OREGON NURSERY



GREENHOUSE



SURVEY



1995



Compiled  and Published by


United States Department of Agriculture


Oregon Agricultural Statistics Service


Homer K. Rowley, State Statistician


Ronald F. Kriesel, Deputy State Statistician


Kent Hoddick, Agricultural Statistician>


Rich Gerdes, Survey Statistician


Chuck Bennett, Statistical Assistant


Vera Korn, Editor

Copies of this publication are available at no charge by contacting the 


Oregon Agricultural Statistics Service, 1220 SW Third Ave., Room 1735


Portland, OR 97204-2899, (503) 326-2131 


or by sending a request via E-mail to: nass-or@nass.usda.gov

FOREWORD

September 1996

Following are the results of the fifth Nursery and Greenhouse Survey for Oregon. The survey is funded by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service due largely to the efforts of the Oregon Association of Nurserymen which secured funding through the Oregon Congressional delegation. This year's survey completes a five-year cycle of surveys, with four "shorter" version questionnaires followed by this year's fifth and more extensive questionnaire. Beginning next year, the shorter version will again be used.

The survey is designed to provide basic information on the Nursery industry, and the results show that not only is it the leading agricultural industry in Oregon, but has agriculture's largest payroll for hired labor. Gross sales of nursery products totaled $419 million in 1995, increasing nearly 9 percent above a year earlier and solidifying the number one ranking first attained in 1994. Information of this nature is valuable in the continuing dialog concerning sensitive issues such as immigration legislation, and land use, to mention just two. Based on its number one ranking in Oregon agriculture, the nursery industry can certainly claim an authoritative voice in debating agricultural policy at local, state and national levels. Universities, government planners at all levels, state and federal legislatures, input suppliers, and producers and marketers of nursery products make up the bulk of data users.

This survey would not have been completed without the efforts of the Oregon Association of Nurserymen, Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Agricultural Statistics Service enumerator staff. We are very appreciative of their support in data collection and publication of this report.

Sincerely,

Homer K. Rowley
State Statistician


  • 1995 summary

  • Gross sales by plant material

  • Acreage by plant material

  • Gross sales by value

  • Gross wages & number of workers by sales value

  • Marketing methods by sales value

  • Number of operations, acreage and gross sales by county

  • Destination of sales by plant material

  • Nursery/greenhouse summary recap

  • Data collection procedures

  • Number of operations and survey sampling by sales value


    1995 Summary

    1995 Nursery sales set another record!

    Oregon's 1995 nursery sales, at $419 million is the highest nursery sales value ever estimated. Sales were nine percent more than last year and 33 percent more than 1990, the first year for this survey. This was the fifth consecutive year of increased value of sales and the second year that nursery products were the leading agricultural commodity group in Oregon. The $419 million gross sales far exceed the second leading commodity, wheat, which generated $306 million. Hay and cattle were ranked third and fourth at $304 and $295 million, respectively.

    The $34 million sale's gain over 1994 was mostly due to the $14 million increase in container value (11 percent) and the $9 million increase for balled and burlapped value (16 percent). Also showing strong gains were greenhouse value, up eight percent, and other materials value, up 18 percent. The only area of decreased sales was bare root value which was off two percent.

    Marion County, with sales of $97.9 million, became the leading county of sales this year for the first time. However, Clackamas County, with sales of $95.3 million was a very close second. Washington County, the third highest at $81.4 million, decreased two percent from last year. Yamhill ranked fourth and Multnomah claimed the fifth spot. The top three counties accounted for nearly two-thirds of the State's sales value and the top five counties accounted for 85 percent of all value in the State. All of the five leading counties are located in the northern Willamette Valley. Despite the record sales, the number of firms growing nursery products in the five leading counties totaled 1,277, a drop of 58 from 1994. However, acreage in production increased by six percent to 30,600 acres. Square footage of greenhouse space was estimated to be 22,480,000 square feet.

