MeLNA News
07/21/2008- Download PDF For News Item
Bylaws Final Draft
Please open the pdf attachment to view a final draft of the bylaws for member review.
03/28/2008- Download PDF For News Item
"The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World" by Michael Pollan
reviewed by Julie Sawtelle, MCN, MCL
This author has been on the bestseller lists lately for "The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals" and "In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto". I found both to be very interesting and informative reads, so I was pleased to find this earlier book (2001) on the shelves of my local library.
"The Botany of Desire" looks at how plants use humans to further their biological imperative, to perpetuate and spread their genes. Humans tend to look at the world as revolving around us, but Pollan turns that viewpoint on its head, showing how our desires – for sweetness, beauty, intoxication, control, etc. – are exploited by plants for their own purposes. The author selects the discovery, use and development of the apple, tulip, cannabis and potato species as examples.
SWEETNESS:
From ancient times, humans have used apples as a source of sweetness. Pollan traces the travels of the ancestors of Malus domestica from the area now known as Kazakhstan, where even now in some areas it is the dominant species in the forest, growing to 60 feet tall. Carried by humans from its origins in the "fertile crescent", and hybridizing freely along the way, the apple self-produced millions of unique varieties throughout Asia and Europe. Domestication of the apple - selection for taste and size of the fruits - was greatly furthered by the Chinese when they developed grafting techniques. The Romans cultivated more than twenty varieties, some of which moved with them to England, and eventually to the New World with the colonists. Many apple trees brought over by immigrants did not survive their ocean journeys, or succumbed to harsh weather. However, some seeds that were planted survived and, after honeybees were imported to improve pollination, the species began to prosper in its new home.
Once in North America, the cross-country distribution of Malus was aided in no small part by the efforts of American folk figure John Chapman, a/k/a "Johnny Appleseed", and strengthened by its cross-hybridization with native crabapples. Through his research, Pollan discovered that Chapman apparently had a knack for predicting areas of westward development, and started nurseries in those areas from seed. By the time settlers arrived two or three years later, his saplings were ready for sale. Apples were in high demand as a food staple on the frontier, as a food staple and as a rare source of sweetness. Further, in some areas the law required new landowners to plant orchards, to ensure homesteading rather than real estate speculation. Chapman viewed grafting as a travesty of nature, and used seed for his ever-expanding business also because it was practical: highly portable (often carried by canoe) and inexpensive, having been gleaned from cider pomace. As he moved across the country, his exclusive use of seed created extremely biodiverse orchards. His orchards, along with their "wild" offspring, were the main resource for the later nationwide "Great Apple Rush", where the discovery of a standout among the "spitters" brought fame and fortune to its finder. Some of these discoveries, such as Macintosh, Baldwin, and Jonathan, are still popular today, for their qualities of being the best tasting, keeping and so on. Unfortunately, many excellent varieties have disappeared from the market, or are only available from specialty orchards, replaced by a relative few, somehow more "commercially viable" forms.
BEAUTY:
Pollan’s discussion of the tulip and its development due to our desire for beauty was fascinating. He first examines the role of "beauty" in plants as an indicator of health. Biologically, since healthier plants produce flowers with brighter colors, more and sweeter nectar, etc., they attract more pollinators, thus assuring the continuation of those particular genes. The same biological attraction may have been the origin of the almost universal human love of flowers as well. Over time, however, humans have developed a more esoteric appreciation of flowers - and roses, peonies and tulips are among the relatively few flowers which have become idealized.
This section on beauty described how the demand for increasingly exotic blooms brought about the Dutch "tulipomania" of the 1600s. In the mid-1500s, tulips began to be imported from the Turks, and quickly became favorites of European royalty and the wealthy. In 1593, Carolus Clusius, a former director of the Imperial Botanical Garden in Vienna, moved to Holland to establish a new garden. Clusius was an expert on bulbs, and his rare tulips - from among the many flower species he imported - were of great interest to the Dutch. His unwillingness to sell or share created even more demand, and in short order most of his tulip collection was stolen. Not understanding that only bulb offsets perpetuated desired traits, the thieves propagated their spoils by seed, spreading naturally hybridized tulips across Holland - the ancestors of the amazing variety of tulips available today.
By the turn of the seventeenth century, the Dutch were among the richest people in Europe, and their wealth allowed them to indulge themselves with plants brought home by traders and explorers. Land was scarce and expensive, however, so generally gardens were small and plants carefully chosen for maximum impact. Frequently, an illusion of profusion was created by skillful placement of mirrors, and the more ostentatious the display, the better. One noted annual garden celebration featured large beds of tulips, augmented with thousands of small mirrors and cut tulips in buried vases, candles placed on the backs of roaming tortoises, and throngs of young women dancing among the blooms.
Demand for rare bulbs grew along with the general popularity of tulips, increasing their value exponentially. The desire to possess certain traits became obsession, and growers often resorted to purchasing and destroying competitor’s bulbs in order to keep them off the market. In 1635, the tulip market suddenly transformed from a seasonal exchange of cash for freshly dug bulbs, to speculation on future crops. Instead of plants, investors were given promissory notes listing the variety, the date of delivery, and price. No longer the exclusive domain of plant connoisseurs and growers, the flower trade became over-run with speculators – former businessmen, tradesmen, and laborers who had no experience with plants. They gave up their former livelihoods, sold their businesses, mortgaged their homes and depleted their life savings, eager to make a killing in the new "stock market". The influx of their investment capital spurred prices, with bulb prices quickly rising to the point where just one bulb of the most rare varieties was equal to the price of a luxury home. The loss at sea of a ship bearing a crop of bulbs usually resulted in bankruptcy, and sometimes suicide, by those who had risked their fortunes.
Over the course of the next year or so, Holland’s tulip market soared. Most business was conducted in the back rooms of local taverns, and deals were usually sealed with wine and beer for all in attendance. This custom almost certainly added to the frenzied "get rich quick" atmosphere of the speculating. Then suddenly, early in 1637, and virtually overnight, the tulip market crashed. Bulbs that just a few months earlier had been hot commodities could hardly be given away. "Tulipomania" was over, but its outbreak and the incredible variety of tulips it inspired were essential to the development of the Dutch flower industry.
CONTROL:
The author chose the potato, Solanum tuberosum, to illustrate a plant’s use of human desire for control to further its own interests. In this section, Pollan reflects on our attempts to control nature through agriculture, and the ability of new hybrids to succeed in gardens where they might not in an established ecosystem. He discusses the impact of genetic engineering on American food crops in some detail, and ties in his mixed feelings about an experimental planting of Monsanto’s "NewLeaf" potato in his own garden.
