Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse Survey - 2010

Oregon Nursery
and
Greenhouse Survey
2010

USDA-NASS Oregon Field Office

Number of firms with $2+ million in sales,
and total sales, Oregon, 2000-2010
Total sales

100

1000

90

900

80

800

70

700

60

600

50

500

40

400

30

300

20

200

10

100

0

Total sales-Million dollars

Number of firms

Number of firms

0
2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Gross sales of firms with above and below $2 million in sales,
and total sales, Oregon, 2000-2010
Less than $2 million

$2+ Million sales

All firms

1000
900

Total Sales
Million dollars

800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2010
Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse Survey
Compiled and Published by

Oregon Field Office
National Agricultural Statistics Service
United States Department of Agriculture

Christopher A. Mertz, Director
Bruce A. Eklund, Deputy Director
Angelica Espino, Agricultural Statistician

Copies of this publication are available at no charge by contacting the Oregon office at 805 SW Broadway, Suite 910, Portland, OR
97205, (503) 326-2131, by sending a request via E-mail to:

nass-or@nass.usda.gov, or by accessing the
Internet at www.nass.usda.gov/or.
________________________________________________________________________

FOREWORD
September 2011

I am pleased to present the results of the 2010 Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse Survey.
Thanks to the support of the State’s nurseries and greenhouses, the Oregon Association of
Nurseries, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, our crew of field and phone
interviewers, as well as others who provide information and support for this important
annual effort. The results represent the twenty-first year of documenting through statistics
the progress of a very key Oregon agricultural industry.
Oregon’s nursery and greenhouse industry continues to rank high in the State’s
agricultural picture, with 2010 total gross value of sales coming in at $676 million, down
9 percent from 2009. Sales for nurseries and greenhouses with total gross value of sales
over $2,000,000 dollars declined 13 percent and sales for those with total gross value of
sales between $200,000 and $499,999 showed the largest percentage drop, down 28
percent from the previous year. Nurseries and greenhouses with sales between $500,000
and $1,999,999 increased 15 percent from 2009. Container sales still dominated the
product categories, accounting for nearly 42 percent of the sales for all product types; yet,
this category is down 14 percent from 2009. The estimated number of operations
remained at 1,800 operations during 2010. The top five counties in terms of gross sales
were Marion, Washington, Clackamas, Yamhill, and Lane. These counties are all in or
near metropolitan areas and represent 86 percent of the total value of nursery and
greenhouse production for Oregon.
I hope that this report will continue to be a valued source of information on Oregon’s
nursery and greenhouse industry, which produces the high quality products for which
Oregon is so well-known.
Sincerely,

Christopher A. Mertz
Director

The National Agricultural Statistics Service is an agency of USDA’s Resource, Education, and Economics mission.
An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Charts – Gross Sales 2000-2010 versus number of firms with sales over $2 million……………..…Inside front cover
Gross Sales 2000-2010 firms that make above and below $2 million…………………..….Inside front cover

Page
Narrative…………………………………………………………………………………………..1
Gross sales by plant material 2004-2010………………………………………………………….1
Gross sales by size group 2006-2010……………………………………………………………...1
Number of operations, acreage and gross sales by county 2008-2010……………………………2
Acreage by plant material 2001-2009……………………………………………………………..3
Summary by size groups 2007-2010………………………………………………………………3
Number of workers and gross wages by sales value 2009…..…………………………………….4
Number of workers, wages and number of operations 1999-2009………………………………..4
Destination of sales by plant material for 1995-2007……………………………………………..5
Survey methodology…..…………………………….…………………………………………….6
Number of operations by size group 2004-2010…………………………………………………..6
Gross sales and operations, historic trends………………………………………………………..6
Sample Questionnaire – 2010………………………………………………………………..……7
Additional references to recent Oregon horticulture data ………………………..…………….....9