    Nearly all of the gain in sales value came from firms grossing at least $200 thousand in sales. Gross sales of firms between $200 thousand and $500 thousand rose 15 percent, sales of firms between $500 thousand and $2 million rose 14 percent, and sales of firms above $2 million rose 9 percent. The total number of firms raising nursery products in Oregon remained fairly constant over the past three years averaging around 1,956 firms.

    Wages increase

    For 1995, the State's nurseries and greenhouses paid out $146.5 million in wages to the 19,485 workers employed. This was an increase in wages paid of 18 percent from 1993 and 28 percent from 1991. The average wages paid per worker last year were $7,518 up $1,051 from 1993. The total number of workers employed remained constant since 1991 but the number of full time workers increased by 1,000 workers while the seasonal number decreased by the same amount. Labor was the major operating cost for the industry but only about four percent of labor costs were paid out to labor contractors.

    Destinations

    Oregon grown products were shipped all over the United States, Canada, and the world. In fact, 70 percent of production was shipped out of Oregon with the upper Midwest receiving the largest share. About 24 percent of the shipments go to the upper Midwest, 18 percent to the Northeast States and 16 percent to Washington State. Eleven percent are shipped to the Atlantic States and eleven percent goes to California. Plant material was shipped to fifteen different foreign countries; Germany was mentioned four times while England was mentioned three times. The largest value of plant material exported was to Mexico. About ten percent of the sales value, was from sales to other Oregon nurseries and greenhouses for additional growth and development.

    Gross sales by plant material

    Nursery/greenhouse gross sales by plant material 1990 - 1995

         Gross sales

    Plant material

    1990
    1991
    1992
    1993
    1994
    1995     		1995
    1994
    1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars Percent
    Bare Root 93,240 93,230 84,500 82,400 84,300 82,900 98
    B & B 53,400 56,910 53,000 52,200 58,500 67,800 116
    Container 92,860 106,570 109,800 108,400 133,900 148,100 111
    Greenhouse 52,500 58,170 68,400 79,800 77,200 83,500 108
    Other 23,000 26,120 29,300 24,200 31,100 36,700 118
    Total 315,000 341,000 345,000 347,000 385,000 419,000 109

    Acreage by plant material

    Acreage by plant material 1991, 1993, 1995

    Plant material
    1991
    1993
    1995     		1995
    1993
    Acres Acres Acres Percent
    Bare Root 8,800 9,500 10,600 112
    B & B 10,070 11,400 10,800 95
    Container 3,490 3,900 4,400 113
    Greenhouse *550 *550 600 109
    Other 3,210 4,000 5,100 128
    Other acreage in operation *5,610 4,350 4,400 101
    Total 31,730 33,700 35,900 107
    * Revised

    Gross sales by value

    Gross sales, by sales value, 1991 - 1995
    Sales size group Gross sales

    1991
    1992
    1993
    1994
    1995     		1995
    1994
    1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars Percent
    Less than $20,000 1/ 1/ 1/ 8,850 10,000 113
    $20,000 - $99,999 38,020 35,900 27,300 20,450 18,800 92
    $100,000 - $199,999 1/ 1/ 1/ 23,800 22,000 92
    $200,000 - $499,999 49,500 53,100 57,400 40,600 46,800 115
    $500,000 - $1,999,999 1/ 1/ 1/ 95,900 109,000 114
    More than $2,000,000 253,480 256,000 262,300 195,400 212,400 109
    Total 341,000 345,000 347,000 385,000 419,000 109
    1/ For 1991-1993 these strata not available. Included in next higher stratum.

