Nursery & Landscape Notes Summer 2016 by North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association

Summer 2016 | Vol. 50, No. 3

Publication of the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc.

Nursery Landscape Notes &

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Summer 2016 | Vol. 50, No. 3

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RESEARCH UPDATE Reclaimed Wastewater: An Untapped Green Industry Resource 43 Investigating Two Biochars in Soilless Substrates

New Members

Calendar of Events

Advertiser’s Index

Housing Outlook 2016 Part 2: NC Housing Market Overlook - Charlotte

Cash In On Charlotte’s Building Boom

The Queen City is the second-fastest expanding metro area among the nation's largest cities

What’s the Word from Washington?

NCNLA Executive Vice President Corey Connors caught up with Craig Regelbrugge, Senior Vice President – Industry Advocacy & Research at AmericanHort, to get the scoop from inside the Beltway.

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 3

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NCNLA Staff Corey Connors Executive Vice President Cody Lewis Director of Finance & Administration Kaley Jacobs Manager of Marketing & Communications Judi Neff Manager of Member Services Nursery & Landscape Notes is published quarterly by the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. especially for nursery production, nursery research, interior and exterior maintenance and design build contractors in the landscape industry. The publication is distributed to approximately 1200 horticulture producers, landscape professionals and industry suppliers. NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES is provided as a member service.

2016 NCNLA Board of Directors Brad Rollins, President Fairview Garden Center Raleigh, NC

Hugh Crump Greenline Designs Charlotte, NC

Chad Gragg, Vice President/Secretary/ Treasurer Robert M. Gragg & Sons Lenoir, NC

Lynn McCleneghen Parker Landscape Services Cary, NC

Kirk Davis, Past President Patterson’s Nursery East Charlotte, NC

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Jamie Thomas Swift Creek Nursery Clayton, NC

Dr. John Dole NC State University Raleigh, NC

Shanon Spivey Spivey's Nursery, Inc. Kernersville, NC

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Advertising

For Advertising rates and content submission, contact the NCNLA office for a Marketing Opportunities Kit. 919-816-9119 ext 102 Kjacobs@ncnla.com The including of products or brand names in this publication is not an endorsement by the editor, or the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association.

Purpose Statement

NCNLA's purpose is to be a flexible, knowledgeable, responsive, environmentally-conscious organization providing the nursery and landscape industries with leadership, technological and business advancement opportunities, and information services.

Goal Statement

NCNLA's ultimate goal is to benefit its members’ economic, professional and personal growth

NCNLA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

NCNLA Member Benefits — What’s Your Sales Pitch?

henever I meet a new member of our industry I always ask them if they are members of NCNLA. If they are not, I will give them the “sales pitch.” Folks always want to know what kind of benefit they get from membership. It is easy to sell something you are passionate about, and for me that is the investment NCNLA makes into horticulture research and scholarships. The research piece has directly affected my company’s bottom line. One example of this is Dr. Steve Frank’s ambrosia beetle research. Simply by better managing our irrigation of trees here at the garden center, it has saved us thousands of dollars. We do not have the dead loss of trees damaged by ambrosia beetles, do not have to purchase insecticides and save the cost of the labor it takes to preventatively spray for the beetles. We are irrigating less, while saving water, time and money.

“Folks always want to know

Dr. Frank’s research gave us a pretty simple solution to a problem that was costing us a lot of time and money. That is just one of many research projects that has helped us.

what kind of benefit they

NCNLA annually awards scholarships to horticulture students. It is important to me to invest in these young people, as they are the future of our industry. School is not cheap these days and the average graduate of a four-year college finishes with $35,000 in debt. Easing some of that financial burden by awarding scholarships to deserving students will only make our industry stronger in the long run.

are passionate about, and

get from membership. It is easy to sell something you for me that is the investment NCNLA makes into horticulture research and scholarships.”

NCNLA is working now to create sustainable means for continuing its support of research and scholarships in the future. Just this past fall, the Board of Directors created the NCNLA Scholarship Fund, which has been designated as the Larry D. Edwards Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of the founder of Turtle Creek Nursery. NCNLA also is working on restructuring the memorandum of understanding for its endowment with NC State University. Once the endowment is fulfilled, we will have tens of thousands annually for research funding in perpetuity. I am a member of NCNLA for many reasons, but these are the ones that I feel the most passionate about. How about you? When you meet a prospective new member, what is your “pitch”?

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 5

Supporting North Carolina Agriculture for 100 Years

NCNLA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

An Uphill Battle

fter 14 years in Washington, DC, the majority of which were spent serving as representative for our industry before the federal government, my family and I were very excited to begin a new personal and professional adventure here in the state of North Carolina. The opportunity to serve this industry in a different capacity, to work hands-on with the folks that I came to know and admire during my time as an advocate for members of both the American Nursery & Landscape Association and the Society of American Florists, was a tremendous gift. I haven’t had a single regret about leaving since I got the call. And even though I no longer have the pleasure of commuting three hours to and from work every day on the Beltway, I still do my best to keep an eye out for policies emanating from both DC and the state government in Raleigh that might have an impact on the industry. Fortunately, it’s not as difficult as it could be given the strategic partnerships that NCNLA maintains in the advocacy arena. NCNLA is a long-time partner of AmericanHort’s Lighthouse Program, a grassroots and federal policy information network of 45 state nursery & landscape associations across the country. In every issue of Nursery & Landscape Notes, we share the latest news and potential federal legislative and regulatory issues to keep an eye on from our partners in Washington, DC. More importantly, this partnership provides NCNLA members access to insight you can use to develop sound compliance strategies that allow you to operate within the parameters of federal law.

Call us about financing for: • Equipment and nursery stock • Buildings and fences • Land and lots • Homes • More Farm Credit knows a thing or two about lending, and we’re a friend you can depend on. We’ve been a stable source of financing to North Carolina agriculture for 100 years. Whether it’s financing for your nursery business, land, a lot or a new home, we know your needs are as diverse as the landscape across our state. Call us. We’re the experts.

This quarter’s feature story, my interview with long-time ANLA/AmericanHort policy guru Craig Regelbrugge, is just a small window into the broad specter of laws and regulations that impact our members courtesy of officials up Interstate 95. Craig, as always, was thoughtful and provided a peek into the mind of an advocate working to achieve positive results for our industry in the roiled waters of Washington. More than a handful of folks that know him have asked how I thought Craig can still be able to tolerate the gridlock and chaos of DC after 20+ years of doing it day in and day out. Well, I asked him, so be sure to check it out. At the state level, NCNLA is a founding partner and remains the largest supporting association of the North Carolina Green Industry Council. When an unprecedented statewide

Thanks to the investment that NCNLA members make in supporting the GIC through their dues dollars, our industry enjoys an excellent reputation throughout Raleigh for being thoughtful, good partners that collaborate to find reasonable solutions.

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Because after the rhetoric subsides, after the ballots have been counted and after the talking heads on TV are turned off for the evening, folks in this industry are working hard to make a living.

drought threatened draconian water restrictions back in 2007, the GIC served to unite our state’s green industry associations under one umbrella to more effectively represent and protect our industry’s interests. The GIC’s swift collaboration and effectiveness became the model by which other states throughout the green industry sought to gain an improved representative voice in their state capitals. Nearly 10 years on, the GIC continues to represent our industry admirably. For example, last year’s changes to North Carolina’s Sales & Use Tax included provisions that would require collection of sales tax for landscape services provided by certain types of businesses across the state. As if that weren’t enough of a challenge, North Carolina’s new Landscape Contractors License was one of more than 50 occupational licensing Boards in the state that was being considered for elimination by the same General Assembly that passed it into law not even two years prior. The GIC’s lobbying team, including Mark Peters and Doug Chapman as Legislative Committee Co-Chairs, Executive Director Calvin Kirven, and GIC’s lobbyist Dick Carlton, went to work to ensure that our industry’s voice was heard as the General Assembly opened its 2016 short session. As of press time, potential resolutions to and clarifications of these issues are trending towards a more favorable position for our industry. Thanks to the investment that NCNLA members make in supporting the GIC through their dues dollars, our industry enjoys an excellent reputation throughout Raleigh for being thoughtful, good partners that collaborate to find reasonable solutions. As beneficial as these partnerships have been to NCNLA and its members, I am hopeful that our organization can find ways to bolster to our advocacy efforts. Whether it’s the growing patchwork of ill-conceived landscape ordinances found locally across our state, or the need to provide members with more tools to figure out how best to comply with state and local laws that most immediately impact their operations, the number of obstacles that stand in the way of operating your businesses profitably seems to grow by the day. Because after the rhetoric subsides, after the ballots have been counted and after the talking heads on TV are turned off for the evening, folks in this industry are working hard to make a living. I believe that it is NCNLA’s responsibility to ensure that our members are free from the artificial, government-imposed impediments that threaten their ability to do just that.

Certified Plant Professional (CPP) is a North Carolina certification administered by the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association (NCNLA). Certification recognizes proficiency in the nursery workforce, upgrades the status of the nursery professional, and provides the public with a means of identifying qualified nursery professionals. To become a CPP, an applicant must: n

Pass a two-part exam – comprised of a written test and a plant identification test.

Document 12 months of experience in plant production.

Upcoming CPP Test Dates: n

September 15 - Asheville

October 7 - Fayetteville

October 27 - Greenville

For more information on CPP & CYPP, please visit ncnla.com 8 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

QUALITY FIELD GROWN SHADE AND ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS Birch • Crape Myrtle • Cryptomeria • Cypress Holly – Single Stem Tree Form and Full Form Magnolia • Maple • Oak • Osmanthus • Red Bud and more

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GREEN& GROW N’ January 16-20, 2017 Greensboro, NC

greenandgrowin.com SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 9

NCNLA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

IN MEMORIAM

Five Minutes with Phil Campbell of Campbell Nursery

With sadness, we say goodbye to two members of our industry family.

Jesse L. Israel 1924-2016

Phil Campbell talks to a local garden club. Helping people learn about flowers and plants is one of the things she loves about her job. Campbell Road Nursery offers a wide diversity of annuals and perennials to retail and wholesale customers. Contract-grown product for landscapers is another big part of the business.

Carlton and Phil Campbell with grandchildren Taylor and Grayson.

Campbell Road Nursery, Inc. Raleigh, NC

the trailers, taking care of all the watering, fertilizing, checking heaters, repairing pumps and irrigation pipes, supervising employees and draining pipes. I tell my employees that I have never asked them to do anything that I have not already done.

Owner Margaret “Phil” Campbell Products/Services Grower of annuals and perennials. Contract grower for landscapers. Years in Business 25 Employees 25

What led you to a career in the green industry? I learned to love gardening when I spent many weeks in the summers with my grandparents in Alamance County. We had cows, grew our own tomato plants in the ground under an old window that we could open and shut as they got bigger, cut hay with a mule, and learned to grow and can our own food. There were porch boxes on my grandparents’ porch, along with a great porch swing. I loved to water my granny’s flowers and watch them as they came back from being dry from the day before. My dad also loved to grow azaleas and camellias, so I guess as they say I came by it honestly. I graduated from NCSU later in life and was about to start working in the State Park System when our son David had a traffic accident that left him handicapped. I knew I should stay close to home, so I began volunteering for our neighbor, Steve Worthington, at Campbell Road Nursery. I loved growing flowers and working with our customers so in 2003 we purchased the nursery.

