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Articles by Todd Downing
Building the Next Generation of Growers
For greenhouse companies trying to attract and retain growers, training and development (T&D) can no longer be treated as an added benefit. It has become a core part of the job offer. Candidates want to know whether they will have opportunities to build skills, advance professionally, and stay current as production practices evolve. Companies that cannot clearly answer those questions may struggle not only to keep talent, but to bring it in at all.
Il delitto in vacanza – Todd Downing
Todd Downing (1902 – 1974), occupa un posto speciale nella letteratura americana del Novecento: è stato uno dei pochi nativi americani diventati famosi in campo letterario e forse l’unico che si sia impegnato nel genere thriller. Downing apparteneva alla tribù Choctaw, ed ha ambiento i suoi romanzi, dieci in tutto e di grande successo, sempre nelle regioni nelle quali aveva vissuto la sua gente, a cavallo di stati americani come New Mexico, Arizona, Texas e il Messico stesso.
The Right Benefits, or Why Healthy Growers Means Healthy Plants
Photo: Zorica Nastasic, via iStock Since the pandemic, companies across all industries have invested heavily in improving employee benefits. Undoubtedly, one of the most challenging positions to hire and retain in the horticulture industry are growers of all levels. While the industry is responding with strategies and programs to attract a new wave of professionals who are passionate about propagation, the fact is we continue to have a significant gap in supply and demand of these professionals.
What HR Teams Need to Know About Key 2026 Tax-Law Changes
As employers look ahead to 2026, recent tax-law changes are set to influence how HR teams approach benefits, payroll reporting, and compensation planning. While many of these updates create new opportunities to support employees and manage costs, they also introduce additional compliance and administrative considerations. Below is an overview of key 2026 tax-law changes most relevant to HR leaders and employers, along with practical implications to consider as planning for the year ahead begins.
The Top HR Trends Reshaping Floriculture in 2026
Two young women working in a garden center pushing a shopping cart full of plants and flowers. | unai via Adobe Stock Just as the horticulture industry continues to evolve with new plant varieties, equipment, technology, substrates, and inputs, so does its most important asset: its people. In 2026, HR is being reshaped by shifting employee expectations, new workplace realities, and rapid advances in AI and digital tools.
Episode 133: Top Five Fantasy Films of the 1980s with author Todd Downing
On this episode, we speak with modern-day renaissance man, author Todd Downing, about his new book Return of the Calico Kids, and his top five favorite fantasy films of the 1980s. I really want to hear what you think, both positive and negative. Please leave your notes below. If you really like the show, please consider rating and reviewing the show on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the podcatcher of your choice. Thank you again.
Why You Can't Cut Corners in Horticulture Compensation and Benefits
In developing an attractive horticulture compensation and benefits program, it’s important to understand the current economics involved. | Looker_Studio, via Adobe Stock For all the wonderful attributes our green industry brings to the world and the careers of those in the industry, we continue to be highly challenged in attracting and retaining qualified talent. There are many human resource solutions for improving and maintaining talent flow.
What Does AI Mean to the Future of Human Resources in Horticulture?
The future is now for generative AI (artificial intelligence), which can create new content and ideas and perform many job functions, and will continue evolving in every industry and job title. We are fortunate that a smart group of horticulture professionals is helping educate how to utilize AI in production, marketing, sales, IT, accounting, and even customer service. But what about AI’s impact on and possibilities to enhance Human Resource departments and professionals?
Why Emotional Intelligence Is Critical to the Horticulture Industry
The green industry continues to struggle with labor shortages, costs, high turnover, productivity, and employee engagement. Not only is it increasingly difficult to find labor, but keeping it is also becoming more challenging, especially during peak growing and shipping seasons. We know many professionals who have left the industry altogether, seeking less mentally and physically strenuous roles.
