The Scoop - September 2023

CONTENTS

IN THIS ISSUE

9 Events

What Am I Up to These Days?

Government Affairs Director, Felipe Illescas, shares what keeps him busy when the legislature isn’t in session.

Year 33 of the Widmer Golf Tournament

Mountain Pine Beetle

While not present in Minnesota yet, this potential pest could be devastating to Minnesota pine forests.

New Earned Sick & Safe Time Requirements for 2024

Who and what does earned sick and safe time cover? Learn more from law clerk Ellie Sammon from Zlimen & McGuiness.

Breaking the Barriers: Increasing Consumer Adoption of Low-Input Turfgrasses

To increase the market share and use of these low-input turfgrasses, it is crucial to understand the factors that influence consumers’ decisions.

Northern Green –New Venue, New Villages

The new Northern Green will be a highly customized and curated experience.

Employee Spotlight: Logan Leonard, Sargent’s Nursery Garden Center

The streets of Red Wing are brighter and more colorful come spring thanks to Leonard’s hard work and dedication.

Thanks to all who joined us and sponsored this event which supports scholarships and workforce development.

Plant of the Month: First Editions

Amber Jubilee Ninebark

Why you might want to consider adding this unique stunner to your lineup.

Fluff or Facts: The Role of Data Analytics in Business Decision-Making

Jerry Olson describes how data takes the emotion out of decision-making and leads to better results.

The New Scoop

The Scoop has a new look! Communications Coordinator, Brianna Burns, details what decisions lead to this change.

How to Be a More Inspirational Leader

Steve Keating provides a few tips on how to become a motivator.

Are Your Meetings Necessary or Are Meetings Your Nemesis?

Effective meetings can save everyone time and properly outline the next steps.

September 2023 | Vol 46 Issue 9

MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

Successful Businesses Grow Here

1813 Lexington Ave. N., Roseville, MN 55113

651-633-4987 • Fax: 651-633-4986

Outside the metro area, toll free: 888-886-MNLA • Fax: 888-266-4986 • MNLA.biz • NorthernGreen.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Randy Berg, President

Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 • randy@bergsnursery.com

Matt Mallas, Vice-President

SiteOne Landscape Supply

763-512-2849 • mmallas@siteone.com

Terri McEnaney, Secretary-Treasurer

Bailey Nurseries

651-459-9744 • terri.mcenaney@baileynursery.com

Susan Bachman West

Bachman’s, Inc.

612-861-7600 • sbachman@bachmans.com

Kim Gaida-Wagener

Rock Hard Landscape Supply 612-619-3312 • kgaida@rockhardmn.com

ADVERTISERS

Greg Krogstad Rainbow Treecare

952-922-3810 • gkrogstad@rainbowtreecare.com

Patrick McGuiness

Zlimen & McGuiness PLLC

651-331-6500 • pmcguiness@zmattorneys.com

John O’Reilly

Otten Bros. Garden Center and Landscaping 952-473-5425 • j.oreilly@ottenbros.com

Jim Shimon

Willow River Company — Landscaping & Tree Farm 715-386-3196 • jimshimon@willowrivertree.com

Cassie Larson

MNLA Executive Director 651-633-4987 • cassie@mnla.biz

EVENTS CALENDAR

September

13

MN Green Industry Cannabis Forum

Columbia Golf Course Manor, Minneapolis, MN

19

MNLA Foundation Shootout

Game Unlimited, Hudson, WI

October

06

MNLA Professional Certification Exam

MNLA Office, Roseville, MN

November

10

Pesticide Recertificiation Workshop

Wilder Foundation, Saint Paul, MN

January (2024)

2325

Northern Green Saint Paul RiverCentre, Saint Paul, MN

Information on industry events: MNLA.biz/events Free, member-only videos: MNLA.biz/OnlineEducation

Join us for a full-day educational forum on the cannabis growing industry. Topics include marketing and selling, insurance and banking, cultivation, and more. There will be networking opportunities throughout the day, as well as an ask-the-expert breakout session. Register now!

This sporting clays tournament is fun for everyone and is a great way to spend time with colleagues and friends this fall. This is a 75-round course and the difficulty level is FUN! First time shooters are welcome, and guns are available for rent. Proceeds support workforce development.

Save the date! Sit for the exam to become an MNLA Certified Professional in 2023. Additional test dates on Oct 13 & 20 and Nov 3 & 17.

Obtain recertification credits (Category A, E & Optional P) by attending the Pesticide Recertification Workshop and have your current license scanned and checked by MDA. Applicators MUST bring their license identification card.

Save the date! New place, new time, new impact. Exhibit booths now available at www.NorthernGreen.org.

General Skills Training Business Leadership Development Networking

2023 MNLA Foundation Shootout Generously Supported by: Volume 46, Issue 9: The Scoop is issued monthly, 12 times per year. All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2023, and may not be used without written permission of MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113. Subscription price is $99 for one year, which is included with member dues.

2023 MNLA education generously supported by:

Postmaster:

Send address changes to The Scoop, MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113.

Editorial Contributions: You are invited to share your expertise and perspective. Article ideas and manuscripts should, whenever possible, reflect real and specific experiences. Before submitting an article, please contact the editor at brianna@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987.

A growing opportunity

Evergreen Nursery, a thriving Wisconsin liner producer is looking for a new owner.

Evergreen Nursery was founded in 1864 as a grower of evergreen seedlings and transplants. Almost 160 years later, we are more vibrant and stronger than ever, growing a wide range of evergreen species in a variety of sizes.

Each year, Evergreen Nursery produces more than 1.5 million GroPlugs®, 600k 2-year potted liners, 350k #1 and #5 container liners, just in evergreens alone. We also produce over 100k bare root birch liners as well.

Our goal is to continue this almost 160-year legacy, and we are looking for

someone to make that happen.

Owners Ron and Kris Amos are looking ahead to retirement and would like to find another nursery or individual that will continue our tradition of excellence, and most importantly, keep our dedicated longtime staff employed doing the jobs they have loved for years. Keeping our employees with the nursery is a goal of the Amos family.

Evergreen Nursery is an established operation and has always had a solid reputation for being a key producer of evergreen liners shipping across the United States. Many of our customers have said we are a critical unique footprint in the nursery industry and without us, there would be a void that would be difficult to fill.

We have fine-tuned our standard operating procedures to the point of having printed manuals for almost every activity at the nursery. This makes it so easy for the next owner to really have the turnkey operation experience once they take ownership. Ron has trained our growers and cultivated a management team that is more than capable of running the day-to-day operations.

Due to such an increase in new customer volume, Evergreen

Evergreen Nursery has supplied Bailey Nurseries Inc. with a variety of liners and finished container products for many years because of their dependability, quality, and service. They listen to understand our needs and have a flexible “can do” attitude toward producing, and delivering, custom product. We highly recommend using Evergreen Nursery Company Inc. as a hard-working supplier you can trust.

Nursery has added two outside sales representatives in addition to our current office staff. We have a diverse customer base consisting of landscape contractors, landscapers, grafting nurseries, garden centers and Christmas tree growers. These customers we have the pleasure of serving are located from coast to coast. We have a wide range of small, medium and large customers that keeps us well balanced. We are not a business that has all their eggs in one basket.

Our evergreen programs have always been on the forefront of innovation. From originally designing our own root-controlled tray, to starting plug production in the Pioneer tray, growing our #1 in root-controlled pots, we have always put the roots first. All our product lines offer options with sizes and prices to match any budget and growing operation.

Our evergreen seedling Gro-Plug® line starts from seed. Most of the largest grafting nurseries start with our plugs, others are using Gro-Plugs to start their evergreen containers. We use them as the start for all our evergreen production. The 2-year 18 cell potted liners provide exceptional performance, with a price point that adds to your margins.

We have been using Evergreen Nursery for over twenty years. The quality of their liners has increased our production levels and we have held on to our profit margins over the years. Their prompt customer service and delivery notifications are some of the best in the business. I truly believe the well-trained staff comes from the top down.

Here are a few customer testimonials from nurseries across the United States.

Paul Hassing, Production Coordinator-Purchaser Bailey Nurseries Inc. MN

Paul Doherty, Purchasing/New Introductions Willoway Nurseries Inc, OH

This is our number one selling liner and is an excellent size for potting into containers or lining out in the field.

Our #1 evergreen containers are grown in air pruned pots providing a superior root structure. Our customers are extremely happy with how these liners perform in the field and in upshift containers. We can utilize our LTL pallet shipping with ease.

The largest liner we grow is a #5 evergreen container. These are field grown bare root plants, potted for one season, making them much different than a container grown liners. They are full trees from the bottom up. Being in the pot for only one season, they are perfect for taking off in the field.

One advantage that makes our plants exceptional is our growing environment. We are in NE Wisconsin along the shore of Lake Michigan. The cooling effect the

lake gives us of low humidity, that has similar growing conditions to the pacific northwest. We are in a small town, with small town values. Our community is well know to tourists for beautiful shores on both sides of our county. We have been known as the Cape Code of the Midwest. The nursery is one hour away from Green Bay WI., which recently won the title of best city to live in across the entire United States. We also have an established H2A worker program. This ensures we have ample staff to get all our products to our customers when they need them. Most of our H2A staff return every season. They are knowledgeable about the nursery and our procedures. Our workers are as dedicated to the nursery as our year-round long-time staff.

If you or anyone you know wants to be a part of this legacy and to learn

how valuable Evergreen Nursery is to the industry, please call us for more information on how this business could belong to you.

We did two short video’s for IPPS tour during Covid. The video’s really shows you what we do. It’s a quick glimpse into Evergreen Nursery. Watch them in order to capture everything.

Part 1: https://youtu.be/GmbAwfcbPho

Part 2: https://youtu.be/yN_PnApqw70

Our website can be viewed at www.evergreennurseryco.com

Check out the beautiful place we call home and thousands of tourist flock to all year long at www.sturgeonbay.net

We have enjoyed our partnership with Evergreen Nursery for a number of years now. All the liners we receive have been in great shape and have really worked out well. We wanted to find a way to update our conifer line and everything they have shipped to us has really helped our product line and sales numbers. The sales staff is very helpful and checks in on us numerous times a year to ensure everything is working the way we needed it to. A wonderful company and staff, we are super grateful to have them as one of our suppliers.

Frank Santore, Sales Manager Petitti Family of Farms Madison OH

Evergreen seedling Gro-Plug® Norway Spruce2-year old, 18-cell potted Norway Spruce

Cassie Larson MNLA Executive Director cassie@mnla.biz

Northern Green - New Venue, New Villages

A new Northern Green is almost here – and it will be groundbreaking!

Northern Green 2024 will be a highly customized and highly concentrated experience – making the most of everyone’s investment of time and money. We are in shifting times. COVID, inflation and other influences have had a tremendous impact on our world, on the economy, and on business. With an eye on a strong future, MNLA and MTGF have drawn together industry professionals for over a year to revolutionize Northern Green. In this process, attention was hyper-focused on the attendee experience and how it can be customized to bring maximum value.

The first notable change is we’re on the move! St. Paul will become the new home for our indoor winter event (January 23-25, with a dedicated trade-show-only day on Jan. 24) and we’ll be expanding the Northern Green experience to a first-time, outdoor event in Fall 2024. The indoor portion of the event will take place at Saint Paul RiverCentre, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, and a variety of other event and restaurant locations close by in St. Paul. Finding your colleagues and making connections are at the center of the event’s design.

