New!      

A team of MSU faculty and Extension agents in Horticulture and Agricultural Economics is developing a series of four business and management modules for greenhouse owners and managers.  

This new track of four 4-hour courses will follow a format similar to the highly successful Floriculture College of Knowledge.  These workshops are specifically developed for greenhouse and nursery owners and managers.  Although participants can attend one or a few of the courses, we strongly encourage participants to enroll in all four modules.  The titles and brief descriptions of each course follows.  These courses will be offered for the first time at the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo in Lansing on November 9-10, 2005.

Managing Employees in Horticulture
Developed by Vera Bitsch, Department of Agricultural Economics

This course will discuss how to hire, train, motivate, reward, and discipline employees to strengthen your horticultural company’s workforce.  You’ll learn how to train your employees to become reliable and independent performers and how to build employee commitment and provide helpful feedback.  In addition, wages and benefits, overcoming conflicts, and suitable discipline and dismissal processes will be discussed.

Marketing of Ornamentals
Developed by Bridget Behe, Departments of Horticulture and Agricultural Economics

Marketing may be one of the last parts of the business strategy ornamental plant growers develop, but it should be among the first.  In this workshop, you will discuss how marketing encompasses: 1) identifying the types of products that will be offered for sale, 2) identifying the kinds of customers who may want or need those products, and 3) how the product offerings will be communicated to the potential consumers.  Discover how to realize profit using a customer-focused, effective marketing strategy that addresses needs with products and services offered.

Financial Management for Horticultural Businesses
Developed by Roger Betz, MSU Southwest District Extension Farm Management Agent

This module will give you a better understanding of how to manage your business in ornamentals.  You’ll learn how to develop and use accurate net worth and income statements and the differences between taxable income and true income for your business.  You will develop methods to help determine each products contribution to overhead.  The factors needed to determine total economic cost of production of ornamentals will be identified and discussed.

Strategic Planning for Horticultural Companies
Developed by Van Varner, MSU Southeast District Extension Farm Management Agent

In this module, you will learn how to analyze both your external economic climate (such as market trends, influence of competitors, and regulatory changes) and your internal business operation (such as vision and mission, management and financial capacities, facilities, and production methods).  In addition, you will identify opportunities and threats to the business, elucidate a desired long-range position for your company, and set goals needed to reach that position.

Registration

  DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE
  A222 Plant & Soil Sciences Building
  East Lansing, MI  48824-1325

  This page was last edited in 04/11/07 . 
  Please send your comments to Ms. Sandy Allen allens@msu.edu