Titans coach calls arrest 'devastating,' knows pain caused - TSN.ca
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee offensive coordinator Todd Downing said Wednesday he can't think of anything he's faced in his career “much tougher” than what he's dealing with right now, and the issue is all of his own doing. Downing is busy trying to prep for Sunday's game with Cincinnati (6-4) in a rematch of the divisional playoff game the Titans lost in January as the AFC's No. 1 seed while waiting to deal with the consequences of being arrested Nov.
What’s Going On with HR in Horticulture?
What’s going on with HR?” you ask. Well, frankly, a lot. Human resources is a diverse collection of disciplines. We all love a succinct answer. In short, human resources includes anything that impacts the people working in and around the business and may even impact the vendors, clients, customers, and consultants to the company. But even that does not quite capture all that human resources is and does. So, to ask, “What’s going on with HR?” you can quickly see how expansive of a question that is.
What the Green Industry Can Expect in Post-Pandemic Hiring
By Micharel Maggiotto Jr. | Todd Downing|July 11, 2021 Change is the one constant in business, especially in the green industry, where Mother Nature has such an impact. The events of the last two years have forced change upon companies and employees at a faster rate than ever before. Many business leaders were caught flatfooted at the outset, and it has been unlike any other challenge we have encountered.
Calico Kids
One summer became the adventure of a lifetime. Summer, 1982. When two local teens go missing from the riverside town of Calico, Oregon, a middle school nerd steeped in wild conspiracy theories steps in to investigate. With a posse consisting of a busboy, a delinquent, an LA transplant, and a cheerleader, A.J. sets out to prove that a Satanic cult is behind the disappearances, all while dodging the local sheriff, high school bullies, and a deputy drunk on authority.
A Sterling Mystery: Vultures In The Sky By Todd Downing
Scott Adlerberg revisits the classic mystery masterpiece Vultures In The Sky By Todd Downing. As esteemed a tradition in mystery stories as the country house murder or the locked room puzzle is a plot involving a crime committed, or hatched, on a train. Examples abound, from Emile Zola’s 1890 novel La Bete humaine to the Golden Age era books written by railway engineer Freeman Wills Croft.
VULTURES IN THE SKY
Gamache goes to Paris. Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec has had an eventful time in Penny's last few books, taking over as Chief Superintendent, uncovering corruption at the highest levels, facing public scorn, and finally ending up back where he started, as head of the homicide division.
How Cannabis Growers Feel About Potential Federal Legalization
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 26, 2020 Cannabis appeared to be among the big winners in this month’s election, and a top leader from the U.S. House of Representatives has already announced that the body will hold a floor vote on a bill to end federal cannabis prohibition next month. But what do growers within the industry think about their future prospects as independent cannabis producers if full adult-use legislation is passed in the near future?
Your Guide to High-Wire Tomato Growing
By Charles Gagne | Neil S. Mattson | Dylan Kovach|November 26, 2020 Growing tomatoes using a high-wire production system has become the go-to method for commercial greenhouse tomato production worldwide. While these systems can produce an enormous amount of tomatoes in a relatively small space, they also require a lot of labor-intensive maintenance to keep the plants healthy and productive.
Syngenta Flowers Names New Head of Sales for North America
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 25, 2020 Chad Underwood, Syngenta Flowers Syngenta Flowers, LLC, has named Chad Underwood as Head of Sales North America.
How a Leading Vegetable Grower is Helping Kids Grow Their Own Food
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 25, 2020 Save the Children and emerging greenhouse vegetable grower AppHarvest are partnering to help educate children across Eastern Kentucky on how to grow their own nutritious food, and the importance of healthy eating. Through the Grow Green Eat Green project, AppHarvest is working with Save the Children to create and provide indoor hydroponic grow kits to more than 1,600 children and their families in six Eastern Kentucky counties.
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Emerges From Pandemic Shutdown With Strong-Performing Annuals
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 25, 2020 Note: Information for this trial update was provided by Scott Beuerlein, Manager of Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Outreach; Steve Foltz, Director of Horticulture; Kyra Back, Head Gardener; and Natasha Dobias, Horticulturist. Leave it to a pandemic to trip up a winning streak.
