Photos are already coming in and we'd like to include yours! The kickoff to our yearlong birthday party will begin this January at the 2012 Great Lakes Trade Expo.  We will be displaying photographs from the 1920s to the 1980s.  These pictures will include equipment, operations on the job, Chapter and State meetings, business facilities, and people.  We are also going to display old estimates, nursery price lists, billings and invoices.  But, we're not finished.  We will also have old tools, equipment, and anything associated with the green industry on display at the Expo.  It doesn't have to be restored to be included.  WE ARE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR A 1922 PICKUP OR FLATBED TRUCK.       
 
So, here is your assignment:
1.    Scan* and send pictures, price lists, invoices, etc. to amyf@mnla
2.    Clean up your old turf, landscape, nursery, or irrigation equipment and let me know what you have for display.
3.    Be on the lookout for a 1922 truck to display.
If you have any questions call me at 269-372-3400 or send me an email at dave@devisserlandscape.com
 
Your contribution will make this celebration one to be remembered.
 

*Photos should be scanned at 600 dpi (300 dpi at a minimum). Make sure that you change the setting on your scanner prior to scanning your photos to get them at the higher dpi.

Thanks,
Dave DeVisser, Devisser Landscape Service, Inc.
MNLA Immediate Past President

Grass Roots Efforts Pay Off with Damaging Snowplow Legislation
On Wednesday, November 9th, members of the House Transportation Committee were set to move a Bill that would require all commercial snowplow vehicles to have a flashing, rotating, or oscillating yellow or amber light AND a reverse signal alarm. MNLA has been working on this Bill for over a year and has testified against it several times.

In a final effort to stop this bad legislation from being voted out and getting one step closer to becoming a Michigan law, a Call to Action went out to our snowplow members asking them to contact the members of the Transportation Committee to tell them to vote NO on this Bill - NO to more regulation, NO to additional costs to do business in Michigan, and NO to more liability for your business!

Our grass roots efforts paid off as right before this came up in Committee an amendment was made to the Bill that removed the backup alarm. The Bill now goes over to the Senate for their consideration. Our appreciation goes out to our members that participated in this successful grass roots effort!

The rule prohibits commercial drivers from using hand-held phones while driving a truck or bus, sets federal civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense and disqualifies drivers from operating a commercial motor vehicle after multiple offenses.
 
Commercial truck and bus companies that allow drivers to use hand-held cell phones while driving will face a penalty of up to $11,000. The rule will affect about four million commercial drivers, DOT said.
 
However, the rule specifically allows for the continued use of hands free devices stating, "The Agency (FMCSA) does not believe sufficient data exist to justify a ban of both hand-held and hands-free use of mobile telephones by drivers operating CMVs in interstate commerce."
 
The rule also bans the use of push-to-talk technology which the agencies consider to be cell phone technology, but does not ban the use of CB radios because, "The use of CB and two-way radios and other electronic devices by CMV drivers for other functions is outside the scope of consideration in this rulemaking."
 
FMCSA issued a regulation banning truck drivers from texting while operating in September 2010. PHMSA followed with a companion regulation in February 2011, banning texting by intrastate hazardous materials drivers.
 
This rule is effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
 
This rule was published December 2, 2011.

In today's tight business market, acquiring information on business management, new materials and products, and seeing and understanding the latest technologies can make the difference between success and failure. The continued effort to stay informed of the new regulations and government oversights reminds all of us about the importance of membership in an organization such as the MNLA, and given the state of the economy the voice of this Association is very important. Leadership during these times is critical, and as I prepare to turn over the gavel to our current Vice-President, Herm Witte, I know along with the rest of the Board that the Association is in great hands.  Remember, Vince Lombardi once said, "The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their Commitment to Excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor."

It has been an honor to serve as your President of MNLA this past year. Thank you for your confidence in me and for giving me the opportunity to serve you.

Regulatory Reform Package

Until a few years ago, it was difficult to export ball-and-burlap (B & B) trees and shrubs to Canada because of Japanese beetle (JB) regulations.  Canada required having the nursery fields sampled by MDARD inspectors for soybean cyst nematode (SCN), spraying and surveying for gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), and then dipping the B & B plants in a large enough vat of specified approved insecticides to kill any JB larvae in the soil.  The plants had to remain in the vat until completely saturated. “Complete saturation requires a minimum of 2 minutes of immersion in the solution and typically occurs when bubbling ceases from the root ball. It may require more than 2 minutes to achieve complete saturation.” *  This dipping process had to be witnessed by an MDARD inspector.  It was a time consuming and sometimes expensive process, and many nurseries chose not to ship as a result.