Northern Green Villages mean each community within the larger event will have education, product and service showcases, social events, and peer sharing designed specifically for the community’s needs. The goal is to provide an experience with tools and connections you can take back to your workplace to be even more effective. Be sure to check out page 44 and 45 for some sneak peeks into each Village experience.

The Northern Green trade show has also been redesigned with the attendee experience in mind. The show floor will be divided into exhibit groupings making it easy for you to find the things on your list for the upcoming season. Wednesday of Northern Green will now be 100% dedicated to making connections, to sharing innovations, and to exploring relationships that will make your work life better, more profitable, more efficient, and stronger.

Social functions will also play a key role in helping attendees connect with each other as well as the vendors that support them. There will be a Northern Green Block Party on Wednesday following the trade show that will include food, drinks, and fun! Kick back and relax while deepening your industry connections and relationships. Other social functions are also in the works and will be announced closer to the event date.

We can’t wait for you to see the changes we have in store. Mark your calendar and plan to join us in St. Paul, January 23-25, 2024! You won’t want to miss it.

Felipe Illescas Government Affairs Director felipe@mnla.biz

What Am I Up to These Days?

Most recently, we have been helping members with issues with local governments. We are engaging City Councils in different cities to discuss pesticides and potential regulations that could impact you and your business. We are ensuring that we are part of these conversations and provide opportunities for your input and guidance. Our goal is to make sure that licensed applicators are able to use the products necessary for each project.

We are also exploring possibilities to mitigate the spread of jumping worms in the field and at the public policy level. MNLA and the University of Minnesota are working together on a proposal that was presented to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) for state dollars to fund research on how to combat the jumping worm situation that the state is facing. The proposal was approved in July by the LCCMR and will be part of a proposal that will go through the legislative process in 2024. If approved by the legislature, we will have an opportunity to hopefully find a solution to this problem.

Additionally, I am meeting with state elected officials on a regular basis to continue making new relationships and maintain existing ones while exploring possibilities for 2024 and communicating your priorities and concerns to decision makers. We also started a subcommittee on the new Minnesota Paid Medical and Family Leave program to capture concerns and suggestions that will be presented to the Governor’s Office in the coming months before session. Remember, implementation for this program is January 1st, 2024; so if you have comments and ideas, please send them my way.

Lastly, we are actively communicating with the Minnesota Department of Revenue to explore a potential compromise on sales and use tax reform to bring consistency and fairness to the way our services are treated for tax purposes.

Thank you all for being such great members. I really appreciate your expertise and input. If you ever encounter a government-related issue or have any questions about our work, please do not hesitate to contact me at felipe@mnla.biz or 612-418-5382.

Mountain Pine Beetle

By Dr. James Calkins, MNLA

While not present in Minnesota yet, it is ranked at the top of the list of potential terrestrial invasive species threats.

As if Minnesota nursery and landscape professionals, property owners, gardeners, and land managers don’t already have enough invasive pests to worry about, there are concerns that other pests that can cause serious harm to agricultural commodities, managed landscapes, and native ecosystems may soon find their way to Minnesota.

Examples include boxwood blight (Calonectria pseudonaviculatum; synonym – Cylindrocladium buxicola) and box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis), spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), and the subject of this article, mountain pine beetle.

Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) is a member of a specialized clade (subfamily) within the weevil family that primarily attacks pine trees (Pinus spp.) and is considered the most persistent and damaging forest insect, and the most significant pest of pine trees, in North America. Unlike the other pests mentioned above, however, the mountain pine beetle is native to North

Figure 1. Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) adult

(Photo Credit: Erich G. Vallery, USDA Forest Service - SRS-4552, Bugwood.org).

America and specifically western North America, extending from northern Mexico to central British Columbia in Canada and east to New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and the Black Hills in southwestern South Dakota in the United States. Fortunately, mountain pine beetles are not currently present in Minnesota or other Midwestern states, but they may be on their way.

Under normal conditions, the mountain pine beetle is typically present in relatively low numbers in western forests where it tends to attack old and weakened trees and plays an important role in the rejuvenation of older stands of susceptible hosts – primarily lodgepole and ponderosa pine (Pinus contorta and Pinus ponderosa, respectively) growing at lower elevations. In general, trees larger than 20-25 cm in diameter are the most susceptible to attack with larger trees typically being attacked first. Smaller trees are attacked when beetle populations are high and when most of the larger trees have been killed. Beetle attacks are usually concentrated along the main trunk, from about one meter above the ground up to the middle of the crown. When conditions are favorable, however, mountain pine beetle sometimes becomes locally epidemic (on average every 10-30 years) and infests and kills large numbers of trees regardless of their health status (i.e., both stressed and healthy trees). Devastating epidemics have killed millions of healthy pine trees across many thousands of acres in the western United States and Canada in recent years. The worst damage occurred from the mid-1990s until 2017 with reduced impacts since then – likely in response to reduced beetle numbers caused by a return to colder temperatures during the winter. In addition, the mountain pine beetle has spread beyond its native range to the north and east during the same timeframe and in subsequent years, and there is concern that this very damaging insect may reach Minnesota and other midwestern states and may even continue to spread all the way to the east coast.

Outside its native range, the mountain pine beetle is an invasive species that could threaten unthinkable numbers of native and introduced pine trees in forests and managed landscapes across southern Canada and the midwestern and eastern United States, under both more limited and worstcase scenarios with widespread and cascading environmental and economic effects. As a consequence of these concerns, research has increasingly focused on mountain pine beetle population and distribution dynamics, genetics and adaptive potential, native and non-native host susceptibility, modes of spread, and management with the goal of reducing the damage caused by this destructive pest. Research efforts include research funded by the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center (MITPPC) at the University of

Minnesota which has ranked mountain pine beetle as the No.1 terrestrial invasive species threat to Minnesota’s resources posed by an invasive, invertebrate pest.

Also called Rocky Mountain pine beetle and Black Hills beetle, the mountain pine beetle is a member of the insect order Coleoptera (beetles, including weevils), a large and diverse group of insects, and the largest order of insects, and more broadly animals, on earth. As such, they are represented by more than 400,000 species and comprise about 40% of the known insect species, and about 25% of all the animal species worldwide. As is the case for all insects, the bodies of beetles are divided into three primary segments – the head, thorax, and abdomen – but are distinguished from other insects in having an especially hard exoskeleton including hard, shield-like forewings called elytra that cover and protect the membranous hindwings and do not function in flight. A beetle’s exoskeleton is composed of hardened plates, including the protective wing covers (elytra), separated by thin sutures resulting in a structure that provides both defense and flexibility. The mountain pine beetle also exhibits the other characteristics that are typical of beetles but lacks the elongated snout that is characteristic of most of the other members of the family Curculionidae (weevils, also called snout beetles). More specifically, they are members of the subfamily Scolytinae, the bark beetles. They are dark, rusty brown to black in color and, like other bark beetles, small (4-8 millimeters long) with a cylindrical shape and short, retractable appendages (legs and antennae) that help facilitate boring into woody tissues (Figure 1). The larvae are c-shaped, legless, and white with brown heads (Figure 2).

Like all beetles, mountain pine beetles have a lifecycle that includes complete metamorphosis (also called

Figure 5. A map showing the pathways whereby the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) may spread eastward to Minnesota and all the way to the east coast of North America (map accessed from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Mountain Pine Beetle webpage and created by D. Rosenberger, R. Venette, and B. Aukema, University of Minnesota).

holometabolism) which includes four developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. In mid to late summer, adult beetles emerge from infested trees, and female beetles, attracted by chemicals produced by host trees, fly to new trees where they bore through the bark to reach the phloem tissue just below the bark and release pheromones that attract male beetles. Mating occurs under the bark and the female beetles create vertical galleries (often with a J-shaped crook at the base where the gallery was initiated) for egg laying. On average, 30, and as many as 100, eggs are deposited alternately in distinct niches along the sides of the egg galleries which can extend up the bole (trunk) of the tree for 30 inches or more and are packed with frass (excrement and boring dust). In combination with the chemicals produced by the host trees, the pheromones produced by the female beetles attract other female beetles resulting in aggregated, mass attacks that overwhelm tree defenses regardless of tree health.

wandering galleries oriented at right angles to the vertical egg galleries and it is these galleries and the impacts of the blue-stain fungi that ultimately girdle the tree resulting in the death of infested trees, in concert with the impacts of the blue-stain fungi. The larvae feed and grow through the summer and fall until they become dormant in response to freezing temperatures. As a result, the species typically overwinters as larvae but sometimes overwinters as pupae and immature adults depending on environmental conditions. To survive the winter, the developing insects produce glycerol as a cryoprotectant to prevent freezing and can survive temperatures down to -40 °F, although increased mortality can occur at temperatures below -30 °F. Larvae that survive the winter resume feeding the following spring and pupate at the ends of the larval feeding galleries in late spring where they transform through complete metamorphosis to adults and the cycle repeats. Infested trees typically die within one year if enough beetles are present, and research has shown that attacks by fewer beetles than originally thought (10s vs, 100s) are apparently sufficient to kill trees depending on the distribution of the egg galleries around the trunks of infested trees.

Symptoms

Mountain pine beetles have also developed a symbiotic relationship with several species of “blue-stain” fungi including Grosmannia clavigera (synonym – Ophiostoma clavigerum) and Ophiostoma montium – and the combined effects of the beetles and these associated fungi contribute to the death of infested trees. Adult female and male mountain pine beetles serve as vectors for the blue-stain fungi by transporting fungal spores on their bodies and in special structures on their heads called mycangia that have evolved for this specific purpose. The blue-stain fungi are introduced into the sapwood of the tree as the beetles excavate egg galleries, where they colonize the phloem and sapwood and aid the beetles in overcoming the tree’s defenses by disrupting the flow of water and nutrients and the production and flow of resin (pitch) that can kill and expel attacking beetles. The fungal hyphae and spores also serve as a nutritional food source for the developing mountain pine beetle larvae and immature adults.

Once the eggs hatch in 3-14 days, the mountain pine beetle larvae feed on the phloem tissue beneath the bark creating

As mentioned previously, the tree’s pitch production is an important defense mechanism in response to attacking female mountain pine beetles. This defensive response produces popcorn-like globs of pitch called “pitch tubes” on the trunks of infested trees and are a telltale symptom of the presence of mountain pine beetles (Figure 3). A pitch tube is tree resin that has been extruded from the wound caused when female mountain pine beetles successfully or unsuccessfully bore into the bark of pine trees and can be white, pink, or brown. Another symptom is red boring dust (similar to fine sawdust) that is often present in bark crevices and around the base of infested trees (Figure 3). Pitch tubes may not be produced on stressed trees that are unable to produce enough pitch. As trees die, the needles turn yellow and then reddish orange before falling from the trees leaving behind dead, gray, standing trees that can remain standing for many years.

Insect development is temperature dependent and there is typically only one generation per year (univoltine), but the process may take two or more years in colder areas (including higher elevations where year-round temperatures are colder and seasons are shorter), resulting in one generation every two or three years (semivoltine; in this case, having a life cycle that is longer than one year). An extended, generation cycle is, however, not ideal as seasonal development (including life cycle phase synchronization) is disrupted, the developing larvae must survive the rigors of two or three winters, and the larvae are challenged by an environment and food source that is becoming dryer, and a food source that is becoming less nutritious, as the host trees are dying.

Figure 2. Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) larval (grub) stage (Photo Credit: William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org).

