Fight the (Fire) Blight
It’s common knowledge that certain bacteria can make people sick, but did you know that bacteria can cause plant diseases as well? They most certainly do! The first bacterial pathogen to be identified was anthrax, a disease affecting sheep and cattle, in 1876. Shortly after that, the first bacterial plant disease was confirmed – fire […]
Citrus Greening Quarantines Expand in CA, TX, and LA
The USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced that it will quarantine areas in California, Texas, and Louisiana for citrus greening after positive samples were confirmed in those areas. The expanded areas include Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties in California, Kleberg, Kenedy, and Webb Counties in Texas, and Plaquemines […]
Pesticides and Hemp Production
On August 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that it received 10 applications to use existing pesticide products on hemp after the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp for commercial use and production. EPA is currently seeking public comments on these applications. According to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, “We hope this transparent and public […]
Telling Our Industry’s Story
As we’ve been reporting over the spring and summer, AmericanHort is encouraging members to reach out to their elected leaders in Congress – especially the newbies – to begin the process of educating them about our industry and our legislative priorities. Hosting a visit by an elected leader is especially effective. At the end of […]
Webinar for Impact Washington Summit Attendees Announced
The AmericanHort advocacy team has set up a webinar for Impact Washington Summit attendees. The “Impact Washington Summit: Conference Preview” webinar will be held on Tuesday, September 10th from 3:30pm-4:15pm EST. The webinar will provide a programming overview, event schedule, highlight issues of focus, as well as provide general information on lobbying in Washington, D.C. […]
Charlie Hall’s Cultivate’19 Keynote Presentation
Charlie Hall AmericanHort Chief Economist Charlie Hall’s Keynote speech at Cultivate’19, Even Greater Uncertainty, focused on the economic outlook of the horticulture industry. Did you miss his presentation? Do you want to look it over again? Access the slides here.
User-Friendly Nursery Crop Insurance? Your Chance to Weigh In
The nursery crop insurance program has been much cussed and discussed in recent years. Most consider the program to be challenging and burdensome, with much of the burden recurring year after year regardless of whether you have a claim. There is an effort underway to change that. It started in Florida, which isn’t surprising […]
Immigration Votes in House!?
Immigration votes in the House during the summer of an election year? Strange, but looking to be true. As of this reporting, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on two immigration policy bills during the week of June 18. Neither bill is certain to pass. And what happens will shape what’s next […]
Farm Bill Down To The Wire
Racing against the clock to finalize a key piece of legislation before year’s end, farm bill negotiators are looking to finish up talks in the days ahead. The Senate returned to work on Monday with their House counterparts arriving yesterday to finish the lame duck session. Areas of disagreement remain around items such as forest […]
Tennessee Moving Toward Boxwood Blight Quarantine
Tennessee has become the second state to pursue establishment of a quarantine to restrict movement of boxwood and Sarcococca that could be infected with boxwood blight. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture recently held a hearing to discuss the proposal. Citing the significant risk to nursery production and landscapes, the quarantine was deemed necessary for protection. A phytosanitary […]