Central Region Greenhouse and Nursery News
COVID-19 Update
Essential Workers and Businesses
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published an update to its guidance for Essential Workers and Businesses. One clarification under Agriculture is new wording:

Workers supporting the growth and distribution of plants and associated products for home gardens.

Covid-19 Resources By State/Province

Welcome to our one-stop, centralized COVID-19 resource for the North American green industry. Here you can find the available information for what segments are operating in each state or province, as well as how shipments to and within the various states and provinces are affected. Click a state or province on the map to see:

– current open/closed/restricted status of growers, greenhouse operations, retailers and landscaping/supply chain
– relevant orders from each state or territory, and
– additional resources related to COVID-19 from each participating association.

Please be advised the situation is changing constantly, and updates are welcome. 

Guidance and Best Practices for Nurseries and Retail Garden Centers

The Georgia Urban Ag Council developed information to minimize the spread of COVID-19. This guidance is based on what is currently known about the transmission and severity of COVID-19.


Garden Center Retail Survival Strategy Series:
Overcoming Challenges with a Holistic Approach

Extension Agents in Michigan have created helpful information for retail nursery centers. I thought those with retail centers in NC could benefit by having access to this information.

Weeds of Container Nurseries

Any control program begins with the correct identification of the weeds present, along with an understanding of their life cycles and modes of reproduction and spread. Treated here are the most common weeds of outdoor container nurseries, as well as a selection of recently introduced species with the potential to spread. The content is optimized for mobile use and should be accessible from standard browsers on nearly any device, whether desktop, tablet, or smartphone.

General COVID-19 Information
While these are not greenhouse and nursery specific topics, I thought they were important to share. I hope you and your family find them helpful.

Webinar:
Parenting During the Pandemic


Wednesday, April 22
4:00 - 5:30 p.m. 

The sudden changes brought on by the current pandemic are challenging for students, but also for families. Adapting to remote learning environments can be tough. The Jed Foundation (JED) will offer a free webinar to share expert strategies and advice for managing stress, and helping caregivers help themselves and their children.



The Coronavirus and Potential Impacts on the Agricultural Economy

The impacts of the coronavirus on the U.S. and North Carolina agricultural economies are unfolding and fluid, so it is going to take time for agricultural economists to measure the full impacts. The purpose of this brief is to outline four significant concerns and questions I foresee for the U.S. and North Carolina agricultural economies with what we know presently for policymakers, legislators and decision-makers to consider as they respond to the crisis.

Stacey Jones | NC Cooperative Extension | 704-920-3310 | 704-920-3323 | stacey_jones@ncsu.edu | https://cabarrus.ces.ncsu.edu/profile/stacey-jones/ |