What are your main responsibilities at Campbell? I am now the owner of the Campbell Road Nursery Retail and Wholesale Centers, with all of the responsibilities that accompany that position. It is actually a 24-hour a day job. Since 1991 I have done every job that running the nursery requires — planting, loading 10 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

I continue to be involved with our customers — greeting them and helping them fill their orders; as well as being involved in the maintenance of the nursery. The business consumes about 12 hours of my time every day. However, I always make time to go to my grandchildren’s games or attend their special programs at their school — otherwise my day wouldn’t be complete.

What are your main products/services?

“Relationships with my employees and our customers are important to me.”

What has been most rewarding part of your career?

I was so honored to be recognized by my peers as Grower of the Year and to receive the Libby Wilder award. It — Margaret “Phil” Campbell has also been extremely rewarding to have some of my employees for over 20 years and to know that we are like family to each other. Relationships with my employees and our customers are important to me. I also enjoy spending time helping garden clubs and other groups learn about new plants and gardening.

Past NCAN President Jesse Israel passed on January 28, 2016. Mr. Israel was a graduate of Asheville Normal College. Like many young men of his time, he joined the U.S. Navy at 17. As a distinguished Navy veteran, his achievements were celebrated during an Honor Flight from Asheville to Washington, DC in May 2011. Upon returning home from war and marrying his wife, Betty, the couple lived on the family's seven-generation farm in Candler and he became immersed in the growing of plants and the natural world. In 1968 they opened Jesse Israel and Sons Nursery. In 1982, along with his sons David and Lonnie, he opened Jesse Israel and Sons Nursery & Garden Center at the WNC Farmers' Market in Asheville. He continued to grow plants for the garden center with the help of his daughter, Janet, until his retirement in 1996. Mr. Israel is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Betty, two sons and one daughter, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

My most challenging times involve making sure that I have everything ordered and planted and grown for our preorder customers, and that the plants look great.

Campbell Road Nursery is known for having great quality plants and a wide diversity of annuals and perennials. We also contract-grow for a large number of landscapers in North Carolina. Our retail center is extremely successful with the help of Lane Snelling, our manager for many years, our new manager Gerald Adams and the many other employees who help us out.

What do you see as the best benefits of belonging to NCNLA?

We pride ourselves on our service, and our customers love us for it. If we do not have exactly what they are asking for, we will take the time to help them find something that will work for them. That just happened to me in early May, during a rainstorm. The customer left so appreciative of our help as well as the quality of our plants.

Work for another company before starting your own. It is one way to discover what area you are most suited for.

Being a member of NCNLA has offered me many opportunities. I do not have much time to go to meetings at Green & Growin,’ but I never miss the trade show. It is important to be there to share time and ideas with others in the field and to find new products.

Do you have any advice for someone who is trying to start a career or a business in North Carolina’s green industry?

When setting your business up, take things one day at a time and surround yourself with good people for support. I have an excellent banker and accountant. They help me make good decisions when I am too busy to think it through.

Rachel Christy 1934-2016 Rachel Smith Christy, loving wife, mother, and friend, passed away on Sunday, April 24, 2016, Together with her husband, Rachel owned and operated Christy’s Nursery, a Concord landmark for more than fifty years. Prior to joining Steve in the nursery, she owned a hair salon called Christyle Beauty Shop. In both businesses, Rachel fostered an environment of generosity, service and friendship. She is survived by her husband of sixty-two years, Steve Christy; a son, Ralph S. (Chris) Christy, Jr., MD., and his wife, Kay; a daughter, Mari-Ann Allen; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, George H. Smith; a large extended family and many dear friends.

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 11

NCNLA VENDOR SPOTLIGHT

You’re Invited to the… Eastern NC Landscape and Nursery Field Day and Product Demonstration

Casey Nursery, Inc.

Jericho Farms 380 Washington NW Pikeville, NC 27863 (919) 242-8297

Tuesday, August 23, 2016 The company’s booth at Green and Growin’ — “NCNLA’s annual Marketplace is so effective,” says Lee Casey. “We haven’t seen a need to participate in out-of-state shows.”

An arial view of the main farm at Casey Nursery.

Top: Left to right Larry Watson, Amy Dill, Lee Casey, Hunter Casey. Bottom: One of the nursery’s propagation houses.

8:00 am to 9:00 am 9:00 am to 10:00 am 10:00 am to 11:00 am

Casey Nursery, Inc. Goldsboro, NC

When Casey Nursery, Inc., started, container material took up just two of its 32 acres in Goldsboro, NC. Everything else was field grown. Today container-grown product represents some 65% of its 100-plus acre operation.

Key Customers

11:00 am to 11:30 am

Casey’s core customer base includes landscape contractors, garden centers, and re-wholesalers from South Carolina to Maryland.

11:30 am to 12:00 pm

Past, Present, Future

Business Philosophy “High quality product and great service equal exceptional value,” says Casey. “We hope to develop lasting relationships.” The company emphasizes speedy delivery, quality goods and open communications to ensure fast, fair resolution of any issues that may arise.

Years in business 89

1927: Founder, L.R. (Luby) Casey grew and sold fruit and nut trees to pay his way through Guilford College. After teaching and working as a school principal for several years he resigned and started Goldsboro Nursery on Highway 70 West, on the present site of Casey Garden Center. Fruit trees, nut trees and roses were his main crops, along with some specialty floral crops.

Number of Employees 25 full time employees and six seasonal workers

1952: Luby’s son, Martin Casey, took the reins and expanded the operation to include more landscape plants and a commercial landscaping division.

Top Team Lee Casey, President Hunter Casey , Vice President Larry Watson, Nursery Manager Amy Dill, Sales

The company emphasizes speedy delivery, quality goods and open communications to ensure fast, fair resolution of any issues that may arise.

1986: The production side of Goldsboro Nursery was separated, and a wholesale division was formed as Casey Nursery, Inc., with Martin’s son, Lee Casey, as owner.

Chief Challenge Choosing product mix is one of the company’s biggest challenges. “There are so many new introductions that you can’t grow them all, and the market is constantly changing,” says Lee Casey. “It is also so important to be innovative and efficient in your production methods.”

About NCNLA

2010: Lee’s son, Hunter, joins the company after graduating from NCSU, bringing the nursery into its fourth generation of management.

“I’m not sure if my grandfather, Luby, was a charter member or not, but it was close,” says Lee Casey. “NCNLA is a great asset for anyone in the Green Industry. The education, networking and trade show at are second to none. We have never participated in an out-of-state trade show. The Green & Growin’ Marketplace is all we need to move our material.”

Products

Final Thought

1991: Casey Nursery becomes one of the first North Carolina nurseries to include pot-in-pot production.

Casey produces a full line of nursery stock — from groundcovers and shrubs to shade and flowering trees, —from propagation to finished material. This includes container material from 1 gallon to 25 gallon and some field grown material.

12 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

“While the nursery business can be extremely challenging,” Casey says, “I can’t think of anything else I would have rather done. “

12:00 pm to 2:00 pm 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Check-in and Registration Presentation: Dr. Barbara Fair, Landscape Extension Specialist Basic Planting Techniques for B&B and Container Material Presentation: Chris Stanley, Atlantic Irrigation Irrigation: Tools for Effective and Efficient Water Use Presentation: Corey Connors, Executive Vice President, NCNLA Sales Tax and Legislative Update Break Lunch** and Equipment Demonstrations Presentation: Danny Lauderdale, Area Specialized Agent, Nursery/Greenhouse, Eastern Region Proper Pruning Techniques and Root Flares Break Presentation: Dr. Joe Neal, NC State University Weed Management in Container Nursery Crops Farm Tour Dinner**

*Pending CEUs available: Landscape Contractors, Irrigation Contractors and Pesticide.

Please RSVP to Hannah Singleton (hannah@jerichofarms.com) by August 10, 2016 with the names of those planning to attend.

** Those who RSVP will be served first during meals. **

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 13

MEMBER NEWS: CPP/CYPP

Look Who’s Turned Pro

More than 50 people slogged through a rough rainy day of testing at Alamance Community College.

Results from the Spring CPP and CYPP Exams

North Carolina’s green industry gained five new Certified Plant Professionals (CPP) and 16 Certified Young Plant Professionals (CYPP) this spring. Exams were held in April and May at Alamance Community College, Haywood Community College and the University of Mount Olive.

2016 Certified Plant Professionals

2016 Certified Young Plant Professionals

Upcoming CPP Dates

Aaron Adams, Polk County HS

CPP Short Course

Evan Brady, Southern Alamance HS

Hunter Farlow, Southern Alamance HS

Jessica Frisbie, Madison, HS

Victoria Gardner Eastern Randolph HS

CPP Exams

Morgan Hayes, West Columbus HS

Asheville – Sept. 15

Ethan Jenkins, West Columbus HS

Fayetteville – Oct. 7

Morgan Kinney, Eastern Randolph HS

Greenville – Oct. 20

Shanna Langley, Eastern Randolph HS

Hannah Maness, Southern Alamance HS

Carver Nichols, Brevard, HS

Keslynn Pait, West Columbus HS

For information and to register, call NCNLA at 919-816-9119, or visit ncnla.com.

Tripp Parnell, Southern Alamance HS

Jacob Wall, Southern Alamance HS

Heather Williamson, Eastern Randolph HS

Dustin Wilder, Eastern Randolph HS

14 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

Applicants at the University of Mount Olive concentrate on plant identification.

Barbara Freshcorn, Central Piedmont Community College John Hawkins, Alamance Community College Katy Poitras, Katy Wood Landscape Design, LLC Steven Smith, New Hanover County Government Elizabeth Trott, The Unique Plant

NC Arboretum Asheville, NC – Aug. 12 – Sept. 15

Left to right: Aaron Adams, Jessica Frisbie and Hunter Nichols passed the CYPP test April 26 at Haywood Community College.

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 15

By Kaley Jacobs, NCNLA

Cash In On 2 16 Charlotte’s Building Boom

Economic Outlook

he low inventory of real estate has produced high demand in the Charlotte area, making the Queen City the secondfastest expanding metro area among the nation's largest cities, trailing only to Raleigh-Durham. It’s hard to tell when the development boom in Charlotte will end. Experts say if the metro area were a baseball game, Charlotte is somewhere between the seventh and the ninth innings. For the next six months, all factors point to continued growth — which presents promising opportunities for the green industry. What is the current status of the housing market? What is projected for future growth? And what does this mean for green industry businesses? We asked three local housing experts — a builder, a realtor and the head of Charlotte’s Home Builders Association — to offer some perspective. Here is what they had to share. This is Part 2 of our series on housing markets around the state. Watch for Part 3 — on the Greensboro area — in the next issue of Nursery & Landscape Notes.