Pollan discusses in some detail the rapidly expanding genetic modification industry, its purported motives, and developments to date. Monsanto has opined that "current agricultural technology is unsustainable", and claims that its mission - through genetic engineering - is to revolutionize American food production. In my admittedly cynical opinion, this is a secondary goal to controlling the gene pool of food plants and making lots of money for its shareholders. For this and other reasons, I was pleased to read recently about Norway’s new "doomsday" seed vault, which will serve as a disaster-proof back-up for several hundred food-crop seed banks world-wide.
The author agrees that the days of "modern" industrial farming are numbered, and presents concerns about corporate control of its replacement. Still, Pollan is somewhat ambivalent here, and proposes that genetically modified plants, designed with built-in Bt, might actually be preferable to crops drenched in pesticides. Perhaps the issue is the length, or perhaps more accurately, the depth, to which we humans will allow the technology to advance. To illustrate the introduction of "intellectual property" in agriculture, he uses computer software as a metaphor for food plants, and compares Monsanto to Microsoft in its efforts to control the operating system. Continuing Pollan’s computer metaphor, my belief is that by introducing animal genes into plant s, humans are breaching the "firewall" of natural selection. Genetic materials are being forced into new and unnatural relationships - at what point could we be at risk of crashing the system?
The history of the potato is outlined in this section, as an example of human control and development of a plant. Domestication of the potato began more than seven thousand years ago on the slopes of the Andes by ancestors of the Incas, and some heirloom potatoes are close genetic relatives to these early tubers. The Incas enjoyed variety, propagating three thousand different types – all colors, shapes and sizes - and their growing methods made the most of a difficult terrain. Rather than adapting the environment to produce large crops of a given spud, they developed a potato for each microclimate of altitude, wind and solar exposure. This approach, more in tune with the complexity of nature, allowed the cultivated tubers to continue to cross with wild potatoes, thereby continuing and expanding biodiversity.
Hungry Spanish invaders could not have foreseen the long-term impact of their looting of the Incan potato crops. Transplanted from the new world to the old, the potato eventually supported the population of most of northern Europe. Initially, the English were suspicious of the spud for many reasons including that it was of the nightshade family, was thought to cause leprosy and immorality, and it was not mentioned in the Bible. Likewise in Germany, Russia and France the potato was slow to catch on, but in time its cultivation became widespread in these countries. The Irish, however, were quick to adopt it from its first appearance there in the late 1500s. Spuds were easy to grow, easy to cook, didn’t require much land, could feed people and livestock, and – supplemented with cow’s milk – provided complete nutrition for a starving populace.
In the intervening 200 years, this new food staple’s advantages over grain helped to shift the population of most of Europe from the country to increasingly industrialized cities. However, when England’s wheat crop failed in 1794, the resulting food shortage led to class conflict, riots, and the beginning of a 50-year potato debate. Supporters pointed to Ireland arguing that spuds would feed the poor, but opponents also pointed to Ireland, saying that the potato created poverty as a result of overpopulation. Political economists of the time tended to see the marketplace, and specifically the price of bread, as a population regulator. Unlike wheat, the potato could not be easily stored, so it was not considered a commodity, nor was its production subject to control. Instead of being bound to the civilizing force of a market economy, the Irish were growing their own food, marrying earlier and producing more children – resulting in an increase in population from 3 to 8 million in less than 100 years.
Their dependence on the potato, and in particular almost the only potato grown, the "Lumper", was to be the ruin of the Irish. During the summer of 1845, ruin arrived (most likely on a ship from America) in the form of Phytophthora infestans. The Lumper had no resistance to the fungus, and it quickly spread, killing that year’s crop. The blight returned the next year, and the year after – and in those three years, more than a million Irish starved to death. Because the "poor law" made owners of more than a quarter acre of land ineligible for aid, millions more gave up their farms. Anyone who was able to scrape up the money escaped to America. Famine and disease were rampant among those forced to remain, and within 10 years Ireland’s population was cut in half. The author points out that the economic forces of the era, including exploitation of Irish labor by the English, were also factors in this deadly crisis – but at its root was the nation’s reliance on a monoculture.
SUMMARY:
This book should be of interest to all those who garden, believing they are domesticating their plot of ground, and rarely stopping to consider how all of the weeding, watering, and fertilizing is also furthering the efforts of the plants that grow there to reach maturity, and to reproduce. Pollan’s basic theory of plants "using" people to increase their chances of genetic survival coincides with my thoughts regarding the correlation of the usefulness of any particular plant and its reproductive abilities. Comfrey, for instance, was historically used for animal fodder and in a wide variety of herbal medicines, and may have developed the ability to spread like wildfire in an effort to preserve its genes. This could also tie in with one theory of the development of agriculture, which is that early humans discarded seeds and roots of wild plants they had gathered and eaten onto refuse heaps, where they took hold, grew, and hybridized - in essence, that ancient compost heaps were our first "gardens".
The author’s analysis of the connections and possibilities created by the human desire for control of nature, on the one hand, and the ability of plants to adapt and flourish through natural selection, on the other, was thought-provoking and entertaining. Pollan demonstrates the benefits of human "engineering" of, for instance, a toxic wild tuber into an important food source for millions, while also underscoring the potential dangers of the extremes of genetic experimentation, as practiced by the likes of Monsanto. Pollan makes a strong case for the importance of biodiversity, driving home the facts that continued reduction in diversity of plant material will have a negative impact on our future, and that the evolutionary paths of humans and plants are inextricably linked.
02/04/2008
The following folks and companies received awards at the Awards Ceremony during lunch at the January 22, 2008, Annual Trade Show and Conference.
Twenty Year Individual Memberships since 1988
Tad Bettcher, MCN, MCL
Bob Boyd
Mark Faunce, MCN, MCL
Harold L. Irish
Ellen Klain, MCL
Alfred (Fred) H. Michel
Edward A. Robinson. MCN, MCL
Grant B. Sorterup, MCL
Donald J. Ward, Jr..
Elizabeth Listowich, MCN, MCL
Twenty Year Business memberships since 1988
BOOTHBAY REGION GREENHOUSES
IRISH LANDSCAPE SERVICE, INC.
JORGENSEN LANDSCAPING, INC.