2010 Oregon nursery sales down 9 percent
Oregon’s nursery sales decreased to $676 million in 2010, a 9 percent decline from 2009. This is the third
consecutive decline since 2007 and is close to 2001 sales level of $680 million. The total number of operations in
the State was estimated at 1,800, unchanged from last year’s estimate. Operations with $2 million or more in sales
comprised 69 percent of total sales. Smaller firms, with $20,000 or less in sales, accounted for just over half of the
total operations in the State. Firms with $200,000 to $499,999 in sales showed the largest sales decline, down 28
percent from 2009 to $30.9 million.
(Continued on page 3)

Nursery and greenhouse: Gross sales, by plant material, Oregon, 2004-2010
Plant material
Bare root
B&B
Container
Greenhouse
Other
Total

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2010/2009

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

Percent

159,400
151,000
345,300
129,400
58,900
844,000

152,700
165,600
384,000
119,700
55,000
877,000

165,200
180,500
429,000
125,700
65,600
966,000

168,300
157,900
476,700
136,200
48,900
988,000

140,400
110,800
406,300
124,900
37,600
820,000

138,000
102,500
329,000
127,300
43,200
740,000

115,000
94,300
282,000
129,300
55,400
676,000

83
92
86
102
128
91

Nursery and greenhouse: Gross sales by sales size group, Oregon, 2006-2010
Gross sales

Sales size group

Less than $20,000
$20,000-$99,999
$100,000-$199,999
$200,000-$499,999
$500,000-$1,999,999
More than $2,000,000
Total

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

6,100
21,000
11,800
44,600
167,000
715,500
966,000

10,000
23,000
20,000
42,000
170,000
723,000
988,000

4,300
21,700
17,200
44,600
134,000
598,200
820,000

3,900
14,700
16,400
42,800
124,100
538,100
740,000

2010/2009
Percent

4,000
16,700
15,300
30,900
142,100
467,000
676,000

103
114
93
72
115
87
91

Nursery and greenhouse: Gross sales by plant material,
Oregon, 2006-2010

500,000
450,000

Thousand dollars

400,000
350,000
2006

300,000

2007

250,000

2008

200,000

2009

150,000

2010

100,000
50,000
0
Bare root

1

B&B

Container

Greenhouse

Other

Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse - 2010

Nursery and greenhouse: Operations, acreage, and gross sales, by county, Oregon, 2008-2010
County

Number of
operations

Acres 3

2010

2009

2008

2009

2010

2010 / 2009

Operations

Acres

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

1,000 dollars

Percent

Gross sales

Clackamas
Curry
Jackson
Josephine
Klamath
Lane
Linn
Marion
Multnomah
Polk
Umatilla
Washington
Yamhill
Other counties 1
Oregon

480
15
60
45
10
130
65
330
155
50
20
200
80
160
1,800

14,200
100
50
300
1,200
1,100
850
16,200
4,900
1,600
600
6,500
4,400
1,600
54,000

170,000
3,100
4,000
3,000
18,500
27,000
12,000
190,000
42,000
14,000
10,000
175,000
110,000
33,600
820,000

153,000
2,000
2,600
1,850
20,100
27,100
12,350
191,800
32,000
9,900
5,500
149,200
93,500
31,750
740,000

147,600
3,500
2,000
2,900
12,500
35,600
13,900
174,000
29,300
7,200
8,400
138,600
84,200
16,300
676,000

96
175
77
157
62
131
113
91
92
73
153
93
90
51
91

Top five counties 2

1,220

46,200

687,000

619,500

580,000

94

1

Contains counties with less than two million dollars of sales and counties that were combined to avoid disclosure of individual operations.
2
Top five counties for 2010 data include: Clackamas, Lane, Marion, Washington, and Yamhill.
3
Data for category only collected once every two years.