Pines that are native to western North America that have been documented as susceptible hosts include lodgepole, ponderosa, whitebark, foxtail, western white, limber, sugar, Coulter (also called big-cone pine), pinyon/piñon, and Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine. Non-native Scotch pine (called Scots pine and Baltic pine) and Austrian pine (also called black pine), and, more recently, native jack pine (also called scrub pine, Banksian pine, and Hudson Bay pine) have also been confirmed as being susceptible to attack by mountain pine beetle.

relatively low numbers and tends to attack old and weakened trees but sometimes becomes locally epidemic and attacks healthy trees when forest and climatic conditions are favorable, resulting in the loss of many trees over large areas. Once again, these outbreaks have typically occurred in mid-to-low elevation forests of lodgepole and ponderosa pine. As a result, the mountain pine beetle has played an important role in forest ecology for millennia. In recent years, however, mountain pine beetle populations have increased dramatically and have caused extensive and widespread damage to western pine forests in the United States and Canada with devastating socio-economic and environmental consequences. The beetles have already expanded their range into northern British Columbia and the Canadian territory of Yukon (located north of British Columbia and east of Alaska, areas that are dominated by lodgepole pine). The beetles have also breached the historic, geo-climatic barrier created by the northern Rocky Mountains and have invaded and become firmly established in Alberta to the east. More recently, there have also been reports of mountain pine beetle infestations in Saskatchewan to the east of Alberta bringing mountain pine beetles another step closer to Minnesota.

Resistant Species

Species that have been attacked but are not suitable mountain pine beetle hosts and broods include: Douglas-fir, true firs (Abies spp.), western larch, incense-cedar (also called California incense cedar and white cedar), and western hemlock (all North American natives). More broadly, although there appear to be some differences in preference, it is generally accepted that all native and introduced pine species grown in North America are susceptible to attack, with the exception of Great Basin bristlecone pine (also known as intermountain or western bristlecone pine). This species is very cold hardy and drought tolerant and considered one of the oldest living species, and the oldest or second oldest non-clonal tree on earth. A second species is the Jeffrey pine (also known as Jeffrey’s, yellow, and black pine) which is generally resistant but is attacked by the Jeffrey pine beetle (Dendroctonus jeffreyi). It should be noted that there have recently been a few reports of Great Basin bristlecone pines being attacked under stressful conditions in areas with high populations of mountain pine beetles, but subsequent research continues to support the belief that Great Basin bristlecone pine is not attractive to mountain pine beetles and does not support the development of mountain pine beetle larvae if attacked.

Expanded Range

Within its native range, the mountain pine beetle has historically existed as an endemic pest that is present in

In Alberta, lodgepole pine has hybridized with jack pine (Pinus banksiana) where the ranges of these two species overlap, and the hybrid species has proven to be susceptible to attack by mountain pine beetle. Most importantly from a Minnesota perspective, mountain pine beetle has successfully made the jump to jack pine. Jack pine is the primary component of the boreal forest in Canada which extends all the way to the maritime provinces on the east coast. The native distribution and susceptibility of jack pine to mountain pine beetle completes the potential pathway for the spread of mountain pine beetle to Minnesota and Wisconsin. In fact, research funded by the MITPPC indicates that, although there are differences in susceptibility between species, our native jack pine, red pine (also called Norway pine), and eastern white pine generally lack the defenses that would be needed to avoid attack by mountain pine beetle. They would likely be susceptible to attack and subject to colonization and death if mountain pine beetle finds its way to Minnesota. The same would also likely be the case for other non-native pines like Scotch pine that are grown in Minnesota and are already known to be susceptible to attack. As a result, the accidental introduction, or the continued expansion of the range of mountain pine beetle into eastern North America, could have serious consequences for native and introduced species growing in native ecosystems and managed landscapes.

Changing Climate

So, why has the mountain pine beetle become a much more destructive pest in its native range, and what has made it possible for this insect to extend its range to the north and east and at higher elevations? Research suggests several factors

Figure 3. “Pitch tubes” produced as a defense mechanism by pine trees in response to initial attacks by female mountain pine beetles (Dendroctonus ponderosae) whereby the beetles are trapped and killed by the resin or extruded from the tree; boring dust is also visible around the base of infested trees (Photo Credit: Kenneth E. Gibson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org).

are involved including heat and moisture stress caused by the warmer temperatures and drought associated with climate change, reduced beetle mortality during the winter, warmer temperatures at higher elevations, and fire suppression and other silvicultural (forest management) practices that have resulted in an overabundance of even-aged, mature pine trees. A number of these factors were responsible for the devastating mountain pine beetle epidemics in the western United States and in British Columbia where the epidemic started in the mid-1990s and subsided beginning in 2017. The numbers were reversed by the return of more normal winter temperatures combined with management practices implemented in British Columbia including improved sanitation (improved cutting and burning of infested trees) and a lack of susceptible host trees when most of the host trees had been killed.

Adaptations of mountain pine beetles to new and changing climates, changes in host preferences based on host defenses, and changes in the ability of mountain pine beetles to utilize new hosts have also been suggested as the basis for its ability to respond to changes in climate. This resulted in the increased reproductive success and range expansion achieved by the mountain pine beetle during the past few decades.

In fact, sequencing of the mountain pine beetle genome has already improved our understanding of its genetic makeup and will hopefully be helpful in developing improved management options for this aggressive forest pest. The genome sequencing effort indicates the species has 12 pairs of chromosomes and approximately 13,000 genes and revealed large variations among individuals within the species – about four times greater than the variation observed for human beings. Researchers believe the variation observed could provide the basis for adaptive changes that could help the mountain pine beetle be more successful in new environments and overcome host tree defenses.

To improve our understanding of the roles of defensive compounds (terpenes) produced by pine trees that impact mountain pine beetles, research has investigated the levels of these compounds in different species and populations of host species. The expectation was that the levels of defensive terpenes in more southerly populations of pine species that have historically had greater exposure to mountain pine beetles as a result of elevated beetle populations in warmer climates would be higher compared to more northerly populations. The opposite relationship was observed. Northern populations generally had higher levels of terpenes and, surprisingly, were more likely to be attacked by mountain pine beetles than Southern populations. A possible explanation for this unexpected finding might be the fact that several defensive terpenes produced by pine trees are kairomones. Kairomones are interesting evolutionary peculiarities whereby a compound produced by

an organism benefits the target organism at the expense of the organism that produces the compound. In this case, defensive terpenes produced by pine trees are subsequently used by mountain pine beetles to produce pheromones that ultimately benefit the mountain beetles to the detriment of the pine trees because they are precursors in the synthesis of mountain pine beetle pheromones. Needless to say, this research highlights the complexities in the relationships between mountain pine beetles and their hosts, and further research is needed to understand these relationships.

Similarly, it has also been hypothesized that pine trees growing at lower elevations, where temperatures are typically warmer, and insect pests are likely to be more common, may play a role in the ability of pests to survive at higher elevations in response to warming temperatures at higher elevations. This relationship seems to be supported by the ability of mountain pine beetles to achieve populations that can successfully attack pine trees in larger numbers and grow at higher elevations in response to a warming climate. Conversely, it has also been suggested that differences in the ability of pine trees to defend against insect pests via defensive chemicals (based on chemical concentrations and diversity) could also be linked to physiological responses to other factors like lower atmospheric pressure, higher UV irradiance, and other factors related to elevation but unrelated to pest exposure. Once again, these are potentially complicated relationships that might be clarified by further research.

Movement Pathways

Two primary pathways could facilitate the movement of mountain pine beetle to new areas outside its current range: long-distance, anthropogenic (human-mediated) movement of infested wood from areas where mountain pine beetle is already present that results in the introduction and establishment of mountain pine beetles in new areas to the east, and the continued expansion of mountain pine beetles into the boreal forest. Although it is a much slower process, mountain pine beetles can also fly to new locations, but research indicates most dispersal in search of new hosts is a short distance and rarely more than 300 feet. Longer flights in the neighborhood of 2050 miles or more are possible but, again, are not typical, and beetles may sometimes be carried further on updrafts. Although relatively long-distance travel is possible, the closest infestation to Minnesota is located about 500 miles away in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and the University of Minnesota researchers believe the risk of mountain pine beetle reaching Minnesota by blowing in from the Black Hills is extremely low while others have suggested more research is needed.

Regarding long-distance movement mediated by human beings, freshly cut pine logs and firewood sourced from infested trees that have not been dried sufficiently to kill developing beetles are potential pathways for the spread of mountain

pine beetle to new areas including Minnesota. To help prevent the introduction of mountain pine beetle to Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has instituted an exterior mountain pine beetle quarantine that prohibits the movement of any living stage of the mountain pine beetle and pine wood with bark into the state of Minnesota from states where mountain pine beetle is established. The quarantine was established in 2015 after wood that was infested with mountain pine beetles was imported into Minnesota on two separate occasions in 2012 and 2014. Fortunately, the beetles were already dead in both instances. Pine wood without bark (100% debarked), pine mulch or chips, pine Christmas trees, and pine nursery stock are exempted.

genus Pinus has not yet been identified and remains a focus of ongoing research, this knowledge is good news and provides hope that deterrent and/or other protective compounds that have the potential to protect susceptible pine species from attack by mountain pine beetles will be identified.

Conclusion

The devastating mountain pine beetle epidemics that have occurred in western North America over the past few decades have been described as the “greatest biological disturbance of mature forests in western North America” and warming temperatures and drought stress related to climate change have been hypothesized as a primary cause. Warmer temperatures at higher elevations, especially during the winter, have also allowed the mountain pine beetle to reproduce in higher numbers and access pine trees at higher elevations. These circumstances, and perhaps others, have facilitated the movement of mountain pine beetles over the Rocky Mountains to reach susceptible pine species in Alberta, Canada, and then further to the east in Saskatchewan. This has also opened a potential pathway for range expansion all the way to the east coast of North America and the north-central and eastern United States to the south.

The Good News

Although the mountain pine beetle has become epidemic and caused significant losses of pine trees and valuable timber in western North America and is spreading beyond its native range, and although these trends are expected to continue in years to come, the news isn’t all bad. As has been the case for other host-pest relationships, the existence of genetic resistance within the populations of the species that are impacted, as well as other factors that might affect plant performance, will play an important role in determining the future status of the pine species that are susceptible to attack. For example, survivor trees that had genetic resistance to Dutch elm disease have been found and others are being evaluated. More recently, surviving trees with resistance to emerald ash borer have been identified and show promise for the conservation of the ash trees that are native to North America. Similarly, survivor trees that are resistant to mountain pine beetle have already been documented among the pine species that are known to be susceptible to attack, and research suggests species like Great Basin bristlecone pine and Jeffrey pine may be resistant to mountain pine beetle. While the genetic basis of the resistance to mountain pine beetle that has been observed within the

Whether the mountain pine beetle will continue to spread eastward and reach Minnesota and what the impacts will be if this happens are unknown. For example, the distribution of jack pine east of Alberta may be too fragmented to sustain the type of epidemic that British Columbia has experienced in recent years. This is an example of a potential barrier to the further spread of mountain pine beetle to the east and is a possibility that must be taken seriously. Based on the information currently available, it is likely that mountain pine beetle would be able to survive in Minnesota and would be able to spread throughout the Great Lakes Region where it would pose a serious threat to native and introduced pine trees in Minnesota forests and managed landscapes.

