hen Lloyd Traven looks at a major expenditure for technology, he goes through a process of answering five questions to decide whether to purchase or not.
Traven, operator of Peace Tree Farm in Kintnersville, Pennsylvania, spoke on the topic, “Technology for the Small and Medium Growers” at the Ohio Florists’ Association Short Course in Columbus, Ohio in the summer of 2002.
“Growers have a limited amount of money to invest in technology,” said Traven, who grows wholesale herbs primarily for Ball Seed Company. “It’s not an option for small growers to keep up with technology. Just enough technology to get the job done - that’s what you’re looking at,” he told growers and greenhouse operators at the Short Course.
The questions, Traven titled ‘Manic Depression - the Process’, include:
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Where it’s at, what it is, who does it?
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The circle game - does it fit, or do we need to change?
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Take it easy - does it make the job easier?
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Got to have it - do I need it, or do I want it?
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Please, please me - where’s the money honey?
Traven said operators have to look at where they’re putting their money. “My answer for my business is different than anybody else’s. Their desires and needs may be different than mine,” said Traven, who is partners in the business with his wife, Candy.
Traven believes that growers sometimes become enamored with technology. He gave an example of a tagging machine to label plants that he was impressed with. Because his operation changes the varieties so often, a tagging machine does not make sense for his operation. “Ninety percent of the time it would be a waste of time,” Traven said.
Traven did elect to put in a watering tunnel to water the plants and inoculate with beneficial bacteria before they go into the greenhouse. Although the production crew complained because it takes a little longer to deal with the plants, Traven cut losses significantly, because in the past, some plants were overlooked and not watered.
He said technology purchases that save time for the top tier workers makes sense, especially if it’s a repetitive task. Traven said his environmentally controlled computer system saves six man hours every single day. It quickly pays for itself.
When growers go to trade shows and are wowed by new technology, they have to consider the physical limitations of their facilities. Traven thinks the movable Dutch tray system for internal transportation in greenhouses is pretty nifty. “For my operation it just doesn’t work. It just takes up too much room. It’s not an option for us,” he said. This system is an example of question number four - “Do I need it, or do I want it?”
Peace Tree Farms relies on customers where “price is secondary to the quality of the item.” They are strictly a wholesale company and are not into bedding plants.
He said his operation has good basic equipment that they’ve maintained very well. This summer Traven supervised the gutting of his entire heating system for his greenhouse, and put in a super high-efficiency delivery system.
“I can’t tell you what the payback is going to be. On the short term, the money per square feet is going to be high,” he said. The new heating system is an example of a purchase that will bring Traven more peace of mind and probably more time at home. His heating system was built 20 years ago, and he’s struggled to keep up. His new high-tech system will likely save him many trips to the greenhouse in the middle of the night when he would often check to see that everything was working correctly.
Traven takes a holistic approach to his life, and believes time away from his business is important. “Quality of life is about family and life outside the business,” Traven said. He believes growers get hooked into the life, but he believes that time away from the business is just as important.
Traven can be reached via e-mail at herbs4u@epix.net.
