Ellison Chair in International Floriculture
Ellison Chair in International FloricultureTeaching, Research, Extension and Service

Managing Water Quality in the Green Industry

by

Raudales 2Dr. Rosa Raudales, Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut. Growers are increasingly capturing irrigation water in ponds or tanks to avoid runoff into the environment. However, re-applying this water to crops increases the risk of distributing plant pathogens. Dr. Raudales recently completed her multidisciplinary PhD studies at the University of Florida, which focused on ways to help growers select the best water treatment technology, such as filtration, chlorination, or copper ionization. Rosa’s project exposed her to many fields, including surveying methods, economic analysis, plant pathology, and horticulture. Her outreach work on watereducationalliance.org won a national award for the best horticulture extension website, and Rosa also won a Florida State Horticultural Society award for the top graduate research presentation. While at the University of Florida, Rosa worked with Dr. Paul Fisher, another noted authority in the water area.

Title:    Managing Water Quality in the Green Industry
Date:    Monday, January 13, 2014
Time:    10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CST

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements:
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

Upcoming webinar: Implications of Local or Organic Plant Labeling on Plant Sales in the Green Industry

by

Join us for a webinar on August 14!

2012-3-27-walmartIn this webinar, Dr. Ben Campbell of the University of Connecticut will discuss the value of local and organic labels on the likelihood of consumers purchasing plants, as well as their willingness to pay any price premiums for them. Are there segments of consumers that would respond more positively to these attributes? Does it make a difference if we’re talking about edibles versus ornamentals? Join us in this webinar to find out the answers to these questions and more!

Dr. Ben Campbell is an Assistant Professor and Extension Economist at the University of Connecticut. He earned his B.S. and M.S. from Auburn University and his PhD in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University. From 2010 to 2012 he served as a Research Scientist in Horticultural Economics at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Vineland Station, Ontario, where he established and ran the horticultural economics program and conducted market research and analysis, and new product integration in the Canadian horticultural market. His current extension and research efforts are mostly focused on the Green Industry along with other specialty crops. These efforts revolve around enhancing the production and consumption of specialty crops.

Title:    Implications of Local or Organic Plant Labeling on Plant Sales in the Green Industry
Date:    Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Time:    11:00 AM – 11:45 AM CDT

Reserve your webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/729943024

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Next up: Webinar on the value of local and sustainable labels

by

Join us for a Webinar on January 15
In this webinar, Dr. Jennifer Dennis of Purdue University will discuss the value of local and sustainable labels. One of the strategies to maximize customer share in the environmentally-conscious consumer market segment is centered on investigating individuals’ understanding and concerns about the contemporary environmental issues and offer products (that are designed) that promise to mitigate selected environmental problems. Previous studies have shown that consumers are interested in eco-friendly products and the use of ecolabels has grown rapidly worldwide. In this webinar, Dr. Dennis will discuss how this plays out in the green industry today.
Title:    The Value of Local and Sustainable Labels
Date:    Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Time:    11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/421372049

Next webinar up: The Economic Outlook for the Green Industry in 2013

by

In this webinar, Dr. Charlie Hall will provide projections for the economy in 2013 and how the economy will impact the green industry next year. Special post-election commentary will forecast what effects might be expected given the so-called fiscal cliff that is looming.

Title: “The Economic Outlook for the Green Industry in 2012”
Date: Thursday, November 15, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM CST

Register now by clicking the link below:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/607656176

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows(R) 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac(R)-based attendees
Required: Mac OS(R) X 10.5 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone(R), iPad(R), Android(TM) phone or Android tablet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next webinar up: The Latest Consumer Trends Research

by

Consumers are so fascinating, but who has time to keep up with the latest consumer research? Dr. Bridget Behe will share the latest findings about consumers in the studies she and colleagues are conducting. Sustainability, containers, pricing, and attention – learn what the leading researchers now know about consumers.