At the same time, it is not a time to panic. Research focused on learning more about mountain pine beetle and how it might be managed is ongoing, susceptible pines are not likely to be completely eliminated given the existence of genetic resistance, disrupted forest ecosystems are resilient and will recover with proper management, and it appears people are finally recognizing the importance of increasing tree diversity to improve forest and landscape resilience. In addition, although they are not suitable for use in native ecosystems, pesticides that protect trees from being attacked by mountain pine beetle are available for managing mountain pine beetle in landscapes and research will hopefully lead to the development of improved chemistries that are effective and safe that can be incorporated in integrated pest management protocols.

Figure 4. Pine tree mortality caused by mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) in a Colorado forest (Photo Credit: USDA Forest Service - Region 2Rocky Mountain Region Archive, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org).

And finally, as nursery and landscape professionals we are lucky to have Minnesota-specific, mountain pine beetle research being performed in Minnesota with support and funding provided by the Minnesota Legislature with funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENTRF) as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) in partnership with the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center (MITPPC) at the University of Minnesota. Let’s hope the mountain pine beetle never makes it to Minnesota; and if it does, let’s hope we are prepared.

CITATIONS

Bentz, B.J., E.M. Hansen, J.C, Vandygriff, S.S. Stephens, and D. Soderberg. 2021. Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine (Pinus aristata) is a Confirmed Host to Mountain Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae). Western North American Naturalist 81(1):19–26.

https://bit.ly/44MrSwW

Clark, E.L., A.L. Carroll, and D.P.W. Huber. 2010. Differences in the Constitutive Terpene Profile of Lodgepole Pine Across a Geographical Range in British Columbia, and Correlation with Historical Attack by Mountain Pine Beetle. The Canadian Entomologist 142(6):557–573. https://bit.ly/455pT6G (abstract and references only).

Cullingham,C.I., J.E.K Cooke, S. Dang, C.S. Davis, B.J. Cooke, and D.W. Coltman. 2011. Mountain Pine Beetle Host-Range Expansion Threatens the Boreal Forest. Molecular Ecology 20(10):2157–2171. https://bit.ly/450sP4j

Dooley, E.M., D.L Six, and J.A. Powell. 2015. A Comparison of Mountain Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) Productivity and Survival in Lodgepole and Whitebark Pine After a Region-Wide Cold Weather Event. Forest Science 61(2):235–246. https://bit.ly/3rL2uJl

Eidson E.L, K.E. Mock, and B.J. Bentz. 2017. Mountain Pine Beetle Host Selection Behavior Confirms High Resistance in Great Basin Bristlecone Pine. Forest Ecology and Management 402(15 October 2017):12-20. https://bit.ly/3QnHSki

Ferrenberg, S., J.M. Langenhan, S.A. Loskot, L.M. Rozal, and J.B. Mitton. 2017. Resin Monoterpene Defenses Decline Within Three Widespread Species of Pine (Pinus) along a 1530-m Elevational Gradient. Ecosphere 8(10): e01975. https://doi.org/10.1002/ ecs2.1975

Gibson, K., S. Kegley, and B. Bentz. 2009. Forest Insect & Disease Leaflet 2 – Mountain Pine Beetle. U.S.D.A. Forest Service. https:// bit.ly/3rOlwi1

Keeling, K.I., M.M.S. Yuen, N.Y. Liao, T.R. Docking, S.K. Chan, G.A. Taylor, D.L. Palmquist, S.D. Jackman, A. Nguyen, M. Li, H. Henderson, J.K. Janes, Y. Zhao, P. Pandoh, R. Moore, F.A.H. Sperling, D. W. Huber, I. Birol, S.J.M. Jones, and J. Bohlmann. 2013. Draft Genome of the Mountain Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, a Major Forest Pest. Genome Biology 14(3):R27. https://tinyurl.com/5n7uepze

Mellen-McLean, K., B.G. Marcot, J.L. Ohmann, K. Waddell, E.A. Willhite, S.A. Acker, S.A. Livingston, B.B. Hostetler, B.S. Webb, and B.A. Garcia. 2017. Mountain Pine Beetle. DecAID (the decayed wood advisor for managing snags, partially dead trees, and down wood for biodiversity in forests of Washington and Oregon). Version 3.0. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region and Pacific Northwest Research Station; USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon State Office. https://tinyurl.com/3jxc6mjy

Minnesota Department of Agriculture. 2023 (Online). Mountain Pine Beetle. https://tinyurl.com/yvuw599s

Rosenberger, D.W., R.C. Venette, M.P. Maddox, and B.H. Aukema. 2017. Colonization Behaviors of Mountain Pine Beetle on Novel Hosts: Implications for Range Expansion Into Northeastern North America. PLOS ONE 12(5): e0176269. https://tinyurl.com/ hzw2pxrz

Safranyik L, A.L.Carroll, J. Régnière, D.W. Langor, W.G. Riel, T.L Shore, B. Peter, B.J Cooke, V.G. Nealis, and J.W Taylor. 2010. Potential for Range Expansion of Mountain Pine Beetle Into the Boreal Forest of North America. The Canadian Entomologist 142(5):415–442. https://tinyurl.com/mpw5p23m (abstract and references only).

U.S.D.A. Forest Service. 2011. Mountain Pine Beetle: Aggressive Bark Beetle of Western Pines. https://tinyurl.com/mwdfhh5h

Van Driesche, R.G., J. LaForest, C. Bargeron, R. Reardon, and M. Herlihy. Mountain Pine Beetle. Forest Pest Insects in North America: A Photographic Guide (Online). https://tinyurl. com/53fccveh (accessed July 10, 2023).

West, D.R., J.S. Briggs, W.R. Jacobi, and J.F. Negrón. 2014. Mountain Pine Beetle-Caused Mortality Over Eight Years in Two Pine Hosts in Mixed-Conifer Stands of the Southern Rocky Mountains. Forest Ecology and Management 334(15 December 2014):321-330). https://tinyurl.com/ykd5nbe5

Wikipedia Contributors. 2023. Beetle. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 4 July 2023 05:40 UTC. Available at https://tinyurl. com/wyx3xnkn. Retrieved: 13 July 2023 00:33 UTC (background information about beetles).

The following, selected resources may also be of interest: Minnesota Department of Agriculture Exterior Mountain Pine Beetle Quarantine – https://tinyurl.com/mryzaj7m

Not on Our Watch: Scientists and Managers Rush to Save HighElevation, Five-Needle Pines. Rocky Mountain Research Station Science You Can Use Bulletin, Issue 61 (July/August 2023) –https://tinyurl.com/25rh5rtf

Mountain Pine Beetle: Protecting Minnesota (Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center, University of Minnesota) –https://tinyurl.com/2p8wbmf8

To comment on this research update, suggest research topics of interest, or pass along a piece of research-based information that might be of interest to your industry colleagues, please email us at Research@MNLA.biz.

Year 33 of the Widmer Golf Tournament is in the Books

Thank you to all who joined us for the Annual Widmer Golf Tournament on July 18, 2023. A beautiful day at Crystal Lake Golf Club in Lakeville made for a successful event. Over 125 people attended. A warm thank you to all our sponsors for supporting this fundraiser! Funds raised from the golf tournament support the MNLA Foundation Workforce Development and Research Fund.

NelsPeterson,BlinglePremierLighting,BradSullivan,Blingle PremierLighting,JohnBerken,Dreamscapes,Inc.,EddieCastro, BlinglePremierLighting.

ChampionTeam

Hit the Keg Contest Winner Patrick Hogen, Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association

Closest to the Pin Contest Winner John Berken, of Dreamscapes, Inc.

Longest Drive Contest Winner Reid Erickson

Longest Putt Contest Winner Nick Anvick, RDO Equipment Co.

Mega Putt Contest Winner Mike Huber, Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association

Second Place Team Travis Lawrence, Rochester Concrete Products; Kurt Stelten,

Blackberry Ridge; James Stelten, Urban Design Company, Inc.;

Sebastian Vaillancourt, Urban Design Company, Inc.

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First Editions® Amber Jubilee™ Ninebark

Matt Olson, Bailey Nurseries

Fall color is a key part of the Minnesota landscape, and Amber Jubilee™ Ninebark goes a step further with leaves that stand out in spring, summer, and fall. This shrub also has showy bark that adds winter interest to give the plant year-round appeal.

A few years ago, I planted several Amber Jubilee™ in my landscape and was struck by the unique appearance of the leaves, especially in spring and fall. The leaves emerged bright orange and yellow, adding a touch of autumn to the early-season landscape. Over the next few months, the newer growth continued to retain the bright color while the older leaves matured to green. As fall arrived, the leaves took on hues of red and purple. If that’s not enough, this improved native shrub produces clusters of pink buds that open to white flowers in early summer.

In the landscape, Amber Jubilee™ is a hardy and durable choice for difficult sites, including sunny areas with dry or rocky soil. Use it for erosion control as well. After the shrub has become established, it requires little maintenance and has mildew resistance. It will thrive anywhere in Minnesota, as it’s hardy to USDA Zone 2.

Like many ninebarks, Amber Jubilee™ is a vigorous shrub that can be left to grow naturally or shaped for a more formal look. At 5-7’ tall, and 4-6’ wide, it’s an ideal size for a small hedge or a focal point in residential and commercial landscapes. It’s a great choice for mixing with other shrubs like Strawberry Sundae® Hydrangea, Virtual Violet® Lilac, or weeping conifers.

In addition to landscapes, you can mix Amber Jubilee™ with annuals in deco pots for a season or two, then plant it in the landscape. This shrub even won a cut flower of the year award from the Association of Cut Flower Growers because the foliage stands out in floral arrangements.

If your client’s landscape needs more color, drought tolerance, or a privacy screen, Amber Jubilee™ has you covered.

Matt Olson is a trade communications specialist for Bailey Nurseries and can be reached at matt.olson@baileynurseries.com. For more information about Amber Jubilee™ Ninebark, go to www.baileynurseries.com or www.firsteditionsplants.com.

All photos this page courtesy of Bailey Nurseries.

New Earned Sick and Safe Time Requirement For 2024

Ellie Sammon, Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC

Effective January 1, 2024, Minnesota is implementing new Earned Sick and Safe Time provisions. Earned Sick and Safe Time allows employees to earn up to 48 hours of paid sick leave for every 12-month period. This new benefit reaches beyond personal sickness, and grants employees time to aid ill family members, or seek safety, without the economic burden of missing work.

How Does Earned Sick and Safe Time Work?

For every 30 hours an employee works, one hour of paid sick leave will accrue. To do the math, if an employee works thirtyfive hours a week, for around forty-two weeks, then they are eligible for the 48 hours of earned sick and safe time. Employees do not need to keep track of their hours, because employers are required to show the accrued sick and safe time hours on their earnings statements, whether that be online, or a hard copy. Employees can accrue up to 48 hours of earned sick and safe time leave in a 12-month period which begins the day they begin work. And, if they have not used their earned hours, they will roll over to the next year and will cap at 80 hours of sick and safe time leave.

Employees who use this benefit cannot be held responsible for finding a replacement for their absence. They must, however, alert their employer of their absence seven days in advance if it is a foreseeable circumstance. If it is unforeseeable, then they must let their employer know they cannot work as soon as it is practicable to do. If any employee is gone more than three consecutive days, then an employer may request documentation for the reason of the absence. It does not need to be a detailed explanation. A signed statement by a healthcare professional is sufficient. An employee may write the statement themselves if they did not go to healthcare services, if the statement cannot be obtained within a reasonable time, or if it would induce further expenses.

Who and What Does Earned Sick and Safety Time Cover?

Almost all Minnesota employees are covered by the Sick and Safe Time statute. Exceptions include independent contractors, people who work less than 80 hours a year, and some flight deck or cabin crew members who are employed by air carriers.

