may like to be a farmer for a day!  This is a program that Manatee County Extension is running and is welcoming folks from nearby.  Here is the information...

If you or someone you know are between the ages of 8 and 13,  come  join us for a really fun day at the Manatee County Extension office, Gulf Coast Research Center in Balm, a nursery and much more….  The day is planned, lunches re arranged, bags with lots of goodies for the participants are ready so register today!  

 

Green & Growing Youth Field Day

Friday, March 27, 2015 (8:00 a.m.—5:00pm)

Come join the fun! Be a farmer for a day!

Get the scoop on Green and Growing by attending a day-long field day on March 27th to learn about horticulture production and research. The day starts and ends at the Manatee County Agriculture and Extension Services office at 1303 17th St. W. Palmetto.  The majority of the day will be spent at University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Balm. We will also be visiting a Manatee County nursery where we will learn what it's like to be a farmer.

Topics to be presented: 

•  Laboratory and greenhouse tour at GCREC
•  Tractor safety course
•  Hands on activities 
•  Talk with researchers
•  Visit a Manatee County plant nursery

... and more

Open to youth 8-13 years of age as of September 1, 2014 and costs $15.00. The fee includes group transportation and  lunch. This will be an outdoor event so please wear closed toe shoes and brings sunscreen. Please register no later than March 23rd. Green and Growing has a limited program capacity. For more information, please contact Martha at the Manatee County Extension Office at  941.722.4524 or mglenn7@ufl.edu.

This program is open to all youth (ages 8-13) without regard to race, color, sex, handicap or national origin.  Anyone with a disability needing assistance should call 941.722.4524 prior to the field day.

IMPORTANT: IF YOU ARE NOT A REGISTERED 4-H MEMBER, YOU MUST REGISER AS A SHORT TERM MEMBER BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT. REGISTRATION IS FREE AND CAN BE FOUND HERE: 

https://florida.4honline.com 4-H club members – join the Group: Green & Growing

Non-4-H – enroll as a short-term member by creating a profile,

-then join the Group: Green & Growing

If you need help, please contact the 4-H Office at 941.722.4524   

The Plant Producer Newsletter

Another edition of UF/IFAS Exension's The Plant Producer Newsletter is now out.  There are some articles about downy mildew on impatiens, solarizing to recycle used potting soil, a few horticultural research updates, a new resource for IPM of rose, camellia, and other major shrubs, gardens of the Big Bend: A New Botanical and Teaching Garden in North Florida, information about collecting old pesticides with operation cleansweep, and one Core CEU article.  You can find it here at this link  http://tiny.cc/PlantProdWinter2015