16 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

Who we interviewed:

Generally speaking, what is current status of the real estate/housing market in the Charlotte area? How are sales for new homes, existing homes? Are more people upscaling instead of selling/buying properties? LEWIS: Charlotte is one of the top 10 markets in the U.S. Both new and existing home sales continue to rise since the recession. New homes are about half of their peak due to the shortage of lots and labor.

Daniel King

Kathryn Lewis

Brian Spiers

Daniel King is a broker/ realtor with Keller Williams Realty Union County. Licensed in both North and South Carolina, King provides real estate services for Union County, NC and the greater Charlotte, NC and surrounding SC area.

Kathryn Lewis, Executive Vice President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte, has worked with associations/non-profits in the residential industry for about 25 years. She has served on the National Association of Home Builders’ Executive Officers Council Board of Directors and is the recipient of numerous NAHB Association Excellence Awards.

Brian Spiers, a third-generation master builder, is the owner and president of Harland Homes. For almost 24 years, he has been building and renovating custom luxury homes for the Greater Charlotte area. Harland Homes has been featured at Charlotte’s HomeArama and is the recipient of many top builder awards, including the prestigious People’s Choice Award.

SPIERS: As a high-end custom builder and renovation contractor, the market is good. About 50% of what the market was at peak (pre 2008 crash). The production builders have gone up in price point to $1,000,000, which affects custom builders. Renovations are still strong as many people like where they currently live. KING: A low inventory of houses to purchase in the Greater Charlotte area has created high demand for homes in one of the fastest growing real estate markets in the country. We are currently in a “seller’s market” that has created a demand for homes (especially in $150,000-$200,000 points). We are seeing an influx of new homes being built on the outskirts of Charlotte to help meet the demand of people moving into the area. This is especially true in Union County. When priced right, pre-existing homes are not lasting more than one day on the market in many cases. I

have spoken with some of my clients and though they are eager to sell, buying another home has become a challenge in their mind as far as timing the move to accommodate their needs when their house sells. This creates a tendency for the potential seller to at least consider re-financing or adding on to their current home to create more space if needed.

What are the main factors driving this? What are your projections/outlook for the rest of 2016? LEWIS: Charlotte has been rated one of the top places to live in the U.S. KING: More and more people/businesses are moving to Charlotte. People want to be in this climate and geographical proximity to everything in North Carolina and surrounding states. Couple that with the Charlotte Douglas International Airport — one of the top 10 hubs in the country. It all makes Charlotte very desirable both personally and professionally. Given the density of the uptown Charlotte area, more people are moving to the suburbs, or surrounding towns that are still within driving distance to their jobs. The completion of I-485 has also played a role in making the decision to live/build in various areas around Charlotte. It creates a quicker route for people to get all over the area from Huntersville to Indian Trail. As people continue to move to the area, we should continue to see the new construction completed and

flourish at least through the end of 2016. This market will shift, and things may slow down just a little, as the market dictates every seven years or so, but it will not change the desirability of the area. SPIERS: Charlotte is on fire. There is new construction everywhere you go. Commercial and multifamily are the hottest. We feel 2016 will finish strongly and easily carry us into 2017.

2016 Building Permits CharlotteGastonia-Concord (NC-SC) Metro Area

How does the Charlotte housing market compare to the rest of North Carolina?

(YTD as of April 30)

LEWIS: Charlotte and Raleigh are close to even and are the top two markets in NC, followed by Greensboro.

Single Family

KING: The Charlotte housing market is not as fast moving as the Raleigh/Triangle area, but compared to the rest of NC it is a much hotter market with people buying and selling to relocate within the Charlotte area.

(+12% over 2015 YTD)

Where is the fastest growth happening around Charlotte right now? What type of construction? SPIERS: The national production builders have taken any piece of land they can get. It has really squeezed the custom builders — we have not had a custom community come on line since 2007. All three markets, Lake Norman, in town and Union county are busy. The road congestion is driving the in town market. Union county is schools and big lots and Lake Norman is a resort location.

4,074,000 Multi- Family

4,004,000

(-17% over 2015 YTD)

Source: National Association of Home Builders

“The empty nester market is booming and they are looking for maintenance free properties.” Kathryn Lewis

18 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 19

LEWIS: The top areas are Fort Mill, Indian Land, South Mecklenburg, Union, North Mecklenburg, and Cabarrus.

Segway O

Fungicide

Greenhouse & Nursery Fungicide #segway_o @OHPSolutions ohp.com (800) 356-4647

PERFORMANCE IN A

CMY

GROUP OF ITS OWN

11,351

(+1.1% over 2015 YTD)

LEWIS: The higher end buyers are looking for more in outdoor living spaces.

(+4.5% over 2015 YTD)

$239,721

SPIERS: We are putting outdoor fireplaces on every home we are currently building. We are either installing pools or setting up for them. At the high end people are not as concerned about maintenance as they are the beauty of the project.

Source: National Association of Home Builders

KING: It’s been said, but bears repeating, that we are not making more land. Price point is going to correlate with the amount of yard a homeowner gets with their house. The newer subdivisions in the $150,000 - $250,000 range are usually going to feature more houses on smaller lots. Which correlates with lower landscaping cost and room for mainly small landscaping projects. As you get into the $250,000 and higher price points you will get more of a canvas (so to speak) that will require more landscaping and maintenance, and give more flexibility for larger projects (i.e. outdoor living areas, in ground pools, etc.

KING: Landscapers and other green businesses would do well to build strong vendor relations or partnerships with real estate firms and builders alike. Getting in front of these potential partners will build recognition throughout the market while helping to keep their marketing budget low.

What opportunities do you see for related green industry businesses in the Charlotte market over the next 6-12 months?

SPIERS: We want to hand over our customer to a full service landscaper that will do everything — bury downspout pipes, fine tune final grade, install irrigation and work closely with buyers to determine plant needs. Take this off the builder. We are not landscapers.

KING: The opportunity for landscapers to partner with active builders in this market will be very prominent over the next 12 months. As the market corrects itself I believe we will see a greater need for curb appeal for those who need to sell their homes. For those who decide to hold on to the homes they have, landscaping and “green life” will be important to the livability of their homes.

How can green industry businesses work more closely with realtors and homebuilders? What kinds of challenges can they help address? SPIERS: We bring in a professional landscape designer on every project. We then get quotes for the owners.

# Units Sold

Average Price

LEWIS: The empty nester market is booming and they are looking for maintenance free properties.

Controls Pythium, Phytophthora and Downy mildew Unique class of chemistry, no cross resistance Vital part of your Downy mildew rotation Spray or drench applications

(YTD as of April 30)

What are the general building trends with relation to landscaping?

SPIERS: Unlimited!

INSECTICIDES FUNGICIDES MITICIDES PGRS HERBICIDES

2016 Existing Home Sales, Charlotte, NC

KING: Union County, specifically Waxhaw, Weddington and Indian Trail are experiencing exponential growth due to land availability and lower taxes. We also see the Steele Creek area in Charlotte experiencing significant growth with the completion of I-485. Waxhaw/ Weddintgon is seeing a lot of new construction in the $300,000 and up ranges. Indian Trail and Steele Creek are finding prominence in the $150,000-$250,000 new construction range.

There are 8,000 realtors in the Charlotte and surrounding areas who act as the as a point person for clients’ needs. The landscaping company or nursery that is top of mind with the realtor when they’re making a recommendation is generally going to get that business, because their clients trust them.

LEWIS: The builder and real estate agent want their home to stand out from other competing homes. Easy to maintain/maintenance-free landscaping would be an advantage and get a home sold faster.

“Landscaping and the green Industry are very important to the housing market and quality of life in general.” Daniel King

“We want to hand over our customer to a full service landscaper that will do everything...” Brian Spiers

Do you have any advice for green industry business owners relative to the current housing market? SPIERS: Enjoy the ride. Everyone is spending on their yards. KING: People want to work with — and refer — companies they trust. Green industry businesses should work hard to build partnerships with builders and realtors. Landscaping and the green Industry are very important to the housing market and quality of life in general. Be ready to prove why I would want to refer your company to my clients. SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 21

What’s the Word from Washington?

espite a seemingly increasingly gridlocked Congress and a lame duck President, it seems that there are no shortage of issues emanating from Washington that will impact every segment in our state’s green industry. In June, NCNLA Executive Vice President Corey Connors caught up with Craig Regelbrugge, Senior Vice President – Industry Advocacy & Research at AmericanHort, to get the scoop from inside the Beltway. Corey Connors: Thanks for the time, Craig. Front of mind with some of our members are revisions to the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard by the Environmental Protection Agency. Can you walk us through some of the proposed changes and what impacts you see on nursery and greenhouse production down the line? Craig Regelbrugge: Sure, Corey. As you know, EPA and other federal agencies are plowing ahead (pardon the pun) with an array of changes to environmental, labor, and related rules in the waning days of this administration. In the case of the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) changes, some take effect in 2017, and some in 2018. The single most popular educational webinar we did last year was on the WPS changes, so it seems growers 22 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

in our industry are taking them seriously. Note that some states already have standards that exceed the federal ones, so some of these changes may already be in effect in certain states. Some of the changes growers need to be thinking about include the following: n

Training Frequency and Timing: Workers and pesticide handlers will need to be trained annually. There will be no grace period where they can work before receiving training if they are to work in an area where a pesticide has been applied or a restricted entry interval has been in effect in the past 30 days.

Trainer Qualifications: Those conducting training will need to be certified applicators, governmentapproved trainers, or persons who have completed an EPA-approved train-the-trainer course.

Recordkeeping: Records must be kept for two years, and given to workers and handlers upon request.

Notification: For treated areas under an REI, must post warning sign if REI is greater than 48 hours (outdoor applications) or 4 hours (enclosed spaces such as greenhouses), otherwise option for posting or oral notification unless label requires both.

Corey Connors NCNLA Executive Vice President

Craig Regelbrugge AmericanHort Senior Vice President – Industry Advocacy & Research

Entry Restrictions during Application: Must prohibit entry into certain areas during application for outdoor production. No entry allowed into treated area or the application exclusion zone, which is an area up to 100 feet area (on property) around the application equipment during pesticide application on farms, forests, and nurseries. The size of the application exclusion zone depends on type of application. In 2018, the requirement kicks in for handler (applicator) to suspend application if a worker or other person is in the application exclusion zone, an area up to 100 feet around the application equipment. Decontamination Supplies: Employers must provide at least one gallon for each worker and three gallons for each handler and each early entry worker as measured at beginning of workers’ or handlers’ work period. For handlers, employer must provide a system capable of delivering 0.4 gallons/ minute for 15 minutes, or 6 gallons of water able to flow gently for about 15 minutes at a mix/load site if handlers use products requiring eye protection or use a pressurized closed system. One pint of water in a portable container must be available to each handler applying pesticides if eye protection is required.