ELLEN KLAIN - LANDSCAPE GARDENER
YE FAITHFUL GARDENER
01/03/2008
Low-grow (even no-mow) lawns tested by city
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Michael Scott
Plain Dealer Reporter
Don't toss out your Toro or fire the landscapers just yet, but get ready for the next thing in green living by next summer: Low-mow (even no-mow) lawns.
Yep, the green revolution is sowing seeds of environmental change even among the lush, green grasses of suburbia.
Low-mow -- and its even more ecologically minded brother, no-mow -- refer to limited-growth grass seed mixes. The seeds grow into lawns that need less water, need no fertilizers or weed killer and stay reasonably short, 6 to 8 inches, even if mowed only once a month or less.
They're already taking root in
The
Five mixes sprouted with mixed results when planted in pilot strips last summer in front of the Botanical Garden's
Other
Supporters say that's what will make these low-mow grasses an increasingly popular option, even though some disdain their small flowers, and most varieties look shaggier than well-manicured yards.
"The perfect American lawn is going through a volatile period in its history," said
Steinberg, author of "American Green: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn," said there is "an anti-perfect lawn revolution under way in
He said low-mow lawns are part of that larger movement away from chemically supported and perfect-looking lawns.
The test lawn outside the garden certainly drew plenty of attention around
"The
The low-mow lawn test will continue through next spring on four parcels in the city's
City workers will mow it monthly next summer and measure the height difference each time between the two sides.
Ultimately, the grass could be used to reseed many of the city's 8,000 parcels of available land.
"That's the bottom line with us - if it saves money on maintenance," said Nate Hoelzel, the city's brownfields program manager. "Green lots help a neighborhood more than plain dirt."
Ronayne and Hoelzel said they could envision the low-grow also being marketed to park systems and maybe the Ohio Department of Transportation for median strips. Because none of the mixes include taller - and hardier - grasses like rye, they won't hold up under heavy traffic, DeJong said.
Landscapers who make part of their living mowing others' lawns aren't too worried - yet.
"Quite honestly, it's really not on our radar at this time," said Sandy Munley, executive director of the Ohio Landscape Association in
Brad Copley, vice president of marketing for MTD Products,
"I don't think this is the end of lawnmowers as we know it," he said, laughing. "Anything that would contribute to the greening of the landscape and the generation of more oxygen - as opposed to concrete or asphalt - is a good thing."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
mscott@plaind.com, 216-999-4148
12/29/2007
Dear Members:
I truly believe the Maine Landscape and Nursery Association is at an important crossroads in it's journey to becoming an influential organization within the 'green industry'.
In the past two years, I have attempted to lay the ground work for development from what I construed to be a 'club' status to an actual Association which is operated by the members, for the members in every respect.
The only way this concept has a chance is if you, the members, step up and participate. God bless us, we are ALL busy, but if each one of us willing is to offer just a little time, one night a month perhaps, to productively gather your thoughts within a committee concerned with a specific subject, we can grow and accomplish great things.
Please consider volunteering your time, experience and or business acuity to assure a strong future for an Association which I believe can eventually serve us all. Pay back can also be sweet.
Sincerely,
Stephen W. Elliott MCN/MCL
President
11/27/2007
Twilight Meeting Revived
A special thank you to Sprague's Nursery and Garden Center in Bangor for hosting the twilight meeting on September 20. We had a wonderful time visiting with MELNA members from around the state as well as touring the nursery and garden center with Harvey and Danny as our tour guides. The late summer evening weather was perfect and was enjoyed by all those who attended. Thank you, Kathy and your staff for organizing a successful event and preparing the cookout with all the trimmings.
Ron
It was wonderful to see so many Melna members attend the first twilight meeting we had in years. Over 50 Melna members attended the meeting at Longfellow’s Greenhouses in July. Melna members came from all parts of the state (Thank You). So many members attended that we had two separate tours, the tours included Longfellow’s growing areas as well as the retail selling spaces and a brief history of the business. After the tours we all enjoys burgers and hotdogs cooked by Steve and Roger (thanks) as well as a chance to visit with each other. We want to thank everyone who attended as well as Longfellow’s Greenhouses for hosting this great meeting.
If anyone has future thoughts on places you would like to see twilight Meetings held at, and ways we can make this event better or any ideas on topics you would like Melna to address at the twilight meetings please contact us.
Larry
11/27/2007
Green Industry Trends Examined at Association Leaders Roundtable
On November 1, 2007, the New England Nursery Association (NENA) hosted a group of New England green industry leaders at a day long Green Industry Association Leaders Roundtable. State association leaders and executive directors from throughout New England attended the meeting. Updates were provided from each state association and the group discussed common challenges, goals, and achievements.
Guest speaker Bob Dolibois, CAE, Executive Vice President of American Nursery & Landscape Association addressed the topic of "National Industry & Association Trends." Bob shared his insights on the state of the green industry, what’s happening globally, and emerging trends. Some of the trends he highlighted in his thought-provoking presentation included:
Baby Boomers went from "Do-It-Yourself" mentality to "Do-It-For-Me"
More recent trend: DIFM DIBDID. Do-It-For-Me has become Do-It-But-Do-It Differently. I want a beautiful landscape, but use less water; Do it with equipment that doesn’t make fumes or noise; and keep the price down.
Profit pressures
Consolidation
Plant branding
Societal trends/Consumer preferences: less garden space/instant gratification; time scarcity/"make my life easier"; gardening it out/decorating is in; environmentalism has become "Main Streeted".
Lifestyle/shopping changes: greater emphasis on buying things versus buying experiences; cyberism and naturalism; "outdoor" living spaces.
Land use trends: reurbanization/greenbelts; urban villages; landscape restoration/rehabilitation; greening of cities and green building trend
Future individual business structural trends: service sector growth; labor productivity and availability; mechanization and regionalization; pressure: "green-friendly"; profitability
Association leaders engaged in dynamic discussion about the paradigm shift in association membership; a re-alignment around whom associations represent and serve; and how associations might deliver programs and services to better meet new expectations and attitudes. The group agreed that continued exploration of the challenges and opportunities of the changing green industry association was mission critical. The mission of the New England Nursery Association is to enhance the nursery industry network through education, support of state and national activities, and increased awareness of the value of nursery products and services.
11/26/2007
President’s Message:
Over the course of the last two years we have endeavored to get a better feeling for the needs of both the membership and the Association.
We conducted a survey of the entire membership, which identified several issues and clarified some important facts: our members want to be part of a team that is recognized, respected and helps them produce revenue.
It was also strikingly apparent our members felt ‘left-out’ of the loop when it came to decisions, industry trends and association news.