Nursery and Greenhouse: Gross Sales by
county, 2010 Oregon - $676 million
All other
counties, $96.0

Clackamas,
$147.6

Yamhill, $84.2
Lane, $35.6

Washington,
$138.6

Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse - 2010

Marion, $174.0

2

Total nursery and greenhouse sales decreased $64 million. Bare root product sales declined 17 percent, decreasing
by $23 million. Balled and burlapped sales declined 8 percent with sales down $8.2 million. Container sales
decreased 14 percent, down $47 million from 2009. Greenhouse sales increased 2 percent, with sales up $2 million.
All other nursery product sales increased 28 percent with sales $12.2 million higher than last year.
Oregon’s top five counties of production, Marion, Clackamas, Washington, Yamhill, and Lane, had sales of $580
million. These five counties accounted for 86 percent of the total sales. Marion continued to be the leading county
with sales of $174 million. Clackamas continued as the second largest county with sales of $147.6 million.
Washington was third with $138.6 million, followed by Yamhill in fourth with sales of $84.2 million. Lane replaced
Multnomah as the fifth largest county with sales of $35.6 million.
Nursery and greenhouse: Acreage by plant material, Oregon, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009 1
Plant material

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2009/2007

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Acres

Percent

Bare root
11,800
12,000
13,200
13,500
13,100
B&B
15,500
17,500
18,700
20,000
20,100
Container
5,600
6,900
8,600
8,500
9,000
Greenhouse
700
800
800
900
1,200
Other plant materials 2
6,700
6,200
5,500
5,900
5,500
Other acreage 3
4,900
7,000
5,000
4,900
5,100
Total
45,200
50,400
51,800
53,700
54,000
1
Acreage by plant material is collected once every two years.
2
Other nursery plant materials include sod, bulbs, tubers, holly, cut greens, strawberry plants, and other materials.
3
Includes other acres in the nursery operation such as buildings, loading docks, and parking.

97
101
106
133
93
104
101

Nursery and greenhouse: Summary, by sales size group, Oregon, 2007-2010
Sales size group

Number of
operations
2009

Less than $20,000
$20,000-$99,999
$100,000-$199,999
$200,000-$499,999
$500,000-$1,999,999
More than $2,000,000
Total
1

3

2010

Operations

Operations

1,000
310
100
150
140
100
1,800

950
400
120
110
150
70
1,800

Acres 1
2007

Gross sales

2009

2009

2010

Acres

Acres

1,000
dollars

1,000
dollars

3,500
3,200
1,400
3,900
11,200
30,500
53,700

3,700
3,200
2,200
5,300
10,400
29,200
54,000

3,900
14,700
16,400
42,800
124,100
538,100
740,000

4,000
16,700
15,300
30,900
142,100
467,000
676,000

Total
workers 1
2007
Workers

900
1,150
600
1,250
3,900
13,200
21,000

Total
wages 1

2009

2007

2009

Workers

1,000
dollars

1,000
dollars

1,900
5,600
6,200
13,800
61,800
255,700
345,000

600
5,150
7,000
16,500
53,500
206,000
288,750

500
700
700
3,200
4,200
11,300
20,600

Data for category only collected once every two years.

Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse - 2010

Nursery and greenhouse: Workers, and gross wages paid, Oregon, 2009 1
Workers

Sales size group

Full time

Seasonal

Total

Total
wages

Average wages
per worker

Number

Number

Number

1,000 dollars

Dollars

Less than $20,000
50
$20,000-$99,999
250
$100,000-$199,999
300
$200,000-$499,999
700
$500,000-$1,999,999
1,700
More than $2,000,000
6,500
Total
9,500
1
Worker and wage data are collected once every two years.

