March 2016 - The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals

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Month: March 2016

Senator Inhofe Admonishes EPA on Neonics

Last week, U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla), chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, sent a letter to Jim Jones, assistant administrator of the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), expressing concern with a series of risk assessments being conducted on neonicotinoid insecticides known as “neonics.”

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Neonicotinoids Acknowledged As Valuable to Save Trees

By a unanimous vote last week, the Duluth City Council resolved to stop using neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics)  on city property and instructed staff members to do their best to steer clear of plants that have been treated with the insecticide. However, councilors offered one exception — authorizing the use of neonicotinoids to protect high-value ash […]

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First Half of H-2B Cap Reached

Last week, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a statement indicating that they had “received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the first half of Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. March 15, 2016 was the final receipt date for new H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date […]

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OSHA Issues New Silica Rules

Last week the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued new rules related to silica which could impact any landscape companies that drill, cut, crush, or grind silica-containing materials such as concrete and stone, and requires controls to keep workers from breathing silica dust. OSHA indicated that they issued the rule to curb lung cancer, […]

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National Collegiate Landscape Competition Winners Announced

On Saturday morning, after days of competition, testing, and meetings with recruiters, the winners of the 40th National Collegiate Landscape Competition were announced. Though this really is the type of event where everyone walks away a winner…

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IGI Seeks NALP Members to Help Fill Two Media Opportunities

NALP’s new Industry Growth Initiatiave, has recently connected many program supporters and NALP members with national media opportunities including interviews with HGTV, REALTOR.com, House Logic, Midwest Living, etc.  There are two opportunities that currently need industry representation:

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Overtime Legislation Introduced

NALP lobbying to oppose the overtime legislation has paid off. Introduced on March 17, Senators Scott (R-SC) and Alexander (R-TN) and Representatives Walberg (R-MI) and Kline (R-MN) introduced the Protecting Workplace Advancement and Opportunity Act (S.2707 and H.R 4773) that will ensure the Department of Labor pursues a balanced and responsible approach to updating federal […]

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New Research Shows Neonics Pose Little Threat to Bees

In the recent Urban Forestry Today Webcast “Neonicotinoids, Bees, and Urban Trees: The Controversy Defined” Richard S. Cowles of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station examined claims that neonicotinoids are directly linked to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). His conclusion, when it comes to honey bee stressors was that “neonicotinoids are almost insignificant. There are many, many […]

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National Collegiate Landscape Competition Heads to Mississippi

The National Collegiate Landscape Competition (formerly Student Career Days) is heading back to the place where it all began 40 years ago, Mississippi State University, March 16-19. This time there are 60 schools instead of 5, more than 700 students, and more than nearly 100 landscape companies and industry manufacturers who will interact with the […]

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Portland, Maine to Review Pesticide Ordinance

As previously reported, several communities in Maine are currently discussing ordinances to restrict or ban pesticides. The latest is the City of Portland which recently announced that their Energy & Sustainability Committee will review the language of a draft ordinance that is under consideration in the neighboring community of South Portland. The committee next meets […]

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