Other changes include changes to personal protective equipment (e.g. Respirators); central posting of hazard communication information and more. There’s no time like the present to begin considering how you will adopt the necessary changes to be in compliance beginning next year. Connors: Ag workers are treated differently than non-ag workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), particularly as it pertains to wages and overtime pay with the FLSA Agricultural Workers exemption. In May 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule on new federal overtime requirements that could prove problematic across certain segments in our industry. Two-part question here: First, can you remind us about how the FLSA ag exemption applies (i.e., is every employee at an ag facility covered, or just certain employees)? Second, is there any possibility that this rule is delayed or thrown-out before the December 1, 2016 effective date? Regelbrugge: Just about the only good news with the new overtime rule is that it does NOT affect the agricultural exemption, which many of our nursery and greenhouse members rely on. The ag exemption is statutory, and so the DOL does not have the

“The single most popular educational webinar we did last year was on the WPS changes, so it seems growers in our industry are taking them seriously. Note that some states already have standards that exceed the federal ones, so some of these changes may already be in effect in certain states.” Craig Regelbrugge

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 23

“The new minimum salary threshold for the “white collar” exemption goes up December 1. It basically doubles, to $913 per week, or $47,476 per year. Many of our retail and landscape members and our associations themselves will be affected.” Craig Regelbrugge

discretionary authority to change it. So long as a company is engaging only in activities that fall within the ag definitions, the exemption applies to both production workers and to support (e.g. office) staff. However, there are compliance tripwires in our industry, because so many businesses are diversified. So for example, if a nursery routinely buys plant material from others to merely resell it, the ag exemption may be lost on a per-worker, per pay period basis for any workers handling that material. And, the status of office support staff could get muddied too. So the watchword is caution. The new minimum salary threshold for the “white collar” exemption goes up December 1. It basically doubles, to $913 per week, or $47,476 per year. Many of our retail and landscape members and our associations themselves will be affected. There are bills pending in Congress (S. 2707 and H.R. 4773) that would require DOL to perform much more detailed impact analysis before the rule could take effect. Don’t hold your breath though for Congress to move these bills or for this President to sign them. We’ll see what next year brings. Connors: While in-state consumption of our products should remain strong with the state’s population growth and sustained development, NC’s role as a

24 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

strong chlorophyll resource throughout the national industry’s supply chain is just as important to our success. Besides regional economies and weather, perhaps one of the most limiting factors for continued growth in interstate commerce are pests, diseases and associated quarantines that affect plant quality and movement. What is the latest on the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the work they’re doing to facilitate interstate movement of healthy plant material? Regelbrugge: APHIS, the states (through the National Plant Board) and industry (AmericanHort and Horticultural Research Institute) are collaborating on a pilot program called “Systems Approach to Nursery Certification” or SANC. This program applies principles that are well established in the food processing sector, to identify sources of hazards in the production process, and “critical control points” where best practices can be applied to prevent or contain problems. Think about processing beef. It’s all about taking certain precautions or actions at each step to make sure the consumer won’t have E. coli in a hamburger. SANC is being piloted in eight growing operations, and the pilot will be expanded soon. Looking ahead, this could be

the biggest change in plant health and pest prevention in horticulture in a century. Connors: The pollinator issue remains a big one, particularly within states who are fighting battles in legislatures across the country. To its credit, NCDA&CS was out in front of the issue and has done a good job addressing concerns from both the producer and consumer side. What is going on with pollinators at the federal level? And since state laws seem to travel across like a common cold virus in winter, what are you seeing at the state level that might be cause for concern? Regelbrugge: At the federal level, the big question is whether emotion will trump science, or not. On the science end, EPA is in the midst of a series of pesticide risk assessments for pollinator impacts. While the neonics like imidacloprid and dinotefuran are at the forefront, EPA is calling for data on 76 active ingredients – mostly insecticides, but also some fungicides and herbicides. This is important because often, when a grower says, “I’ve reduced or eliminated neonics,” they might be using more synthetic pyrethroids. But those too are under the microscope, and a recent study found pyrethroids in bee-collected pollen at higher concentration than neonics.

Interestingly, the first such preliminary assessment resulted in a higher-than expected threshold for harm, meaning, EPA did not see adverse effects of imidacloprid in honey bees until concentrations reached 25 ppb for residues in nectar. Many had been concerned that the threshold may have been lower, like 10 ppb. So that is good news. But on the emotion side, activists continue to push their corporate campaigns to convince mass retailers to essentially ban neonics in the marketplace, the science be damned. Unfortunately, some have. For us, this isn’t about defending neonics per se; it’s about ensuring that science is what determines the tools we have in the plant production and landscape management toolkit. In terms of state battles, they are raging in many places. One common theme is around mandatory labeling requirements. Maryland went further than most, moving to ban neonics for most consumer uses (they will continue to be available for certified applicators). Many other states are allowing the EPA process, and the effort to develop state managed pollinator protection plans, to run their course. Ohio and Illinois are two states where the push for legislation has been held back for now.

“While in-state consumption of our products should remain strong with the state’s population growth and sustained development, NC’s role as a strong chlorophyll resource throughout the national industry’s supply chain is just as important to our success.” Corey Connors

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 25

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Connors: The more I talk to members across North Carolina, the more it seems folks have stopped holding their collective breath when it comes to waiting for Congress to act on immigration reform. There are two general areas of agreement: 1) the current system is broken, and 2) it needs to be fixed. The devil, as always, is in the details. But rather than talking about potential solutions as you’re so often asked to do, I want to take a different tack. In your mind, what conditions (economic, political, etc.) need to exist for Congress to take up immigration reform? Regelbrugge: I think that the biggest impediment to progress on sensible reform has been the growing political polarization in Washington. This polarization has many causes. For instance, the fact that most House districts are “safe” in general elections for one party or the other means that House members fear a challenge from someone who is “purer” in their own party more than they fear a general election challenge. So everyone plays to his or her base in the primaries. Secondly, there’s no more Walter Cronkite telling everyone “the way it is.” Rather, most folks tune in to “news” sources that present things the way the listener wants it. And, in Congress, you don’t have the camaraderie that used to exist in, say, the days of Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill, who could fight like cats and dogs during the day but break bread together in the evening. I have always believed that the best environment for reform is one in which each side gets some things it wants and can tout, and each side swallows hard and accepts some things they don’t like. This strange concept is called “compromise!” It used to be how things got done. On this issue, both sides ultimately need to make hard decisions that aren’t popular with some element of their base. For Republicans, that means the hard-bitten anti-immigrant far right and groups like Numbers USA. For Democrats, good reform will rankle many of the labor unions.

26 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

As things are going, Republicans have a massive demographics problem. Asian Americans used to lean Republican and they don’t anymore. Hispanics should be a natural constituency, but rhetoric has driven many away. The November election could be determinative toward forcing a reckoning with the demographics problem, or maybe not. We’ll have to play the hand we are dealt and take the long view. Connors: A follow-up — federal policies obviously have a substantial impact on employment practices. Proponents of immigration reform also cite that public policy can also affect availability of affordable labor in certain industries (like ours). But in a future world in which a sensible immigration reform package never reaches the finish line, what do you see as potential alternatives that can keep this industry running? Regelbrugge: Given the present state of things, we’re spending a good bit of time and effort seeking to protect the seasonal visa programs we now have – H-2A and H-2B. Yet even if Congress were to pass major immigration reforms, I think the future is one in which employers will need to use every tool in the toolkit. That means mechanization and automation to reduce labor needs and improve jobs. It means tapping non-traditional labor sources like returning veterans and refugees. And hopefully, our society will seize the opportunity to reprioritize vocational education and apprenticeship programs. Together with some of our partner organizations, we are involved in several initiatives with the goal of attracting more people into our industry. We can’t survive without water, and we can’t survive without human talent.

Regelbrugge's thoughts on Immigration Reform: “...I think the future is one in which employers will need to use every tool in the toolkit, including: Mechanization and

automation to reduce labor needs and improve jobs.

Tapping non-traditional

labor sources like returning veterans and refugees.

We (as a society)

seizing the opportunity to reprioritize vocational education and apprenticeship programs.”

Connors: Yet another issue that garnered headlines in our industry was the Waters of the United States rule issued by EPA. It’s been relatively quiet on that front since the federal circuit court issued a nationwide stay on the matter. When will the proverbial WOTUS dam break? Regelbrugge: The WOTUS battle is now in the courts, and I think it’s likely that the courts will have the last SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 27

“We take the long view. It’s about policy, not politics. Reputation is everything. And lastly, so much of our work these days is with agencies, with the research community and so forth. So we are busy and accomplishing things despite the frustrations with Congress.”

word. The several pending cases may be grouped together and heard in the 6th Circuit. The case could be resolved there, but if it ends up in the Supreme Court, a split 4-4 decision may result unless a ninth justice is confirmed.

long view. It’s about policy, not politics. Reputation is everything. And lastly, so much of our work these days is with agencies, with the research community and so forth. So we are busy and accomplishing things despite the frustrations with Congress.

Connors: I can’t say enough, again, how much I appreciated the opportunity that ANLA provided me to represent this great industry in Washington, DC. Clearly, that opportunity and my exposure to this industry is why I am here today. I have both you and Bob Dolibois to thank for that. That said, I can’t fathom operating effectively as an advocate for this or any other industry with what’s been going on inside the Beltway in the last 19 months since I went from registered lobbyist to regular citizen.

Connors: Last question about politics and the 2016 election. Just going to leave this one open-ended and ask: what happens in the next 18-52 months?

Craig Regelbrugge

Regelbrugge: Well, a perfectly candid part of the answer is having a way and a place to regain perspective and recharge. For me, my escape is my home in Virginia’s Northern Neck. I’ve tripled the size of my vegetable and berry garden over the last half dozen years, and now grow most of my own food (not easy as a weekend warrior)!

You’ve been in the arena much longer than I could possibly tolerate. What the heck is going on up there? And how do you deal with it?

But I would also say – and you know this first-hand – it’s about keeping true to a set of core values. We take the

Regelbrugge: Well sir, I’m hoping for a good year for the industry, a prodigious harvest in my garden, and maybe peace on earth. If we don’t get all of the above, then let’s accomplish what we can. The election will bring what it will bring and we will have clarity in any event. We’ve got annual appropriations cycles to consider. We have a Farm Bill cycle between now and 2018 (Farm Bill has become a major deal for our industry in terms of research, pest prevention and other goals). The nation faces major issues that should be dealt with, like immigration reform and tax reform. We have plenty to care about in both. And Corey, there is one more thing. We have a whole new generation of folks in this industry who are its future. Some were exposed early to how important it is for the industry to be involved and well represented at the local, state, and national levels. Others, less so. It’s our job to engage and involve the next generation. They may not yet know it, but their future success depends on it!

INDUSTRY NEWS Labor Concerns Top NCGIC’s Proactive Legislative Agenda The North Carolina Green Industry Council actively monitors key legislative and regulatory issues. GIC representatives meet with state legislators and department officials as often as needed to further green industry objectives. During its March 15 meeting, the GIC board was asked to identify current issues impacting each NCGIC member. A majority of the answers revolved around labor — its availability at all levels, the absence of viable career paths, compliance (human resources, benefits), and immigration. The board agreed all industry issues — including water, taxes, funding, permitting, etc. — remain important. It decided to focus on addressing labor concerns and proactively pursue policies that will shape a brighter future for all green industry businesses. NCGIC currently monitors and meets with officials regarding three ongoing issues:

Tax on Services

GROWERS OF SUPERIOR QUALITY WOODY ORNAMENTALS PLANTS, SHRUBS, AND TREES

The Tax on Service bill was passed last session, but the law lacks clarity on compliance. This is an important issue for all North Carolina businesses, not just those in the agricultural industry. The National Federation of Independent Businesses North Carolina and Retail Marketing Association have been fighting for clarity and parity since the law passed. NCGIC has been actively working on this issue throughout this legislative session and is hopeful the law will be fixed soon.