    Gross wages & number of workers by sales value

    Number of workers employed in the nursery/greenhouse industry
    and gross wages paid - 1995

    Sales size group
    Full time
    Seasonal
    Total workers
    Total wages     		Average wages per worker
    Number Number Number Dollars Dollars
    Less than $20,000 140 1,590 1,730 2,475,000 1,431
    $20,000 - $99,999 300 1,190 1,490 4,664,000 3,130
    $100,000 - $199,999 350 1,080 1,430 5,902,000 4,128
    $200,000 - $499,999 700 1,625 2,325 15,163,000 6,522
    $500,000 - $1,999,999 1,780 2,725 4,505 38,900,000 8,635
    More than $2,000,000 3,980 4,025 8,005 79,378,000 9,916
    Total 7,250 12,235 19,485 146,482,000 7,518

    Number of workers, wages and number of operations 1991 - 1995
    1991
    1993
    1995     		1995
    1991     		1995
    1993
    Number Number Number Percent Percent
    Seasonal workers 13,114 12,350 12,235 93 99
    Full time workers 6,219 6,850 7,250 117 106
    Total workers 19,333 19,200 19,485 101 101
    Total wages ($) 114,767,000 124,173,000 146,482,000 128 118
    Average wages per worker ($) 5,936 6,467 7,518 127 116
    Number of operations 1,704 1,986 1,905 112 96

    Marketing methods by sales value

    Marketing methods - 1995

    Sales size group
    		 Salaried
    personnel     		Salaried
    & Commission     		Commission
    Only
    Brokers     		Mail
    Order
    Self Sales
    Other
    Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent
    Less than $20,000 16 2 1 3 3 70 5
    $20,000 - $99,999 11 1 1 6 5 74 2
    $100,000 - $199,999 10 8 3 6 4 66 3
    $200,000 - $499,999 24 3 9 10 5 43 6
    $500,000 - $1,999,999 50 7 10 6 2 24 1
    More than $2,000,000 33 35 14 9 2 4 3
    Average 35 20 11 8 3 21 2
    Total number reporting using each method 1/
    143
    27
    69
    116
    60
    539
    48
    1 Each report could have reported more than one method.

    Number of operations, acreage and gross sales by county

    Number of operations, acreage and gross sales by county, 1993 - 1995
    County Number of
    operations
    Acres     		Gross Sales
    1995 1995 1993 1994 1995 1995/1994
    Number Acres Dollars Dollars Dollars Percent
    Benton 50 400 1,900 1,100 1,400 127
    Clackamas 439 11,000 81,400 86,300 95,300 110
    Curry 23 520 2,400 3,300 3,600 109
    Deschutes 23 140 230 1,200 1,100 92
    Douglas 48 400 5,100 4,600 5,300 115
    Jackson 55 120 2,200 2,100 2,100 100
    Josephine 44 140 2,100 2,500 2,100 84
    Klamath 8 350 3,000 3,600 3,800 106
    Lane 127 510 10,000 10,200 11,500 113
    Lincoln 18 170 2,800 2,400 3,100 129
    Linn 70 250 3,600 3,900 4,800 123
    Marion 309 7,200 69,000 82,200 97,900 119
    Multnomah 209 3,100 22,300 26,900 24,900 93
    Polk 28 900 3,400 4,900 6,100 124
    Umatilla 16 670 3,050 4,500 4,800 107
    Washington 242 4,900 76,200 83,200 81,400 98
    Yamhill 78 4,400 51,800 56,500 57,300 101
    Other 1/ 118 730 6,520 5,600 12,500 223
    Total 1,905 35,900 347,000 385,000 419,000 109
    1/ Contains counties with less than 1 million dollars of sales or counties which were combined to avoid disclosure.

