OREGON NURSERY


GREENHOUSE


SURVEY


1997


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


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 1998

I am happy to present the results of the 1997 Oregon Nursery Survey. Funding for this project was appropriated by Congress, due largely to efforts of the Oregon Association of Nurserymen. The questionnaire used for the 1997 survey is the third in a five-year rotation of different versions, and differs from the previous year in that labor and acreage questions were included. Coopera- tion of the state's nursery producers was excellent as more than 90 percent of the selected producers completed a questionnaire.

This survey is designed to provide basic information on the nursery, green- house and floriculture industry. The industry solidified its position at the top of all agricultural commodities, holding down the number one ranking for the fifth consecutive year. Additionally, trends in labor and wage data are extremely important in the face of the ongoing national debate on farm worker legislation. Other statistics are used in local and state land use planning as well as individual production and marketing decisions.

Special thanks are due to the Oregon Association of Nurserymen, Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the enumerator staff of the Oregon Agricultural Statistics Service, for their help in designing the survey, collecting the data and publishing this report. Their input was critical for the successful completion of this project.
Sincerely, Homer K. Rowley State Statistician

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

1997 Summary

Gross sales by plant material

Number of operations, acreage and gross sales by county

Acreage by plant material

Gross sales by size group

Number of workers and wages

Nursery and Greenhouse summary

Data collection procedures

Number of operations and survey sampling by sales value

Destination of gross sales by plant material 1991 and 1995

Page 1

Oregon's nursery sales shatters record

Oregon's nursery and greenhouse industry continued its phenomenal growth in 1997 by establishing yet another record high sales total of $492 million, marking the seventh straight year that record sales were recorded. Sales in 1997 rose 10 percent above 1996 and were 56 percent higher than in 1990. The industry further solidified its place atop all Oregon agricultural commodities by claiming the top ranking for the fifth consecutive year. Hay, with a value of $363 million, ranked second while cattle and all grass seeds claimed third and fourth places with sales of $341 million and $337 million, respectively.

Half of the $44 million sales increase was in container sales. Other products gained 20 percent while balled and burlap sales advanced 8 percent. All categories of sales were higher in 1997.

Nursery/greenhouse gross sales: By plant material 1990 - 1997

Gross sales

Plant
material
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997 1997
1996

1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 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 97,600 105,400 108

B & B 53,400 56,910 53,000 52,200 58,500 67,800 75,000 77,800 104

Container 92,860 106,570 109,800 108,400 133,900 148,100 148,900 171,300 115

Greenhouse 52,500 58,170 68,400 79,800 77,200 83,500 91,800 95,800 104

Other 23,000 26,120 29,300 24,200 31,100 36,700 34,700 41,700 120

Total 315,000 341,000 345,000 347,000 385,000 419,000 448,000 492,000 110

Page 2

Number of operations: Acreage and gross sales by county, 1995 - 1997

	Number of operations	Acres	Gross sales
	1997	1997	1995	1996	1997	1997/1996
	Number	Acres	000 Dollars	000 Dollars	000 Dollars	Percent
Benton	45	400	1,400	1,700	1,900	112
Clackamas	454	11,700	95,300	103,500	112,200	108
Curry	22	500	3,600	2,700	3,200	119
Deschutes	35	160	1,100	1,600	1,900	119
Douglas	52	450	5,300	5,200	5,600	108
Jackson	59	120	2,100	1,800	2,200	122
Josephine	46	150	2,100	2,200	2,600	118
Klamath	8	520	3,800	3,700	4,600	124
Lane	141	500	11,500	12,000	14,000	117
Lincoln	23	170	3,100	2,800	2,700	96
Linn	72	250	4,800	5,100	5,000	98
Marion	336	8,100	97,900	98,300	114,300	116
Multnomah	205	2,900	24,900	32,400	32,200	99
Polk	39	900	6,100	6,500	6,200	95
Umatilla	17	670	4,800	3,600	3,200	89
Washington	261	5,100	81,400	86,600	93,500	108
Yamhill	89	4,700	57,300	71,600	77,800	109
Other 1/	136	840	12,500	6,700	8,900	133
Total	2,040	38,130	419,000	448,000	492,000	110

1/Contains counties with less than 1 million dollars of sales and other counties which were combined to avoid disclosure.

Page 3 Marion county edges Clackamas for top ranking

Marion County reclaimed the title of leading nursery county from Clackamas on the strength of a 16 percent increase in sales. Marion's $114 million was slightly higher than Clackamas's $112 million. Ranked third, fourth, and fifth were Washington, Yamhill, and Multnomah counties, occupying the same positions they held a year earlier. Sales in Washington County were $93.5 million, Yamhill totaled $77.8 million and Multnomah generated $32.2 million. The top 5 counties accounted for 87 percent of the state's sales, compared with 88 percent a year earlier. Sales in Multnomah county dropped slightly in 1997. The metro counties (Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington) account for nearly half the state's sales (48 percent) compared with 50 percent in 1996. The Willamette Valley share of gross revenues held steady at 93 percent.

All size categories of nursery operations registered sales increases from 1996 although the bulk of the $44 million increase came from operations with sales of $500,000 or more. Statewide, 2,040 operations produced nursery products in 1997, up 3 percent for the year.

Acreage in production increases

Area in production, at 38,130 acres, was 6 percent higher than in 1995, the last time acreage was surveyed. Since 1991, acreage has increased a steady 6 percent over each two-year period. By plant material, acreage was higher for all categories except bare root, which dropped 5 percent from 1995.

