Tony Raney takes on state, federal issues

In 2006, Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 weighed heavily on the minds of greenhouse growers across the United States. A recent disease outbreak had caused mayhem for geranium growers on all levels. Some went out of business. Some lost entire crops. For Tony Raney and a small group of other Michigan growers and extension personnel, Ralstonia spurred them into action. The disease was the catalyst that caused the formation of the Michigan Floriculture Growers Council.

“Ralstonia was the issue that pushed us together. It was the incentive to form a statewide association. That was the final touch,” said Raney, who is president of Raney Plants in Lyon Township, Mich., and was the inaugural vice president of MFGC.

How it all started

In response to the Ralstonia issue, Raney met with Steve Zylstra, president of Zylstra Greenhouses, Mark Watkins, owner of Bogie Lake Greenhouses, Gale Arent, a former Michigan State University greenhouse extension agent, and Tom Dudek and Dean Krauskopf of Michigan State University Extension. The five took a trip to Washington, D.C., to talk to Congress about issues affecting Michigan growers.

Although the informal group received a “great response,” Raney said they also had a recurring question presented to them. “Congress members kept asking us, ‘Who’s the head of the state group?’ This was the impetus to get us started.”

Without a recognized state association, Raney and the other industry members had a hard time lobbying for funding and support on legislative issues.

The idea for a formal state organization for greenhouse growers sprouted for the group on the way back home.

When they returned to Michigan, each of them met with other growers statewide and formed a board of directors to begin what would become the Michigan Floriculture Growers Council.

“We really needed a lobbying presence,” Raney said. MFGC fills this role as a public policy-focused, industry-issues organization.

Zylstra became the first president. Raney was elected vice president, and Tim Stiles of Masterpiece Flower Co. was named secretary-treasurer. The group’s executive director is Arent.

Growers unite for reform

MFGC lobbies for reform on both state and national levels. It’s looking for members from all sizes of growing operations statewide.

Many of Michigan’s flower growers are in Kalamazoo and are members of the Western Michigan Greenhouse Association. Growers in the southeast part of the state, mainly members of the Metro Detroit Flower Growers Association, also play a large role in the MFGC. MFGC wants them involved, as well as growers from across the state, Raney said.

“The Southeast [part of Michigan] is more spread out. If there’s only one grower in a legislative area, if he talks, it’ll work,” Raney said.

Besides Ralstonia regulation, MFGC identified immigration reform, governmental regulations of businesses and water issues as its three top concerns. The group sent out an electronic survey to find members’ top concerns. “We’re working with other agricultural organizations on these issues,” Raney said.

Unlike a lot of other floriculture groups, MFGC’s main purpose is legislation and public policy issues. “The members influence what issues we focus on,” Raney said.

Policy issues for 2008

Now in its third year, MFGC is continuing to focus on issues of importance to Michigan growers. The MFGC Policy Committee established this list of policy topics. Julian Vail, a firm contracted to serve as MFGC’s public policy adviser, is working with Arent to monitor pertinent legislation and communicate priorities to state legislators. The issues are taken directly from the committee.

State issues:

Water. Michigan growers should pay no withdrawal fees or unreasonable permit fees while having continued access to needed water resources.

Labor. Michigan growers should have continued access to labor resources with reasonable employee regulations that do not place undue burden on the employer.

Business tax. MFGC will monitor new tax impacts from a grower’s point of view and be prepared to address unanticipated tax consequences or unreasonable tax burdens.

State budget. MFGC will monitor and protect funding for Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, Michigan Department of Agriculture (pest management and agriculture statistics) and monitor the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to assess grower impact of any environmental regulations and/or fees.

Federal issues:

Farm Bill. MFGC will monitor development of the Farm Bill with attention to the specialty crops section, the energy section and funding for the IFAFS (the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems.)

Energy policy. MFGC will pursue energy policies that enable growers to adapt to high energy costs, focusing on energy conservation technologies and bio-energy sources.

Immigration and labor. MFGC will monitor legislation on immigration and agricultural labor issues to assess their effect on labor resources for growers.

Members receive a monthly e-newsletter updating them on these issues. Further information and a membership application can be found at www.mifgc.org.

Tony Raney grows, propagates

Besides being an active member of the Michigan Floriculture Growers Council, Tony Raney is owner and president of a small family-run growing operation in Lyon Township, Mich.

Raney propagates for other retailers and runs a retail operation.

“I grow everything from A to Z, and I’ll grow everything here,” Raney said.

Popular sizes, plants

Begonias and impatiens are the top crops for Raney’s customers. He grows a lot of 4- and 6-inch annuals.

His least popular crop is 4-inch New Guinea impatiens.

Raney’s also sells a lot of hanging baskets, mostly grown as monocultures. He does some combination baskets, especially with geraniums.

“Popularity [in flower color] for baskets changes from ZIP code to ZIP code,” he said.

Raney’s starts long history with produce

The first greenhouse at Raney’s Plants was built 49 years ago. Before that, the business started as a produce farm more than 90 years ago.

The first petunia crop was grown in 1954. More annuals were added to the wholesale mix.

Raney’s Plants opened its retail location 36 years ago.

“We always had the produce,” current president and owner Tony Raney said.

Raney’s Plants

Location: Lyon Township, Mich.

Owner/president: Tony Raney.

Size: 3 acres for the wholesale/retail area.

Employees: Five full-time and three to five part-time people year-round. In the peak season (April through June), 15-18 college students are hired.

Crops: Raney propagates all of the crops (except poinsettias) sold in his retail location. He also roots cuttings to sell wholesale and does other propagation.

Wholesale customers: Eight to 10 local independent garden centers. Raney went to selling to independents only in 1982.

For more: Raney’s Plants, (248) 437-2856. Michigan Floriculture Growers Council, (517) 420-7142; www.mifgc.org.

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- Jyme Mariani

June 2008