We attempted to set up a communication network between MeLNA members and the Executive Committee we called the Propagator’s Program. This was successful and well received to the extent the members wanted to contribute.
We have extended the newsletter publications to four issues a year. No easy task, but it means better communication and increased advertising revenue.
We have initiated an electronic bulletin which has been produced bi-weekly for the last several months notifying members of the latest news and upcoming events and also will serve as potential vehicle for advertising income.
We brought back the old twilight meetings, evenings of socializing and networking so popular two decades ago. These were fun, and again as successful as the number of individuals who participated.
We invited garden clubs and master gardeners form across the State to attend our Trade Show in January in an outreach effort to acquaint the public with the MeLNA and increase show revenue.
With permission from membership we borrowed revenue from a MeLNA CD to update our web-site. This is our first major attempt to publicize individual business members and the Association as well as increase income through advertising dollars. The new web—site will be set up to include news and information for the public (with retail advertising potential) and information for members only (wholesale advertising).
Much work has been done by independent committees to 1) preserve and protect the landscape design portion of our industry, 2) reorganize the by-laws to encourage member participation and 3) consolidate our mission statement.
Finally, a membership committee under my direction was established to review the dues structure to determine current status and define the necessary steps needed to move the Association forward.
We have received many suggestions and requests to improve visibility of the MeLNA and its members, expand advertising and reach out to the public. For the last two years we have developed avenues of improvement we felt would both promote the Association and increase revenue. I believe overtime these areas will significantly contribute to our ability to function as an association. Still, at this moment in our history as an organization, we find ourselves in a difficult financial position. This year we had to dip into our savings to make improvements to the web-site, we have had to cut back on contributions to education and research and limit the possibility of promoting ourselves and the Association. These are the basic requirements set forth by our founding members to serve the industry!
Quite simply, we have milked the old $75.00/member dues structure for so many years the economy has moved ahead of us and we can no longer meet expenses.
A dues increase is absolutely necessary, not as the sole contributor to income, but as the foundation upon which the entire system must rely. It should be equitable among the membership, based on the size of the business and its ability to contribute. And there must be tangible benefits available to all concerned.
While the concept of a dues increase may initially be hard to swallow, we have come to a point where it is necessary if the Association is to move forward. It needs to be done now, not over several years.
As usual, when there is an increase it is only natural to compare the new cost to the old cost. In this case, bear in mind we have restructured the system taking into account the size of the business member, which we feel is a more equitable approach. For years, the smaller businesses have essentially been carrying the greater load considering their ability to contribute.
We have also separated the Business Member from the Associate Business Member (employee), giving the Associate greater independence and the ability to vote and be recognized. It also gives us a clear record of business members and their approximate size.
Tangible benefits being considered include reduced advertising costs through improved MeLNA media, reduced vendor fees, improved buying power at member nurseries, improved insurance coverage with lower fees along with a host of benefits contributing to the big "Green Industry" picture.
The following dues structure has been approved by the Executive Committee to be presented for membership vote at the Annual Meeting. The appropriate level of membership within the Business category should be determined by the number of year-round and full time seasonal workers employed by a business. We welcome comments in advance. Most of all, we need your support.
Business (voting) 6 size levels $100-350
Associate (voting) 35
Contributing Business (non-voting) 250
Professional Affiliate (non-voting) 50
Student (non-voting) 20
Sincerely,
Stephen W. Elliott MCN/MCL
President MeLNA
11/26/2007
By-Laws Revision
A committee headed up by Mark Faunce has undertaken the difficult and lengthy task of drafting new bylaws for the Association. As soon as the final draft has been approved by the Executive Committee, members will receive a copy in plenty of time to review them before the Annual Meeting in January.
11/26/2007
November 26, 2007 — Next summer, the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) will join
Both OFA and ANLA have members whose business activities include landscape design/build and garden retailing as well as growing under glass, in containers, and in the field. “OFA has long supported ANLA’s government advocacy efforts which address issues like labor and immigration reform that affect both our memberships,” says Dwight Hughes, ANLA’s President. “We welcome this opportunity to work together and expose our leadership to the impressive education and trade show OFA puts on each year.”
Jonathan Bardzik
Director of Marketing and Industry Relations
American Nursery and Landscape Association
direct 202/789-5980, ext 3004
fx. 202/789-1893
email: jbardzik@anla.org
11/21/2007
Hospice of Southern Maine Receives Gift from the
Maine State Landscape and Nursery Association
Scarborough, ME
– The Maine State Landscape and Nursery Association awarded Hospice of Southern Maine an award of garden plantings for the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House valued at $13,000. Volunteers from garden centers and nurseries throughout the state came together to plant the garden beds throughout the driveway and front entrance of the Hospice House. The rain didn’t stop these volunteers from helping to make the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House a peaceful, comfortable place for terminally-ill patients and their families to spend their final days together.For many patients and families struggling with terminal illness, hospice is a compassionate answer to a sorrowful reality. It’s a form of palliative care for dying patients and their families that emphasizes physical and emotional comfort rather than aggressive curative treatment. It strengthens the patient’s role in make informed decisions, supports families, and is given in the least restrictive and technical setting possible.
Anyone diagnosed with a life limiting or terminal illness with a six-month prognosis has access to the Hospice Benefit. Once a patient is in the hospice program, an interdisciplinary professional healthcare team works to design the plan of care best suited to the choice of setting and the unique individual needs of the patient and family. Services include nursing, pain and symptom management, companionship and spiritual and bereavement counseling.
Hospice of Southern Maine is the first free-standing comprehensive hospice program in Maine entirely devoted to the single mission of providing needed end of life care.
Our mission is to improve the quality of life at the end of life.
• Comfort Care: To provide comprehensive hospice services through a licensed Medicare certified program, consisting of physical, emotional, and spiritual services to patients and their families in the most appropriate setting for the patient.
• A home away from home: To create an inpatient hospice facility to provide an alternative for those patients who are unable to remain in their home, who need residential care for acute pain and symptom management.
• Improvements in care: To promote better care for all patients with life-limiting or terminal illness by supporting the development of improved palliative care services in area healthcare settings.
• Education: To contribute to research and data collection aimed at improving end-of-life and palliative care, and to participate in educating practitioners and multidisciplinary caregivers.
• Community awareness and involvement: To support the community as a whole by fostering awareness, encouraging volunteerism, and advocating for an improved social framework regarding all end-of-life issues.
To learn more about Hospice of Southern Maine’s services, please call (207) 289-3640.