450
450
400
2,500
2,500
4,800
11,100

500
700
700
3,200
4,200
11,300
20,600

600
5,150
7,000
16,500
53,500
206,000
288,750

1,200
7,357
10,000
5,156
12,738
18,230
14,016

Nursery and greenhouse: Workers, wages, and number of operations, Oregon, 1999 - 2009 1
Category
Seasonal workers................... Workers
Full time workers .................. Workers
Total workers ........................ Workers

1999
12,200
9,000
21,200

2001
10,850
9,550
20,400

2003
11,600
10,000
21,600

2005
11,600
10,400
22,000

2007
10,350
10,650
21,000

2009
11,100
9,500
20,600

2009/2007
107
89
98

Total wages .................... 1,000 dollars
Average wage per worker ....... Dollars

201,170
9,489

232,557
11,400

275,200
12,741

293,905
13,359

345,000
16,430

288,750
14,016

84
85

Number of operations........ Operations

2,185

2,139

2,044

2,151

2,100

1,800

86

1

Worker and wage data are collected once every two years.

Wages paid: Oregon, 1999-2009
350

1,000 dollars

300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1999

Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse - 2010

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

4

Nursery and greenhouse: Destination of gross sales by plant material, Oregon, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007 1
Plant material type
Destination

Bare root
1995

1999

B&B

2003

2007

1995

1999

Container

2003

2007

1995

1999

2003

2007

Percent of Percent of Percent of Percent of Percent of Percent of Percent of Percent of Percent of Percent of Percent of Percent of
sales
sales
sales
sales
sales
sales
sales
sales
sales
sales
sales
sales

Oregon
Washington
California
Other western States 2
Upper Midwest 3
Gulf States 4
Atlantic States 5
Northeast States 6
Western Canada 7
Eastern Canada 8
Other countries
Total

23
10
6
4
24
6
11
11
3
1
1
100

18
7
6
4
19
4
21
18
2
1
100

13
6
6
5
25
4
18
16
2
5
100

17
5
11
6
27
7
7
13
2
4
1
100

23
13
4
12
14
2
9
20
2
1
100

19
10
4
9
16
3
13
22
2
2
100

17
8
4
10
16
3
14
25
1
2
100

23
8
4
15
12
2
12
21
1
2
100

20
10
6
9
21
3
8
16
4
3
100

19
12
8
11
16
3
14
15
1
1
100

Nursery and greenhouse: Destination of gross sales by plant material, Oregon, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007
Plant material type
Destination

Oregon
Washington
California
Other western States 2
Upper Midwest 3
Gulf States 4
Atlantic States 5
Northeast States 6
Western Canada 7
Eastern Canada 8
Other countries
Total

Greenhouse

18
11
6
10
21
3
11
17
1
2
100

19
10
7
10
23
4
10
13
1
2
1
100

1

Percent of
all sales
by destination

Other

1995

1999

2003

2007

1995

1999

2003

2007

2003

2007

Percent of
sales

Percent of
sales

Percent of
sales

Percent of
sales

Percent of
sales

Percent of
sales

Percent of
sales

Percent of
sales

Percent

Percent

57
14
12
2
5
2
2
3
2
1
100

59
15
9
2
4
2
3
3
2
1
100

59
15
7
3
4
1
2
4
2
2
1
100

53
21
6
2
3
1
2
6
2
3
1
100

37
11
16
3
9
5
11
6
1
1
100

40
5
22
2
7
4
6
5
1
2
6
100

32
8
21
4
7
5
6
9
2
2
4
100

63
4
7
1
6
5
7
5
1
1
100

24.4
9.7
6.9
7.8
17.0
3.2
11.1
15.5
1.5
2.4
0.5
100.0

25.6
10.1
6.8
8.6
18.7
3.7
8.5
13.0
1.8
2.3
0.9
100.0

1

Gross sales by destination is collected once every five years. No estimates was made for missing 2007 sales destination data. Percentages for 2007 data
were based on totals of reported data only.
2
Other western States include: MT, ID, WY, NV, UT, AZ, NM, CO, AK, HI.
3
Upper Midwest includes: ND, SD, NE, KS, MN, IA, MO, WI, IL, MI, IN, OH, KY.
4
Gulf States include: OK, TX, AR, LA, TN, MS, AL.
5
Atlantic States include: MD, DE, WV, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL.
6
Northeast States include: ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI, NY, PA, NJ.
7
Western Canada includes: BC, AB, SK, MB.
8
Eastern Canada includes all other provinces.