Title: “The Latest Consumer Trends Research”
Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM CDT

Register now by clicking the link below:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/891991977

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Social Media Tips for Green Industry Firms

by

Join us for a Webinar on August 13!
The social version of anything is more engaging and will out-perform non-social.  Smart businesses today realize that social is not just a layer to add to their marketing, but an essential component that has to be baked into every aspect of the business. People are hard-wired to connect and engage with others, and anything that works against that is friction that inhibits your success. Learn how to go beyond social media technologies to rethink and redesign your business around the principles of social.

This webinar will discuss various aspects of social media usage including an overview of current channels utilized and the best processes for generating leads using social media. This webinar will also dispel common misconceptions of social media marketing and provide helpful tips that will serve as the foundation of a successful social media strategy.

Jeff Korhan is an authentic, informative, and inspiring speaker who helps mainstream small businesses use social media and Internet marketing to increase their influence, enhance customer relationships, and accelerate their growth.

Title:    Social Media Tips for Green Industry Firms
Date:    Monday, August 13, 2012
Time:    11:00 AM – 11:30 AM CDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
System Requirements: PC-based attendees, Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server; Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/250588297

Webinar on new Department of Labor regulations

by

Join us for a Webinar on October 12, 10:00 a.m. CDT

In a recent green industry survey, 88% indicated that their firm provides some sort of retirement option for their employees. In an effort to make retirement plan fees more transparent for plan sponsors and participants, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has implemented new rules known as 408(b)(2). These rules contain a new mandate for thorough disclosure of direct and indirect fees charged by service providers on covered plans. The purpose of these new rules is twofold: to shed light on the excessive and hidden fees imposed by many service providers, and to clarify who is acting in a fiduciary capacity to the plan. In order to avoid DOL audits, fines, or even potential lawsuits, plan sponsors should be proactive about compliance with these new regulations.

This webinar will explain the details of these new regulations and how they impact your duties as a plan sponsor. We will cover your fiduciary responsibilities and how to avoid conflicts of interest. We will also discuss cost-saving measures and tips for alleviating future compliance headaches. You may find that after compliance with these new rules makes your plan even better and more cost effective than before!

After this webinar, plan sponsors should know:

  • The requirements of the new rules and how to comply with in order to avoid DOL fines, audits, and lawsuits.
  • The various types of hidden fees in their retirement plan.
  • Who is and who is not a fiduciary.
  • How to avoid “Prohibited Transactions”.
  • How to implement best practices with regards to their plan.

Our presenter Todd Kading, CFPR, ChFCR, RFT, is the Managing Director of Austin-based LeafHouse Financial Advisors. He has over 15 years of experience in the industry and is one of only two Registered Fiduciaries in the state of Texas. Recently Todd has been educating various groups about this important topic including Fox Business News, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and numerous Texas SHRM chapters.

Title: New Department of Labor Regulations and Their Impact on Retirement Plan Sponsors
Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:


https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/835142152

Upcoming webinar: Economic Recovery Brings Immigration Debate Back to the Forefront

by

During the last recession, the green industry got a bit of a reprieve in that the country’s attention was focused on the economic downturn. But now that things are improving, dialogue regarding various immigration policies is resurfacing, particularly among the enforcement only camp.

Need proof? The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is currently conducting I-9 immigration audits at many greenhouse, nursery, landscape businesses across the country. Even if you are in compliance, the results can be devastating as you are forced to terminate experienced and valued workers. Poor compliance practices can mean thousands of dollars in fines, or worse. While the impacts of an audit cannot be completely avoided, smart preparation can save you time and money.

But compliance is but one facet of the immigration reform issue. Craig Regelbrugge, ANLA vice president for government relations, who co-chairs the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform (ACIR), will give a brief update on the federal legislative picture and prospects for meaningful immigration reform.

This webinar is brought to you through a grant received by Dr. Charlie Hall (Ellison Chair in International Floriculture) and Dr. Marco Palma (Extension Horticultural Marketing Economist) at Texas A&M University.

Title:      Economic Recovery Brings Immigration Debate Back to the Forefront

Date:     Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Time:     10:00 AM – 11:00 AM  Central Daylight Time

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/688016936