11/20/2007
Maine Board of Pesticides Control
Proposed Changes to Pesticide Regulations
We need your help! This is your chance to affect public policy. As always, itÌs important for the Board to hear your opinions and take them into account.
The Maine Board of Pesticides Control proposes to make the following changes to existing pesticide regulations:
REGULATION CHAPTERS WITH PROPOSED CHANGES
Chapter 10--Definitions and Terms: Amend the current rule to clarify the definition of pesticides to include genetically modified plants that produce pesticides.
· Chapter 26--Standards for Indoor Pesticide Applications and Notification for All Occupied Buildings Except K-12 Schools: Amend the current rule to exempt crack and crevice treatments from the notification requirements and modify the posting provisions.
· Chapter 29--Standards for Water Quality Protection: Amend the current rule to establish restrictions on pesticide applications to control browntail moths near marine waters and require an untreated 25-foot buffer zone for outdoor terrestrial broadcast pesticide applications near waters of the State.
· Chapter 41--Special Restrictions on Pesticide Use: Amend the current rule to include regulations that control the distribution and use of genetically modified plants that produce pesticides.
COPIES OF PROPOSED REGULATIONS
The proposed regulations may be viewed at www.thinkfirstspraylast.org/laws/rulemaking.htm , or copies may be obtained from Board of Pesticides Control office (see contact information below).
THERE ARE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS
· COMMENT AT THE PUBLIC HEARING
Date: Friday, November 16, 2007
Time: 9:30 am
Location:Colby/Thomas Room, Hampton Inn, <st1:Street w:st="on">425 Kennedy Memorial Drive , Waterville
· SUBMIT COMMENTS IN WRITING
Contact: Henry S. Jennings, Director
Maine Board of Pesticides Control
28 State House Station
Augusta , ME 04333-0028
Telephone: 207-287-2731
FAX: 207-624-5035
E-Mail: henry.jennings@maine.gov
Website: www.thinkfirstspraylast.org/laws/rulemaking.htm
DEADLINE FOR ALL COMMENTS
4:00 pm, Friday, November 30, 2007
Thank you for your help!
Gary Fish
Maine Board of Pesticides Control
Maine YardScaping Partnership
28 State House Station
Augusta ME 04333-0028
207-287-7545 Phone
207-624-5020 Fax
http://www.thinkfirstspraylast.org
http://www.YardScaping.org
11/20/2007
Greenhouse Growers IPM Survey
Results of the Maine Greenhouse Growers IPM Survey are IN! Thanks to the 100 growers that responded to the survey, we now have a better idea of the pest problems you face and the IPM practices you use. Thank you!
The results of the survey are posted at http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pi/horticulture/IPMSurvey.htm. The overwhelming majority of growers indicated an interest in joining with other growers during the season to share timely IPM information and demonstrate IPM practices. Therefore, the Maine Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with Cooperative Extension, plans to offer a pilot program in Spring '08. Growers will be offered the opportunity to meet at a different location each week to share timely IPM information with one another and learn up-to-date IPM practices such as the use of beneficials and IPM record-keeping.
For more information or to sign up for this program, please contact Kathy Murray (kathy.murray@maine.gov or 287-7616).
11/20/2007
OHC Update
On September 10th, the Ornamental Horticulture Council met for the first time of the 07/08 season. tish carr took the reigns as our new president, and Steve Palmer took over as our new secretary. It was with great regret that we accepted the resignation of Cathy Hebert as our treasurer. Cathy will be leaving OHC to focus on her business and her family. We will all miss her and the fantastic job she has done for us. Robin Jordan graciously agreed to take over the checkbook. Steve Palmer will stay on as our Farm Bureau representative for the coming year. Jesse O’Brien, Lois Stack, and Clark Grainger will serve as our AgCOM representatives this year. We are very grateful for the efforts of these members, and all the folks who work to advance the mission of OHC!
After all of the administrative work was finished we discussed the issues that we’ll focus on for the coming season.
Horticulture as Agriculture has been on the slate for several years now, and has always fallen under the legislative axe in one way or another. It was decided that we would tackle this very important issue again, but not until the 2008 legislative session. We discussed some of the potential future concerns where it would be beneficial to have horticulture included in the definition of agriculture, and decided to invite Jeff O’Donal, Ned Porter, and John Olson to our next meeting to discuss a different approach to the issue to see if we can get it passed once and for all!
The recent attempt to ban the use of phosphorus containing fertilizers brought to light the importance of prudent phosphorus application, and the fact that our industry needs to continue to take the lead on educating the consumer as to when an application of P is or isn’t appropriate. We decided that the issue would best be addressed in a workshop fashion, much like the one we had last year on terrestrial invasive plants. Look for more information on the workshop this coming winter.
And speaking of terrestrial invasive plants, the Maine Legislature put forth a resolve in the last session directing the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture to form a stakeholder group to develop a list of criteria for identifying potential terrestrial invasive plants. I am representing OHC and MELNA on this panel. A public meeting was held in September to gather input from interested parties. There were about twenty people in attendance, and many different views on the issue were presented. The first meeting of the Stakeholder group will take place on October 18th. Our charge is not to come up with a list of plants to ban from importation or sale, but to develop a set of criteria for determining if a particular plant has the potential to be invasive.
For more information on the Ornamental Horticulture Council visit www.ohcmaine.com
Mark Faunce
11/20/2007
AgJobs Progress
On November 5, the full Senate began its consideration of the Farm Bill. Senate leaderships goal is that this will be a two week process, with introduction of the main package and primary amendments this week. The Senate will then likely table the bill to consider other legislation later in the week, and return to the Farm Bill for a full week of debate next week. ANLA, through its participation in the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, has worked diligently to ensure that specialty crops (including nursery and greenhouse crops) are recognized in our nation’s primary legislative expression of agricultural policy. Over $2.2 billion in resources have been allocated to specialty crops in the Agriculture Committee’s reported package to the full Senate.
