Innovations in Young Plant Production Will Healy Ball Horticultural Company January 2019

Emerging Markets Mature Markets What Era are You In? Emerging Markets Mature Markets IGC or GRID Green Side UP Field of Dreams Plan for Profit Plant to Plan <150 mile IGC Grower >150 mile Grid Grower Present 1960-1980 1980-2005 2005-2016

What is Your Operational Philosophy? Reactionary Ooops… When something happens you respond Anticipatory Template growing Steering Creating the environment that drives performance Invoiced Sow or Stick Order Fulfillment Pursuit of Most Limiting Factor 100% Order Fulfillment

Shrink is…. Buffer is…. Speculation is…. The grease that makes growing easier… …and profits more elusive Speculation is…. Sales opportunity to grow the business Shrink is…. Stuff you do that you don’t get paid for…

It is not about equipment but rather about people Planning Setting standards Training Monitoring Rewarding behavior

“Are you an ‘A’ Quality grower?” Growing is like going to school, if you are 90+% right you get an ‘A’, 80-89% a ‘B’, 70-79% a ‘C’, less than 70% a ‘D’. The question is: “Are you an ‘A’ Quality grower?” 90%Tasks+90%Of the time+90%On Time

5-Factors for Plant Growth & Operational Efficiency Manage the Limiting Factor Moisture Temp Light CO2 Nutrients Operational Efficiency Stage 0 Input Mgt Sowing Accuracy Sticking Automation X Stage 1 Germination Callus formation Stage 2 Leaf expansion Root initiation Stage 3 Root & Shoot Growth Stage 4 Post-harvest handling Grow-out Mgt Packaging

Water by Weight Provides Result Tool to train growers Management oversight ‘teachable moments’ Result ROOTS! Ability to drive development Reduced crop times Increased nutrient uptake (especially Ca/B Decreased insect populations Height Control = reduced PGR Better plant tone

Driving Water Loss Overnight Water Loss 200+ gm – Rapid drying B Overnight Water Loss 200+ gm – Rapid drying 100-200 gm – Ideal 50-100 gm – Too wet issues < 50 gm – Tip abortion

Data Driven Operations

URC are like Frogs….

Humidity Chamber vs Cooler Conditions

Angelonia A B C D Humid+Bag Humid-Bag Cooler+Bag Cooler-Bag Angelonia

Sticking Line Operations Injector to apply fertilizer at the time of sticking to insure a nutrient charge on day 1 A B C D Sticking Line Operations

What Job is the Fertilizer Doing? Hi-N = growth NH4 + P=stretch Low P = purple Fe/Mn = chlorosis B = tip abortion Mo = NO3 use

LED – More than Photosynthesis. Steer Growth Responses!

Right Task, but not too Right… 105% effort is only trouble!

Sprayer Tips and Pest Control Nozzle hole should be sharp and not worn of mis-shaped Droplet should ‘float’ to provide hang time of spray material Pressure regulated to prevent damage Uniform coverage important for control https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/442/442-032/442-032_pdf.pdf

Road Map to 100% Order Fulfillment 90+% Growers Water by Weight Drive water loss/gain Right fertilizer – right response Steering with LED Saturation Duration Droplet size matters