Ball Horticultural Company ’s founder , George J. Ball ’s catchword was “ All the good and Nothing Else , ” and it was manifest that Ball place these values to practice during our recent tour of Ball Horticultural Co. in West Chicago , which was seamlessly align by Ball ’s Director of Research Operations and AFE Board of Trustees member , Dr. Megan Bowman . Even though Ball is an outside company that advances the manufacture on a global scale , it was apparent that they still keep the single grower in mind in everything they do .
write by Laura Barth , AFE ’s Research Coordinator
Upon arriving at Ball , we were greeted by a riot of colour from their display gardens – 10.5 acres of beautifully landscape annuals , perennial , cut flowers , mixed containers , vegetables , and more . These garden are a prospect to see Ball genetic science on display without the use of any treatment , so you could really get a feel for how these plants naturally execute in the landscape painting . They even grow their rival ’s releases next to their own in the Comparison Garden , which gave us an unbiased look at a motley of different cultivars on the market place .
Once inside , we encounter a duty tour of Ball ’s seeded player processing , examination , and statistical distribution facilities . formal pop the question a number of seed coating , treating , and pelleting options to improve efficiency and output for cultivator . Their especially devise seed coatings are project to amend germ flow through seeder machines , control condition growth , and reduce disease . Pelleting is used to ameliorate the visibility of small seeds in the hype tray , wipe out the need for multiple seeder runs , as well as combine multiple species or cultivars in one pellet . egg ’s coating political machine can process 25,000 – 1,000,000 seeds at once , which was an impressive sight to see in someone . Ball also offer chemical substance - free constituent cum .
cum , even those of competitors , go through examination at Ball ’s facilities to determine their comprehensive Ball Vigor Index ( BVI ) , which is a act that come along on Ball Seed packet to betoken how undifferentiated a seed bunch is . seed are sown in plug trays and germinated in ensure growth chambers , and the trays are put on a conveyor belt through a laser digital scanner to quick ( about 30 seconds per tray ) and accurately measure ontogeny parameters such as tallness , leafage arena , and chlorophyll military action .
After the come has been machinate and prove , it ’s stored in cold , dry conditions to maximise its ledge life until it ’s time to be box and shipped . Ball uses SAP and other forecasting systems to determine the await engagement and demand of the final product , which steer their team to get it on how much to pack and when . This ascertain that cultivator have all the seed they demand when they call for it . system of weights - to - reckoning conversion is still common practice in many seed packaging operations , but Ball has improved packaging accuracy by using specialised source counters that can count item-by-item semen at a rate of up to 2,000 per s using a tv camera and multiple mirrors identify at different angles . Having multiple mirror in the scanner allows accurate reckoning in real - sentence as the seeds descend through the motorcar , no matter where they are in relation to each other . Ball typically package seed in 3 - month increments . Their system sends a signal when it ’s time to replenish their blood . Ball is proud to offer rapid change of mind times and same - day cargo ships .
Next , we were treated to a tour of the attractively design Ball Helix Innovations Center , where their squad of modern scientists comes together to make grow the latest reproduction , genetic , plant pathology , and proficient solutions to secure agriculturist success and profits . Ball ’s scientists gave exciting presentations about their body of work that highlight their passion , outreach , width of knowledge , and timber of research . The tours of the labs themselves were really a sight to see , and as a former lab worker , I was a picayune covetous ! We were go away with the impression that Ball ’s motto , “ All the practiced and Nothing Else , ” also pertains to the recruitment and retention of their employees .
Perhaps the most wakeless takeout was that despite their outside impact and cutting - boundary scientific progression , Ball Horticultural Co. still bring off to feel like a family - owned business due to the accessibility and graciousness of third - genesis chief operating officer and Chairman Anna Ball and her daughter Susannah Ball ( Sustainability Co - Lead ) , who joined us for a lovely dinner party in the gardens . For many geezerhood , Ball has continued to put up the industry through part to AFE . We are grateful to Ball Horticulture Company for opening their doors and garden to us during our Annual Board Meeting and inspiring us with their hospitality and committedness to industry advancements and grower needs .
For more info : Ball Horticultural Companywww.ballhort.com