The Farm Bill has been widely publicized as a potential legislative vehicle for the AgJOBS bill. Over the past several weeks, Sen. Dianne Feinstein has been working her colleagues and gauging support. On Friday she made a decision (announced yesterday) not to offer AgJOBS on the farm bill. While support is broad, there are a number of "friends of AgJOBS" on both sides of the aisle who have strongly opposed adding it to the Farm bill because they also have deep interest in the farm programs contained within the Farm bill. Such "opponents in the moment" include, notably, Agriculture Committee chairman Tom Harkin, who will be managing the Farm Bill on the floor. Harkin has pledged his support for AgJOBS, just not on his fragile bill…
Feinstein, in a press release announcing her decision, stated "Unfortunately, many of our supporters believe they cannot support AgJOBS on the Farm bill. So after numerous meetings and discussions, we have decided not to endanger the broad support for AgJOBS by taking a non-representative vote on the Farm bill." Feinstein has undoubtedly gotten commitments from various lawmakers to secure their support as she looks at another way to move the issue forward. Meanwhile, the green industry deserves major kudos for generating thousands of grassroots emails and calls on the issue. Those messages have helped to counteract blistering attacks by anti-immigrant forces.
On that note, the anti-immigration Center for Immigration Studies yesterday released a carefully-timed study that attempts to state that there is no labor shortage affecting agriculture, and that all employers need to do to is mechanize, or raise wages. We’ve worked with the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform to post a rebuttal. Visit www.anla.org and look under What’s New to see the rebuttal. We’ll keep you posted on what’s next on pending immigration reforms including AgJOBS and H2B.
As we reported in the last edition of Update, there are several key green industry priorities contained in the Farm Bill package. Among our priorities are significant research dollars for pest and disease prevention and detection; the reauthorization of programs to address phytosanitary and technical trade barriers that threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops; the creation of a National Clean Plant Network, which will set up centers around the country to conduct diagnostic and pathogen elimination services to ensure that nurseries can provide safe, virus-free plant materials to other growers; and the authorization of a specialty crop research initiative at USDA through the Agriculture Research Service to focus on plant breeding, invasive species, mechanization and food safety.
The Farm bill floor debate offers the possibility of amendments regarding other priorities for growers, as well as other amendments that may have nothing to do with the American farm. All that said, it remains to be seen whether the Farm bill itself will actually pass. There are sharp party and regional differences over competing proposals, and the White House has issued a veto threat against the Senate version. Stay tuned, as we will continue to update you on the status of provisions relevant to the green industry as things unfold.
Craig J. Regelbrugge
Co-Chair, Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform
Vice President of Government Relations and Research
American Nursery & Landscape Association
1000 Vermont Ave. NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20005
202/789-2900 | 202/741-4851 direct
202/425-4401 cell | 202/789-1893 fax
cregelbrugge@anla.org
11/12/2007
MeLNA Annual Trade Show and Conference
Tuesday, January 22, 2008, Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine
~ Morning Schedule ~
7:30 am - 8:30 am Main lobby, registration.
Morning refreshments in auditorium. Exhibitor viewing now and throughout the day.
Music in the auditorium.
8:30 am - 10:00 am Cumberland Room, First Floor to the left
President’s Welcome , General Session and Annual Business Meeting (8:30 - 9: 45am)
Election of Officers, Present nominations for Executive Committee - Steve Elliott
Budget approval - Roger Roberge
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Break, coffee in main auditorium, exhibitor viewing. Music.
10:30 am - Noon: Key Note Speaker Cumberland Room, First Floor to the left
Rick Dark, Grasses and the Design of Livable Landscapes. Book signing to follow on the trade show floor.
~ Afternoon Schedule ~
Noon to 12:30 pm
Book signing, Rick Darke, vendor viewing, book sales.12:30 to 1:30 pm Lunch & Awards ACP Room, 2nd floor, North wing
Exhibits in main auditorium will close from 12:30 until 1:00 pm. Music during this time.
Awards Ceremony
Recognition Awards presentation
Young Nurseryman of the Year Award
MeLNA Scholarship presentations
Al Black Award
Charity Workshop Presentation
Certification Recognition
Door Prize Drawing
1:00 - 1:30 Vendor viewing, Maine auditorium
1:30 - 2:30 Paul Tukey, Organic Lawn Care from the Trade Perspective, ACP Room, 2nd floor, North wing
2:30 - 3:00 Book signing, Paul Tukey, book sales. Exhibitor viewing, break with afternoon coffee and munchies
Drawing for door prizes, must be present to win. Maine auditorium.
3:00 - 4:00 pm John Entwistle, Maine Small Business Development Center, Managing Cashflow ACP Room, 2nd floor, North wing
3:00 - 4:00 pm Bob Laroche, Maine Department of Transportation, Want to Work for the State? Cumberland Room
3:00 - 4:00 pm Jim Dill, Electronic Jeopardy, 1 pesticide credit, location to be determined
Chair of the MeLNA Annual Trade Show and Conference, Gretchen Richards announces the following fantastic line up of speakers and topics:
Grasses and the Design of Livable Landscapes - Rick Darke
Durably dramatic and luminously responsive, grasses are playing increasing roles in truly sustainable landscapes that blend fine design with conservation ethics. Award-winning author, photographer and designer Rick Darke will highlight the pallet, purpose, and promise of grasses, sedges, and rushes and will discuss their use in gardens and shared landscapes.
BIO
Rick Darke is a contextual design consultant, author, photographer and internationally recognized authority on the use of grasses and their relatives in public and private landscapes. Darke has authored and illustrated multiple award-winning books including The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses and The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest. His latest and most comprehensive work, The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes includes over 1000 of his photos of grasses in diverse landscapes around the world. Formerly Curator of Plants at Longwood Gardens, Rick travels extensively in both hemispheres in search of ideas to enrich North American gardens. Further information is available at www.rickdarke.com
How to Capitalize on the Unavoidable Organic Tidalwave - Paul Tukey
Join America's 2006 Gardening Communicator of the Year for a lively discussion of the "green" issues facing the green industry, including new laws and regulations, as well as consumer demands. All indications are that - this time around - going organic is more than a fad. Here's how to meet consumer demand and expectations and still get the job done.
BIO
America's 2006 Horticultural Communicator of the Year, Paul Tukey is the founding editor and publisher of People, Places & Plants magazine and author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual (Storey Books, 2007). The companion DVD Making the Organic Lawn Care Transition recently received the Garden Writers of America Award for Best Electronic Media of 2007. Tukey has won numerous other awards, including the 2006 Horticultural Communicator of the Year Award from the American Horticultural Society and the Silver Medal of Honor from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for his contributions to regional horticulture. His 46 episode HGTV show - also called People, Places & Plants - has just been released worldwide as a boxed set of DVDs from Image Entertainment. As SafeLawns spokesperson, Tukey is a frequent public speaker on the subjects of gardening, grounds maintenance and environmental awareness.