5

Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse - 2010

Survey methodology
The 2010 Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse Survey was designed to collect data on all commercial nurseries,
greenhouses, and producers of other nursery plant materials in the State. Other plant materials include products such
as cut roses, cut holly, bulbs, sod, strawberry plants, cut flowers, and dried flowers. A stratified random sample of
690 names was selected for the survey. The population consisted of the State of Oregon’s list of licensed nurseries
and greenhouses along with a list sampling frame maintained by the Oregon Field Office of the USDA, National
Agricultural Statistic Service. A census was taken for all operations deemed to have $100,000 or more in sales.
Operations with less than $100,000 in sales were stratified into two groups and randomly selected at different
sampling rates. Questionnaires were mailed to the sampled names in mid May 2011, with a second request mailed in
mid June. Attempts were then made to contact all non-respondents by phone or a personal interview through August.
Individual estimates were made for all firms with $500,000 or more in sales that did not return a questionnaire.
Adjustments for non-response were calculated for operations with $100,000-$499,999 in sales. Finally, sample
weights along with non-response adjustments were calculated for sampled operations with less than $100,000 in
sales.
Thank you to all the nursery and greenhouse producers for taking your valuable time to complete this survey. This
important study would not be possible without your continued support and cooperation.
Nursery and greenhouse: Number of operations, by sales size group, Oregon, 2004-2010
Number of operations

Sales size group

2004
1,194
396
115
140
144
84
2,073

Less than $20,000
$20,000-$99,999
$100,000-$199,999
$200,000-$499,999
$500,000-$1,999,999
More than $2,000,000
Total

2005
1,194
483
94
140
152
88
2,151

2006
1,131
483
84
146
165
91
2,100

2007
1,110
475
130
145
150
90
2,100

2008
1,130
470
140
155
145
90
2,130

2009
1,000
310
100
150
140
100
1,800

2010
950
400
120
110
150
70
1,800

Nursery and greenhouse: Gross sales and operations, historic trends, Oregon, 1991-2009
Year

Gross sales

Change from
previous year

1,000 dollars

Percent

1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
1
No data available.

Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse - 2010

341,000
345,000
347,000
385,000
419,000
448,000
492,000
532,000
584,000
642,000
680,000
727,000
779,000
844,000
877,000
966,000
988,000
820,000
740,000
676,000

Operations
Total
operations

Operations with over
$2 million in sales

Operations

108
101
101
111
109
107
110
108
110
110
106
107
107
108
104
110
102
83
90
91

Operations

1,704
1,900
1,986
1,979
1,905
1,983
2,040
2,082
2,185
2,102
2,139
2,183
2,044
2,073
2,151
2,100
2,100
2,130
1,800
1,800

(1)
(1)
(1)
32
38
41
40
43
62
69
70
71
76
84
88
91
90
90
100
70

6

Project Code 168 QID 060101

OMB No.0535-0244: Approval Expires 6/30/13

NATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL
STATISTICS
SERVICE

OREGON NURSERY AND GREENHOUSE
SURVEY - 2010

Oregon Field Office
805 S.W. Broadway, Suite 910
Portland, OR. 97205
Phone 503-326-2131
Fax 800-731-7011
nass-or@nass.usda.gov

Dear Nursery/Greenhouse Grower:

Please make corrections to name, address, and Zip Code, if necessary.

Nursery and greenhouse production continues to be Oregon’s leading
agricultural industry. Please take a few minutes to complete this
questionnaire. The information collected from this important survey is the
only source for measuring annual growth and change in the industry. Under
Title 7 of the U.S. Code and CIPSEA (Public Law 107-347), facts about your
operation are kept confidential and used only for statistical purposes.
Response is voluntary. Thank you for your cooperation.

