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from the Oregon Association of Nurseries
January 7, 2026 | Estimated read time: 8 minutes
Weekly nursery news and events, exclusively for members. (View as Webpage)
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Top five stories this week:
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Beetle update: Oregon congressional delegation pushes for funding
- ODA appoints Nursery Research and Regulatory Advisory Committee
- In memoriam: Wilbur Bluhm
- Don’t miss Nursery Science Summit at NWREC
- Terra Nova recognized at two national plant trials
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Beetle Update: Oregon congressional delegation pushes for funding | |
Going to bat: U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) has spearheaded a letter with the entire Oregon congressional delegation seeking emergency funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to restart Japanese beetle (JB) mitigation efforts by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) until permanent funding is established.
OAN response: “While the OAN believes that funds will be hard to come by, the effort to infuse dollars into the ODA’s Japanese Beetle Program is the top priority for the association,” Executive Director Jeff Stone said.
What’s next: The OAN will convene companies that have the ability to scout, trap and mitigate JB and will build a plan to assist growers during flight season this year (June–September). In the meantime, the OAN continues to pursue gap funding for the program with the state.
Your help is needed: The OAN is working closely with the ODA to better understand how regulatory changes may affect out-of-state shipping in order to support future ODA program planning. To assist with this effort, input is needed from OAN members and the association is asking Oregon growers to complete the Japanese Beetle Shipping Impact Survey now.
What it asks and why: The survey collects information on production counties, acreage, shipping destinations, and locations needed to inform potential trapping estimates and future planning.
Oregon growers, if you ship out of state, please complete the survey.
Learn more:
| Have questions? Email us at JapaneseBeetle@OAN.org. In order to provide the most accurate answer to your question, we will consult current FAQs or consult with ODA. Please be patient and we will try to respond as quickly as possible. | | | | ODA appoints Nursery Research and Regulatory Advisory Committee | |
Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Lisa Charpilloz Hanson has appointed members to the Nursery Research and Regulatory Advisory Committee. The seven-member committee advises and counsels the ODA in the administration of Oregon’s nursery laws and regulations and reviews the nursery inspection program. The members serve three-year staggered terms.
The members: Ross Dumdi (Bailey Nurseries Inc.); Ryan Contreras, Ph.D. (OSU); Peter Brentano (Brentano’s Tree Farm); Yongjian Chang (North American Plants); David Webber (Highland Meadow Nursery); Asa Skinner (Tillamook Estuaries Partnership); and Leigh Geschwill (F&B Farms and Nursery).
| | In memoriam: Wilbur Bluhm | |
The Oregon Association of Nurseries is saddened to report that OAN honorary life member Wilbur LeRoy Bluhm passed away on September 25, 2025 while in hospice after suffering a debilitating stroke 18 months earlier.
He was born January 29, 1927 in Seward, Nebraska. Bluhm grew up in Nebraska, and graduated in 1947 as a proud alumnus of the University of Nebraska. After college he met Mary Louise Brunzell, and they married in August of 1953. He spent several years in Nebraska after college, and 4 years in the Air Force in Illinois, before he and Mary moved to Salem, Oregon in 1957.
After moving to Oregon, a daughter Ann, and two sons Bob and Jim were born. In Salem, Bluhm worked for the Oregon State University Extension Service, becoming Marion County staff chairman and specializing in ornamental horticulture, before retiring after 27 years of service. After he retired, Bluhm stayed busy in the horticulture field through consulting and his involvement with professional organizations locally and worldwide.
Read the full obituary published in The Oregonian
| | Don’t miss Nursery Science Summit at NWREC | |
Growers can get the latest on new plant varieties, weed control innovations, pests and pathogens, containers and substrates, irrigation system design for efficiency and robotics and automation at the Nursery Science Summit hosted by the North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. on Thursday, January 29.