Working for Maine DOT: How to Get Started - Bob RaRoche
Ever thought about working for the MaineDOT, but didn’t know how to start? Robert LaRoche, Supervisor of Landscape Architecture for the MaineDOT will go over how to get started working for the State. Bob will explain the registration process, types of contracts, requirements, bonds, payroll, licenses, DBE, bidding, MaineDOT;s Standard Specifications and other information.
BIO
Robert LaRoche is the Supervisor of Landscape Architecture at the Maine Department of Transportation where he has worked for 14 years. He oversees the design, installation and maintenance of roadside plantings among other duties. Prior to going to work for MaineDOT, Robert worked for various landscape contracting firms from Maine to California. Robert is a Maine Licensed Landscape Architect. He holds a BS in Landscape Contracting from Mississippi State University and an MS in Business from Husson College.
Managing Cash Flow - John Entwistle
Questions encouraged.
BIO
John Entwistle is a Certified Senior Business Counselor and Center Director for the Maine SBDC Service Center in Portland which administrates the SBDC program in Cumberland and York counties. Mr.Entwistle also serves as Assistant State Director for the state-wide Maine SBDC program working on information technology issues, the New England Products Trade Show, the Rural Micro-enterprise Assistance
Program, and other special projects. Entwistle's career has included business ownership, business counseling, as well as, significant experience in writing and speaking on small business issues. John has owned and operated businesses in both the food service and small boat-building sectors.
Mr. Entwistle's articles on small business job creation and the benefits of the Maine SBDC program have been published in a variety of journals and magazines including Downeast Magazine and Maine Business Indicators.
He served as a reviewer for the highly acclaimed guide to entrepreneurship, The Real World Entrepreneur Field Guide, published in 1999.
In addition to these great presenters, there have been two new twists added to this years events. Since we have such a huge auditorium, with lots of space we thought we’d fill that space up with more for you to look at and enjoy. We have invited Maine artists to set up displays of their botanical and landscape themed work. Their work will be for sale, and you will also have the opportunity to vote a People’s Choice Award for the best work.
The second surprise involves music and we’ll not divulge anymore than that. Come ready to have some fun!
Electronic Jeopardy - Jim Dill, 1 pesticide credit
11/11/2007
'Mission Statement' Committee Gets the Gold Star
Many thanks go out to Karen Henderson, Judy Johnson and Susan Babb for volunteering time and knowledge to help develop an inclusive, comprehensive Mission Statement which we believe represents the original intentions of the MeLNA founding members and accurately
defines our direction for the future.
Careful consideration was given to our 'old Mission Statement' as well as examples form other horticultural, landscape and nursery associations from across the country.
These three women are an excellent example of how a volunteer committee should work. They met, put their heads together, produced results and passed it on to the Executive Committee for adjustments and final approval. thank you ladies! Great job, we appreciate your efforts!
Here is the new statement:
Established in 1970, the Maine Landscape and Nursery Association (MeLNA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and promotion of its members throughout the industry, including financial support of secondary horticultural education and product research, website connectivity, media representation, and a professional certification program.
The Association monitors and acts upon legislation applicable to the horticultural industry and relate businesses for the State of Maine.
A standard of excellence shall be fostered through networking, influence by experienced members and opportunities for continuing education
10/22/2007
MeLNA 2007 Charity Project
List of volunteers and donations
Hospice House of Southern Maine
Scarborough, Maine
Ellen Klain---Ellen Klain Landscape Gardener, Falmouth
Jeff O’Donal---O’Donal’s, Gorham. Donated: 2 Acer 2", 3 Clethra and 4 Cornus
Edith Ellis---Sunnyside Gardens in Turner. Donated 7 Sedum
Sandra Trundy---Roundabout in Buckfield
Doug Bogdan---Naples
Ken MacKenzie & Bud Churchill from MacKenzie Landscaping & Stone Center in Winslow. Donated skid steer and excavator time.
Melissa MacWilliams, Jennifer Ettinger, Elaine Goucher and Michele Cloutier from Twinscapes in Limington. Weeders extraordinaire!
Jeff Horton from Horticultural Resource in Gray. Donated 12 Barberry, 2 Ilex and 2 Juniper.
Mark Faunce from McHutchison in Limington.
Nate Greene + 1 from Greene Landscapes in Cape Elizabeth
Ross Hopkins & Andrew Fraser from Maine Turf & Greenery in Scarborough.
Robin Struck, Justin Olson, Justin Partridge, Dwayne Kuse and Scott Struck from D. R. Struck Landscape Nursery in Winthrop. Donated 35 juniper, 11 Veronica and 7 Crataegus.
Johnson Farms in New Jersey donated 51 grasses.
MB Bark in Auburn donated 20 yards of bark mulch.
Van Berkum Nursery in Deerfield, NH donated 26 Achillea, 13 Astilbe and 6 Sedum.
Pierson Nurseries in Biddeford donated 7 Acer 2", 3 Clethra and 5 Prunus cistena.
Thank you for your generous time and donations for such a worthy cause!
Great job!
Robin
09/04/2007
NEW IPM RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECTS FUNDED IN THE NORTHEAST
The Northeastern IPM Center recently awarded 29 grants through the Northeast Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program and the IPM Partnership Grants Program, totaling more than $1 million. Both programs focus on addressing real-world IPM challenges through research, outreach, and education.
Northeast Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program
The Northeast Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program supports projects that develop individual pest control tactics, integrate tactics into IPM systems, or develop and implement extension and education programs. The program favors projects that address IPM stakeholder priorities, benefit the northeastern region, involve environmental stewardship, and show a high likelihood of success. In fiscal year 2007, the program has awarded approximately $575,000 to support seven projects (project leaders and institutions shown parenthetically).
• Predicting Inoculum Availability for Peach Scab: Development and Validation of a Forecasting Model (Norman Lalancette, Rutgers Univ.)
• Development and Implementation of Novel Trapping Systems for Monitoring Cranberry Fruitworm and Cranberry Weevil Populations (Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Rutgers Univ.)
• Integrated Management and Resistance Management of Annual Bluegrass Weevil on Golf Course Turf (Richard Cowles, Connecticut Ag. Experiment Sta.)
• Integrated Pest Management to Control Vector Ticks on Public Lands (George Hamilton, Rutgers Univ.)
• Immune Status of Lambs, Born of Protein-Supplemented Periparturient Ewes and Creep-Grazed in Spring, Against Haemonchus contortus (William Bryan, West Virginia Univ.)
• Developing a Decision Framework that Optimizes Cover Crop Integration for Weed Suppression in Northeast Cropping Systems (William Curran, Penn State Univ.)