An employee may use their earned time if they are suffering a mental or physical illness, injury, or other health condition; or if they are suffering from a safety issue involving domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. If it is for one of these safety issues, they must use the time away from work to seek medical attention, counseling, help from an attorney, or relocation. If a family member is suffering from any of the conditions above, then an employee may also use their earned hours to aid them.

No Toleration of Retaliation

An employer cannot retaliate against an employee for using this benefit. An employee is entitled to receive the same job, position, and pay they had before, using their earned leave. If an employee was expecting to gain an adjustment in pay or a promotion within the time of their absence, then the employer must act as though the employee was not absent and continue with the promotion as they would, had they not left. Also, the employer must maintain their insurance coverage if the employee continues to pay their share of these benefits’ costs.

What if an Employer Already Offers Paid Leave?

For employees who already have paid sick leave—no worries! This will not take the place of those policies. It will simply act as a base standard that employers must meet. Any employer who offers more paid leave or covers a larger scope of reasons for their absence is more than welcome to continue.

Ellie Sammon is a law clerk at the law firm of Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC. She has worked in the green industry for more than five years and will be entering her second year of law school this fall.

This article provides general information on employment law matters and should not be relied upon as legal advice. A qualified attorney must analyze all relevant facts and apply the applicable law to any matter before legal advice can be given.

If you would like more information regarding employment law or other legal matters, please contact Patrick McGuiness at Zlimen & McGuiness, PLLC at pmcguiness@zmattorneys.com, 651-206-3203 or www.zmattorneys.com

Breaking the Barriers: Increasing Consumer Adoption of Low-Input Turfgrasses

Chengyan Yue - Professor, Bachman Endowed Chair in Horticultural Marketing, Department of Horticultural Science and Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota

Manlin Cui - PhD Candidate, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota

Eric Watkins - Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota

Aaron Patton - Professor, Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Purdue University

There are clear environmental and social benefits to increasing the use of low-input turfgrasses (turfgrasses that require less inputs, such as water and fertilizer use, mowing frequency, etc.) in home landscapes. However, to increase the market share and use of these grasses, it is crucial to understand the factors that influence consumers’ adoption decisions. Using data from an online survey of 2,194 randomly selected U.S. homeowners with home lawns; we want to answer the following questions:

1. Will consumers be willing to adopt low-input turfgrass species?

2. How important are the turfgrass attributes in shaping consumers’ adoption decisions?

3. What barriers prevent consumers from adopting lowinput turfgrass species?

4. Which strategies can be used to improve the adoption rate of low-input turfgrass species for different consumer segments?

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In the survey, consumers’ willingness was measured in their beliefs and attitudes toward the adoption of low-input turfgrass species. In general, consumers are willing to switch to low-input turfgrasses, and they are more inclined to do it gradually (i.e., increase the amount of low-input species throughout overseeding year after year rather than a complete lawn renovation). They believe low-input turfgrasses have more advantages and can save money; however, they think converting home lawns to low-input turfgrasses would be relatively challenging.

We further segmented consumers into two groups based on their attitudes toward the adoption of low-input turfgrasses, Willing Adopters (66% of respondents) and Reluctant Homeowners (34% of respondents). There is a high percentage of Willing Adopters in the western U.S., which may be due to water scarcity and higher water prices. Moreover, compared to the Reluctant Homeowners, Willing Adopters are younger, more likely to have children under 12, have pets, and have a larger household with a higher income. Willing Adopters also maintain their lawns more frequently.

We also characterized multiple turfgrass attributes into three latent factors: (1) Performance Attributes, (2) Maintenance Attributes, and (3) Appearance Attributes. Valuing maintenance attributes is positively associated with willingness to use low-input turfgrasses for both types of consumers. Reluctant Homeowners, who regard appearance attributes as more important, are more reluctant to adopt low-input turfgrasses. In a previous study, we found that more than one-third of U.S. and Canadian consumers were considered “appearance-conscious” consumers; this suggests that many consumers might perceive the appearance of the low-input turfgrasses as less desirable than that of conventional species. Turfgrass breeders should continue to keep in mind that a significant number of consumers demand turfgrasses that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

After analyzing survey results, we were able to identify several barriers and ways that turfgrass seed and sod sellers could overcome those barriers:

Reference

Yue, C., M. Cui, E. Watkins, and A. Patton. 2021. Investigating Factors Influencing Consumer Adoption of Low-input Turfgrasses. HortScience 56 (10), 1213-1220.

The east lawn at the MNLA office features a custom blend of low-input turfgrasses. (Page 31 photo and this photo taken 08/03/2023.)

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JANUARY 23—25

St. Paul RiverCentre

New Place, New Time, New Impact!

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MONDAY Pre-Conference Sessions: PLT Relicensure and Pesticide Recertification will be available on Monday, January 22 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.

TUESDAY, JAN. 23

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RENTAL EQUIPMENT FOR ALL YOUR JOBSITE WOES

Summer is here and with that comes a wide array of projects with a wide array of needs. Sometimes you stumble across a customer with needs that are a little outside your wheelhouse, or you run into problems along the way that requires specific equipment that you don’t have in stock because you don’t typically need it. When this happens, it can be difficult to decide how to move forward. You don’t necessarily want to buy something hoping that you’ll need it again just for it to be sitting around waiting to get used. That’s where Ziegler Rental Equipment comes in. Equipment rentals can solve all your problems in these situations with anything from attachments to compact wheel loaders, and other brands such as Vermeer and JLG. This time of year, landscaping is a hot commodity and the attachments needed can vary quite a bit. Rental equipment offers a number of machine attachments that will help you with your one-off needs,

allowing you to customize your machines to the needs of your job. These attachments include the tried and true A23 Auger with a variety of bit sizes to fit all your post hole digging needs. The LR115 Landscaping Rake that has flail blades that pulverize, level, and condition soil, while collecting and depositing rock and debris in the hopper bucket, leaving behind groomed soil. BR115 Brush Cutters are basically a lawnmower on steroids with the ability to go through small saplings. This makes them ideal for land clearing and mowing overgrown areas. Mulchers are always a good option for overgrown areas as well. The HM115 Mulcher is more than a brush cutter, it is a very aggressive land clearing attachment. Unlike a standard brush cutter, Mulchers have a front gate that can be opened for larger material, including small trees. These Mulchers could also lead you to realizing you need a stump grinder, such as the SG16 Stump Grinder. The SG16 Stump Grinder uses Carbide

Teeth as well as a hydraulic sweeping motion to help remove stumps without needing to reposition your machine.

Renting is also great for jobsites with space restrictions like neighborhoods and highways. Many times standard sized machines won’t fit in tighter spaces which then poses an issue for your productivity. Renting smaller sized machines such as Mini Excavators, Compact Loaders, and Walk-Behind Skid Steers allows you to adjust to your surroundings while still maximizing uptime and getting your jobs done on time. Smaller sized machines hold the same capabilities as their larger counterparts, but have been modified

All photos courtesy of Ziegler CAT

No matter what you need, rental equipment has you covered.

for small work sites. For example, Mini Excavators are great options for interior work where standard sized excavators would not fit. Compact Wheel Loaders perfectly navigate job sites and fields with the added perk of not disturbing the terrain. Walk-Behind Skid Steers also have the ability to work quickly and efficiently no matter the surrounding landscape condition. Similar to the attachment rentals,

renting machines of different sizes is a great alternative to buying if you don’t typically use machines of the size you desire.

Jobs can be hard on equipment and running into issues and broken machines is inevitable, especially on older equipment. Broken machines are a challenge that can affect your uptime which can then delay your project’s timeline causing frustration

for you and your customers. Not working while your machine is getting repaired is not an option. Renting replacement machines is essential to keeping you on track and minimizing your downtime. With a lineup including CAT equipment and other brands such as Toro, Vermeer, and many more, temporarily renting a machine will allow you to continue working without compromising the quality and efficiency of your work, all while keeping you on track to meet your deadlines.

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REGISTRATION OPTIONS

The student rate offers a $50 discount off each registration type above, except Trade Show Only (there is no discount for this pass). This rate applies to those currently enrolled in horticulture, landscape, arboriculture, or grounds study at the high school or college level. School name must be included on the registration form and may be verified.

Attention Snow & Ice Management Companies:

NORTHERN GREEN RATE LOCK

Worried about snow on show days? Try our "Snow Insurance" Rate Lock. This nonrefundable $30-per-person ticket qualifies the ticket holder for pre-registration rates onsite. Plus, your $30 advance payment will be applied to the onsite registration fee.

Offer only available for Northern Green on Tuesday & Thursday, and must be purchased during pre-registration dates. Choice of registration must still be selected. If ticket holder cannot attend show, the $30 payment is non-refundable.

1Register on or before Jan. 2 to receive badges in the mail. The deadline for pre-registration is Jan. 15 and all who pre-register between Jan. 3 and Jan. 15 must print a name badge at the Self Check-In Kiosk onsite.

*Group Discount: A 10% discount is available to an individual company registering 10 or more people for a 1-Day educational pass or greater. Not valid for student or trade show only passes. Valid only for pre-registration completed online with all registrants entered in one registration. Not valid with other discounts/promotions.

January 23-25, 2024

SAINT PAUL RIVERCENTRE

Pre-Conference Sessions to be held on Jan. 22, 2024

www.NorthernGreen.org | info@NorthernGreen.org | 651-633-4987

TWO different keynotes, TWO different days.

ONE enjoyable and impactful Keynote Speaker!

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23

Leading Imperfectly: The Value of Being Authentic for Leaders, Professionals, and Human Beings

Hey Superwoman, take off your cape. Hey Batman, take off your mask. Hey decision makers, put away your ego. Let’s talk about who you are personally as a leader and as a partner. As humans, we can’t learn things from people who are perfect, we can only learn things from people who are imperfect. So, it is time to own who you are so you can be real to others and lead through your faults. This deep but hysterical session will leave you feeling introspective about the person you show to others and recognize the rapport and trust building power of authenticity in your communication and relationships. If you’re looking to master the art of courageous feedback and authentic relationship building, this is the session for you.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25

Find Your Third Place: A Work/Life Balance Conversation That’s Actually Helpful

Hold the eye rolls, this is a conversation about balance that is both realistic and worthwhile! The truth is, work cannot run our lives AND work is not the only source of our balance issues. In this session James offers an alternative to traditional methods (things like, find one hour of your week and hold it sacred) and, instead, uses the “Third Place Principle” as a way for us to gain more control and purpose. We all crave more balance, and this introspective session will help audiences understand how a Third Place can add more stability at work and home, create more impactful stories, and, most importantly, generate a more fulfilling life.

James Robilotta, CSP, is a leadership author, motivational speaker, emcee, and trained improv comedian. After years of building, training, and leading teams, James followed an entrepreneurial dream and built two successful businesses. The first is an organization that incorporates freestyle rap into improv comedy (a success story for another day). And the second is his speaking and coaching business (a success story for today). James has been speaking internationally to willing and unwilling audiences since 2009 and has found that quality humor is the secret to hosting powerful conversations that make a genuine impact. His attendees leave feeling recharged, introspective, and ready to get out of their own way. With years of research (and a few too many real-life case studies within his work), James has learned everything he can about fighting apathy and building strong company cultures. He uses this insight to help leaders manage and retain talent and give feedback that sticks, and to help organizations create community buy-in using curiosity. James’ cornerstone concept is that we as humans can’t learn from people who are perfect, we can only learn from people who are imperfect. And companies like American Express, GE, Accenture, and Afterpay have gravitated toward this message and found the insights to be invaluable in shifting the way their people show up for each other. James is working to bring humanity and community back into the workplace. He is on a mission to ensure that people are seen, heard, respected... and giggling a little, too.

