April 30, 2020

Resources – financial, direct marketing and maintaining plant quality 4.30.20

 

Some resources from EDEN (Extension Disaster Education Network)

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has information ranging from what to do if you have trouble paying your bills, are facing income loss, or have a problem with a financial service.

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/

 

 The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) provides information linking banks, technology and consumers.

https://www.fdic.gov/

 

On-farm direct marketing webinars from Rutgers

Session 1 (May 5th): Maintaining Social Distancing and Safe Food Handling Practices: Guidance for Farm Markets

Session 2 (May 12th): Sales and Distribution

Session 3 (May 19th): U-Pick Operation Guidelines under COVID-19.

Session 4 (May 26th): Farmer Panel – Strategies We Are Using – (Farmers TBD) To Participate online for All 4 Events:

Use the link:  https://go.rutgers.edu/k0d59m8h

Or join by phone:
+1-650-429-3300 USA Toll
Access code: 226 795 368 # and then # again

We suggest visiting at least 15 minutes before the session start time to confirm system requirements

https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/on-farm-direct-marketing-in-2020-webinars-every-tuesday-night-in-may/

 

Maintaining quality of plants in retail spaces from UMass

https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/greenhouse-updates-apr-24-2020

 

Have a great day!

April 28, 2020

What’s new on 4.28.20

No changes on the COVID guidance but Governor Cuomo is working on a phased re-opening. (see part of statement below) My advice is to have clear plans for how the ornamentals industry will ensure safety and reduce potential infection.  I know you are all individually doing this already and I don’t know who the industry leaders will be that are consulted, but forewarned is forearmed and anything that can help get the ornamentals industry open for business is a good thing in my book! (then I can get back to talking about IPM!)

The phased re-opening will also be based on individual business and industry plans that include new measures to protect employees and consumers, make the physical work space safer and implement processes that lower risk of infection in the business. The state is consulting with local leaders in each region and industry to formulate these plans. https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/amid-ongoing-covid-19-pandemic-governor-cuomo-outlines-phased-plan-re-open-new-york-starting

Webinar on H2A workers by Penn State.  May 7 at 6:30-8:30 ET. Information on how to register at https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/penn-state-webinar-h-2a-agricultural-workers-in-times-of-uncertainty/

Garden Center Twilight Q&A recording  https://youtu.be/Ipt7k89T4eM.

This is the one I mentioned yesterday.

 

“Growing Cut Flowers” with Martha Gioumousis

Wednesday, April 29, 6:00-8:00pm

Learn to grow your own cutting garden for beautiful bouquets all season long. Join us to learn about annual flower varieties that are easy to grow in your home garden and lend themselves to making beautiful arrangements.  Prior to her position as coordinator of the Tompkins County Community Beautification Program, Martha worked on cut flower research with Cornell horticulture professor Chris Wien, growing and cutting thousands of beautiful blooms.  In this class, she will share tips for variety selection, timing of planting, best practices for growing and cutting, and more.

 

Cost: $10-$30 per person self-determined sliding scale, special Covid-19 Solidarity pricing of $0 for those who are unable to pay at this time. Receive a link to the Zoom Class once you register online at: https://civi.ccetompkins.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1778&reset=1   Questions? Contact Jennie Cramer, jrc10@cornell.edu or (607) 272-2292 ext. 146.

 

Dealing with Stress – some helpful hints

https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/dealing-with-stress-on-the-farm-during-trying-times/

What works for you?  I am doing online exercise classes (which makes the cats laugh hysterically), writing notes and crocheting shawls (which has the added benefit of clearing out space in the house!) at the moment.

 

From e-Cornell – Free webcasts on navigating COVID with your business (not specifically aimed at ornamental businesses)

 

Optimize Your Financial Dashboard: Use Data, Metrics and Key Indicators To Drive Decision-Making
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 1pm ET
Register Now

Can Economic, Political, and Public Health Relations Align?: Emerging on the Other Side Of COVID-19
Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 12:30pm ET
Register Now

Learning Strategies in a Changing World: Overcoming Challenges and Investing in the Future
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 12pm ET
Register Now

 

Have a great day!

