Growing Stronger
As
we step into 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on the past year and express my gratitude to each of you for your dedication to the nursery and landscape industry. Our community continues to grow stronger, and your commitment ensures that we remain a thriving and resilient association.
The recent MANTS Trade Show was a tremendous success! It was inspiring to see so many of you there, reconnecting with old friends, forging new partnerships, and exploring innovative trends and products that will shape the future of our industry. Your enthusiasm and participation are what make events like MANTS a valuable experience year after year.
One of the highlights of the event was our Annual Breakfast Meeting. Gathering together to discuss industry developments, share insights, and celebrate our collective achievements is always a rewarding experience. The exchange of ideas and camaraderie in that room reinforced the importance of coming together as a professional community.
This year, we also take a moment to honor the passing of Jeff Miller, a cherished member of our VNLA family for over three decades. Jeff’s contributions to our industry and his unwavering dedication to our association will be deeply missed. His legacy will continue to inspire us all, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.
I am also pleased to share that VNLA remains financially sound, with a larger-than-anticipated MANTS dividend the past several years. This financial strength enables us to continue providing valuable resources, support, and opportunities for our members, ensuring that we can further our mission and sustain the growth of our industry.
It has also been a busy legislative year, and I want to extend a special thank you to Hellebush Consulting for their invaluable guidance and support. Their expertise has been instrumental in helping us navigate key policy issues affecting our industry.
Looking ahead, VNLA remains committed to supporting our members through education, advocacy, and networking opportunities. We are also excited for our upcoming Field Day at Cross Creek Nursery in Rockville, Virginia. Our Field Day Committee has been working hard to ensure a fantastic event filled with valuable learning and networking opportunities. We encourage you to stay engaged, participate in upcoming events, and continue to share your experiences and expertise with one another. Your involvement is what makes our association strong.
Thank you for being an essential part of VNLA. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to all our board members for generously donating their time and expertise to support our mission. I look forward to another year of growth and success together. If you have any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions on how we can better serve you, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Wishing you a prosperous and fulfilling 2025!
Sincerely,
Warner Winthrop President, Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association
The LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
2025 General Assembly Session began on Monday, January 14, following a brief pause due to the water crisis in the City of Richmond and adjourned Saturday, February 22. Legislators will return April 2 for the Reconvened Session, more commonly known as “Veto” Session, a one-day session to consider all amendments and vetoes sent down from the Governor.
Upon adjournment of the 2025 Virginia General Assembly, Speaker of the House Don Scott called for a Special Session on a date to be specified to address the recent federal actions, impacting federal jobs and spending reductions. VNLA will of course provide updates as items impact the green industry.
The Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association (VNLA) remains committed to uniting the green industry and advocating on your behalf before the Virginia General Assembly. We actively track legislation that impacts our industry and work to ensure your interests are represented.
Among the hundreds of bills under consideration, the VNLA remained highly focused on the return of the invasive species retail sales legislation. During the 2024 General Assembly, the VNLA successfully negotiated compromise language on this legislation, only for it to be vetoed by Governor Youngkin. We continued to monitor developments closely and advocate for a balanced solution. A summary of key bills is included below.
As previously stated, the VNLA participated in discussions throughout last year’s session and in the off session with stakeholders to come up with a compromise bill.
We recognize the importance of educating consumers regarding ALL plants, including those on the DCR invasive plant list for outdoor use, and encouraging consumers to learn about alternative plants to explore.
These bills remove the $500 civil penalty that was included last year.
Both bills specify individual plants from the DCR invasive species plant lists rather than referencing the entire list.
The bills also allow for the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to work with the Virginia Invasive Species Working Group to designate the format, size, and content of signage used to identify the plant as invasive on the DCR list.
The group will work to do so by October 1, 2025.
Both bills also include a delayed enactment date of January 1, 2027, as a result of the feedback from our membership. VNLA advocated for this delayed enactment date to accommodate the growing season for our members who have made investments and growing decisions.
Finally, VNLA engaged in discussion surrounding non-fertile cultivars and the invasive plant species which are enumerated in the legislation.