Speakers include experts from Virginia Tech, University of California, Oregon State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Details: The workshop is free but registration is required at Beav.es/ULk. NWREC is located at 15210 N.E. Miley Road in Aurora, Oregon.
Questions? Contact Lloyd Nackley at Lloyd.Nackley@OregonState.edu.
| | Terra Nova recognized at two national plant trials | |
Honors: Terra Nova Nurseries (Canby, Oregon), a global leader in plant breeding technology, has been recognized for a selection of best-of-breeding varieties at the 2025 Penn State University Flower Trials and the University of Tennessee Gardens.
Penn State: Echinacea REVELATION® ‘Coral’, Echinacea PRINCESS™ ‘Bride’ and Heuchera ‘Changeling’ won Best of Show and Best of Species awards in the sun category. In the shade category, Anemone HARLEQUIN™ ‘Cameo’, Anemone PUFF® ‘Pink’, and Pulmonaria NOVA® ‘Cobalt’ were honored with Best of Species and Director’s Select awards.
University of Tennessee Gardens: Heuchera ‘Changeling’ was again named Best in Show and Agastache ‘Pink Pearl’ was honored as a Customer Favorite and ranked among the most frequently requested plants at the trial gardens.
| | OAN Trucks to Trade Shows sends record number of trucks MANTS | |
Four trucks were used in the Oregon Association of Nurseries’ Winter Trucks to Trade Shows program to move 97 pallets of green goods for OAN members participating in the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) in Baltimore, Maryland. “That’s a new record for us,” said Jamie Moore, OAN Events and Education Coordinator and the staff member responsible for organizing Trucks to Trade Shows. “For the past two years, we sent two trucks and the year before it was three.”
Member benefit: The Trucks to Trade Shows is one of the benefits that OAN members receive. OAN arranges discounted group shipping rates for members to ship plant material to trade shows across the country, including MANTS, Idaho Horticultural Expo, Utah Green, and ProGreen Expo in Denver.
For more information on the program, go to OAN.org/T2TS.
Find out more about OAN member benefits at OAN.org/Benefits.
| | Coleus Lime Edge named Flower of the Year in Japan | | |
Lauded: Coleus Lime Edge (marketed internationally as Skeletal ‘G20057’ PP36481) has been named the 2025–26 Flower of the Year in Japan, one of the country’s most prestigious horticultural honors, according to marketing firm Upshoot LLC. The award is presented by the Japan Flower Selection Association following an intensive, multi-stage trialing and evaluation process that recognizes standout plant varieties for performance, innovation, and market appeal.
Bred by Rick Grazzini of GardenGenetics, Lime Edge was introduced to global markets through a coordinated international launch led by Kientzler GmbH and Kientzler North America, Kernock Park Plants (UK), Hayloft Plants (UK), and Plants for Europe.
What sets Lime Edge apart is its unique texture and form. Its deeply lobed leaves create a soft, airy look, contrasting with the broad, flat foliage of standard coleus.
| | Room still available in January CPR/first aid classes | |
Don’t miss out: The Oregon Association of Nurseries is once again offering FREE first aid and CPR certification training for OAN members again in 2026, thanks to their continuing partnership with SAIF, and there’s still room in the January 14 English session and January 15 Spanish session.
Details: These classes provide hands-on instruction in small group settings, covering essential first aid and lifesaving CPR skills. Certifications are valid for two years, and sessions are available in both English and Spanish from 8 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
English: January 14, February 18, March 18, June 17, July 15, September 16, October 14, November 18, December 16.
Spanish: January 15, February 19, March 19, June 18, July 16, September 17, October 15, November 19, December 17.
Location: All classes take place at the OAN office: 29751 S.W. Town Center Loop West, in Wilsonville.
Register at OAN.org/CPR.
Download the breakroom flyer: English | Spanish
| | Don’t miss OAN Mt. Hood Chapter’s annual holiday party | |
Details: There’s still time to join the Oregon Association of Nurseries Mt. Hood Chapter’s annual holiday party at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, January 15 at McMenamins Edgefield Hotel Ballroom, 2126 S.W. Halsey St., in Troutdale, Oregon.