A Guide to Growing Leafy Greens in a Greenhouse
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 24, 2020 Commercial production of leafy greens in a controlled environment gets more competitive every year. As a result, it is important to seek the best options in order to compete in this market. Production of leafy greens inside greenhouses and plant factory systems are great options to produce high marketable products. Why? There is one specific reason why customers will choose your product … Quality.
Calibration is Critical in Soil Mixing
By Jennifer Broersma-Neujahr|November 24, 2020 Along with regularly testing all incoming raw materials as well as final growing media blends, it is critical to run routine calibrations on your mixing equipment. Profile Products created a cubic foot blending box as a tool for calibration to help growers and blenders alike.
Tropical Plant International Expo Canceled
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 24, 2020 Note: Photo from a previous TPIE event The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) announced that it is canceling the 2021 Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE), which had been scheduled to take place as a live event Jan. 20-22, 2021 in Tampa, FL.
Understanding and Defining Plant Disease Resistance
By Shannon Carmody|November 24, 2020 Open any ornamental seed catalog and you can find selections that claim various forms of plant disease resistance. Some of these claims comprise innovative, disease-resistant products that are worth the premium for the benefits they bring growers and customers. High resistance to downy mildew in impatiens represents one such claim.
Costa Farms Will Open Its Trial Garden in March 2021
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 23, 2020 Costa Farms is opening its Miami, FL, Trial Garden on March 4-5, 2021, to brokers, growers, and other members of the horticulture industry for an opportunity to preview 2022 new plant varieties.
Meet Greenhouse Grower’s 2020 Head Grower and Operation of the Year Finalists
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 23, 2020 The finalists for this year’s Greenhouse Grower Operation of the Year and Head Grower of the Year awards, part of Greenhouse Grower’s Medal of Excellence program, share several traits, including an innovative approach to production, a commitment to sustainability, and a drive to build long-term success for both their respective companies, and for the plant industry as a whole. Check out the video below for your chance to get to know this year’s finalists.
Great News for Horticulture: Home Gardening to Grow in 2021
By Axiom Marketing|November 22, 2020 This year saw homeowners gardening in record numbers, and a new survey indicates gardeners of all ages will be back digging in the dirt in 2021. The research, conducted by Axiom Marketing, found that 86% of homeowners plan to continue gardening in 2021. Nearly 40% of those surveyed say they will plant about the same as last year, and 47% say they will be planting more and expanding their garden spaces next season.
Boost Your Knowledge in Greenhouse Abiotic Disorders, Root Zone Management, and More
By Michigan State University|November 22, 2020 Photo: W. Garrett Owen, Michigan State University Greenhouse growers can now sign up for four self-paced courses in Michigan State University (MSU) Extension’s Online College of Knowledge greenhouse series: Abiotic Disorders of Greenhouse Crops, Greenhouse and Horticultural Lighting, Biological Control for Greenhouse Growers, and Floriculture Root Zone Management.
Ways To Keep Growing Media Safe for Your Plants
By Janeen Wright|November 22, 2020 Quality assurance measures of growing media product translate to healthy plants. Photo courtesy of Lambert Peat Moss Greenhouse Grower asked growing media suppliers and those companies that offer related products about what they are doing to ensure that the products you buy from them are free of harmful plant and animal pathogens and excessive levels of heavy metals.
Horticulture Research and Innovation Come Together for Big Results
By Vineland Research and Innovation Centre|November 21, 2020 The heart and soul of Canada’s Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, as its name implies, is innovation. And as an independent, not-for-profit organization, Vineland’s success relies heavily on real and tangible impacts it is able to create for its clients and for the horticulture industry that it serves. This past year, Vineland updated its innovation strategy.
What Are the Most Popular Holiday Flowers?