Water Permitting The NC Environmental Management Commission’s (EMC) Water Allocation Committee is once again discussing a statewide water-permitting program. The program would require anyone using 100,000 gallons of water in one day to have a permit. Municipalities that are convinced a permitting system is the only way to meet future needs are leading the discussions and influencing new EMC members to drive their agenda. The GIC board believes this effort undermines the work the agriculture industry has done with municipalities to reduce outside water use as well as voluntary 28 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

“Time and time again legislators have told us they appreciate the green industry’s focus,” said Dick Carlton, NCGIC lobbyist. “NCGIC’s efforts have given the green industry a beneficial spot at the policy table.”

NCGIC president Chris Mitchell of Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply and Vice President Conrad Hayter of New Garden Landscaping & Nursery led discussions on 2016 legislative priorities at the March 15 board meeting.

water plans the industry has implemented since 2010 that protect the rights of landowners to use land water as they see fit.

County Fertilizer Licensing The North Carolina Soil & Water Conservation Association is talking with the Department of Environmental Quality about changing current legislation that negates local entities from making permits/licenses, so it can pursue legislation to require a county permit or license to spread fertilizer. The legislation language is based only on Durham County research and disregards homeowner use. The agricultural industry diffused previous discussions about this type of permit — and the NC Department of Agriculture, and NCGIC will be working to do so again. If you have any ideas or want to help move public policy in favor of the green industry, contact NCGIC at 919-372-1586 or info@ ncgreenindustrycouncil.org.

Green Industry Update NCGIC in 2016: Proven and Proactive Smart Irrigation Month... Irrigation and Landscape Contractors’ Licensing... Energy Saving Landscapes...for more than a decade The North Carolina Green Industry Council (NCGIC) has proven its value to the green industry. It has employed programs and advertising to promote the value of green industry products, and provided a united green industry voice to local, state and federal legislators. That voice fought for favorable legislation – and defeated unfavorable legislation – and brought the industry together during a time when businesses were dealing with the hardships of drought, fuel prices, and the recession.

To keep the green industry’s voice strong, the NCGIC Board will continue to track issues vigilantly and keep members informed. Members need to be prepared to participate and help with grassroots efforts — by making phone calls, writing letters and meeting with legislators — when called upon. The 2016 NCGIC Board meeting on March 15 began with a review of ongoing issues and a determination to re-evaluate costs, refresh procedures and reestablish a proactive approach to legislative policy. The Board’s goal for 2016 is to keep improving the value of NCGIC for members and the green industry as a whole.

Licensing Victory

Twenty-one people from the NCGIC network attended an April 5 hearing of the Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee to impress the importance of irrigation and landscape contractor licensing. The Committee’s work was tabled until after the short session. Thank you to all members who attended. This is a small victory, but licensing remains a concern and will need your continuous support. NCGIC will continue to fight to preserve licensing and professionalism in the green industry.

A Talk with Senator Thom Tillis

In February, NCGIC Legislative Co-chairs Mark Peters (Piedmont Carolina Nursery), Doug Chapman (Plantworks Nursery), Buddy Murrow (Baucom’s Nursery) and Dennis Niemeyer (Carlton Plants), took a whirlwind road trip to Washington DC to meet with long-time NCGIC supporter Senator Thom Tillis. They discussed the election, tax on services and provisional driver licenses in NC during the hour-long, casual meeting. Senator Tillis continues to be a NCGIC ally, especially on immigration reform.

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 29

INDUSTRY NEWS

Four NC Schools Compete in 2016 NCLC

he 40th Annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition (formerly Student Career Days) took place March 16-19 at Mississippi State University. Hosted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals annual three-day competition and networking opportunity is for students enrolled in interior and exterior horticulture programs at two- and four-year colleges and universities from across the country. Participants included more than 770 students from 62 colleges and universities representing the top horticulture programs in North America. Four North Carolina schools sent teams to compete. Here are highlights.

The ACC Team (left to right): Zach Webster, Sean Brady, Paul Linn, Derrick Jones, Paul Gulledge, Matt Case, Hannah Williams, Kassidy Williams, Matt Richardson, David Loflin, Jacob Bost, Nate Parker, Caleb Fox, Elizabeth Trott, Christian Rudd, Mark Feehan, Janie Robbins, John Hawkins (kneeling).

Alamance Community College

The ACC team earned 2nd place among two-year colleges and 10th place overall. Second-year student Matt Case took multiple honors including 3rd overall; 1st in Small Engine Repair and 3rd in Skid Steer Operation. Team member Paul Gulledge won top honors in the Landscape Lighting competition. Other ACC student honors: n

3D Exterior Landscape Design — Paul Linn (6th)

Compact Excavator Operation — Nate Parker (8th)

Computer Aided Landscape Design — Jacob Bost (4th)

Employee Development — Elizabeth Trott and Hannah Williams (10th)

Irrigation Assembly — Jacob Bost and Matt Case (6th)

Irrigation Design — John Hawkins (6th)

The NCSU team (left to right), Front row: Ethan Garner, Stormie Valentine, Ethan Mason, Kristin Neill, Allison Blanchard, Peyton Daly. Middle row: Alana Farris, Brittany Bell, Grace Manzer, Natasha Poteet, Justin Morgan, Max Alff, Alex Burnette, Kaitlynn Paxton, David Denton. Back row: Grant Hahn, Nathan Gantt, Professor Lis Meyer, John Nix, Kevin Foushee, Zack Spence, Travis Black, Dustin Black. Not pictured: Professors Barb Fair & Lee Ivy.

North Carolina State University

The 22-member Horticulture Competition Team from NCSU took 7th place overall. The following students placed in the top 10 in their events: n

Woody Ornamental ID — Jake Scott (1st), Peyton Daly (2nd)

Wood Construction — Jake Scott and Dustin Black (3rd)

Sales Presentation — Stormie Valentine (3rd)

Exterior Landscape Design — Justin Morgan (8th)

Interior Landscape Design — Ethan Garner (8th)

Turf and Weed Identification — Kaitlynn Paxton (4th)

Landscape Maintenance Estimation — Justin Morgan (4th)

Small Engine Repair — Grant Hahn (6th)

30 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

Paul Gulledge (ACC) was the 1st Place winner in Landscape Lighting. SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 31

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The SCC Team stopped to visit horticulture-related businesses along the way to and from the competition.

NCSU students generate funds for this experience by designing and installing landscapes in the Raleigh area. This year, two NCSU livestock units received a facelift and a local landscape benefitted from a cleanup and coating of shredded hardwood mulch. Financial and other support came from generous members of the green industry. On the way to the competition, the group stopped for recreational team building at the National Whitewater Center and visited Gibbs Gardens during the height of the daffodil bloom.

Sandhills Community College

Led by Mr. Jim Westmen (who has been to all 25 years of SCC competitions) and Mrs. Johanna Westmen, the SCC team took first place in the Arboriculture competition and 19th overall. The school has participated in NALP's NC Landscape Competition for 25 years. “It is such an amazing opportunity for students to see the scope of our industry and to network with businesses across the US,” said Dee Johnson, Coordinator of Landscape Gardening at SCC. “Students also get to see other students doing what they do and know that this is a viable career for them.” On their way to and from the event, the SCC team visited businesses in other horticulture-related industries.

WCC Team, Left to right: (standing) Instructor Tori Cardea, Maggie Walker, Brittany Rugg, Paul Matthews, Derek McCoy, Instructor Mindy Herman, Brandon Smith and Josh Richardson (kneeling) Instructors Donna Riddle and Rebecca Smith.

Wilkes Community College

This was the second time WCC has participated in the competition. “Considering this was the first time most of our students took part in these competition events, I think we really left a good impression with the organizers and judges. We certainly learned a lot on this trip so that we can participate more effectively in the future,” said Donna Riddle, lead instructor of Horticulture Technology. Those representing Wilkes Community College were Maggie Walker, Winston-Salem; Brittany Rugg, Taylorsville; Paul Matthews, Ferguson; Derek McCoy, Hamptonville; Brandon Smith, Wilkesboro and Josh Richardson, West Jefferson, along with instructors Donna Riddle, Rebecca Smith, Tori Cardea and Mindy Herman.

SCC 's Maurice Wilke.

WCC’s Maggie Walker and Brittany Rugg participated in the irrigation assembly competition.

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 33

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Provided by NCNLA and AmericanHort as a Lighthouse Program partner benefit. For the latest information about these and other federal legislative concerns, visit www.AmericanHort.org

H-2B Day of Action AmericanHort’s staff and some of its members were on Capitol Hill on May 18 supporting the H-2B Workforce Coalition’s lobbying day in Washington. They met with Congressional leadership as well as their own senators and representatives to urge Congress to extend the H-2B returning worker exemption and H-2B regulatory relief through fiscal year 2017. The fiscal year starts on October 1, but House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees are now beginning to draft bills to fund the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security. Anti-H-2B groups are lobbying hard against the returning worker exemption. They are spreading misconceptions about the availability of domestic seasonal labor, the number of H-2B visas used, and the treatment of H-2B workers. We are doing all we can to make sure Congress understands that the H-2B program is vital to law-abiding seasonal businesses who use H-2B workers to supplement their American work force during peak seasons.

Downy Mildew Research Collaboration Yielding Results Many greenhouse and nursery plants are susceptible to downy mildew disease; most notably viburnum, rose, and basil have recently been identified as being regular hosts to a downy mildew. Impatiens downy mildew (IDM), caused by Plasmopara obduscens, has perhaps received the greatest attention in the green industry in recent years. 34 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) allocated more than $425,000 in special Farm Bill funds to continue studies on the detection and mitigation of downy mildew on impatiens, cucurbits, hops, and basil in FY 2016. Several researchers across the U.S. are involved in this project and convened a phone call in early May to share key findings from 2015. AmericanHort was invited to participate as well, because it represents growers, garden retailers and landscapers. This group of researchers has formed a comprehensive research collaboration that includes a breeding program for IDM resistance, discerning the life cycle and disease cycle of P. obduscens, developing an early detection method for greenhouses, and an evaluation of fungicide control options.

OSHA Final Rule on Electronically Reporting Workplace Injuries The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has published a final rule to “Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses” (the “Rule”). OSHA first proposed the Rule in 2013, held meetings about it, and received hundreds of comments. The Rule will change how employers record and report workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths to

OSHA. The general information that is already required to be reported to OSHA will not change, but the amount of data submitted will vary based on an employer’s number of employees. The reporting requirements will be phased in over the next several years. OSHA State Plan states are required to adopt their own requirements that are “substantially identical” to the federal requirements in the final Rule within six months.

