When Art Smith and Mary Eckstrom purchased the East Pierre Landscape and Garden Center seven years ago, they had no experience operating a business. But as the couple read books on business management, they discovered a common theme: draw
There are plenty of ways to start a nursery business, and it didn’t take Erik Rosenbaum long to figure out what worked for his family. His daughter Annette Fentress, who helms the business today, explained how Sun Nurseries began.
Recently the Department of Agriculture announced a $300 million Organic Transition Initiative designed to support the increased production of organic agriculture. The number of farmers transitioning to organic farming has dropped significantly in the past 15 years.
If you’re
It’s definitely not your typical farming operation. From the technique of permanent raised bed row cropping to the strategic placement of natural areas for beneficial species, Liz and Corey Aquino of Lane’s End Farm exemplify what can be done
Although many farmers inherit an early generational connection to the land, some, like Edgar and Martine Anderson, join the agricultural community later in life. When the Andersons visited friends on Washington Island, WI, they fell in love with the
The AmericanHort Scholars program aims to set students in horticulture on a path to success by exposing them to the breadth of the industry, its opportunities and its leaders at the annual Cultivate convention. Each year, six students are
For years, commercial greenhouse growers have used supplemental lighting to help boost greenhouse production when the weather won’t seem to cooperate, as well as creating a more uniform product throughout the greenhouse. It began with fluorescent and high-pressure sodium
While many farmers are diligent in keeping up with proper maintenance of their farm equipment throughout their working season, care must be taken in equal measure during the colder off season.
Dr. John Buchanan, associate professor and Extension specialist
As you look at the costs for seeds, growing media, lighting and everything else that comes with the 2023 season, be sure to include a line item for marketing. Word of mouth is great, but it’s not enough in
Before farming on their own, Ian and Kelsey Kilgore spent time on a variety of farms, learning the fine points of growing vegetables. When they served as interns on a 40-acre organic produce farm, the owner rented five acres
