From Editor Matt McClellan: Ready for takeoff

Shortly before assembling the data from this year’s State of the Industry report, I was able to attend Impact Washington, AmericanHort’s biennial fly-in summit. You’ll read much more about it in our November issue, but in short, the event’s goal is to meet with our representatives in Washington D.C., inform them about the importance of the horticulture industry, the challenges we’re facing and to provide actionable steps legislators could take to help. The president of Frantz Wholesale Nursery testified at the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture's hearing on specialty crops. Watch Michael Frantz shares Congressional hearing experience.

I arrived at our nation’s capital early, and I spent some time sightseeing. The last time I was in D.C., I was in 8th grade and my main concern was not falling prey to the suitcase scammers selling fake Oakleys to school tour groups. However, I had great memories of touring the Smithsonian museums. I am happy to report that those museums are even better than my nostalgia-tinted memories.

My favorite was the National Air and Space Museum, and my visit there indirectly inspired the look of our State of the Industry report. There’s so much to explore, from the Wright brothers’ 1903 flyer to the Apollo 11 Command Module ‘Columbia.’ But one of the highlights for me was seeing some of the airplanes from the classic era of aviation. Maybe it’s because most of my flying experience has come in a post-9/11 world, but there’s something so alluring about the golden age of air travel. From the 1950s through the 1970s, flying was glamorous. Airlines catered to the ultra-wealthy, as fares were too expensive for regular working folks. I’d never be able to afford a ticket, but it sure is fun to see what those old planes looked like and dream about sipping a cocktail in a luxurious Pan Am lounge.

The theme of this year’s State of the Industry Report is “Preparing for takeoff” because growers are ready for what they expect to be a strong year. After a one-year dip, confidence in the market is back up. While last year’s survey showed growers were being cautious, this year they are feeling more confident — both in the market and in their products. They aren’t overextending by buying up lots of land or ramping up production by huge amounts, but they’re confident they’ll sell the plants they do grow at a modest profit, even though input costs are up and cutting into those profits a bit.

I’d like to thank the nursery professionals who took this year’s survey. We couldn’t make this report without your participation.

During my D.C. exploration, I received yet another reminder that horticulture is everywhere. As I walked through security at the Smithsonian, an adult spotted lanternfly flew into the queue. I recognized it instantly, because we’ve covered that colorful pest extensively in the pages of Nursery Management, so I smiled when the security guard bellowed to everyone in line, “Go on, squish that sucker!”

Read about the USDA's strategic plan to fight spotted lanternfly.