Gene/ Nurseries:Cutting edge biz news and more

Hello All.There should be something of interest for all in these exerpts
pulled from an online Industry Newsletter(s)..
*The last entry might be of interest to you or someone you know.

Connie (growing whats not to be found at your Walmarts,HD etc.)


* Nursery liquidation and inventory-reduction auctions have been on the rise
this year. High-profile liquidations occurred at Midwestern Nurseries'
Alabama and Oklahoma locations and at Sunset Ridge Nursery near Cincinnati.
An increasing number of nurseries resorted to auctions to sell excess
inventory and generate needed cash this fall, said Vince Cianci, president
of Reimold Hort. Auctioneers, which handles about 95% of the nation's
nursery auctions. However, Cianci warned to be leery of considering a rise
in nursery auctions as an indicator of poor economic conditions in the
industry. ciancivince@hotmail.com

* The Senate Finance Committee is considering legislation to provide several
small-business tax breaks. One is a change in Section 179 of the Internal
Revenue Code that allows small businesses to fully deduct from taxable
income a limited amount of the cost of new business equipment in a year.
Currently, a small business can expense $25,000. The proposed bill would
allow small businesses to increase the amount expensed to $50,000. The new
amount would go into effect in 2003.





* Ornamental Germplasm Center at Ohio St. Univ. in Columbus opened
"officially" in July 2001. The center has already collected 1,100 accessions
from 62 genera. The primary function of the center is to conserve, evaluate
and distribute germplasm that would be important to researchers and the
industry, said David Tay, the center's director. Insects, mainly honeybees
and bumblebees, are used to pollinate plants. The insects are quicker and
more efficient than hand pollination and allow year-round seed production in
the greenhouse. For more on the center, read the Q&A article with David Tay
in GMPRO Dec. 2002. tay.9@osu.edu; http://hcs.osu.edu/opgc

* The number of farmers markets has increased nearly 80% since 1994,
according to data in USDA's Nat'l. Directory of Farmers Markets 2002. The
directory shows 3,137 farmers markets operating in the U.S. compared to
1,755 in '94; 2,410 in '96; 2,746 in '98 and 2,863 in 2000. A listing of
markets and related facts can be found at USDA's Farmers Markets Web site. A
print edition of the directory will be available in December and can be
requested from the Web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets
<http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets>

* Wall St. Journal reported on an ongoing debate over Arundo donax, giant
reed, a Mediterranean grass species that has naturalized in the southern
half of the U.S. for more than a century. Proponents of the fast-growing
grass that reaches 30 feet high say it's an alternative to hardwoods for
producing paper, and it can be used to fuel power plants. Opponents say it's
a noxious weed that becomes overgrown in streambeds, resulting in floods.
California spends millions to remove it, while in Florida, 8,000 acres of it
are being planted commercially.

And finally:
** Have you or any of your forebears ever worked for Hicks Nurseries in Long
Island? If so, the current president of Hicks, Fred Hicks, is looking for
you. The company celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2003 and Hicks is
trying to track down former employees and their descendents. "Lots of people
have worked here, particularly as seasonal employees, and we don't know how
to locate all of them," Hicks said. "We want them all to join in the fun
with us." If you fit the description, then log on to the nursery's Web site
at http://www.hicksnurseries.com and click on to the anniversary section or
call 516.334.0066.

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