Then, Ontario and Nova Scotia declared themselves to be generally infested with JB, making them Category 3 or 4 provinces.  Michigan is a Category 3 state.  “CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) has no JB-specific requirements for material moving from a Category 1, 2, 3, or 4 State to a Category 3 or 4 province/territory.“ *  That meant that MDARD had only to sample the nursery fields and find them negative for SCN, inspect for and find no gypsy moth life stages, and issue a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) to accompany the shipment.  It eliminated the need to dip the stock in vats of insecticide.

Nurseries that are currently shipping are finding Canadian markets by contacting a broker and/or contacting Canadian nurseries directly.  You should carefully consider whether it’s worthwhile to find a Canadian market for your nursery stock.

Public Act 299 of 2010 prohibits the use of phosphorus fertilizers on residential or commercial lawns, beginning January 1, 2012.   Phosphorus applications for agriculture, for new turf establishment, based on soil test results, for certain types of manure and by golf courses that complete an approved training course are not included.  
                   
Highlights:

•    Starting January 1, 2012, a person shall not apply any fertilizer with available phosphate (P2O5) to turf except:

o    a tissue, soil or other test performed within the preceding 3 years...indicating that the level of available phosphate in the soil is deficient to support healthy turf grass growth or establishment;
o    new turf establishment using seed or sod;
o    when the product is a finished sewage sludge product (biosolids), an organic manure or a manipulated manure and it is applied to turf at a rate of not more than 0.25 pounds of phosphorus per 1,000 square feet at any one time;
o    a golf course that has successfully completed a training program approved by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).

•    Local phosphorus fertilizer ordinances in existence before December 16, 2010 are grandfathered. 

•    Fertilizer cannot be applied to frozen soil or soil saturated with water.   Any fertilizer released onto an impervious surface must be cleaned up promptly.

•    The other phosphorus provisions in Act 299 include new definitions, setbacks from surface water, $50 civil fines and outreach information.  

SB 509, Introduced by Sen. Howard Walker (R-Traverse City) would amend the Natural Resources Protection Act to create a new “Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Council” comprised of MDA, DEQ, DNR, and MDOT directors and other stakeholders, to provide final recommendation of a draft a new management plan for state regulators that includes provisions for monitoring, control and eradication, and rapid responses. The council will also make recommendation to the funding mechanism to implement the plan.  The bill contains legislative “findings” including identifying certain industry sectors as “major potential vectors”.
 
SB 510, Introduced by Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart) would amend the Natural Resources Protection Act to require that the new “Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Council” proposed by Senate Bill 509 to make recommendations for state regulators and the legislature, also include provisions related to commercial sources of invasive species, including the aquarium, bait, pet, water garden, horticulture, aquaculture, and shipping trades.

 

Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) offered his own Legal Agricultural Workforce Act, H.R. 2995, as an amendment to the Smith E-Verify bill, but it was ruled non-germane. Many agricultural groups, including the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform (ACIR), which ANLA co-chairs, voiced their strong support for Lungren’s effort. The Lungren bill would establish a more market-oriented and flexible agricultural worker program. After being denied consideration, Lungren and other Members of the Committee, both Democrats and Republicans, sounded the alarm that without better legal workforce options, agriculture would be irreparably harmed.

A particularly stark moment in the process came when Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) offered an amendment to strip Smith's bill of a provision which would have allowed agricultural employers to continue to rehire returning seasonal farm workers without having to verify them. This provision offered the perception of some relief for the agricultural sector, though ACIR criticized it as having loopholes and trap doors, and sidestepping the problem rather than squarely addressing it. Berman's amendment passed 19-12, with several Republicans crossing over to join the Democrats.

Stripped of this one bit of relief for agriculture, the E-Verify bill now leaves the agricultural dilemma in the stark, bright light of day. Unless amended, it is crystal clear that the bill utterly fails to address the looming devastation, offshoring of production, exporting of economic activity, and loss of on-farm and farm-dependent jobs.

