2/16/18

Update from Syngenta

Syngenta has a few new crop protection chemical updates that I would like to share with you.

Advion Fire Ant bait is available for nursery and horse pasture use.  Until new Advion packaging hits the market, nursery users need to have the supplemental label (attached) in hand.  Advion is a new mode of action for fire ant control, and typically eliminates treated fire ant colonies in 24-48 hours.  The USDA Red Important Fire Ant quarantine treatment approval is pending and expected soon. 

Subdue Maxx is now labeled for vegetables and herbs.  This fits in to market expansion with edible plant production, and adds a valuable tool for Pythium, phytophthora and downy mildew control.

2/7/18

Profitability - Transportation Costs


Transportation costs industry wide are about 11% of costs of sales and have increased 17.7% in the last decade.  There are some expectations of increases in the future with some significant structural headwinds in the transportation sector.  Here is the final video form AmericanHort with Dr. Charlie Hall looking at this cost factor and how it affects profitability.   https://youtu.be/J8kpt7HY9fI

2/2/18

Profitability: Energy and Fertilizer Costs



Energy and fertilizer (which is positively correlated with energy) costs are slowly rising again and will have implications to your bottom line.  Here is the third video episode of Profit Margins with Dr. Charlie Hall.  See what he has to say about the near-term outlook on energy costs.   https://youtu.be/dTdrRPRnPEI