By BloomsyBox|November 21, 2020 The holidays are a stressful time for many people, and the current environment of 2020 will likely compound the problem. This is just one reason why many people may be turning to plants as gifts during the holidays. Bloomsybox.com recently provided a list of the most popular holiday flowers.
How California Cannabis Research Is Addressing Environmental Impacts
By University of California|November 21, 2020 Several researchers affiliated with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC-ANR) have received grants from the California Bureau of Cannabis Control for research projects related to the implementation and effect of Proposition 64. The research proposals had to fall within one of several specified categories, including public health, criminal justice, public safety, economics, environmental impacts, and the cannabis industry.
How Greenhouse Designs Can Serve as Models for Other Industries
By Forbes|November 20, 2020 What is a greenhouse factory, and how can greenhouse designs serve as a model for other industries to follow? That’s a question Natan Linder sought to answer in a recent article on Forbes.com. Linder notes that in a greenhouse factory, manufacturers carefully control the conditions around the introduction of new technologies. So rather than adopting new tools ad hoc, greenhouses allow for the creation of the optimal environment for innovations to take hold.
Want to Binge on Virtual Vegetable Seed Trials? Watch Here
By Growing Produce|November 20, 2020 Virtual vegetable seed trials were a bright spot within 2020. Although vegetable seed companies had to cancel live visits, the trials still took place. And companies brought their cameras. As a result, any grower who has been unable to attend trials in the past but couldn’t get away from their farm can get a front seat view to trials.
State Cannabis Regulators Unite With New Organization
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 20, 2020 State cannabis regulators from across the U.S. have formed a new organization, the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA), to better share institutional knowledge and regulatory best practices. Cannabis regulators from 19 states have joined in filing documents to establish CANNRA, which is being created to assist federal, state, and local jurisdictions that have approved or are weighing legalization of cannabis.
How the Cannabis Industry Can Address Sustainability Concerns
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 19, 2020 The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) has released a detailed report to help tackle the unique cannabis sustainability environmental challenges facing businesses involved in regulated cannabis production and sale.
The Benefits of Keeping Greenhouse Technology Simple
By Brian D. Sparks|November 19, 2020 Greenhouse equipment should be simple for the end user. This was the topic of a blog post written earlier this year by Chris Higgins, General Manager and Co-owner of HortAmericas, a wholesale supply company. The main message offered by Higgins was that the most successful products should be easy to use, learn, operate, and maintain. Why does this matter? It affects how much money a grower can make, as smart purchases can lead a better return on investment (ROI).
Wood Substrates: How Long Can They Last for Your Plants?
By Brian E. Jackson|November 18, 2020 This is the second article in a two-part series highlighting some observations and research findings on the stability, decomposition, and longevity of soilless substrates containing wood products. Click here to read the first part of the series. Stability is needed, or at least desired, in nearly all aspects of our lives. The same can be said for plants growing outdoors in soil, or certainly plants growing indoors in some type of soilless culture system.
New Podcast Offers Tips on Facility Design and Best Greenhouse Practices
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 18, 2020 GroAdvisor, a greenhouse and indoor farming solutions provider, has launched a new “Greenhouse & Indoor Cultivation Podcast.” Commercial growers and cultivation business owners of all crop types can tune in to learn strategies to grow their business, get the most out of their cultivation systems, and advance their horticulture career.
Bringing Indoor Vegetable Growers Closer to Their Retail Customers
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 18, 2020 The National Grocers Association (NGA) Show, the leading trade show and conference for independent grocers, and Indoor Ag-Con, the premier agriculture conference and trade show for the indoor and vertical farming industry, have announced that they will co-locate in 2021 for the first time. The combined event will be held May 16-18, 2021, at the new Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Get to Know the New President of Ball Hort
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 18, 2020 Among the many organizational changes announced by Ball Horticultural Company last week is the appointment of a new president, Al Davidson, who will conduct the day-to-day management of the company, including goal strategies. Davidson has been with Ball for 33 years and has held many roles, including Sales Manager at Ball Seed, Director of Supplier Relations, and President of Ball FloraPlant.
