Cedar Valley Nurseries

Success at Cedar Valley Nurseries is measured in several layers. It’s not one-dimensional numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s more than how many pots of tree liners are planted. Instead, success is a clever idea created in the field, the celebration of strengths and the correction of weaknesses in production, and the ultimate satisfaction of a new or longtime customer.

Adaptation is another significant part of Cedar Valley’s success.

“We work very hard to become as efficient as possible,” said Mark West, managing partner and horticulturist at Cedar Valley in Ada, Okla. “Our goal is to keep our quality high, while keeping our prices affordable to our clients. We are always studying and analyzing our processes and production, constantly looking for ways to save money and increase quality.”

Positive programs
The nursery’s stake tracker program has helped keep costs low and quality high. Each employee is assigned a different color of flagging tape for staking. At the end of the day, a supervisor counts each tree staked and checks the quality of work. These totals are turned in each day and analyzed by management, and the totals are posted in the break room.

“This system creates accountability in the crew and let’s them take pride in their work. This observation allows management to identify strengths and weakness in the staking process, and allows us to correctly calculate the cost of staking each species,” West said.

Production bonuses also helps maintain quality, boosts productivity and keeps employees engaged.

“Production bonuses have made a tremendous impact at Cedar Valley,” West said. “The bonus matches what the nursery needs to what the worker wants, and everyone wins. Quality control is key with the bonus, but if crews have to go back and repair something they did poorly, it costs them in bonus. They quickly learn the cost of having to go back and redo something. We estimate using the bonus system has increased our productivity by 45 percent in spring potting and planting.”

Automated help
While the human element is the backbone of production at Cedar Valley, some automated processes have made labor more efficient.

Electric conveyors, powered by portable generators, help speed the transport of plants in and out of the field. The conveyors set the pace and keep the workers from getting fatigued. Soon after the conveyors were implemented, employees found other ways to use them, such as unloading supplies that aren’t on pallets, such as bamboo. A truck that might have taken six men to unload now takes three with the conveyors.

Cedar Valley also uses mobile container filling machines, flat fillers and Ellegaard machines to fill Ellepots.

Production techniques
Cedar Valley sells tree liners from seedlings up to 15 gallons. All of its liners are sold in RootMaker containers.
“Embracing air root pruning technology for growing tree liners was one of the best business decisions we made as a nursery,” West said. “A vigorous root system is the key to transplant success.”

West calls Carl Whitcomb, the inventor of the RootMaker containers, his “horticultural mentor.”

Trees are staked and pruned to ensure straight, healthy and market-ready transplants. The trees are produced on a generous spacing to help build caliper and develop stem taper.

Cedar Valley ships nationwide primarily to field and container tree farms.

“Oklahoma’s central location, hot summers and cold winters enable us to grow a great variety of trees,” West said.

For more: Cedar Valley Nurseries, (580) 436-2508; www.cedarvalleynurseries.com.