House Passes Farm Workforce Modernization Act!
Amidst the chronic partisan gridlock and divisiveness in Congress, a rare moment of bipartisanship appeared late on December 11, as the House of Representatives passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, H.R. 5038, on a vote of 260 – 165. All but four Democrats were joined by 34 Republicans in pushing the bill across the finish […]
HRI and OAN 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 […]
The USDA Hort Specialties Census: Coming Soon to Your Mailbox
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will begin collecting data for the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties, which includes greenhouse and nursery production, this winter. Over 40,000 producers should receive a survey code in the coming weeks. New this round, growers will submit all responses online through NASS’ website. Online responses are anticipated to […]
Government Funding and H-2B Update
The House passed two massive spending packages on Tuesday totaling $1.4 trillion. The bills will fund the federal government through September 30, 2020. The Senate plans to pass the measures later this week. President Trump is planning to sign the bills into law, averting a government shutdown. The federal government is currently operating under a […]
Citrus Greening Quarantines Expand in Texas
USDA APHIS announced that citrus greening quarantine areas in Texas will again expand after multiple positive samples were detected in those areas. APHIS added Brazoria, Galveston, and Jim Hogg Counties, all in Texas. The regulations are effective immediately and necessitate an APHIS compliance agreement to facilitate movement of regulated nursery stock in the quarantine areas. […]
New Member Benefit: Ship Safe, Compliant, Approved Plants With Plant Sentry™
AmericanHort announces the newest member affinity partner, Plant Sentry™, an online comprehensive plant compliance tool. Plant Sentry was built using feedback from green industry leaders, including advocacy partners such as AmericanHort, along with federal and state regulatory officials. As the shipment of live plants across state lines continues to increase, keeping track of all the federal and state regulations and restrictions can be […]
New Resource for Crown Gall on Rose
The National Clean Plant Network (NCPN) released a new fact sheet (PDF, 1.7MB) dedicated to crown gall on roses. This is a bacterial plant disease that is particularly devastating to members of the Rosaceae family, such as apples, blackberries, cherries, and roses. Crown gall, caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, can cause gall formation on any plant part, such as […]
What’s facing Congress this December
Congress has a lot to do in the remaining 13 legislative days of 2019. Here’s a look ahead at the big issues you can hope to see this December. Federal Government Funding Absent additional action by Congress, funding for the federal government is set to expire on December 20. What we know so far isn’t […]
H-2A Updates: Wages, Nursery Seasonality
Each year, in December, the Department of Labor (DOL) publishes the new “adverse effect wage rates” (AEWR) which are typically the wages required to be paid to H-2A agricultural visa workers, as well as any U.S. workers considered to be in “corresponding employment.” The AEWRs are derived from the USDA Farm Labor Survey and typically […]
Citrus Nursery Stock Protocols Modified
USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has modified the protocol for interstate movement of citrus nursery stock. This protocol, originally published in 2013 and modified in 2018, contains standards and requirements that a nursery must meet to obtain a certificate or limited permit allowing the interstate movement of citrus nursery stock from areas […]