Introducing James Robilotta

Northern Green 2024 Trade Show

Northern Green has been the most popular green industry event in the north-central United States for 20 years. For first-time attendees, the size of the Northern Green trade show and the scope of the education sessions is eye-opening. This is a prosperous industry! High-quality education and an expansive trade show remain our key components, and Northern Green 2024 is designed to maximize impactful interactions. That’s why we’ve focused the education into eight Villages, and why we’ve outlined 14 exhibitor groupings on the trade show floor. We want to help you find what you’re looking for more easily—from products to colleagues. The goal is to make the most of your time and investment with a highly customized and concentrated

experience. As an attendee, you’ll know where to start your trade show visit: in the grouping of exhibitors that provide the most relevant products and services that meet your most critical needs. After you start with your target area, the rest of the trade show floor is yours to explore as well. When it’s time for lunch, several options will be available at the RiverCentre, or a short stroll down the street will give you dozens of restaurants to choose from. Then, at 5:30 the trade show will close and the two-hour Block Party will begin in the upstairs ballroom. We know there are so many things demanding your attention, but the time set aside to join colleagues at Northern Green and forge valuable connections is always a good investment.

Introducing The Villages

The Northern Green Villages were created to help attendees more easily identify, learn from, and network with others who perform similar work. Each Village’s themes were specifically curated by your industry peers to have relevant, trending topics. You’ll be asked to register for your primary village but will have the opportunity to visit other villages throughout the day as well. And because there are some businessTUESDAY January 23, 2024

Landscape/Hardscape Contractor

Featured Topics

• My Favorite Project

• Equipment Hyper-Efficiency

• Stone Shaping

• Tips and Tricks for Retaining Walls

Landscape Design/ Landscape Architecture

Featured Topics

• The Art of the Garden

• Design Trends Panel

• Cutting Edge Lighting Design

• Design Technology

Management Path

Featured Topics

Green Industry Economic Outlook

• Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

Golf

Featured Topics

• Fertility and Agronomy

• Fungicides

• Golf Course Irrigation

• Superintendent Ignite Sessions/Peer-Sharing

Water/Irrigation

Featured Topics

• In-Depth Workshop: Irrigation Components for Small Systems

• The Basics of Irrigation Design

• Irrigation Technology

• Hot Legal Topics

• Work/Life Balance

• Developing Onboarding and Training Programs

Speaker Highlight

Alicia Rihn

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

2024

JANUARY 23—25

St. Paul RiverCentre

THURSDAY January 25, 2024

Turf, Grounds, & Snow Management

Featured Topics

• Best Practices in Turf Care

• Best Practices in Plant Care

• Emerging Equipment Trends

• Snow and Ice Management

Professional Gardening

Services

Featured Topics

• Enhancement Design

• Pests and Diseases

• Container Design

• Horticulture-Centric Maintenance

Management Path

Featured Topics

Green Industry

Economic Outlook

• Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

Garden Center/Grower

Featured Topics

• Gardening Trends – What’s Coming Next!

• New Plants

• The Soil/Water Relationship

• Increasing Consumer Success

Tree Care/Arborist

Featured Topics

• State of the Tree Care Industry

• Sales and Time Management

• How to Grow Your Tree Care Business

• Tech Talk: Software for the Arboriculture Industry

• Hot Legal Topics

• Work/Life Balance

• Developing Onboarding and Training Programs

Speaker Highlight

Alicia Rihn

University of Tennessee

Institute of Agriculture

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Fluff or Facts: The Role of Data Analytics in Business Decision-Making

Jerry Olson, The Resultants

When you make business decisions using subjective reasoning that’s based on hunches and gut feelings, your outcomes are bound to disappoint. Like baking a cake without knowing and measuring the ingredients, it’s more likely to turn out poorly than positively.

But say you do happen to end up with a positive outcome: well, it won’t be repeatable! You weren’t tracking the data used to create that outcome, and therefore don’t know what recipe you used to make the cake!

That’s where data analytics comes in. Data-driven decisionmaking is defined as using facts, metrics, and data to guide strategic business decisions that align with your objectives and initiatives.

Reliable valid data with good analysis allows you to define your goals and measure your progress using real key performance metrics (KPIs). Most importantly, data takes the emotion out of decision-making. And we’ve found that in business, that’s usually what separates a well-baked success from a half-baked disaster.

How Do I Start Making Data-Driven Decisions?

According to a McKinsey Global Institute survey, data-driven organizations are not only 23 times more likely to acquire customers, but they’re also six times as likely to retain them. They’re also 19 times more likely to be profitable.

With numbers like that, incorporating data analytics into the decision-making process is one of the most important things you can do as a business owner. When choosing which data to include in your decision-making process, here are some key things to consider:

• Does the data relate directly to your goals? Think carefully about which data actually indicates progress toward your overall vision.

• Is the data understandable? Will your team know what the data mean?

• Is the data reliable? Make sure the data actually measures what you think it’s measuring (e.g., the number of sales calls may not be an accurate metric to measure future conversions).

• Is the data timely? Is it measuring something you can currently impact, or is it just a report of the distant past?

• Is the data actionable? Track metrics that you know you can take action on if changes are needed.

When it comes to data analysis, my motto is KISS: Keep it Stupidly Simple, at first. Start by tracking numbers that are readily available at least on a monthly basis. Then ask yourself what you can track within that number weekly. And make sure the data is actionable — can you actually move that number?

What Categories of Data Can I Track?

When it comes to data analytics, monthly financials are a favorite of the business owner. While financials are certainly

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important, they shouldn’t be the focus of your data analysis. You want your data to provide a balanced picture of what’s going on in the organization — not just how profitable it is.

Here are some common types of data you should be tracking: People Data: In today’s tight labor market, having good “people data” can be a game changer. How do you measure whether or not you’ve got the staff you need, both in numbers and in characteristics? Examples include forward-looking staff projections, hiring needs over the next year, and turnover rate. Additionally, you’ll need an objective method of tracking staff performance.

Rear-View Mirror and Windshield Data: Rear-view data are indicators of things that have happened, like last week’s sales number, last month’s turnover data, trailing four weeks of time-to-hire, etc. On the flip side, windshield data looks at what’s coming for the business and can include sales/customer visits, future projections of orders for the next quarter, and any kind of marketing data such as numbers of leads or social media impressions.

Data That Reports on Functions: Every part of the operation should have some data that they’re tracking to make decisionmaking more objective. At The Resultants, we often talk about the “three-legged stool” on which every business sits. The legs include sales, operations, and finance/administration. You should be tracking data that paints a balanced picture of each of these functions. Find a few key data points in each that measure progress, and help your decision-making be more objective. Examples of sales data can include average customer lifetime value (CLV), cost of selling, and the average length of the sales cycle, while operations metrics might include through-put or production numbers, COGS (costs of goods sold), and gross margin (often by line of product or service). Additionally, operations metrics that report on quality should also be tracked, including rework, corrective action reports, unbilled time, and other labor costs.

Financial Data: These metrics should include your organization’s balance sheet, P&L statement (especially gross margin), and cash flow. Businesses function better when leaders can predict cash flow, but we often see leadership teams that lack visibility and understanding of this metric. Aim for a full

13-week projection of cash flow and start working toward that by predicting the next two weeks. Then add additional weeks onto the projection. Overhead percentage is another easy, meaningful metric to measure in this category.

How Often Should I Be Tracking & Reporting Data?

The best way to approach data tracking is to figure out what data you’re going to track, at what frequency, and in which format (preferably the format that tells the clearest story). It’s important to note, however, that the optimal frequency with which an organization tracks data will depend on the type of business you’re running, as well as what your product or service is.

For example, if monthly data is important to you, I’d suggest tracking a trailing four-week average. A good starting point, however, would be to track weekly data. This frequency allows you to respond quickly to any changes that arise.

Trending data (tracking data by the quarter, or every 13 weeks) can also be critical. Trending data illuminates “trends” that you might miss looking only at weekly or daily data.

For example, you could say, “Wow, we did $40,000 of production today. I feel good about that.” But four weeks ago the numbers were at 43, and the week after that was 42, and the week after that was 41… Sure, you might feel good about 40 now, but if you aren’t trending that data, you’ll miss a big-picture problem that needs your attention.

Final Notes from Jerry:

A note about accountability: Each member of the leadership team should be responsible for tracking the data in their area. They might not do the actual tracking or reporting, but they should at least understand the data enough to know where to get it and make objective decisions with it. (There’s nothing worse than being in a leadership meeting and having a supervisor shrug their shoulders when asked about their department’s data!)

So, ditch the guesswork, hunches, and gut feelings — they have their place in this world, but in business decision-making, they make for some unsavory results. Data analysis, on the other hand, will make sure the cake is well-baked, every time.

Jerry Olson is a Business Advisor with The Resultants. The Resultants are a business advisory team that advocates for the best interest of your business, using a process that has proven time and time again to help companies build value and achieve personal and professional success. In addition, The Resultants have provided instruction and curriculum for MNLA’s Green Industry Leadership Institute (GILI) for the past seven years. To learn more about Jerry and The Resultants, visit www.theResultants.com.

NEW SCOOP COMING

In January, MNLA will be introducing a redesigned Scoop. Our goal is to provide even greater value to you, the member, through this vital communication service. To do that, we need to know what your current needs are! We would like to gather your feedback on how you read The Scoop, which content you value most, and what you wish we would include. Please take five minutes and give us your opinions via a quick 5-question survey found here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ScoopFeedback. If you’d rather forward your comments via email, send those to jon@mnla.biz.

WRITERS WANTED

We’re also looking for members who love to write – members who want to share useful information,

Brianna Burns Communications Coordinator brianna@mnla.biz

The New Scoop

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, The Scoop has recently undergone a redesign. This brings a new look, new feel, and new life into our magazine. Our focus remains on delivering content that benefits you, your company, and your career through a clean design that is easy to navigate. We are thrilled to present this new look and have put great thought into creating a magazine that continues to provide top-ofthe-industry content and design.

Just like Northern Green, which is also getting a refresh, we took a step back to assess our efficiency and effectiveness in delivering topnotch content. To be clear: there was nothing inherently wrong with The Scoop when we began this process. It had an aesthetically pleasing design, accessible information, and fulfilled its purpose. However, we believe that even when things are functioning well, there’s always room for enhancement. If you know why a program, product, or service has great value, you can usually improve on how you deliver that value. In this instance, we wanted to reflect on our current process and design and analyze it for potential improvements.

Life is about continuous improvement, and the journey toward progress begins with being open to change. We dared to question our current process and design, and we thoroughly analyzed it to identify potential areas of improvement. And that’s exactly what we’ve done with the new Scoop — created an upgraded version with your needs in mind.

Change can be hard; it can be a downright challenge. But that doesn’t mean we should shy away from it. We embrace change wholeheartedly because it offers endless possibilities for growth. As we embrace this change, and other changes as they come our way, we also cherish the history of The Scoop, and we promise to continue delivering the quality content you’ve come to expect.

