Special Intensity Standards

NURSERIES

These operations are in the business of implementing and producing plants such as trees, shrubs, flowers, fruits and vegetables. Plants are commonly cultivated from seeds or from cuttings and are more often grown in pots or other temporary containers. Greenhouses may be used for tender plants or to keep production year-round. Land used for these types of agricultural purposes has regular year-round production. This operation is devoted to the production of horticultural products on a lesser scale of control than floricultural operations.

FLORICULTURE

Floriculture is an industry that includes the production of bedding and garden plants, foliage plants, potted flowering plants, cut flowers, cut cultivated greens and floriculture materials (ex: pesticides, disinfectants, misc. chemicals). This operation is concerned with the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and for floristry, comprising the floral industry. The land in these operations is where all factors of production are strictly controlled (ex: nurseries where plants are grown in greenhouses in pots).

These operations are in the wholesale industry which sell to commercial businesses or retail nurseries. Typical management practices include but are not limited to soil control, insect/pest control, fungus control, fertilizing, weed/brush control, pruning, watering and harvest. Irrigation within these operations may consist of artificial application of water to plants by controlled means. Plant management practices are a crucial part as they help maintain and increase the overall productivity of the nursery while making sure the plants are preserved. Plants are grown in large quantities to meet the demands of large wholesale clients such as florists, businesses, commercial farmers, other small nurseries, environmental landscaping, and so on.  

Requirements:

Acreage may vary depending on the quality of the operation - 3 acre minimum

Typical Management Practices:

• Site preparation
• Soil control
• Pest control
• Fungus control
• Pruning
• Irrigation system
• Record keeping
• Marketing