Acreage by plant material 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997

Plant material
1991
1993
1995
1997 1997
1995

Acres Acres Acres Acres Percent

Bare Root 8,800 9,500 10,600 10,100 95

B & B 10,070 11,400 10,800 12,100 112

Container 3,490 3,900 4,400 5,100 116

Greenhouse *550 *550 600 630 105

Other 3,210 4,000 5,100 5,300 104

Other acreage in operation *5,160 4,350 4,400 4,900 111

Total 31,730 33,700 35,900 38,130 106

* Revised.

Gross sales, by sales value, 1992 - 1997

Sales size group
Gross sales

1992
1994
1995
1996
1997 1997
1996

1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars 1,000 dollars Percent

Less than $20,000 1/ 8,850 10,000 6,700 8,700 130

$20,000 - $99,999 35,900 20,450 18,800 18,100 18,500 102

$100,000 - $199,999 1/ 23,800 22,000 18,900 20,000 106

$200,000 - $499,999 53,100 40,600 46,800 36,000 38,500 107

$500,000 - $1,999,999 1/ 95,900 109,000 121,500 134,300 111

More than $2,000,000 256,000 195,400 212,400 246,800 272,000 110

Total 345,000 385,000 419,000 448,000 492,000 110

1/ For 1992-1993 these strata not available. Included in next higher stratum.

Page 4

Payrolls show sharp increase

The Oregon nursery industry had a combined payroll of $179 million, 22 percent more than in 1995, the last time wage data were collected. Total workers were 7 percent higher, at 20,800. Significantly, the percentage of full-time workers has increased steadily since the first survey in 1991 (29 percent). Wages per worker averaged $8,600, up 14 percent from 1995. Compared with 1991, wages are up 45 percent.

Number of workers employed in the nursery/greenhouse industry and gross wages paid - 1997

Sales size group	Full time	Seasonal	Total workers	Total wages	Average wages per worker
	Number	Number	Number	Dollars	Dollars
Less than $20,000	100	950	1,050	1,650,000	1,571
$20,000 - $99,999	250	1,000	1,250	4,797,000	3,838
$100,000 - $199,999	300	900	1,200	6,368,000	5,307
$200,000 - $499,999	600	1,400	2,000	13,058,000	6,529
$500,000 - $1,999,999	2,000	3,300	5,300	47,619,000	8,985
More than $2,000,000	4,800	5,200	10,000	105,378,000	10,578
Total	8,050	12,750	20,800	178,870,000	8,600

Number of workers, wages and number of operations 1991 - 1997

	1991	1993	1995	1997	1995 1997
	Number	Number	Number	Number	Percent
Seasonal workers	13,114	12,350	12,235	12,750	104
Full time workers	6,219	6,850	7,250	8,050	111
Total workers	19,333	19,200	19,485	20,800	107
Total wages ($)	114,767,000	124,173,000	146,482,000	178,870,000	122
Average wages per worker ($)	5,936	6,467	7,518	8,600	114
Number of operations	1,704	1,986	1,905	2,040	107

Page 5

Nursery/greenhouse summary - 1997

Sales size group	Number of operations	Acres	Gross sales	Total workers	Total wages
	Number	Acres	Thousand Dollars	Number	Thousand Dollars
Less than $20,000	1,292	3,700	8,700	1,050	1,650
$20,000 - $99,999	341	2,600	18,500	1,250	4,797
$100,000 - $199,999	131	2,130	20,000	1,200	6,368
$200,000 - $499,999	111	4,600	38,500	2,000	13,058
$500,000 - $1,999,999	125	9,200	134,300	5,300	47,619
More than $2,000,000	40	15,900	272,000	10,000	105,378
Total	2,040	38,130	492,000	20,800	178,870

1997 Data collection

The 1997 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 780 names was selected from the state of Oregon's list of licensed nurseries and greenhouses for 1997. 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 the sampled names on June 22, 1998, followed by a second request on July 8. All non-respondents were phoned or visited from July 24 to August 15. Cooperation was excellent with 91 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 Kent Hoddick of 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 1996 & 1997

Sales size group	Number of operations		Operations in sample
Sales size group	1996	1997	1996	1997

Less than $20,000	1,258	1,292	193	204
$20,000 - $99,999	324	341	168	169
$100,000 - $199,999	125	131	125	131
$200,000 - $499,999	113	111	113	111
$500,000 - $1,999,999	122	125	122	125
More than $2,000,000	41	40	41	40
Total	1,983	2,040	762	780

Page 6

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.

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	Gross sales
Plant material	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1997 1996
	1,000 dollars	1,000 dollars	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	97,600	105,400	108
B & B	53,400	56,910	53,000	52,200	58,500	67,800	75,000	77,800	104
Container	92,860	106,570	109,800	108,400	133,900	148,100	148,900	171,300	115
Greenhouse	52,500	58,170	68,400	79,800	77,200	83,500	91,800	95,800	104
Other	23,000	26,120	29,300	24,200	31,100	36,700	34,700	41,700	120
Total	315,000	341,000	345,000	347,000	385,000	419,000	448,000	492,000	110

Plant material	1991	1993	1995	1997	1997 1995
	Acres	Acres	Acres	Acres	Percent
Bare Root	8,800	9,500	10,600	10,100	95
B & B	10,070	11,400	10,800	12,100	112
Container	3,490	3,900	4,400	5,100	116
Greenhouse	*550	*550	600	630	105
Other	3,210	4,000	5,100	5,300	104
Other acreage in operation	*5,160	4,350	4,400	4,900	111
Total	31,730	33,700	35,900	38,130	106