• An Integrated Approach for Enhanced Soil Fertility, Improved Plant Health and Suppression of Plant Diseases and Pests (Stellos Tavantzis, Univ. of Maine)
IPM Partnership Grants Program
The IPM Partnership Grants Program helps the Northeastern IPM Center serve as a regional focal point for collaboration, communication, and stakeholder participation in fostering the development and adoption of IPM. In fiscal year 2007, this program has awarded more than $500,000 in grants to 22 project directors. Some of these grant recipients are carrying out multiple projects, with a total of 27 funded projects falling into six project types that address or identify regional IPM priorities in different ways.
IPM Working Groups identify and prioritize IPM needs relating to specific crop types or IPM settings:
• Community IPM Working Group (Lynn Braband, Cornell Univ., with Mary Kay Malinoski, Univ. of Maryland)
• Red Tomato IPM Working Group: Communicating IPM Benefits to Consumers (Michael Rozyne, Red Tomato, Inc.)
• Vegetable IPM Working Group (Ruth Hazzard, Univ. of Massachusetts)
IPM Priorities projects address important IPM research or extension issues identified throughout the region:
• A Partnership for Developing IPM Protocols for Bed Bug Management (Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, Cornell Univ.)
• Guardian Plant Systems for Greenhouse Integrated Pest Management (Carol Glenister, IPM Laboratories, Inc.)
• Fostering IPM as a Resource Conservation Practice in Collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (Ruth Hazzard, Univ. of Massachusetts)
Regional IPM Publications promote IPM implementation by sharing information:
• Developing a Fungicide Resistance Management Guide for Vegetable Growers in the Mid-Atlantic Region (Andy Wyenandt, Rutgers Univ.)
• Web-based Vegetable IPM Resource Database; Northeast Vegetable and Strawberry Pest Identification Supplement (Ruth Hazzard, Univ. of Massachusetts)
• Production of IPM In and Around the Home –– Northeast Guidelines (Jennifer Grant, Cornell Univ.)
• Development of a Pest Identification and IPM Manual for Christmas Tree Growers and Conifer Producers in New York and New England (Elizabeth Lamb, Cornell Univ.)
• Web-Based IPM Insect Guide for Arborists (Christopher M. Donnelly, Connecticut Ag. Expt. Station)
IPM Planning and Assessment Documents help agencies and IPM practitioners assess the status of pest management for a given crop or setting and describe practices that growers and others can follow to implement IPM.
• IPM Tactics Survey for Ornamentals; Ongoing Crop Profile Updates; Green Pepper Pest Management Strategic Plan (PMSP) for Delaware, Eastern Shore Maryland, and New Jersey (Susan Whitney King, Univ. of Delaware)
• IPM Tactics Survey for Christmas Tree; Peppers PMSP for New England (James Dill, Univ. of Maine)
• Raspberry Crop Profile for New England (Sonia Schloemann, Univ. of Massachusetts)
State Network Projects inform federal and state regulatory agencies about IPM tactics used in each state, and maintain websites and advisory committees to provide links among IPM-related groups in their states. Seven state networks were funded, covering all 12 states in the region: New England (James Dill, Univ. of Maine), Delaware (Susan Whitney King, Univ. of Delaware), Maryland (Amy Brown, Univ. of Maryland), New Jersey (George Hamilton, Rutgers Univ.), New York (Harvey Reissig, Cornell Univ.), Pennsylvania (Kerry Hoffman-Richards, Pennsylvania State Univ.), and West Virginia (John Baniecki, West Virginia Univ.). Links to each of these networks can be found online at http://northeastipm.org/about.cfm#program.
IPM Minigrants provide funds for brief IPM tasks and projects that fit the mission of the Northeastern IPM Center:
• Surveying and Identifying Thrips Species in Vegetable Crops Throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region (Gerald Brust, Univ. of Maryland)
• Holding a Working Group Meeting for Setting Objectives for Wireworm IPM in the Mid-Atlantic States (George Hamilton, Rutgers Univ.)
• IPM Education and Outreach in a Latino Urban Community (Anne Rahn, The Preschool Project: An Early Childhood Resource Center [PA])
• Season-long Use of Horticultural Oil on Vinifera Grapevines (Alice Wise, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Suffolk County)
• Lily Host Resistance to Lily Leaf Beetle, Lilioceris lilii (Eleanor Groden, Univ. of Maine)
• Dissemination and Vectoring of the Fire Blight Pathogen (Erwinia amylovora) by Potato Leafhopper (Empoasca fabae) (Kathleen Leahy, Polaris Orchard Management [MA])
• Identification Guide to Crane Fly (Insecta: Diptera: Tipulidae) Pests of Turfgrass in the Eastern U.S. (Jon Gelhaus, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia)
More details about these grants programs and specific projects will be available on the http://NortheastIPM.org website. The Northeastern IPM Center will release the Requests for Applications for 2008 grants programs this fall.
08/13/2007
Hemlocks
Changes to the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) quarantine went into effect August 5, 2007. To view an updated version of the HWA quarantine visit our website at: www.maine.gov/agriculture/pi/laws.htm
If you have any questions please contact Ann Gibbs at 207-287-3891 or email ann.gibbs@maine.gov
08/12/2007
• NEW U.S. RULES WILL REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO DISMISS THOSE WITH BAD SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS. The federal Department of Homeland Security could issue the regulation as early as today to take effect within 30 days. When an employer receives a letter from Social Security warning that an employee’s number doesn’t match, the employer will have 60 days to correct the error, or be required to fire the employee. A fine up to $10,000 could be levied against the employer who knowingly retains and hires illegal immigrants. “We are tough and we are going to be even tougher,” a DHS official boasted to the news media this week. CNLA has always recommended that companies immediately notify the employee of a social security mismatch letter. Often, that employee flees the next day as the law catches up to them, causing a huge burden to a company that values the employee and that has spent much time training the worker.
08/12/2007
• WESTON NURSERIES EMERGED FROM BANKRUPTCY THIS WEEK after the Court approved a reorganization plan that would pay creditors 100 cents on the dollar. The Hopkinton, MA-based nursery supplier will now be owned by Wayne Mezitt. The 85-year-old business sold 709 acres of its land to Boulder Capital, a prominent real estate development firm, and in a second deal, the Town of Ashland chose to exercise its Chapter 61A rights and purchased approximately 33 acres of land from the company. The company will stay open supplying plants to garden centers, landscapers, and commercial businesses.