The VNLA expresses our appreciation to Del. Seibold, Sen. Salim and our fellow stakeholders for working together to find a product we can all support and looks forward to this legislation moving through the legislative process.
House Bill 1941 and Senate Bill 1166 are now on their way to the office of Governor Youngkin. The Governor has until March 24th to take action on all pieces of legislation, including House Bill 1941 and Senate Bill 1166, which passed this session. “Veto” Session is scheduled for April 2, 2025. •
This year’s House Bill 1941 and Senate Bill 1166 require, for the retail sale of certain invasive plant species for outdoor use, a retail establishment to post in a conspicuous manner on the property located in proximity to each invasive plant signage identifying such plant as invasive, educating consumers regarding invasive plant species, and encouraging consumers to ask about alternatives. The bill requires the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services to designate the format, size, and content of such signage no later than October 1, 2025, and requires the Commissioner to issue a stop sale order and mark or tag a plant in a conspicuous manner when an invasive plant is for sale at a retail establishment without appropriate signage. In such case, the bill requires the Commissioner to give written notice of a finding made to the owner, tenant, or person in charge of such retail establishment and requires the stop sale order issued to remain in effect until the required signage is posted.
House Bill 2464 requires the Commonwealth Transportation Board to establish and implement a policy for identifying, digging up, and destroying any invasive plant on the list of invasive plants created by the Department of Conservation and Recreation on any state highway right-of-way.
The VNLA was supportive of this legislation, which would have removed invasive plant species from state highway rights-of-way and was willing to lend its expertise to aid the Commonwealth Transportation Board in creating a policy no longer to plant invasive species along highway rights-of-way. However, the bill failed to progress past subcommittee. •
The VNLA sent an email to all mem bers with information from the Vir ginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) upcoming expansion the Virginia Imported Fire Ant Quarantine in May 2025. The counties of Ches terfield, Lee, Nottoway, Pittsylva nia, Prince George, and Surry and the independent cities of Colonial Heights, Danville, Hopewell, and Petersburg will be added to the reg ulated areas under the Virginia Im ported Fire Ant Quarantine.
You may recall the first fire ant infes tation was detected in the Common wealth of Virginia in 1989. In 2009, the fire ant quarantine was estab lished in Virginia and included much of the tidewater area. From 2017 to 2022 survey data indicated fire ants were spreading, and the quarantine was expanded in 2019 and again in 2022. The current quarantine covers 12 counties and 11 independent cit ies in the southeast and central part of the state.
See page 14 to view the VDACS no tice regarding the expanded fire ant quarantine and a map indicating where the quarantine bounds will be expanded to in late May of 2025.
Discover Diversity
Discover
2025 VNLA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
We welcome our new 2025 VNLA Board of Directors.
• President – Warner Winthrop, Bartlett Trees Experts
• Vice President – Cameron Stanley, The Gardner Nursery
• Secretary/Treasurer – Tye Saunders, Saunders Brothers
• Immediate Past President – Jason Stern, Stern Horticultural Sales
• Director – Robin McCall, Williams Brothers
• Director – Neal Beasley, The Timmons Group
• Director – Matt Berry, Dos Amigos
• Director – Donna Burgan, James River Nurseries
• Director – Joshua Wisniewski, Coastal Landscapes
• Director – Mark McAuliffe, Cross Creek Nursery & Landscaping
• Ex-officio – Laurie Fox, Hampton Roads AREC
• Ex-officio – Karen Stretchko, Reynolds Community College
We are excited to launch our new membership database soon, making it easier for members to access key resources and enhance their experience. Planning is also well underway for our 2025 Field Day, where we’re working closely with host Mark McAuliffe of Cross Creek Nursery and our dedicated committee to create an engaging and valuable program.
Mark your calendars—we now have Field Day dates set through 2027 and look forward to sharing more details soon!
