A Fond Farewell from Inside the Greenhouse: Keep on Learning
October 27, 2021 
I’ve often said if you don’t constantly try to make progress by learning new things, then you are moving backwards. I’ve also said many times that, as a rule of thumb, rules of thumbs are wrong. But that’s another story.
As of August 31, I changed my status from Professor of Horticulture at Mississippi State University to Professor of Horticulture, Emeritus.
Yes, this means that after only 33¼ short years on the job, I’m retiring. Don’t worry about me. I have a new RV Class C and will be roaming the country more than ever. The motor home gives an extra layer of protection during COVID-19, since it has its own bed, kitchen, and bathroom, and campgrounds are surrounded with fresh air and hiking trails.
As for you, the greenhouse growers of America, all I can say is: Keep learning.
Opportunities Are Abundant
There’s really no excuse to not keep learning. There are short courses and workshops on greenhouse vegetables in other states. All you have to do is use Google or your favorite search engine and you’ll find them.
During these pandemic times, many will be via Zoom, WebEx, or some other distance-learning technology.
In addition to “live” programs, make use of the Extension bulletins and websites that many university faculty have worked so hard to provide for you. My greenhouse FAQ website will be up and running until the university decides it is out of date and deletes it.
So for now, you can find it at http://extension.msstate.edu/crops/commercial-horticulture/greenhouse-tomatoes. There you will find some of the most frequently asked questions along with the answers. Below that are publications I have written, as well as some colleagues at Mississippi State, everything from production to physiological disorders, to the budget, to pest and disease management.
All of these are free to download, print, or read online. More information is listed below the publications section.
Support Extension
The number of Extension horticulture specialists at U.S. universities has been declining for a number of years. The faculty who actually work in the very narrow area of greenhouse vegetables and hydroponics is so small that it’s now close to non-existent.
What can you do? If you want to see more faculty hired who can help you with your greenhouse business, you have to ask for it.
Ask directors of Extension, directors of agricultural research, and even university presidents. If there are enough requests, something will happen. If there are no requests, you can be sure that nothing will happen.
My Plans for the Future
I will continue to give talks to grower groups in various states around the U.S.
In December, I’ll be speaking at Michigan’s Great Lakes Expo, and next summer I’ll be in Missouri for their Tomato Conference.
If you’d like similar programs on greenhouse tomatoes and other vegetables in your state, ask your county agents, Extension specialists, or R&D directors.
If there’s enough interest, it will happen. And if they would like me to help out, I’m willing to come to your state to speak to growers.
Best of luck in your greenhouse business and keep learning!
Comments? Drop me a line.
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