A22-LancMter Farming, Saturday, January 29, 2000
Is Your Farming Operation Cut Out For Cut-Flower Production?
UNIVERSITY PARK
(Centre Co.) Producing cut
flowers as a specialty crop can
be a lucrative move for some
farmers, but a Penn State Coop
erative Extension agent said
producers should be aware of
the requirements for making the
crop profitable.
“Increasing demand has
made fresh cut flowers a grow
ing market, but producing this
crop is not for everyone,” said
Forage Soybean Seed
Production Successful
HALL, N.Y.-Seedway con
firms seed production of the new
Donegal forage soybean was suc
cessful in 1999. Seed supply was
tight last year because of limited
seed increase.
The successful 1999 commer
cial seed crop is expected to
make Donegal available for gen
eral use in 2000.
The company notes interest
in Donegal is developing in
many parts of the U.S., Canada,
and some international forage
production areas as more is
known of the special forage
traits. This trend is expected to
stress seed supplies. Growers
who want to plant Donegal in
bag quantities should make
arrangements early.
Donegal was licensed exclu
sively by Seedway from the
USDA-Agricultural Research
Service, Beltsville, Md. The for
0 r
Sol
1 FARM
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Every Thursday
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For more information
(717) 442-4181
(717) 768-8204
Steve Bogash, horticultural ex
tension agent in Blair County.
“Flowers have special produc
tion methods, a short shelf life
and a short field growth and
marketing season in Pennsylva
nia.”
Bogash said Pennsylvania
growers can have a competitive
advantage over foreign suppliers
because of Pennsylvania’s prox
imity to major eastern popula
tion centers. “Local growers can
provide a 48-hour freshness ad-
age soybean has been perform
ing well in straight stands and
forage mixtures in the Mid-
Atlantic, Northeast, Midwest,
and eastern Canada.
Interest in Donegal stems
from high forage yield potential,
good forage quality, compatibili
ty in mixtures, and as a produc
tive annual rotation option.
Single-cut yield of Donegal
will usually compare with three
cut alfalfa yield at a given loca
tion. Herbicide-free forage pro
duction is an added benefit. A
conventional breeding history
without transgenic alteration is
noted (non-GMO).
High biomass yield and sub
stantial nitrogen contribution
make Donegal particularly
interesting in organic farming
and other operations where
improvement of soil tilth and
fertility is valued.
Randall G. Renninger
Certified Public Accountant
Specializing in agriculture and construction industries
“We help business people discover ways to cut costs, save
taxes, and be more profitable”
Call about our FREE seminars
535 W. Orange Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 299-6480 ♦ Fax (717)299-6390
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5 gal. Paint Mixer with SAM Air Motor $375
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vantage that can be a real mar
keting tool in a business where
shelf life is so important,”
Bogash said.
“Farmers first should con
sider how to market their flo
wers,” said Robert Berghage,
assistant professor of horticul
ture in Penn State’s College of
Agricultural Sciences. “Cut flo
wers usually are sold by the
bunch, in arranged bouquets or
individually. Producers should
research a marketing method
that works for them.”
Berghage lists several market
ing alternatives.
• Wholesale. Wholesale dis
tributors buy and resell flowers
for a predetermined price. Prices
vary by region and can be sub
ject to large fluctuations in the
market.
• Florists. Marketing surveys
have shown that many florists
are willing to buy locally grown
flowers. “They will expect the
same high quality and service
they receive from their other
suppliers,’’ Berghage said.
•Pick-your-own, roadside
markets, and farm markets.
These markets provide higher
prices per unit, but overhead
costs such as advertising, facili
ties, and maintenance usually
are borne by the producer.
Bogash also points out that
producers should consider the
following:
• Site. The site should be well
drained and have deep, fertile
soil. “Raised beds with plastic
mulch will give the best results
and keep weeds down,” Bogash
said. “With raised beds, the sun
can heat from the sides as well 1
as the top, and the mounded soil
improves drainage.
• Planting. Cut flowers are
grown from transplants or
plugs, Bogash explained. New
growers, or those with small
plots, can plant by hand, but me
chanical planters will speed up
the process. “Plant spacings will
vary according to the species or
cultivar,” he said.
• Irrigation. A drip irrigation
tape should be used for effi
ciency, to keep water off leaves
and flowers and allow for easier
fertilizer applications delivered
by irrigation water.
• Wind protection and sup
port. Cut flowers are easily dam
aged by winds. Producers can
use live plants or fencing for
windbreaks. Some flower spe
cies also require support. Bogash
recommends plastic mesh prod
ucts that provide a grid of sup
port to encourage upright
growth.
• Pest Control. Cut flower
plants attract a wide range of
pests. “Keep careful records and
scout your plants often to dis
cover pests early,” Bogash said.
Insects that can be a problem
in flower plots include aphids,
thrips, spider mites, leaf
hoppers, beetles and caterpil
lars. “They often can be
controlled by natural parasites
and predators, which can be
bought from biological control
companies or maintained as on
site populations through careful
management,” Bogash said.
Natural sprays can be used,
such as insecticidal soaps, horti
cultural oils, and extracts of
neem oil. “You may have to use
synthetic chemical sprays, but to
protect beneficial insects, be sure
to avoid sprays with a long re
sidual life,” Bogash said. “If you
must use synthetic sprays, use
products that are specifically
suited to your needs and have
the lowest toxicity for bees.”
• Diseases. Fungal diseases
such as botrytis, powdery
mildew, damping off, leaf spots,
and several viruses are a major
problem for cut flowers. “Most
fungal diseases do not kill the
flowers, but they can drastically
reduce salability and mar ap
pearance,” said Berghage.
“Good crop rotation, effective
weed and pest control, and care
ful selection of plantings will
help rein in diseases.”
• Weeds. Bogash said plastic
mulches can be used for weed
control. Using cereal rye as a
cover crop helps build the soil,
smother weeds through compe
tition, and act as a natural herbi
cide on many weeds. “Only a
handful of herbicides are labeled
for flower production,” Bogash
explained. “Some products con
trol grasses, but very few control
broadleaf weeds. Whatever you
use, read the product label care
fully.”
• Harvest. Flowers should be
harvested in the morning just
after the dew has dried. Remove
dead leaves and spent flowers to
prevent botrytis from infecting
future crops.
“Flowers should be placed in
water as quickly as possible after
cutting,” Bogash said. “They
should be cooled rapidly to pre
vent water loss and aging.
“You should know the bloom
ing habits and bloom life of each
flower in your plot, so customers
will get long-lasting flowers.”