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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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…

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

6. “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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Driving Water Loss Overnight Water Loss 200+ gm – Rapid dryingB
Overnight Water Loss
200+ gm – Rapid drying
gm – Ideal
gm – Too wet issues
< 50 gm – Tip abortion

10. Data Driven Operations

11. URC are like Frogs….

12. Humidity Chamber vs Cooler Conditions

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

14. 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

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

16. LED – More than Photosynthesis. Steer Growth Responses!

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

18. 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

19. 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