It appears the nursery business is going high tech. Robin Cross, economist at Oregon State University has created a computer program that will help growers determine the right time for shipping plants to their various retail buyers through weather forecasting. This will allow stores to have the right stock on hand when they need it to meet high demand times while reducing any waste or buy backs for the growers which result from overstocking during low demand.  While it may sound like a glorified “Farmers Almanac” the program also makes shipping date determinations through the retail stores inventories, historical sales and advertising in conjunction with the weather forecasts. It appears to be a win/win situation for everyone involved; nursery producers are able to increase their sales and avoid over shipping, the retailers are able to meet demand and increase their revenues, and the customers are able to go their local nurseries and find what they want when they want it. Everybody is happy and the nursery business keeps growing strong.