He says successful growers and the state's Cooperative Extension Service are good information sources. Full Time in Trees Adkins noted that 90 percent or more of the growers are full-time in the nursery business and are not growing trees as a sideline. If they have the land, some also grow cereal grains or raise cattle as a sideline to the tree farm. If there's too much diversity in the enterprise plant quality may suffer. Adkins noted that many growers who have been in the business a number of years have long-established markets.
Growers looking for new markets check out trade shows and mass media outlets.
He predicts the Internet and World Wide Web are going to be some of the best outlets for pro-active growers and marketers. Two of the Gragg brothers took the fifth generation out to get a look at trees some of them may have the opportunity to harvest a few years from now. People who are successful in the plant and tree nursery business must be committed to hard work and a quality product. This is not a business for anyone who envisions making a quick dollar, Adkins said. Long days of hard work in some of the harshest weather conditions await those who aspire to a career in the wholesale tree nursery business.