July 31 – August 1, 2025 Cross Creek Nursery – Rockville, VA
July 30 – 31, 2026
July 29 – 30, 2027
Furthermore, under the leadership of VCH Chair Neal Beasley, we are undertaking a comprehensive revision of the VNLA VCH study manual, materials, and exam. These updates will add greater value to the VCH credential by expanding areas of study to include business and production, ensuring a well-rounded foundation for industry professionals across various roles.
We look forward to sharing these exciting developments with you soon!
Field Day Committee: Cameron Stanley, Laurie Fox, Donna Burgan, Mark McAuliffe, and Becky Hall
VCH Committee: Neil Beasley, Robin McCall, Mark McAuliffe, Joshua Wisniewski, and Katie Hellebush
Thank you to all our leaders and volunteers! We appreciate you!
AWARDS UPDATE
We were honored to present three awards this year during the Annual Membership Breakfast at MANTS, recognizing outstanding contributions to the nursery and landscape industry.
Neal Beasley received the Environmental Steward Award for his forward-thinking approach, dedication to the industry, and commitment to environmental care and stewardship. His leadership, innovation, and enthusiasm continue to make a lasting impact.
Christopher Brown, Jr. was named Young Professional of the Year in recognition of his exceptional achievements and industry involvement beyond his daily role. His leadership and innovative thinking have been instrumental in the success of Lancaster Farms.
Mary Petres was awarded Distinguished Professional of the Year for her outstanding service, leadership, and dedication to advancing the nursery and landscape industry.
Additionally, we recognized Jason Stern for his leadership and dedicated service as President of the VNLA in 2024.
VNLA at MANTS
Held on January 8–10, 2025, the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) hosted more than 900 exhibitors and over 10,000 attendees! VNLA was well represented in both categories. Take a look at some snapshots from this extraordinary event!
Virginia Nursery & Landscape
Dear VNLA Members:
The purpose of this letter is to notify you that the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) will be expanding the Virginia Imported Fire Ant Quarantine (2 VAC 5-315) in late May 2025. The counties of Chesterfield, Lee, Nottoway, Pittsylvania, Prince George, and Surry and the independent cities of Colonial Heights, Danville, Hopewell, and Petersburg will be added to the regulated areas under the Virginia Imported Fire Ant Quarantine.
Survey data gathered by VDACS indicates that imported fire ant populations increased and have become established, despite mound treatments by VDACS staff and its contractor. The inclusion of the listed counties will be necessary to prevent the artificial spread of this insect pest. VDACS is providing industry and impacted stakeholders advanced notice of the expansion so the nursery industry and other impacted stakeholders can prepare for the regulation of regulated articles, which will require inspection, certification and treatments to meet the requirements of the state and federal imported fire ant quarantines. VDACS will provide another notification at the time the quarantine is expanded, at which time VDACS will request that the USDA also expand the Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine to include these localities.
Regulated articles which are prohibited from movement outside of the quarantine include:
• Any life stage of imported fire ant,
• Soil, except soil shipped in original containers after commercial preparation,
• Plants with roots with soil attached and rhizomes with soil attached,
• Grass sod,
• Used soil-moving equipment unless free of all non-compacted soil,
• Used farm equipment, unless free of all non-compacted soil,
• Hay and straw stored in direct contact with the ground,
• Honey bee hives stored in direct contact with the ground, and
• Logs and pulpwood with soil attached.
Additional information on the Virginia Imported Fire Ant Quarantine can be found at https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industry-services-fire-ant-suppressioneand-eradication.shtml.
Information on the federal imported fire ant quarantine can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/ifa.
To begin the process to establish a compliance agreement with VDACS to facilitate the movement of regulated articles, please contact complianceagreements@vdacs.virginia.gov.
Please reference the provided map identifying the localities that will be included in the Virginia Imported Fire Ant Quarantine in late May 2025.
Please contact me at (804) 786-5525 or David.Gianino@vdacs.virginia.gov if there is any other information that you require.
Sincerely,
David Gianino Program Manager Office of Plant Industry Services
•
•
(IC)
• Lee County
• Nottoway County
• Petersburg (IC)
• Pittsylvania County
• Prince George County
• Surry County
• Colonial Heights (IC)
• Hopewell (IC)
