New Overtime Regulations in Effect
The arrival of the year 2020 means that new federal overtime regulations are now in effect. The regulations touch on a number of areas — exemptions such as the “white collar” exemption, as well as bonuses and salary level thresholds. These new rules are quite complex and can be challenging to business owners trying to […]
You, PlantPAC, and the 2020 Election
PlantPAC, the AmericanHort Political Action Committee, gives our industry access and a voice to support Congressional candidates that back pro-horticulture policies. The AmericanHort Advocacy and Public Policy Committee recently worked to prioritize our targets for support in 2020. But before we can keep you in the loop, Federal law requires us to obtain prior approval […]
Breeders’ Choice: New Option for Protecting Plant Breeders’ Rights
On January 6, the USDA Plant Variety Protection Office published a final rule implementing a provision of the 2018 Farm Bill addressing horticultural innovation. The new rule expands the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), the framework under which seed-reproduced varieties are commonly protected, to include asexually reproduced plants. Breeders can now choose among plant patents, utility patents, […]
Recognition for AmericanHort Advocacy Team
The new year began with some welcome recognition for our efforts and our team. First, the cover story of the January issue of GrowerTalks Magazine showcased the efforts of our Washington, DC staff team. Check it out! Secondly, our very own research and science programs director, Jill Calabro, PhD, was presented the Oregon Association of Nurseries […]
USDA Proposes to Restrict Dozens of Plants from Importation
USDA recently proposed to add new plant tax to the list of plants regulated as Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis, or NAPPRA. The proposal includes 26 plant taxa as quarantine pests; and all subfamily Bambusoideae (bamboos), all Myrtaceae (to Hawaii), and 43 other plant taxa as potential hosts of quarantine pests. AmericanHort urges all […]
H-2B: Three Times More Demand Than Supply
Many of our members submitted petitions to the Department of Labor (DOL) for H-2B workers on or around January 1 for jobs slated to begin work on April 1. This H-2B filing period marks the first time that the DOL used a computer generated “lottery” filing process to group petitions into priority groups for processing. […]
Enhancing Retail Signage for Improved Sales
New H-2A Wage Rates for 2020 Published
On December 19, the U.S. Department of Labor is publishing a Federal Register notice announcing the new “adverse effect wage rates” (AEWR) that must be paid to H-2A agricultural visa workers as well as U.S. workers considered to be in “corresponding employment.” The new rates take effect in two weeks, or January 2, 2020. A few reflections […]
HRI, OAN, and AmericanHort Partner to Present Boxwood Health Workshop
With the establishment of the Boxwood Initiative, HRI has become a leading source of information regarding boxwood pests and diseases. Now, for the first time, HRI is bringing the information to a live event. Along with our partner, the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN), HRI has created a one-day workshop focusing on Boxwood Health on […]
Advocacy Delivers in 2019
AmeircanHort’s advocacy program grew by leaps and bounds in 2019 with new staff, new tools, and new outreach to members and officials alike. The results have been impressive— our members’ input on federal legislation and regulations being sent directly to elected and cabinet officials, personal relationships built between our members and their elected representatives, and […]