Mountain Pine Beetle

LEGISLATIVE REPORT 2023

MNLA AT WORK ON YOUR BEHALF

The 2023 legislative session was the busiest and fastest-moving session we’ve ever seen. In full control of the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) party, this legislature introduced the most bills in a single year (6,800+), passed the largest budget ever ($71.5 billion in FY24-25), nearly allocated the entire largest surplus ever in Minnesota ($17.5 billion), and passed the largest bonding bill yet ($2.6 billion including cash allocations). This session was also known to be extremely unfriendly to small businesses. Because of all of this, we had to track an unusually high number of proposals throughout the session. Here is a breakdown of MNLA’s goals from the session, and what results were seen.

BUSINESS Duty to Defend

GOAL: Pass a bill that ensures subcontractors are not financially liable for the general contractor’s attorney’s fees if the subcontractor is not at fault.

RESULT: Bill passed

MNLA collaborated with the Minnesota Subcontractors Association and others to end the “Duty to Defend” that required subcontractors to defend the general contractor, regardless of fault. This common-sense change ensures negligent parties pay their own legal fees (including subcontractors) and preserves the right of general contractors to have subcontractors defend general contractors when the subcontractor was negligent.

Paid Family Leave

GOAL: Offer input regarding a bill that establishes a mandated Paid Family and Medical Leave program run by the state through DEED and paid for by a payroll tax of .7% on the employer. (The employer can deduct half of that amount from the employee’s wages.)

TAX

RESULT: Gained time

Several MNLA member business owners and MNLA staff met with the bill’s chief authors and carefully described how our industry would be impacted by this legislation. After a few key conversations, MNLA was able to help move the implementation for this program from 2024 to January 1st, 2026.

Sales & Use Tax

GOAL: Reform Minnesota sales and use tax related to landscaping, irrigation, and snow & ice removal services.

RESULT: TBD

Under the current system, green industry business owners are subject to constant tax audits due to the complicated nature in which Minnesota taxes these services. MNLA-proposed reforms make the system much easier to navigate and will remove burdens on small businesses caused by unnecessary complexities.

TAX

NEW TECH ADOPTION

Synthetic Turf Systems

GOAL: Assist a member experiencing a zoning roadblock when proposing installation of a synthetic turf system where there would otherwise be exposed soil.

RESULT: Resolved

Aside from passing and blocking legislation at the legislature, our Government Affairs team works year-round offering resources to help members resolve zoning, permitting, and local ordinance matters.

Gas to Electric

GOAL: Stop a bill that bans gas-powered landscape equipment and mandates use of electric zeroemission equipment in an unrealistic timeframe.

RESULT: Stopped bill, gained time

MNLA staff met with the bill’s chief author right after introduction of this bill, describing how detrimental the time restrictions in this bill would be to our industry. He agreed to not move the bill this session. MNLA is collaborating with the National Association of Landscape Professionals and equipment manufacturers to present a more workable plan. The proposed timelines are too fast a transition for commercial users.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Salt & Liability

GOAL: Liability protection for snow and ice removal professionals who implement best practices to protect the environment through less salt use.

RESULT: Bill passed committee

MNLA supports legislation to restrict the use of indemnification and hold-harmless clauses in snow and ice contracts, used to compel snow and ice contractors to shoulder all liability from slip-and-fall lawsuits, which incentivizes cost at the expense of safety and the environment.

Wood Waste Disposal

GOAL: Gain funding for disposing of ash wood waste with District Energy.

RESULT: $35 million approved

MNLA submitted a letter of support and spoke with Committee Chairs to express our support for more options for wood waste disposal.

Pesticides Preemption Removal

GOAL: Minimize the impact of a bill that would allow localities to regulate the sale and use of pesticides.

RESULT: Limited the impact

MNLA supports science-based regulations and the scientific expertise of career regulators at the state and federal level, versus politicians at the local level where resource and scientific expertise may be limited. MNLA was able to limit the impact of this legislation to “cities of the first class” (those with more than 100,000 residents, namely, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Duluth).

THANKS TO OUR MNLA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM SPONSORS:

MNLA LEGISLATIVE REPORT 2023

Employee Spotlight: Logan Leonard Sargent’s Nursery Garden Center

By Katie Mills Giorgio

Anyone who has wandered around Red Wing, Minnesota, and remarked on the beautiful planters and moss baskets for which the city has become known has Logan Leonard to thank. Leonard is the Annual Production Manager at Sargent’s Nursery Garden Center, a fixture in the Red Wing community since 1928. In his role with Sargent’s, Leonard oversees the efforts to beautify their community with flowers each summer.

“This year I grew 280 moss baskets for downtown Red Wing,” he said. “Plus, there are 82 planters that I designed, and we planted around downtown.” On top of that, this year Leonard designed and organized plants for 22 gardens within the city parks system. All of which was installed the week before Memorial Day, making it a particularly zany time of year for Leonard and his coworkers at Sargent’s.

Designing moss baskets and gardens with annual plants wasn’t something Leonard set out to do, however. While Leonard has worked for Sargent’s since 2006, when he was still studying horticulture at Dakota County Technical College, he didn’t start out as a grower. He first worked in landscape installation.

“I was planning on working in landscape design because that is what I thought I liked,” said Leonard. “The horticulture program is broken into three departments and greenhouse production was one that I had never thought about. But it turns out I really liked that part of this work.”

The internship requirement for the program led him to Sargent’s landscape installation team from April through August of his first year in the program. He enjoyed it so much that he went back during year two. There, the garden center shoe fit, if you will; Leonard was hired at Sargent’s full-time after that.

“It has always very much been like a family,” Leonard said of working at Sargent’s. “It’s a small family-owned business and they treat everyone that way. I work with great people. It’s a great team to be part of. I’ve been here since I was 18 so I’ve been doing a lot growing personally, too. It’s a great place.”

Today, as Sargent’s Lead Grower, Leonard organizes, plants, grows, arranges, and combines thousands of beautiful annuals each year, including ordering and planning for the next growing season.

“It is really fun for me to see the greenhouse fill up and then to see people come in–new and returning customers–to the greenhouse to see what we have growing and taking plants home, seeing the greenhouse empty and seeing things planted around town. It’s very cool.”

Just as many residents and visitors admire Leonard’s floral designs, his coworkers are inspired by his efforts as well. “We are so impressed by the work he has done,” said Sarah Blue, Landscape Designer and Perennial Manager at Sargent’s. “We think his story can be inspirational for others in our industry.”

Sargent’s Nursery Garden Center

We’re digging EVERGREENS and offer…

Nominations Open for 2013 Friend of the Environment Award

The MNLA Friend of the Environment Award honors an MNLA-affiliated company or individual for outstanding environmental efforts, a personal commitment to environmental protection and enhancement, or demonstrated leadership on a specific environmental issue in their field of work. The application is now available online at www.MNLA.biz. Nominations are due in the MNLA office no later than October 1 and must be accompanied by a signed letter of support from the nominator. Support documentation and/or an essay are also encouraged. The MNLA Awards & Nominating Committee, made up of past MNLA presidents, selects a winner from among the nominees. If you have questions, please contact the MNLA office at 651-633-4987 or visit us online at www.MNLA.biz.

Proper plant selection is critical to long-lived, healthy and sustainable landscapes, and understanding the planting site itself its soil, light, moisture, exposure, and size — is crucial to choosing plants that will thrive. The Plant Elements of Design selection program will help you find plants that match the conditions of your landscaping site. This extensive database of plants includes photos and care information you can use with your clients. Go to www.landscapeplants.extension.umn.edu to try it today!

Being a young professional, Leonard said he would encourage others thinking about getting into the green industry to be open-minded. “People should very much be open to any of it,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting this part of it, this journey, so be open to those experiences and say yes to try any of it out. Greenhouse production was never on my radar. This industry is very big and there are a lot of different roles that you can play within it.”

As far as his role goes, not only does Leonard keep his team busy during the spring and summer and planning for the year ahead, his creative thinking in the greenhouse has led to new opportunities in the colder months too.

“Logan has been instrumental in organizing fall and winter container classes and sourcing materials to provide our customers with on-trend seasonal containers,” said Blue. “Keeping our retail greenhouse running in the winter is a big expense. But Logan has organized efforts to transform it into a sunny escape for our customers. It came about during Covid, when fortunately garden centers could stay open, but has turned into a real draw for our community.”

“It’s more of an experience to come and visit the greenhouses,”

Leonard said of their cold weather months. “We try to display the plants to make it more of that experience and switch it out and make it like an indoor park or a place to wander during our long winter.”

Leonard has also planned succulent garden planting classes, container gardening for spring and fall, and moss basket classes for customers to come in and design and plant their own smaller version of the moss baskets adorning downtown Red Wing. “We do those in the very beginning of April, grow them here, and then people come back and pick them up in mid-May,” Leonard said.

Whether working directly with customers, creating an inviting environment in the greenhouses, selecting and growing stunning annuals, or preparing moss baskets for his community, Leonard relishes the opportunity and looks forward to bringing his creativity to life each growing season. His work at Sargent’s continues to blossom.

Interested in being profiled in the Scoop? Our writer is always looking for a good story. Email brianna@mnla.biz to be considered for inclusion.

Sargent’s Nursery Garden Center

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How To Be a More Inspirational Leader

Steve Keating, LeadToday

Whenever I ask people in leadership positions where they need the most help, I hear, “I need to be more inspiring,” or “I need to help my people be more motivated.” These are common responses. So, the reaction I get when I ask, “What are you doing about that?” is most often crickets!

Becoming a more inspiring leader requires a combination of personal qualities, effective communication, and the ability to motivate and empower others. Here are some key steps you can take to enhance your leadership in a way that inspires those around you.

Lead by example.

This one is huge. Whether you are a great leader, a crappy leader, or somewhere in between, you lead by example. Your people are always watching you. They are watching to see if your words line up with your actions. They are watching to see if the “rules” that apply to them also apply to you. They are watching to see if they can trust you. They are watching to see if you are worth following. They are always watching. Inspiring leaders demonstrate the qualities and behaviors they expect from their team members. You must be a role model who embodies integrity, passion, commitment, and a strong work ethic. When others see your dedication and positive attitude, they are more likely to be motivated and inspired to follow suit. Never forget, your people will do what YOU do about a thousand times faster than they will do what you say.

Communicate your vision.

Clearly articulate your vision and goals to your team. Frequently. Help them understand the purpose and significance of their work. Provide context and explain how their contributions fit

into the bigger picture. Effective communication helps create a shared sense of purpose and inspires people to work towards a common goal.

Be a good listener.

Actively listen to your team members and show genuine interest in their ideas, concerns, and feedback. In fact, don’t just show genuine interest, BE genuinely interested. Encourage open and honest communication. Create an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. By considering different perspectives, you can make better-informed decisions and inspire trust and respect among your team.

Provide meaningful feedback.

Offer constructive feedback and praise when appropriate. Recognize and acknowledge the accomplishments and efforts of your team members. Regularly provide guidance and support to help individuals grow and develop their skills. When people feel their work is appreciated and receive guidance for improvement, they become more motivated and inspired.

Foster a positive work culture.

Cultivate a positive and inclusive work environment where individuals feel safe to express their ideas and take risks. Encourage collaboration, teamwork, and creativity. Celebrate successes and create opportunities for team-building activities. A positive work culture promotes enthusiasm and inspiration among team members.

Empower and delegate.

Trust your team members and empower them to take ownership of their work. Delegate tasks and responsibilities,

allowing individuals to grow and develop their skills. Provide the necessary resources, support, and autonomy for them to succeed. When people feel trusted and empowered, they become more motivated and inspired to achieve their best.

Develop your emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and effectively relate to others. Developing emotional intelligence helps you connect with your team on a deeper level, show empathy, and navigate challenging situations with grace. By understanding and responding to the emotions of others, you can inspire and motivate them more effectively.