Cost is $50 per person and includes one drink and dinner. Kids 12 and under are free.
Questions? Contact Brooke Jerie at BrookeJerie@Gmail.com.
Register at OAN.org/Event/MtHoodHoliday26.
| | Take the first step in being a nursery industry advocate | |
Advocacy Training by the Oregon Association of Nurseries gives you the tools and confidence to advocate effectively for the nursery industry. The OAN will hold a session from 8 a.m.–noon Tuesday, January 13 at the OAN office in the Dick Joyce Conference Room, 29751 S.W. Town Center Loop W. in Wilsonville. This is an in-person only training. A virtual training opportunity will be scheduled in February.
Why participate? When it comes to influencing lawmakers on nursery industry issues, the voices of growers carry the most weight. This training demystifies the advocacy process, empowering members to represent the industry effectively. With key legislation on the horizon, such as agricultural overtime reforms, the ability to communicate with legislators can make a significant difference. By participating, members strengthen their ability to shape policy that directly affects the future of Oregon’s nursery industry.
Details: Participants will learn how to host impactful nursery tours, communicate smoothly with legislators and their staff, and make your voice heard on key policy issues. Special guests Doug Badger of Quinn Thomas Public Affairs and Dave Dillon of Food Northwest will join the training as our “fake legislators” for hands-on practice. Advocacy Training is provided free as a benefit of OAN membership — supporting the growers, retailers, and industry partners who keep Oregon’s nursery and greenhouse community strong. For more information, contact Executive Director Jeff Stone at JStone@OAN.org.
| | Applications now open for horticultural scholarships | |
Do you know a future nursery or landscape pro? The Oregon Nurseries Foundation (ONF) each year awards over $35,000 through 21 scholarships to students pursuing careers in ornamental horticulture and related fields. The scholarships are sponsored by individuals and OAN chapters to invest in the next generation of green industry professionals.
Who’s eligible? High school, college, or graduate students preparing for careers in the nursery or landscape industry. With one application, students will be considered for multiple scholarships, and past recipients are encouraged to reapply!
Deadline: Applications are due by April 15.
For more information or to apply
| | Join AgWest for Macroeconomic Outlook webinar | |
Why? In an ever-changing environment with shifting economic conditions, nursery owners need a strategic perspective to help navigate uncertainty and make confident decisions in the year ahead. Don’t miss AgWest’s Macroeconomic Outlook webinar at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20.
Christopher Thornberg, one of the nation’s most respected economic forecasters, will explore current macroeconomic trends, discuss how global events shape your business and give actionable insights that will help you make informed decisions. Founder of Beacon Economics, Thornberg is a renowned economist with deep expertise in economic and revenue forecasting, economic policy and labor and real estate markets. He is known for his accurate predictions of major economic events, including the 2006 housing bubble and the Great Recession, and for challenging conventional wisdom during the Covid-19 pandemic.
For more information or to register for the free webinar
| | Fuel your nursery’s international growth | |
Looking to expand your global reach? Whether you’re an experienced exporter or just starting, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) are hosting an educational seminar on programs designed to help agricultural businesses maximize their global potential.
Who should attend? Whether you're new to exporting, actively shipping internationally, or considering expansion, this seminar is for you. First-time attendees will discover funding opportunities, while current participants can learn what’s new for 2026 and get personalized guidance.
Highlights of the session: Market insights from experienced trade staff, how to obtain certificates for exports, access to representatives and connections in key markets, connect with international buyers, access to market intelligence, information on WUSATA’s FundMatch program to obtain 50% reimbursement on international marketing activities.
Details: The free event is 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. February 12 and will be held in Portland, Oregon. Location will be disclosed after registration. Registration deadline is February 5.
For more information or to register
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