Section 1 – Introduction
1. Did you produce, sell, or have growing any nursery or greenhouse crops (including container grown) bulbs,
sod, bedding plants, cut flowers, holly and dried flowers, etc. during 2010?
YES - Please continue with section 2 below.

NO

- Please go to back page, question # 4.

Section 2 – Gross Sales Value
2. What were your gross (invoice) 2010 sales from your nursery and greenhouse operation for each of the
following plant material categories.
• If calendar year data are not available, please use the most recent fiscal year period.
• Exclude plant material purchased for immediate resale.
2010 Gross Sales
(in dollars)

Plant Material Categories
311

a. Bare Root
b. Balled and Burlapped
c. Container
d. Greenhouse
e. Other Nursery Plant Material
(include sod, bulbs, tubers, holly, cut greens, etc.)

f. Total (should equal a + b + c + d+ e)

$ ________________
+
+
+
+
=

312

$ ________________
313

$ ________________
314

$ ________________
315

$ ________________
310

$ ________________

Section 2 – Gross Sales Value (continued)
3. List the Oregon county or counties where your nursery or greenhouse acreage is located.
• List each county separately
• Record the percent of gross sales for each county
• Exclude acreage located in other State
2010 Gross Sales
County

Office Use
Dollar Value

OR

Percent

611

621

601

612

622

602

613

623

603

614

624

604

+
+
+
615

Total (should equal total in item
2f on page 1)

100%

=

Section 3 – Change in Operation
Workers

Only complete question 4 if you answered NO to question # 1 on page 1.
4. Has this operation been sold, rented out, or turned over to someone else?
Yes – please identify the new operator.

No – please check one reason which applies.

Name: ______________________________

Retail sales only.

Address: ____________________________

New operation with no 2010 sales.

City: _______________________________

Other (explain) _______________________

State: ______________ Zip _____________
Landlord
Phone number: _______________________
Survey Results: To receive the complete results of this survey on the release date, go to http://www.nass.usda.gov/or.
Would you rather have a brief summary mailed to you at a later date?
Yes = 1
No = 3
Reported by: ___________________________________ Telephone: __________________ Date: ___________
For office use only
Respondent
Mode
Enum.
Eval.
Response
9901
9902
098
100
9903

099

R. Unit
921

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control
number. The valid OMB number is 0535-0244. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Cooperating with

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Additional references to Oregon horticulture data
Oregon Nursery and Greenhouse Summary, (1995 to Current)
www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Oregon/Publications/Horticulture/index.asp
National Nursery Crops Summary: United States and State data, (2001 to Current)
usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1115
Agricultural Chemical Usage: Nursery and Floriculture Summary, (2001 to Current)
usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1570
Floriculture Crops: United States and State data, (1978 to Current)
usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1072
2007 Census of Agriculture with comparisons to 2002: United States and State data, 14 pages.
www.agcensus.usda.gov/publications/2007/index.asp (Table 35)
2007 Census of Agriculture with comparisons to 2002: Oregon and County data, 1 page.
To review State (table 37):
http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_State_Level/Oregon/index.asp

To review County (table 35):
http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_County_Level/Oregon/index.asp

Oregon Association of Nurseries
www.oan.org
29751 SW Town Center Loop W, Wilsonville, OR 97070
Tel: 503-682-5089 Toll-free: 1-800-342-6401
Fax: 503-682-5099

USDA- National Agricultural Statistics Service, Oregon Field Office
Additional information about this and other publications are available at the National Agricultural
Statistics Service websites.
National website: www.nass.usda.gov
Oregon website: www.nass.usda.gov/or
Additional questions can also be directed to the Oregon Field Office of the USDA’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service at (503) 326-2131 or (800) 338-2157.

9