The Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association (IHNSA) is a commodity sector within the horticultural section of the IFA and is the representative body of nursery stock producers whose main objective is to advance and protect the interests of primary producers of hardy nursery stock.

A member of the European Nursery Stock Association (ENA), IHNSA provides representation and liaison at all levels, national, European and international, as well as with similar associations, local authorities and scientific and educational institutions. IHNSA also organise trolley fairs each year to assist producers in showcasing their produce to potential buyers.

The Association, which has over 60 members, is chaired by Val Farrell of B&V Nurseries Ltd in Skerries, Co. Dublin. Val, who is in his third year in the voluntary role, has been a member of the IHNSA since setting up his business along with his wife Bridie a quarter of a century ago. He has witnessed many changes in the sector in that time, none more so than in the last 10 years when prosperity has given way for hard times.

“The Garden Centre trade has become very depressed since the collapse of the economy and that has had serious implications for us because we are the producers who supply them with their stock,” Val explains.

Nursery men made sizable investments during the good times, but are struggling to survive and some have even gone out of business. We’re feeling the effects of that our sales have diminished over the last six years and product prices have stagnated since 2001.

“Consumer priority these days is with putting food on the table and paying their bills, with spending on plants way down their list of priorities.”
The recession is not entirely to blame for bringing the industry to its knees. Two unseasonably cold winters, new plant diseases, rising wage and input costs and competition from overseas markets have also contributed to Irish growers woes.

“During the two bad winters we had in 2010 and 2011, some of our members lost as much as 70-80 per cent of their stock,” reveals Val.

“A lot of them are still in serious financial difficulty as a result of the devastation caused in those years. There was no compensation available for these losses which left nursery producers very annoyed as other horticulture sectors qualified for some frost loss compensation.”

“On top of that, we have had to cope with the threat on new diseases such as Ash Dieback (Chalara fraxinea) and Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum). Sudden Oak Death is very prevalent in southern England and has spread to some Irish forests. If our plants are affected, they have to be quarantined. We have to comply with the Department’s regulations and we don’t get compensated for that either.

“Further hardship is being caused by the rise in input costs such as fertilizer and peat moss, and wages which are very high compared to other countries. Wages haven’t gone up in the last four or five years, but they increased dramatically in the four or five years previous to that and, as I’ve already said, prices haven’t gone up since 2001.”

Val believes the only way nursery stock owners will pull through their currently difficulties is if they stick together and support one another.
“The way things are at the moment, it’s easier for garden centres and retailers to import because the growers in countries like Holland are better organised than us. All that the shop owner has to do is go online and make the order. We need to get ourselves organised into one strong unit if we’re to counteract the imports. One way to do that would be to establish a central distribution centre where all our produce would be on the same trolley, rather than on separate trolleys.”

As someone who prefers to look at the glass half full rather than half empty, the IHNSA chairman says the outlook for the landscape sector, in particular is positive.  “There has been an upturn in the landscape trade.  We’re looking forward to the autumn business.  That has to be a positive.”
This year, IHNSA held two trolley fairs at Punchestown Racecourse in Co. Kildare. The fairs are organised to help producers showcase their produce to the retail sector.

“Garden Centres are invited to come along and take orders from up to 35 different nurseries who display their produce on trolleys,” says Val.

“The fairs provide smaller growers with an opportunity to get their name out there. They also give nursery owners a chance to get together once a year and talk about what they’re up to and ideas they may have. All in all, it’s a great day out.”

Val strongly encourages any hardy stock owner who isn’t in the IHNSA to join.

“There are many benefits to being a member of our Association,” he emphasises.

“All our members are wholesalers, with some also having retail outlets. We provide a voice for nursery stock producers at many different levels. We regularly hold meetings with the Minister for Horticulture Tom Hayes and Teagasc to try and get the best for our members. Our goal is to look after the interests of primary producers of hardy nursery stock.”

B&V Nurseries Ltd grows a wide range of hardy nursery stock, including perennials, scrubs, bedding, plants and hedging. With the landscaping side of the business now taking up much of Val’s time, the nursery is run by Anne-Marie McGann, who has been with the company for the past 17 years. Val’s wife Bridie also plays an active role in the day-to-day running of the business.

“Our staff numbers have fallen from 14 six years ago to just three today. It’s a reflection of the way things have gone in the industry. But if everyone pulls together and shows a united front, I’ve no doubt that this industry will fight back,” the  IHNSA  chairman concludes on a defiant note.
B&V Nurseries Ltd,

Rathmooney,
Skerries,
Co. Dublin.
Telephone: 01 8412786
Mobile: 087 2503752

Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 2 No 6, November 2014

Hardy, IHNSA, Nursery, Rathmooney