Advancing U.S. Canada Regulatory Cooperation AmericanHort participated in a U.S.Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) stakeholder meeting, held at the Canadian embassy in Washington, DC, on May 5. The RCC was established by the Obama and Harper administrations in 2011 with a goal of improving coordination and streamlining regulations on both sides of the border. The RCC is working on several items of interest to the horticulture industry, including revising the US-Canada Greenhouse Certification Program, harmonizing post-entry plant quarantine in the two countries, implementing “e-certification” or use of electronic phytosanitary certificates, and implementing international standards governing the movement of wood packaging (like pallets) moving in bilateral trade. AmericanHort senior vice president for advocacy and research, Craige Regelbrugge, spoke SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 35

Use any pre-paid mailer provided by an H-2A petitioner primarily to send the receipt notice.

Send the final decision notice (such as a Notice of Approval or Notice of Denial) in a pre-paid mailer ONLY if the H-2A petitioner provided a second pre-paid mailer.

Continue to send all other notices regarding an H-2A petition, including any Requests for Evidence, by regular U.S. mail.

USCIS revised how it processes pre-paid mailers for H-2A petitions in recognition of stakeholder interest in expediting the delivery of receipt notices for this very time-sensitive classification. This change is limited only to H-2A petitions.

Immigration Bill Breaks New Ground e-Approval for H-2A Petitions After a very challenging spring for many H-2 seasonal visa program users, we are making a bit of headway on improving the bureaucratic approval process. Two of the three agencies involved – Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS), have announced the launch of USCIS/ DOS e-Approval for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for the H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) classification. The new electronic process went into effect on May 11. It allows USCIS to send approval information for H-2A petitions to DOS by the end of the next business day. DOS will accept this electronic information in place of a Form I-797 approval notice and allow its consular posts to proceed with processing an H-2A nonimmigrant visa application, including conducting any required interview. Coinciding with the launch of USCIS/DOS e-Approval, on May 11 USCIS began using 36 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

On April 20, Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced “The Willing Workers and Willing Employers Act of 2016,” S.2827. The bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for a new “H-2C” non-immigrant classification, for foreign workers coming to the U.S. to provide temporary, non-agricultural labor. Different from the existing seasonal or skilled temporary visa programs, this 10-year pilot program would allow workers to be admitted to fill year-round jobs that do not require a college degree. An H-2C visa would last up to 36 months. The visa could be renewed. Notably, the H-2C pilot would apply only in “full employment” counties and metropolitan

The program would have an initial visa cap of 65,000, but that cap could float between a base of 45,000 and a limit of 85,000 based on prior year demand for visas. The fine print includes many more specifics.

INDUSTRY NEWS

By Bridget Lassiter, PhD, Weed Specialist North Carolina Department of Agriculture

Be On the Alert for Ornamental Cogongrass!

So, where is this all headed? Sen. Flake, a border state Republican, has planted a flag in the debate at a place and time that few have been willing to do. While the near-term odds of movement of this bill are estimated at “one percent,” Sen. Flake appears to be in it for the long game.

Pollinator Research Investments Bearing Fruit News about bees and bee health is still making headlines, and sorely needed research results are finally starting to emerge. In early May, a symposium was held for researchers at Penn State University to share early results. AmericanHort was invited to attend. The Center for Pollinator Research at Penn State is comprised of a group of 25 faculty members dedicated to studying pollinator health and conservation. Their research projects are diverse and comprehensive, varying from a project using beehives to mitigate crop damage by elephants in Kenya to developing a pollinator garden at the Flight 93 memorial site. This information comes close on the heels of the newly released, preliminary annual bee loss report from the Bee Informed Partnership. Winter and summer colony losses in 2015/2016 were higher than 2014/2015 but still (just barely) below the 10-year average. Winter loss was estimated around 28 percent, with total colony loss around 44 percent. Poor varroa mite control was implicated, with poor nutrition and pesticides listed as possible contributing factors. These numbers are based on a survey of over 5,700 US beekeepers, funded by USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM WHITE, NC FOREST SERVICE

Some of the most destructive wildland and urban forest pests attacking U.S. and Canadian forests, nurseries, and landscapes got here hitching a ride on wood packaging. Emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle top the list, but there are others.

Under this change, H-2A petitioners may now submit two pre-paid mailers if they want to expedite delivery of both the receipt notice and the final decision notice. Any submitted pre-paid mailers for H-2A petitions must still meet the same requirements for their use with other forms and classifications. Until further notice, USCIS will:

areas where the unemployment rate in the fiscal quarter during which an application is submitted by an employer is equal to or less than 4.9 percent.

Cogongrass infestation in pine trees.

RICK IVERSON

Some trade interests have questioned whether the measures are needed; however, USDA and CFIA claim that pest interception data justify the requirements. USDA scientists believe that limited changes to the time and temperature regime used to kiln-dry lumber used in pallets would address pest concerns.

pre-paid mailers provided by petitioners to send out receipt notices for H-2A petitions. This is a change from standard processing at USCIS service centers, which normally used pre-paid mailers only for final decision notices.

PHOTO BY CHRIS EVANS, COURTESY OF BUGWOOD.ORG

out at the listening session that concluded the meeting. Regelbrugge urged USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to move forward on implementing the wood packaging safeguards in the two countries. When implemented, all wooden pallets and other packaging moving between the two countries will need to be heat-treated or fumigated to control woodboring pests.

Red Baron, an ornamental variety of Cogongrass, has been prohibited for sale in NC since October, 2008.

ogongrass [Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv] is an aggressive invasive species in the Southeastern US. It is a native to Korea, Japan, China, India and tropical eastern Africa, and was intentionally introduced into the United States in the early 1900’s for forage and soil stabilization. There are two known introductions into the US, one from Japan into Alabama in 1912 as packaging material in Orange Trees (Citrus reticulata) and the other from the Philippines into Mississippi in 1921 as a forage grass. More than 1,000 acres of cogongrass were planted for livestock forage and soil stabilization in Florida in the 1930’s and 1940’s.

Dangerous Competitor

Cogongrass is considered one of the top 10 weeds in the world because it has the potential to alter the function, structure and diversity of our ecosystem. It competes with native plants for light, water and nutrients, and increases mortality of young trees in forest situations.

Cogongrass in Scotland County, NC. December, 2015.

What You Can Do See something? Say something! If you see a wild infestion of Cogongrass, or have questions about it, contact the NCDACS at 1-800-206-9333 or newpest@ ncagr.gov Download this. A field guide prepared by the US Forest Service, the University of Georgia and the Georgia Forestry Commission is available at (http:// bugwoodcloud.org/mura/cogongrass/assets/File/cogongrassid.pdf).

Cogongrass is not a good source of food or habitat for wildlife due to the high silica content in its leaves and dense, sharp rhizomes. The grass also burns very hot, which creates dangerous conditions in forest fires and can kill young pine trees during controlled burns. Ornamental varieties of the grass [I. cylindrica var. koenigii (Retzius)] are cultivated and sold under the common names ‘Rubra,’ ’Japanese Bloodgrass’ and

Cogongrass has the potential to alter the function, structure and diversity of our ecosystem.

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 37

‘Red Baron.’ These varieties are considered non-invasive, sterile and desirable due to the red leaves. However, under the right conditions, there is evidence that the ornamental varieties produce viable seed, and revert to the green, invasive, form of cogongrass. These reversions have been found in Maryland, South Carolina and Missouri.

Banned But Not Gone

Due to these reports, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture began prohibiting the distribution, propagation or nursery cultivation of the ornamental varieties of cogongrass in 2008. While NC prohibits the sale of cogongrass, many other states do not. It is periodically shipped from outside the state and found for sale in NC nurseries. Cogongrass is both a state and federal noxious weed, and it has infested many of the southeastern states. The “epicenter” of infestation occurred in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, and has reached as far north as North

Carolina. The first NC infestation was found in Pender County in 2012, then Stanly County in 2013, and Martin County in 2014. All of those sites were treated with herbicides and/or fire, and are considered eradicated (although they are still checked for new populations at least once each summer). A fourth infestation was discovered in a Scotland County loblolly pine plantation in December 2015 by the NC Forest Service. This infestation is a large patch (roughly half an acre) and has likely been in place for five or more years. Eradication of cogongrass at this site is planned for late summer 2016 by using a combination of herbicides and fire.

Reducing the spread

While the seedhead is the most identifiable part of the plant, it can be found and identified during any part of the season by its rhizomes, and off-center midrib. Cogongrass reproduces from seed, rhizome expansion and rhizome fragments and is wind-pollinated. All of the North Carolina populations

BEST PRACTICES

thus far have had sterile seeds, so it is thought that the introductions have come from contaminated soil (possibly carried on heavy equipment) rather than seeds.

Applying the Principles of Self-Leadership

Proper sanitation practices can go a long way in reducing the spread of invasive species (not just weeds, but also insects and diseases). Don’t forget to clean your shoes and the tires of your vehicle when working and traveling in new areas. If you would like to grow and plant an ornamental grass with red leaves, consider switchgrass (Panicum virgatum); there are several cultivars available including ‘Shenandoah’, ‘Dacotah’, and ‘Prarie Fire’. If you think that you know of a wild infestation of Cogongrass in North Carolina, or have questions about the ornamental varieties of Cogongrass, please contact the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (1-800-206-9333, newpest@ncagr.gov) for assistance.

hat do an award-winning entrepreneur, a “baconatarian” (that’s a vegetarian who still eats bacon), and a former rapper who opened for the Wu-Tang Clan all have in common? They are all the same guy – and he’s coming to Green & Growin’ 2017.

‘Miss Violet’ Buddleia

Jason Goldberg is a geek turned entrepreneur, turned international speaker, trainer, coach and co-host of a web TV show, “The Not-So-Serious Life.” His simple but powerful Self-Leadership training has helped thousands of individuals and businesses overcome challenges and find fresh opportunities.

Simply tantalizing. With rich flower color and dwarf-compact habit, you’re sure to love ‘Miss Violet’. Loads of dark purple-violet summer flowers adorn this gem! This newest member of the series joins ‘Miss Molly’ and ‘Miss Ruby’.

We wondered how JG would apply his principles of Self-Leadership, so we sent him a few imaginary green industry scenarios and asked for his advice. The first thing he said was, “Be prepared. What follows is not the traditional approach to dealing with life and business challenges.”

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By Jason Goldberg International speaker, trainer, & coach

6/2/16 10:48 AM

SCENARIO 1. You’re a grower whose multi-year field crop has just been wiped out by a hurricane. You’ve lost a huge financial investment as well as income you were counting on this year. It could put the business under. How do you stop the panic so you can make productive decisions?

JG: Panic isn’t real. I know it feels real, but the reality is that it exists only in our minds — and only because we believe our thoughts about why we should panic. What if someone had a different set of thoughts? For example: “Running this business has been way more work than I expected. I wish I had more time for my family. I’d love to go back to a simpler life where I was working for someone else or had a smaller footprint in my business instead of keeping up with all of the growth and employees and demands.” How do you think they would feel? I’m guessing that instead of panic, the same lost crop would be a relief! They would feel like they finally had the permission they thought they needed to do what they really wanted to do all along. Although the first person’s panic and the second person’s relief seem real — they are simply different interpretations of the same event. If you’re likely to panic in a situation like this, take some time to consider what it is you believe about panic that makes you think you should. Do you think panic makes you more productive? Do you believe people won’t take you seriously unless you’re frenzied and force a stress-based solution? If

Jason Goldberg A TED Talks speaker, Jason Goldberg’s talks, trainings and coaching have helped thousands of individuals and groups to become powerful self-leaders, be more prosperous, have more fun and create a bigger impact in the world. He’s bringing his transformational program to Green & Growin’ 2017.

