Ornamental Producers

Production of ornamental plants is a vital agriculture industry in Georgia with as much as $602 million in farmgate value in 2002 with almost 4,000 acres in production. Greenhouse production, nursery production, and turfgrass production were ranked 8,10, and 12 respectively in Georgia agricultural commodity rankings for farmgate value brought to the state in 2002. While the land area of a greenhouse or nursery production operation is generally smaller than that for row crops, the environmental horticulture production systems are typically high input systems that require intense management. Opportunities for pollution prevention in environmental horticulture are great. Turfgrass producers are also looking for ways to minimize their costs in pesticide applications while maintaining a quality turfgrass product.

Key production factors that can cause pollution from an environmental horticulture operation are:

• Solid waste management alternatives- Composting, Pesticide Containers
• Use of pesticides,
• Nutrient management - in the Greenhouse or Nursery,
• Water management.

The vulnerability to offsite impacts of a particular operation depends on the specific location, topography and crop management decisions. For many years now, growers have been incorporating best management practices (BMPs) into their operations to reduce inorganic pesticide use, reduce solid waste volumes, prevent water quality impacts. However, there are always new practices and approaches that are being developed by researchers and growers need to be aware of the most current opportunities for pollution prevention.

Several research scientists and extension specialists who work directly with environmental horticulture producers are working on projects that can reduce pollution from these operations. Information can be found through extension publications and websites, EPA, and other non-government sources such as the Georgia Green Industry Association. Web links to this wide range of information are provided under “ Producer’s References” in the “Resources” page of this Environmental Horticulture AgP2 section.