Good Weather Made for a Strong Year at Young’s Plant Farm Trial Gardens
By Penny Merritt-Price|November 17, 2020 The Young’s Plant Farm trial garden is located in Auburn, AL (UDSA Zone 8). It is 26,000 square feet of raised beds that include sun and shade trials. Each season, 432 individual varieties, 40 combination landscape beds, 56 hanging baskets, and 180 combinations planters are evaluated. Data and photos are collected biweekly from planting until the end of the growth season.
Reflections on New Plants As We (Hopefully) Move on From COVID-19
By Allan Armitage|November 17, 2020 Perhaps many of you reading this today are wondering what all the coronavirus fuss is about. Being smart enough to be in the business of horticulture immediately qualifies you as being smarter than average. So, while you know that Coronavirus is very real, and while you carry your mask with you and wear it around strangers, you have not been ill. In fact, nine months after the alarm bells rang, you still don’t know anyone who has had COVID-19.
Meet the 2020 American Floral Endowment Scholarship Winners
Posted by Brian Sparks|November 16, 2020 The American Floral Endowment (AFE) recently awarded 15 students with scholarships totaling $38,500. Fifty-nine applications were received for this 2020 scholarship cycle. “We had many overachieving students apply for scholarships this year, which is why some scholarships were awarded to more than one recipient,” says Greg Royer, Chairman of AFE’s Education Committee.
How One of the World’s Largest Vegetable Growers Is Highlighting Its Workers During the Pandemic
By Brian D. Sparks|November 16, 2020 NatureFresh Farms, the Leamington, Ontario-based greenhouse vegetable producer which also has operations in Ohio and Georgia, made local headlines earlier this year when it had to temporarily shut down production after a large number of its seasonal workers tested positive for COVID-19. Despite most displaying no symptoms, they were directed to stay away from the greenhouse, and were transported from their housing facilities to local hotels.
Big Leadership Changes Taking Place at Ball Hort
By Ball Horticultural Company|November 15, 2020 Ball Horticultural Company has taken new measures to strengthen its leadership in anticipation of industry and company progress. Anna Ball, CEO and Chairman of the Board for Ball, has created the new position of President within Ball Horticultural Company and has appointed Al Davidson to this post.
Questions to Ask Before Growing a New Crop
By Growing Produce|November 15, 2020 When we asked growers about alternative crops in a recent survey, your crop choices were all over the place – ranging from hemp to floral to fodder grains. But when it came to why you would choose those crops, and your concerns, you gave us a rock-solid list of what to consider before jumping in. Together, your responses offer a solid review list of what you need to ask before adding a new crop to your mix. How Intense Is the Labor?
The Importance of Light Quality in Controlled-Environment Agriculture
By GLASE|November 14, 2020 Light spectrum plays an important role in plant growth, morphology, and development. Plants have evolved a sophisticated photoreceptor system capable of perceiving small changes on the light spectrum. Plants use spectral changes as information to adapt and increase survival and reproduction. Because of this, by understanding plant-light interactions, we are able to use light as a tool to change plant responses to meet human needs.
Does Your Greenhouse Use Propane? If So, You Might Be Eligible for Funding
By Propane Research and Education Council|November 14, 2020 For a limited time, growers directly impacted by the 2020 California wildfires can apply for a Propane Farm Incentive Program and earn double the incentive amount for qualifying propane-powered equipment — including industrial engines, power generators, water heating systems, greenhouse heating systems, flame-weeding systems, and agronomic heat treating.
Cannabis Genetics Company Hits Plant Breeding Milestone
By CanBreed|November 14, 2020 CanBreed, an Israel-based cannabis breeding company, recently announced that its research and development efforts to develop powdery mildew resistance in cannabis have actually led to another milestone: successful detection of a genome editing event in cannabis. This discovery was achieved using the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology, which led to its inventors receiving the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
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