Looking for Employees? Let us help you!

Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association Presents:

The 2012 Green Industry Career Fair
Wednesday, January 11, 2012   (1:00 - 3:00 p.m.)
at the Great Lakes Trade Exposition (GLTE)
DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI

MNLA Members Only: Meet and talk with prospective employees, including students from Horticulture, Landscape and Nursery programs as well as others interested in Green Industry careers. There is a $55 fee for company participation. Participants will receive two GLTE registrations for Wednesday ($120 value), a recruitment table, two chairs, an identification tent card and the Résumé Booklet - a compilation of résumés from job seekers. Space is limited and recruitment tables are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis (with payment). To participate, return your competed contract with payment to the MNLA office.


Register Now to participate in the 2012 Green Industry Career Fair!
 

Looking for Employees? Let us help you!

Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association Presents:

The 2012 Green Industry Career Fair
Wednesday, January 11, 2012   (1:00 - 3:00 p.m.)
at the Great Lakes Trade Exposition (GLTE)
DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI

MNLA Members Only: Meet and talk with prospective employees, including students from Horticulture, Landscape and Nursery programs as well as others interested in Green Industry careers. There is a $55 fee for company participation. Participants will receive two GLTE registrations for Wednesday ($120 value), a recruitment table, two chairs, an identification tent card and the Résumé Booklet - a compilation of résumés from job seekers. Space is limited and recruitment tables are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis (with payment). To participate, return your competed contract with payment to the MNLA office.


Register Now to participate in the 2012 Green Industry Career Fair!
 

MDARD advises nursery stock growers and dealers to keep updated on quarantines and regulations that apply to specific types of nursery plants brought into the state from outside of Michigan.  All too frequently we find that shippers in other states send plants into Michigan that are either totally prohibited or have treatment requirements that have not been met.  The Department finds some of these during inspections and to the credit of you, the industry, quarantine violations are discovered by alert industry workers who bring them to our attention.  

Keeping track of all of the quarantines can be daunting, therefore, states have agreed to place a summary of their quarantines on the National Plant Board website at www.nationalplantboard.org/laws/index.html.  The full unabridged versions of Michigan’s quarantines are available on the MDARD website at www.michigan.gov/mdard and then search for “quarantine”.  To further aid the industry in the safeguarding process, we have developed a convenient one page summary which lists all of our exterior quarantines on a single page.  A copy of this summary will be mailed to nursery growers and dealers with their 2012 licenses this year.  The following table summarizes the Michigan state exterior quarantines and regulations relating to nursery stock.  Additional information can be obtained from your MDARD Inspector or from Mike Bryan at the MDARD Nursery Program desk at (517) 241-2977 or e-mail at bryanm@michigan.gov.

Summary Table of the Michigan State Exterior Quarantines and Regulations Relating to Nursery Stock (PDF)
 

(Editorial provided on October 4, 2011)

Who do you play for?   Do you play for you, your team, your family, your community or hopefully, all?  And, as manager, what batting order do you put them in?

Who are you?  Can you hit a walk-off home run if given the opportunity?  What makes you think you can do it all by yourself?  As the everyday business owner, why not get some help?

I have spent the past year trying to get people involved in what the MNLA can bring to your organization; we have had some movement in that direction, but we need more of you…the ones who are out there trying to make a difference.  What separates the companies/teams that make it from the ones that don’t?  How else do I need to say that we need you to get involved? We need your expertise.  We need you to network, be committed, help to develop our next industry leaders, think long-range, figure out our specialties and work together. Come on… you are in control.  Move it, shake it up, commit, connect, dedicate, communicate, challenge yourself and be the leader that you are. 

Wherever you are right now, take it from here, get in your truck, on your phone, on your computer and make connections throughout the industry. You never know when your best is going to be needed. Was there ever a time you thought you could do more for the industry?  Now is the time for you to step up and say, “Yes…I am that good.”  Dan Riddle of Lodi Farms did it; Josh Tandeski of Tandeski Associates did it; Dan Monsma of Monsma Landscape & Maintenance did it; Deborah Lee of Shades of Green did it; Richard Von Tersch of Luke Landscape Company did it; Matt Mellema of Mellema Nursery did it; Bob Drost of Drost Landscape Design & Construction did it; and there is room for you to get involved also.