April 27, 2020

SBA link and Where to find all the information I have been sending out 4.27.20

*** If you haven’t requested Small Business Administration funds, do it soon.  They reopened today and won’t last long

https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

 

 

I’ve accumulated all the resources I have been sending out on the NYS IPM ornamentals webpage and am updating them as I go along.

There will be a New! by anything I have just added.

https://nysipm.cornell.edu/agriculture/ornamental-crops/covid-19-resources-ornamentals/

 

 

Also, you can scroll down through the blog posts on the Ornamental IPM blog

https://blogs.cornell.edu/ornamentalcropsipm/

 

April 27, 2020

IPM Update 4.27.20 – music, marketing and more

Today’s list of resources and information.

 

Need a little cheering up?  From NY’s own Mark Adams – greenhouse grower and raconteur/singer supreme!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLO7OD6OQEc

 

Michigan State has a lot of useful articles

Garden center retail survival strategy series: Communicating in extraordinary times

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/garden-center-retail-survival-strategy-series-communicating-in-extraordinary-times

Marketing and merchandizing

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/garden-center-retail-survival-strategy-series-marketing-and-merchandizing

Thinking through the shopping experience

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/garden-center-retail-survival-strategy-series-thinking-through-the-shopping-experience

 

E-commerce During COVID – 19 – recorded webinar https://www.cfare.org/new-blog/c-fare-webinar-april-24-2020-e-commerce-during-covid-19-opportunities-for-food-producers-to-make-direct-market-sales-online

 

The webinar from Tennessee was terrific and I am trying to find out if it was posted.  Excellent information from a garden center owner.  I learned a lot of things and will send out tidbits from my notes, when I get back to them.  One thing was how many people it takes to do curb-side pickup.  When things get busy it is NOT a 1 person job.

 

By the way – of 40 attendees 4 were from NYS for a Southern Nursery program – and 2 of those were Extension Educators.  If you didn’t already know it, your County Educators rock – and are working to be able to help you out!

 

Be careful with disinfectants!  There is a lot of inaccurate information out there and it can be dangerous.  NYS IPM’s blog has a post with lots of information from Cornell’s Pesticide Management Education Program (PMEP)

http://blogs.cornell.edu/nysipm/2020/04/25/the-pesticide-management-education-program-warns-of-unregistered-or-off-label-claims-for-disinfectant-use/

 

On one of the listserv’s I subscribe to there is a fascinating discussion on how long corona viruses might stay active on plant material.  Gardens and arboreta are interested but it is a story that I am not sure we want to get out (even if the answer is positive – as we have learned) to the press.  Do consider it when planning your marketing – can people touch the plants? – as someone will think of it.  My experience in the grocery store is that it is hard to touch only the one you are purchasing even when you try.

 

Have a great week (oh, you’ll probably hear from me again before the end of it!)

April 24, 2020

Christmas tree IPM – GDD update 4.24.20

 

We are crawling towards spring.  Even Riverhead isn’t advancing much. So that gives you all more time to be ready for your scouting when it really gets going.  Do you remember where all your hotspots were last year?  Scout there first and most carefully.  While many insect can move readily they may overwinter where they last were and you want to find the very first one so you can stop the population growth and spread!

 

We are all trying to add new good habits while in enforced isolation (mine are writing letters and doing exercise classes on line – oh, and throwing stuff out/giving it away (eventually)), so add scouting and record keeping to your new habit list!

 

Maybe I’ll make a scouting sheet to share next time!  I’ll put that on my list!

 

April 24                 Forecast April 29

Champlain                           5                              5

 

Geneva                                15                           18

 

Riverhead                           31                           33

 

Have a great week!  Hoping for some sun!

 

April 23, 2020

USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program also for floriculture growers 4.23.20

This program is not yet available but coming very soon from what I have heard.

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/04/17/usda-announces-coronavirus-food-assistance-program

 

The Society of American Florists has lobbied for funds to be available to floriculture growers also

https://safnow.org/2020/04/22/saf-secures-grower-aid-through-usda/

 

It is certain that applying quickly will be essential as there is likely not enough money in the fund to cover the need. I’ll let you know when I hear any updates, but check back frequently on the USDA website so you will know when the applications are available.

 

Thanks to John Sanderson for letting me know.