Continuously learn and grow.

Stay curious and committed to your own personal and professional growth. Seek opportunities for learning, whether

through books, courses, seminars, or mentors. A leader constantly evolving and expanding their knowledge inspires others to do the same.

Authentic Leaders help people succeed. They help common people achieve uncommon results by pushing them toward their full potential. Authentic Leaders know the way to success, they show the way to success, and most importantly, they go the way to success.

Remember, inspiring leadership is a continuous journey that requires self-reflection, adaptability, and a genuine desire to positively impact others. By embodying these principles, you can inspire and empower your team to achieve greatness together. That is the essence of Authentic Leadership.

Steve Keating has over 30 years of sales and sales leadership experience and speaks around the work on topics relating to leadership, sales, customer service, and business management. He can be reached at stevekeating@leadtoday.net.

330G Skid Steer

• Rated Operating Capacity: 1362 kg (3,000 lb.)

• Gross Horsepower: 68.0 kW (91.2 hp)

• Net Horsepower: 66 kW (88.5 hp)

• Operating Weight: 4495 kg (9,900 lb.)

60G

Compact Excavator

• Net Power: 39.6 kW (53 hp)

• Max Digging Depth: 3.77 m (12 ft. 4 in.)

• Operating Weight: 6180 kg (13,620 lb.)

NATIVE PLANTS

MN Dept of Ag. approved plant production “pollinator friendly” Wildflowers, Grasses, Sedges, Rushes & Ferns

Wholesale native plants in 4” pots.

NEW! Some of our natives will now be available in jumbo square pots from mid-June through the growing season. All native plants are tagged and bar-coded for retail sales.

WHOLESALE BEDDING PLANTS

Annuals, Baskets, Herbs, Vegetable Plants & Certified Organic Plants also available. Wholesale Minnesota hardy perennials in 18 count trays.

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Greenhouse 25132 250th Ave. Glenwood, MN 56334

Phone: 320.634.0136

Fax: 320.634.3931

Email: glacridgegrowers@aol.com

Website: www.glacialridgegrowers.com

Are Your Meetings Necessary or Are Meetings Your Nemesis?

Kit Welchlin, Welchlin Presentations

We attend so many meetings, often going from one meeting to another to another, hardly getting a chance to get anything done. Do we have to have so many meetings? It is estimated that there are over 11 million meetings held in the United States every single day, and not all of them at your organization. Some of those meetings are for results and some of those meetings are just out of habit. Before you call a meeting, determine whether a meeting is necessary, be clear about the reason for the meeting, review exactly whose attendance is required, and clearly announce decisions made and actions expected.

Necessary or Not

There are some advantages to having meetings. Having meetings will allow for discussion, sharing of conflictive opinions and suggestions on how to solve problems. Having meetings is much

more personal than email or text messaging and can enhance team building and cohesiveness. Having meetings also allows for two-way communication with the benefit of immediate feedback and the richness of nonverbal communication.

Having meetings allows the person who called, or is running the meeting, to find out immediately whether the message is understood and how it is being interpreted and received. And finally, all listeners receive the same information at the same time without delay or any other organizational factors having any distracting impact.

Have meetings for results. Don’t just have meetings out of habit. Don’t forget, meetings are expensive, the direct costs of the payroll of people attending, and the indirect costs of decisions

and actions not being taken while people are sitting in meetings. It’s okay to have meetings, just make sure it is worth it.

Good Reasons for Meeting

You can call a meeting for one or more of the following reasons. You can call a meeting to share information. Give out information that needs clarification and discussion, or to present an explanation from a particular expert. Progress reports and project reviews help people come to a common understanding or a collective judgment.

You can call a meeting to receive and give advice. Often it is easier to give advice than receive it. The purpose of this type of meeting is to create something new: a policy, a strategy, a target, a plan, or a procedure. Come ready for the contribution of ideas, opinions, experience, knowledge, and judgment. You can call a meeting to discover and solve problems and make decisions.

You can simply have a meeting to define the team or redefine the team and build and maintain morale. Working together is a social event, and meetings like these provide everyone a chance to reconnect and enjoy the sense of a collective identity. You can meet to sell ideas and seek change in the organization. And finally, you can call a meeting to train people. For instance, you could hire me to come into your organization and train people by providing seminars on professional development topics.

Make sure you know why you are calling the meeting. Nothing drains morale more quickly than attending a meeting that seems to have no purpose. Here’s an idea, call a meeting when you really need a meeting.

Attendance Required

Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether your attendance is essential or optional. A thorough meeting notice would help. It would be great to receive a meeting notice that has the details for the meeting. A good meeting notice would include details like the date of the notice, the date of the meeting, the start time, the end time, the meeting location, who called the meeting, and the phone number or email address of the person calling the meeting.

Ideally, we would expect to receive a list of meeting objectives. Insist on an agenda that lists the topics and the activities related to the topics: information giving, brainstorming, problem-solving, decisionmaking, team building, the activity leader, and the time expected for each item.

Make sure you know why you are calling the meeting. Nothing drains morale more quickly than attending a meeting that seems to have no purpose. Here’s an idea, call a meeting when you really need a meeting.

There should also be guidelines concerning the preparation required of participants for the meeting, including information or materials participants should bring to the meeting, along with audiovisual needs. It would be great to list the names of people whose attendance at this meeting is essential and a list of people whose attendance is optional but who should at least be informed that the meeting is taking place. Great meeting notices guarantee great meeting results. Take a few minutes

and improve your meeting notices and provide details of the upcoming meeting to make sure it is a good use of all the participants’ time.

Results from Meeting

It is everyone’s responsibility to jot down notes during the meeting to make sure they don’t miss important information or future tasks or activities for which they are accountable. There should be a meeting summary and action plan distributed immediately after the meeting. I call these instant minutes.

Whoever is assigned to keep minutes can create a summary report with action plans. This format will provide a structure for easy note-taking and follow-up procedures. The meeting summary should highlight the meeting subject, who called the meeting, the meeting date, the start time, the end time, the person responsible for the minutes, and their contact information. There should be a list of the participants to send minutes to, and a list of others who need to be informed and receive a copy. There should be a list of key points of discussion along with the outcomes and accomplishments.

There should also be a list of actions to be taken, the people responsible for those tasks, and when the tasks need to be completed or progress reported, and the date and time of the next meeting with preliminary agenda items. Having a meeting should be just the start of making things happen. Clear and concise minutes provide participants guidance for effective execution of ideas and decisions.

Kit Welchlin, M.A., CSP, is a professional motivational speaker and author and can be found at welchlin.com.

Benefits of MNLA Membership

What do I get when I join?

1. Advocacy

MNLA has nearly 1,000 member-businesses whose unique voices combine to speak loudly in legislative affairs, and the larger MNLA is, the louder our collective voice. Our advocacy program exists to protect your business’ interests in government affairs.

2. Credibility

Enhance your marketing power by identifying your company with the leading regional Green Industry organization. Plus, earning the MNLA Certified Professional credential provides instant credibility with your clients and distinguishes you from the competition.

3.

Connections

Network with your peers and connect with industry professionals who understand your situation. Many members report finding “just-in-time” answers to nagging questions. Sometimes your best resource is a colleague who has gone before you. Join the journeys of other owners or employees who face the same challenges you do.

4. Education (with special member rates)

Members enjoy special rates to attend Northern Green and other educational programs, including licenses and certifications your company is required by law to maintain. The Green Industry Leadership Institute is available for MNLA members only. Plus our library of free online education and our partnership with Greenius helps you save money while training your crews.

5. Information

Members stay up-to-date on industry news and issues with access on MNLA. biz, in MNLA eNews, and The Scoop. Vital industry information on trends, research, marketing, and regulatory compliance gives you an edge in a competitive market.

6. Partnerships (that save you money)

We’re proud to partner with multiple organizations to offer members discounts on vehicles through Chrysler; fuel discounts and more from Holiday/Circle K and Kwik Trip; discounts on legal services through Zlimen & McGuiness; discounts on green industry training via Greenius; discounts on garden center pop-up trays; and more. It all adds up!

MNLA Membership Bottom Line Impact

Benefits gained and protected over MNLA’s history of green industry advocacy $3,300

Savings on one Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler vehicle

Savings of 7¢/gallon on 5,000 gallons of fuel

Free two months of Greenius with customized implementation

Free initial legal consultation, and discounted legal fees from Zlimen & McGuiness $325

Member rate savings on Education Events ($30 x 2 events)

Member rate savings on Northern Green registrations ($20 x 3 tickets) $60

TOTAL $7,244

“MNLA did a great job of lobbying for and informing all garden centers during the initial phases of Covid shutdown. We all tried to do our part, but I know that a strong and healthy association like MNLA is essential to the well-being of all our industry businesses.”

David Lewis, Sargent’s Nursery, Inc., Red Wing

“In spring 2020, the Governor and state officials heard from our industry loud and clear, which brought about the changes we needed. Just like any business decision, you have to stick with who has supported you in the past, and MNLA has proven themselves as a valuable partner.”

Tony Yost, Twin City Lawn Maintenance, Shoreview

When ill-advised Covid-19 policy threatened your business, MNLA made sure policymakers knew you were essential.

Help us to be ready to fight for you the next time.

In the spring of 2020, it became clearer than ever how essential a strong, professional association is.

NEWS & NOTES

• Assisting your mentee in developing a career plan with realistic and achievable goals.

• Helping your mentee learn about career options and connecting them with networking opportunities.

• Including your student in professional activities and encouraging your student to explore new areas.

2023-2024 CFANS Mentor Program

The 2023-2024 CFANS Mentor Program will be a hybrid program including in-person and virtual events, workshops, panels, match meetings, and networking opportunities. The application deadline is October 2, 2023 and will run from November through mid-May.

About the Program

Each year the CFANS Mentor Program, hosted by the CFANS Alumni Society, matches approximately 200 students and postdocs with alumni and industry professionals who share valuable career insights and guidance. Through this award-winning program, students and post-docs explore possible career paths, learn how to build their professional networks, and enhance their professional skills. The CFANS Mentor Program welcomes all enrolled students — undergrad, graduate, and post-doc, and professionals — alumni and non-alumni — from CFANS-related fields to apply. All applicants are intentionally matched to help mentees achieve their professional goals, led by the experience and wisdom of their mentor.

Expectations and Time Commitment

CFANS Mentors are asked to:

• Commit to mentoring one student during the academic year: from November through mid-May.

• Connect with your student virtually or in person once a month for one hour.

• Offer a half-day job-shadowing opportunity for the student or connect the student with a colleague/professional if jobshadows cannot be accommodated in your workplace.

• Provide guidance and support by sharing personal and professional experiences with your student.

• There is no expectation that internships or employment will result from this experience.

Your Role

You do not have to fulfill every possible function of a mentor to be effective, but it is important to let your mentee know what kind of information or support you are willing to provide. Some ways you can support your student include:

• Offering general career advice, including resume/cover letter review, informational and practice interviews, and professional development suggestions.

• Following up on commitments made to the student and notifying them if you are unable to attend scheduled meetings.

Getting Matched with a Student

Matches are based on the available students in your area of expertise, student and mentor preferences as indicated in the applications, and the date mentor applications are received and/or updated. We make every attempt at matching the student’s major and interests with the mentor’s area of expertise whenever possible. You will be notified of your match prior to the Kick-Off event.

To apply, visit https://cfans.umn.edu/alumni/mentor-program.

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