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 39

you appear calm and see the situation through the lens of possibility, do you believe people will think less of you as a leader or, worse, that you’re a Pollyanna or just don’t care? Notice how all of those thoughts are simply stories we create — significant only because we attach to them as “truth.” What if you knew for a fact that allowing yourself to be calm, and choosing to model a relaxed sincerity for employees and customers, would yield the most support around you, the most innovative solutions, the most resourcefulness — so you can find your way to the next small step? Would you show up differently than you are now? How would that change the way everyone around you approaches the challenge?

What if you knew for a fact that allowing yourself to be calm, and choosing to model a relaxed sincerity for employees and customers, would yield the most support around you, the most innovative solutions, the most resourcefulness — so you can find your way to the next small step?

Creativity will always trump circumstance; so get creative. Write yourself a new story that allows you to respond from the position of a Self-Leader instead of a prisoner of those circumstances. Beliefs and stories either serve you or they don’t. Luckily, only you have the power to choose which story you will author moving forward. Choose purposefully, based on how you want to feel and what you want to create — given the facts (not the made up stories) of the situation you are in.

SCENARIO 2. Times are good and people may become complacent. The “we’ve always done it this way” inertia settles in. How do you move out of the comfort zone to a more open, active and entrepreneurial mindset? JG: Anytime we ask questions about why things aren’t different, a good first step is to ask why we would want them to be in the first place. Why is a comfort zone a bad thing? What do you believe being in a comfort zone is causing you to miss out on? What do you think would be different (either in the business or the satisfaction you get out of running it) if you and/or other people were more “open, active and entrepreneurial?”

You’re the only one with those answers, but I’ll tell you what I do when I feel like times are good and I feel complacent. Number one, I enjoy it. I celebrate that the work I’ve put in is bearing fruit...that I’m feeling like what I’ve been doing is making a difference. Then I ask myself, given what I have, given what I’ve accomplished, given how I feel, what else would I love to create?

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What would be fun? What would be a challenge?

What would make even more of a difference for the people I already serve and for people I haven’t even thought about serving yet?

What would stretch me enough to keep me engaged but not so much so that I snap?

If you haven’t decided that you want something more, however, those questions will be of little help. Complacency is not a bad thing by any real definition. It only becomes a problem when you say it’s a problem or when you think it holds you back from creating something else that you desire. It is far more effective to be led by what you want to create instead of what you want to avoid.

SCENARIO 3. You’re a mid-sized firm bidding on an important job. You know you can’t put on a dog and pony show like your larger competitors. How do you avoid negative thinking? JG: I don’t suggest you avoid negative thinking. Resisting what you feel is not the same as Self-Leadership. That’s why I say that Self-Leadership is not about the power of positive thinking. The first step to allow negative thinking to release you (notice I said it releases YOU, you don’t release IT) is not to give it any significance. What you resist persists. So the more you try to avoid or fight off negative thinking, the more it pushes back.

What if instead, when you had a “negative” thought come up, that you acknowledged it, you welcomed it, you knew that it was there for a very particular reason and that it would pass on its own, if you let it. Negative thoughts are like clouds in the sky – they pass on their own. No one ever made storm clouds pass more quickly by swinging a baseball bat at them or cursing at them or wishing they weren’t there. If we relax and don’t attach to the thoughts or make them mean something about us, or beat ourselves up or try to fight them off and instead ask ourselves “What is this thought trying to help me to see?”, then we can appreciate the gift it is giving us. If I have negative thoughts before I go into a sales meeting because my competitors have more money (which assumes more money equals a better presentation – another story to be questioned), perhaps the thinking is trying to show me that: “I really want to make a good impression.” “I’m worried that I won’t be able to prove how good we are.” “If we don’t get this job, we may have to lay some people off.” Do you see a pattern in those three thoughts? They are all about me. Thank goodness for the reminder that I am focusing on my ego instead of focusing on being of service. Once I see that my thinking is only concerned with how “I” can look a certain way, I can slow down and instead see that my real power is in focusing on how I can serve this potential client. Now, regardless of size, the playing field is automatically leveled.

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SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 41

When I launched my second startup, we had zero dollars in funding, completely bootstrapping our launch and were up against a billion dollar company to get exclusive licensing to three patents from the NASA Space Shuttle program for commercialization. On paper, we didn’t stand a chance. We couldn’t wine and dine the commercialization and licensing teams. We couldn’t promise to funnel millions of dollars of R&D into the technology to commercialize it more quickly than they could. Yet we still won the bid. How? We stopped identifying with our egos – five guys, no funding, new startup – and instead channeled all of that energy into being of service. Suddenly every disadvantage we had, became our advantage. Our competitor had millions of dollars to commit to the project which would be decided and reviewed quarterly by teams from other unrelated projects who would fight to have those funds diverted.

They had teams of people who would work night and day on prototyping and tooling – which means higher overhead, a higher price point, lots of bureaucracy and long cycles of testing and change management.

By David Kuack

We had a small, agile team; we could prototype quickly, test quickly, assess quickly and experiment again quickly. Once we were able to see how all of these things directly tied into the vision that NASA had for their technology and for growing their footprint in the commercial space, it was simple for us to win the project. Again, creativity trumps circumstances when you come from a place of Self-Leadership. Watch for more from Jason Goldberg in the next issue of NLN — and at Green & Growin’ 2017.

We, on the other hand, had one singular purpose – to commercialize and develop NASA’s technology. No conflicts, no discussions, no pivoting.

Want to learn more?

Our competitor had a trusted name and track record of selling similar products and had established relationships and partnerships – which means they could also experience pressure from competitive products for which the technology we were bidding on could cannibalize sales of those other products.

Jason will be covering this topic and more in detail at Green & Growin’ 17, January 16-20 in Greensboro, NC. Education sessions take place Monday through Wednesday, followed by the Marketplace on Thursday and Friday. Watch for details at GreenandGrowin.com

We were creating all of our partnerships and relationships with vendors around this one product – if anyone else approached us with a similar product, we quickly declined any involvement.

INDUSTRY RESEARCH

old courthouse ads_Old Courthouse ad 2014 12/8/14 1:56 PM Page 1

Reclaimed Wastewater: An Untapped Green Industry Resource Use of reclaimed wastewater could benefit the horticulture industry by conserving potable water sources, reducing the need for fertilizer and providing both growers and plant consumers with a constant supply of water.

hat if the green industry had access to a limitless supply of irrigation water for nurseries, greenhouses, golf courses and green spaces? Sound like a pipe dream?

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According to University of Florida environmental horticulture professor Kimberly Moore, treated reclaimed wastewater could be the solution to having an adequate supply of clean, useable water for all segments of the green industry, including consumers. Moore said reclaimed wastewater has the potential to reduce or eliminate water-use restrictions during periods of drought and could help to avoid conflicts between the green industry, government officials, other commercial industries and the public. With funding from the Horticultural Research Institute, Moore is looking at the feasibility of using reclaimed wastewater to irrigate plants in commercial nurseries and greenhouses. “The idea of using wastewater from sewage treatment facilities is not new,” Moore said. “The water currently is being used to irrigate golf courses, parks and other green spaces. It is also being used for groundwater recharging and for other commercial applications.”

University of Florida environmental horticulture professor Kimberly Moore is studying the feasibility of using reclaimed wastewater to irrigate a variety of horticulture crops including foliage plants.

According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) of the 1.7 million gallons per day (mgd) of reclaimed wastewater produced in the state in 2012, about 725 mgd of that water was reused for beneficial purposes. DEP reports reuse of this reclaimed water is estimated to have avoided the use of over 141 billion gallons of potable quality water. Of the 725 mgd reused, 55 percent was applied to public access areas and only 10 percent was used for agricultural irrigation.

Suitable for horticulture crops

The goal of Moore’s research is to determine if reclaimed wastewater could be used to produce ornamental plants; and thus far she’s very encouraged by the variety of plants she has grown. “The wastewater can be used as is,” she said. “The water can vary in the amount of salts it contains. In Florida the salts level in the water can range from 1 deciSiemens per meter (dS/m) up to 6 dS/m. The level depends on the treatment process and the time of year.” Salt levels usually go down during the rainy times of the year and go up during the drier periods, when there are usually more people in the state, the salt levels generally go up.

Sensitivity of bedding plants to the salt levels in reclaimed wastewater varied with species. Some bedding plants dropped their leaves at higher salt levels, but the plants remained alive and were able to come back.

“Over the last two years the electrical conductivity or salt level has been between 1-2 dS/m,” Moore said. “At

oldcourthousenursery@embarqmail.com (910) 293-9374 Jeff Allegood

42 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

FAX (910)-293-9375 Earl McDonald

The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), founded in 1962, has provided more than $7 million in funds to research projects covering a broad range of production, environmental, and business issues important to the green industry. Nearly $11 million is committed to the endowment by individuals, corporations and associations. For more information about HRI, its grant-funded research, or programming, visit www.hriresearch.org or contact Jennifer Gray at 614.884.1155. SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 43

that level, the water can be used right out of the treatment facilities. The water contains some nutrients, including nitrogen, that are beneficial to the plants. The biggest issue is with chlorine and sodium.” Moore has done several screenings using the wastewater to produce bedding plants, foliage plants and woody ornamentals.

Top: Plants were found to grow well in reclaimed wastewater, which contains nutrients like nitrogen. Because of the nutrients in the water, plants did not need to be fertilized as much. Bottom: The volume of wastewater applied can impact plant sensitivity. With some plants, increasing the volume of water applied and the amount of leaching was found to be beneficial. Photos courtesy of Kimberly Moore, University of Florida

“Many of the plants we trialed grew in wastewater with salt levels between 2-3 dS/m,” she said. “Above 4 dS/m the plants started to drop their leaves. Some of the foliage plants did better at the lower salt levels. Sensitivity of bedding plants varied with species. Some bedding plants dropped their leaves, but the plants remained alive and were able to come back.” Moore said once the salt level sensitivity of a plant is determined, a grower would have the option of diluting the wastewater with whatever water source is available, including rain, pond or well water. “We also found that the volume of wastewater applied could impact plant sensitivity,” she said. “We found with some plants, if more wastewater is applied the salts could be flushed out of the substrate. Increasing the amount of leaching that is occurring by applying a higher volume of wastewater tended to be beneficial.”