    Destination of sales by plant material

    Destination of gross sales by plant material, 1991 and 1995
    Plant material type
    Bare root B & B Container Greenhouse Other Total
    Destination 1991 1995 1991 1995 1991 1995 1991 1995 1991 1995 1991 1995
    Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars
    Oregon 20,040 19,420 11,530 15,690 19,790 30,240 35,060 47,415 5,840 13,670 92,260 126,435
    Washington 11,740 8,185 9,390 8,850 13,880 15,090 7,810 11,275 2,750 4,010 45,570 47,410
    California 5,150 4,625 3,070 2,346 5,740 8,150 5,430 10,160 3,310 5,630 22,700 30,911
    Other
    western States 1/
    4,460
    3,225
    6,780
    8,085
    11,520
    13,080
    1,720
    1,710
    980
    1,140
    25,460
    27,240
    Upper Midwest 2/ 22,390 20,130 7,150 9,490 21,590 31,620 2,780 4,325 4,790 3,350 58,700 68,915
    Gulf States 3/ 3,850 4,800 830 1,315 2,990 3,660 1,310 1,600 1,430 1,900 10,410 13,275
    Atlantic States 4/ 5,740 9,375 5,070 5,937 8,690 11,300 1,120 1,475 2,500 4,020 23,120 32,107
    Northeast States 5/ 13,050 9,345 8,610 13,450 14,670 24,110 1,000 2,150 3,270 2,320 40,600 51,375
    Western Canada 6/ 2,540 2,070 2,190 1,654 4,940 6,260 1,060 2,015 280 450 11,010 12,449
    Eastern Canada 7/ 4,250 845 2,260 760 2,700 4,260 810 1,025 230 180 10,250 7,070
    Foreign Countries 20 880 30 223 60 330 70 350 740 30 920 1,813
    Total 93,230 82,900 56,910 67,800 106,570 148,100 58,170 83,500 26,120 36,700 341,000 419,000
    1/ Other western States include MT,ID,WY,NV,UT,AZ,NM,CO,AK,HI.
    2/ Upper Midwest include ND,SD,NE,KS,MN,IA,MO,WI,IL,MI,IN,OH,KY.
    3/ Gulf States include OK,TX,AR,LA,TN,MS,AL.
    4/ Atlantic States include MD,DE,WV,VA,NC,SC,GA,FL.
    5/ Northeast States include ME,NH,VT,MA,CT,RI,NY,PA,NJ.
    6/ Western Canada include BC,AB,SK,MB.
    7/ Eastern Canada includes all other provinces.

    Nursery/greenhouse summary recap

    Nursery/greenhouse summary - 1995

    Sales size group
    		 Number of
    Operations
    Acres
    Gross Sales
    Total Workers
    Total Wages
    Number Acres Thousand Dollars Number Dollars
    Less than $20,000 1,186 3,400 10,000 1,730 2,475,000
    $20,000 - $99,999 344 2,660 18,800 1,490 4,664,000
    $100,000 - $199,999 118 2,170 22,000 1,430 5,902,000
    $200,000 - $499,999 117 4,900 46,800 2,325 15,163,000
    $500,000 - $1,999,999 102 8,000 109,000 4,505 38,900,000
    More than $2,000,000 38 14,770 212,400 8,005 79,378,000
    Total 1,905 35,900 419,000 19,485 146,482,000

    Data collection procedures

    1996 Data Collection

    The 1995 Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse Survey was designed to collect data on all commercial nurseries, greenhouses, and producers of other plant material, such as roses, holly, bulbs, sod, cut flowers, dried flowers, etc. in the state. A stratified random sample of 869 names was chosen from the State of Oregon's list of licensed nurseries and greenhouses for 1995. They were classified into six broad size groups based on sales volume. The Oregon Agricultural Statistics Service floriculture survey was used to supplement the list for those firms in the industry who are not required to have a State license.
    Questionnaires were mailed to sampled names on June 24, 1996, followed by a second request on July 8, 1996. All non- respondents were phoned or visited during the period July 24 to August 10. Cooperation was good with 87 percent of the sampled names cooperating.

    The sample design was developed by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Computer editing and summary programs were written by the Oregon Staff. Data for minor counties and items were combined with other totals to avoid disclosure of individual operations.

    Number of operations and survey sampling by sales value

    Number of operations and survey sampling 1994 & 1995

    Sales size group
    		 Number of operations Operations in sample
    1994 1995 1994 1995
    Less than $20,000 1,310 1,186 271 248
    $20,000 - $99,999 319 344 244 246
    $100,000 - $199,999 126 118 126 118
    $200,000 - $499,999 98 117 98 117
    $500,000 - $1,999,999 94 102 94 102
    More than $2,000,000 32 38 32 38
    Total 1,979 1,905 865 869


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