Limited wastewater access

Moore said she has talked to several nursery growers in south Florida who have indicated they would be interested in using reclaimed wastewater to irrigate their crops. Unfortunately what is lacking in much of the state is the infrastructure to carry the wastewater from the treatment facilities to the nursery operations. “Transporting the water to the growers’ operations has been the one stumbling block in this whole process,” Moore said. “When the sewage treatment plants were built they installed purple pipes to transport the water. However, a lot of communities did not build the infrastructure to take the waste water away from the facility other than for ocean outflow. The problem has been trying to get connected to the purple pipes that run through the various cities. So the growers cannot connect to the pipes carrying the wastewater. That has been the biggest issue for the adoption of wastewater.” 44 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

Moore said as new sewage treatment facilities are constructed throughout the state the infrastructure for distributing the wastewater is also being built. “As the pipes are being laid to bring in the sewage for treatment, the purple pipes are being laid to be able to distribute the wastewater,” she said. “Tampa is one of the cities that has been proactive to install the purple pipes. In south Florida, Miami and Fort Lauderdale were a little slow to catch on. But those cities are starting to install more of the pipes. The older treatment facilities don’t have as many purple pipes laid so it is harder to connect to those facilities.”

INDUSTRY RESEARCH

By Lesley Judd and Brian Jackson, NCSU Department of Horticultural Science

Investigating Two Biochars in Soilless Substrates

Potential applications

Based on the findings of her research, Moore said reclaimed wastewater could be used to irrigate most horticultural crops — including edibles. “The large nurseries that I work with would need to be able to bring the wastewater directly from the sewage treatment facilities in order to have enough water to irrigate their entire operation,” she said. “There would have to be a constant supply coming from the treatment facility in order to have enough water. That amount of water would be difficult to store on site.” However, Moore said greenhouse operations could potentially store the water. “In the Caribbean, there are greenhouse operations that use large tanks to store rain water,” she said. “Some of those tanks would be perfect for storing wastewater especially if it was going to be blended with another water source that was available on the grower’s property. Wastewater could significantly reduce the use of other water sources. “Just as important, plants like wastewater. It contains nutrients like nitrogen. We found that applying the wastewater we don’t need to fertilize as much. Using wastewater would enable a grower to cut back on the amount of fertilizer applied and reduce the need for other water sources, resulting in cost benefits.” Moore said that commercial and residential customers would also benefit from having access to reclaimed wastewater. “Here in Florida there are year-round water restrictions,” she said. “If homeowners have access to wastewater, then they can water any time they want. With the nutrients in the wastewater their lawns and landscapes would always look green and lush.” Want to know more? Contact Kimberly Moore, University of Florida-IFAS, Department of Environmental Horticulture, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center; (954) 577-6328; klock@ufl.edu.; Horticultural Research Institute; (202) 789-2900; www.hriresearch.org. David Kuack is a freelance writer based in Fort Worth, Texas.

Different biochars produced from (clockwise, starting on left) pine, Georgia pine, chicken manure and rice hulls. Various particle sizes and shapes.

he use of biochar for horticultural purposes has gained interest over recent years. Biochar has the potential to be a local and renewable product. It is produced as a by-product from pyrolysis, which also creates bio-oil and syn-gas for fuel. The term ‘biochar,’ however, is given to any charred biomass product, whether it is produced from a fast/ slow pyrolysis or from gasification with feedstock material ranging from filed crop waste to animal manure. This has created a wide range of positive and negative results on plant growth and substrates when using biochar. At NC State University, we are producing biochar from two waste products, pine wood chips and rice hulls, using a top-lit updraft (TLUD) gasifier in partnership with the Dept. of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Research is being conducted to learn more about biochar products produced from gasification and the biochars’ effect on container substrates and plant growth.

We have worked on characterizing the biochar both physically and chemically to understand how biochar may change the root environment for plants, and experimented with these two biochars in growing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Better Boy’).

Dr. Lesley Judd

Dr. Brian Jackson

Producing the biochar

Two cubic yards of either pine wood chips (Pinus taeda) or non-parboiled rice hulls were loaded into the large TLUD reactor. The feedstock material was lit at the top inside the gasifier reactor and then the reactor was quickly closed to control the gasification of the material. Combustion was sustained by regulating the amount of air entering from the bottom and passing up through the material. A vent at the top of the reactor allowed

Since 1979, the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association has provided over $1 million in funding to research, endowment and program activities at NC State University. This industry research, in part supported by NCNLA’s member dues premiums (silver, gold and platinum) and successful fundraising events throughout the year, demonstrates the effectiveness that private-sector collaboration with a world class public institution can provide. This is just one example of how NCNLA has partnered with NC State to provide solutions for green industry businesses here in North Carolina. SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 45

The tomato plants grown in rice biochar have larger shoots and appear to have more root growth.

Biochar has the potential to be used as a substrate component in horticulture, however currently the cost does not outweigh the benefits.

Tomato plants after 28 days, from left: 10%, 20% and 30% pine biochar TOP: PIne wood chips and pine biochar; Bottom: rice hulls and rice biochar used in studies at NC State University.

Top-lit updraft (TLUD) gasifier

amended with 10% pine biochar or rice biochar, peat moss at 80% (v/v) amended with 20% pine biochar or rice biochar, and peat moss at 70% (v/v) amended with 30% pine biochar or rice biochar.

Syn-gas produced from gasification.

Magnified side view of a pine biochar particle

Tomato plants after 28 days, from left: 10%, 20% and 30% rice biochar

Syn-gas ignited, reducing smoke

the syn-gas to leave the system, and this gas was lit to reduce the amount of smoke produced. A temperature probe inside the reactor measured the internal temperature of the flame front and resulting biochar as the front passes. The temperature of the flame front during the production was 744° C for pine wood and 704° C for rice hulls. The two biochars were different in particle shape and size. Pine biochar had a pH of 8.7, while rice biochar had a pH of 9.5. The rice biochar was shown to be composed of higher amounts of potassium and silica, but had half the amount of fixed carbon compared to the pine biochar.

Testing Substrates

The study was executed in greenhouses at Raleigh, NC. Six substrates were used: peat moss at 90% (v/v)

The substrates containing biochar had a beginning pH of 4.0, and sufficient calcitic lime (4 lb∙yd-3) was added to those substrates to raise the pH to an optimal level (5.8). One tomato plug was planted into the center of a 5” container containing one of the substrates, there was 36 replications for every substrate. Plants were grown over 28 days, receiving 20-10-20 NPK fertigation daily. The pH of the substrates ranged between 5.3 and 6.0 throughout the study. Growth indexes (GI) of the tomato plants after the first week showed tomato plants grown in 10% and 20% rice biochar had the highest GI, while 10% pine biochar and 30% rice biochar had the lowest GI. After 28 days from planting, all three rates (10, 20 and 30%) of rice biochar had higher tomato GI than the three rates of pine biochar. The tomato plants grown in rice biochar have larger shoots, and visually the tomato plants appear to have more root growth when grown in the rice biochar.

Hurdles: Cost and Clarity

Biochar has the potential to be used as a substrate component in horticulture, however currently the cost does not outweigh the benefits. Biochar is more costly than perlite. The price averages around $200 per cubic

meter — compared to perlite at $30-40 per cubic meter. Along with the cost, another disadvantage is how the term ‘biochar’ is being used for any type of charred biomass, thereby creating wide variability within the product. In order to really develop a market for biochar; more definition needs to be made and reported, such as terming the product charred pine wood and stating the particle size and nutrients supplied by that material when made by a particular process at a specific temperature (which these characterizations can change with a different process/ temperature/particle size). With this type of in-depth detail on different biochars, the market/availability may increase for growers and eventually decrease the cost.

Tomato plants growing in peat-biochar substrates (along with marigolds)

About the Authors: Lesley Judd recently earned her PhD in the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University, working with biochar in greenhouse substrates. Brian Jackson is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Horticultural Science and researches alternatives for soilless substrates. This research is funded by the American Floral Endowment and the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association.

Magnified view of rice biochar particles 46 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 47

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Visit our new website at www.fairviewnurseryinc.com

Fruits & Vegetables Specializing in: Portable Aluminum Pipe • PVC Pipe Greenhouses PVC Fittings • Hydrants • Travelers • Volume Guns Sprinklers • Drip Athletic & Micro Jet Equipment • Drip Filter Stations Fields Pumps for PTO, Diesel, Gas, Electric • Mini Travelers Nurseries Commercial 1-800-422-3560 | 336-998-3232 Residential Hwy. 801 North, Mockville, NC Vineyards

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 49

NLN CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Advertisers’ Index Bennett's Creek Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

NCNLA Events

National Events

Cam Too Camellia Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . 14

August 12 - September 15, 2016 CPP Short Course

July 9 – 12, 2016 Cultivate ‘16

Cardinal Turf & Ornamental . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 4

NC Arboretum 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way Asheville, NC 28806

Greater Columbus Convention Center 400 North High Street Columbus, OH 43215 americanhort.org

2016 CPP Test Dates: September 15, 2016 - Asheville, NC October 7, 2016 - Fayetteville, NC October 27, 2016 - Greenville, NC

August 28, 2016 NCNLA Robert Cagle Memorial Golf Tournament Lochmere Golf Club 2511 Kildaire Farm Road Cary, NC 27511

January 16 – 20, 2017 Green & Growin’ Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel – Education Greensboro Coliseum – Marketplace Greensboro, NC (919) 816-9119 GreenandGrowin.com

North Carolina Events July 13, 2016 JOCO Plant Show 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Kerr Scott Building – NC State Fairgrounds 1025 Blue Ridge Road Raleigh, NC 27607

August 23, 2016 Eastern NC Landscape and Nursery Field Day and Product Demonstration Jericho Farms 380 Washington Street Pikeville, NC 27863 (919) 242-8297

September 12 – 15, 2016 European Horticulture Inbound Trade Mission, North Carolina Contact John Hammond: john.hammond@ncagr.gov

For the latest events, please visit ncnla.com 50 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016

August 25 – 27, 2016 FarWest Show Oregon Convention Center 777 Northeast M L King Boulevard Portland, OR 97232 farwestshow.com

August 30 – September 1, 2016 SEGreen

Carolina Bark Products, LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Casey Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Fair View Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Farm Credit Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Goodson & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Gossett's Landscape Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . 28 Gra-Mac Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Hawksridge Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Jake A. Parrott Insurance Agency . . . . . . . 32 JOCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

The Classic Center 300 N Thomas Street Athens, Georgia 30601 sna.org

Low Falls Wholesale Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

September 19 - 21, 2016 Grow Pro Series: Plug and Cutting Conference

Parker Bark Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

An AmericanHort Experience Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa 5480 Grand Pacific Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 Americanhort.org

October 19 - 21, 2016 LANDSCAPES 2016 (In conjunction with GIE + EXPO) 937 Phillips Lane Louisville, Kentucky 40209

OHP, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Old Courthouse Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Pattersons Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Pender Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover Plantworks Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Proven Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Sampson Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Signature Horticultural Services . . . . . . . . 32 SiteLight Id . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Turtle Creek Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

December 5 - 9, 2016 2016 Irrigation Show & Education Conference Las Vegas Convention Center 3150 Paradise Road Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 • Irrigation Show | December 7 – 8 • Education Conference | December 5 – 9 irrigationshow.org

January 11 - 13, 2017 MANTS 2017 Baltimore Convention Center One West Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21201 mants.com

SUMMER 2016 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | 51

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52 | NURSERY & LANDSCAPE NOTES | SUMMER 2016