TNLA Working for You E-Newsletter
TNLA
April 2, 2021
Working for You
TNLA ADVOCACY WEEK WAS A HUGE SUCCESS WATCH LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW Catch Up On TNLA’s Latest Advocacy Efforts!
April 2, 2021 - TNLA Working For You
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April 2, 2021 - TNLA Working For You
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Table of Contents
03 MEETINGS AND EVENTS CALENDAR PLUS APRIL DEADLINES 04 NOMINATIONS FOR TNLA SUMMIT AWARD AND YOUNG LEADER ARE OPEN EDUCATION UPDATE EXPO UPDATE 05 TEXAS WINER STORM DISASTER RECOVERY & PPP LOAN UPDATES 06 LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY UPDATES 07 TNLA’S VIRTUAL ADVOCACY WEEK WAS A MAJOR SUCCESS 08 TNLA TAILGATE TOPICS: TIME OF BLOOM 09 NEW MEMBERS & CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS 10 NEW GREEN REPORT PODCAST WITH MIKE MERONEY ADVOCATING TO DEVELOP EMPLOYER WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
Meeting & Events Calendar STAND UP AND CHEER EASTER IS HERE
May 12-14, 2021
Happy Easter
TNLA Water & Pest Summit More Info Here! April 26, 2021
Have Fun Celebrating!
Women in Hort Call Email TNLA to Join the Conversation
TNLA offices will be closed on Friday, April 2, 2021
August 5-7, 2021
Nursery/Landscape EXPO 2021 San Antonio, TX More Info Here! April Deadlines:
4/2/21 - NRCS Winter Storm Recovery Application DUE More Info Here! Ad Index
Inside Front Cover....OHP, Inc. Inside Back Cover...Hotchkiss Insurance
04....TNLA Foundation Amazon Smile Gives 09...Best of Texas Landscape Guide
Back Cover....Gempler’s
April 2, 2021 - TNLA Working For You
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NOMINATIONS FOR TNLA SUMMIT AWARD AND YOUNG LEADER ARE OPEN SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES BY MAY 15TH Nominate a deserving company for the Summit Award and a superstar individual for the Young Leader Award today! Help TNLA recognize extraordinary contributions by member companies and professionals! Visit TNLAonline.org to download the nomination forms and submit them to Nancys@tnlaonline.org by May 15, 2021. Winners will be recognized at the Awards Fiesta on Aug. 6th in San Antonio, Texas during the 2021 Nursery/Landscape EXPO! • Summit Award Nomination Form - Click Here • Young Leader Award Nomination Form - Click Here
EDUCATION UPDATE: TNLA Water & Pest Summit: May 12-14, 2021 Join TNLA as we bring in the big guns and change how you look at virtual workshops. This three day event will be full of engaging presentations, NEW market ideas, and in field demos to help your crews get back on track in their field work. Don’t miss this opportunity to earn CEUs, build team culture and get the education you want! Group discounts are available! Click here to Register your team today! Gear Up for an All-Star Speaker Line-Up During EXPO’s Education Conference With over 32 Breakout Sessions and two all-star Keynote Presentations, your team will EARN CEUs and GAIN NEW knowledge to bring back to the workplace. Check out EXPO’s Education Conference Schedule today by clicking here and register your team! (Early Bird Discounts End July 16, 2021)
EXPO UPDATE: 2021 Nursery/Landscape EXPO is a Must Attend Tradeshow for Your Team Don’t miss out on being able to see the nursery and landscape industry’s latest product innovations. EXPO provides thousands of products for retail garden centers, landscapers, irrigators, arborists and more! Get your EXPO game plan ready and check out the list of this year’s Exhibitors and their products! Attendees can register here, and Exhibit Booth Personnel can register by click here. (Don’t miss out on saving, Early Bird Deadlines End July 16, 2021!)
Providing Education Scholarships and Research Grants to Further the Field of Horticulture
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April 2, 2021 - TNLA Working For You
TEXAS WINTER STORM DISASTER RECOVERY & PPP LOAN UPDATES!
RECOVERY ASSISTANCE SEE IF YOU QUALIFY PRIOR TO FRIDAY, NRCS APPLICATION FOR WINTER STORM URI DISASTER RELIEF IS ENDING TODAY! Companies have until Friday, April 2, 2021, to apply for assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in response to the winter storm that hit Texas in February. NRCS accepts conservation program applications year-round; however, the final application deadline for 2021 winter storm recovery funding must be submitted by April 2, 2021. After the deadline, applications will be ranked and approved as soon as possible so conservation work can begin. To see if you qualify contact your local NRCS office to seek assistance, click here to find an agent in your area. IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SUBMIT YOUR TEXAS WEATHER DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TNLA in partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension has created an official state loss assessment survey to calculate estimates on the statewide damages and loss of product that occurred due to Winter Storm Uri. The data will be gathered by Texas A&M officials and used to qualify Texas for aid from the federal government. TNLA has been asked to distribute this assessment throughout the industry. We want to thank all the companies who have taken the time to complete this survey. If your business has not had a chance to provide estimates, it’s not too late, click here to submit your assessment today. Please note, it is crucial the data be separated by county.
PPP LOAN EXTENSION PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM PROVIDES BUSINESSES TWO MORE MONTHS Last week the Senate passed the PPP Extension Act of 2021 which extended the deadline for PPP to May 31 from March 31. This will provide companies with more time to apply for a second draw. TNLA has partnered with TransPecos Banks, a Texas state savings bank headquartered in San Antonio, to obtain First and Second draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. With this new extension, the Paycheck Protection Program is still open until May 31, 2021, and TransPecos Banks continues to receive and process PPP applications. TransPecos Banks stands ready to support your business needs! If you think you qualify or want to learn more about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) please apply by clicking here.
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Legislative & Regulatory Update Biden Administration to End Trump Ban on H-2B Visas The Biden administration allowed the Trump ban on H-2B visas to expire Wednesday, March 31st. While the exemptions to the ban allowed many applicants to go through with visas for FY 2021, the ban was a troubling precedent. TNLA is hopeful the removal of the ban will further the evidence for needing to authorize additional H-2B visas for FY 2021. You can find more information, click here. TNLA Legislative Priorities Update: Due to the tremendous work of our TNLA members, leadership, and staff all of TNLA’s major legislative priorities are moving, with all of them having received hearings in at least one chamber. · HB 1070 the landscape pesticide applicator bill strengthening “direct supervision” was voted out of the Texas House unanimously. TNLA appreciates the work of author Rep. Cody Harris and House Ag Chairman DeWayne Burns for moving the bill so quickly through the chamber. · HB 1195 which removes the franchise tax liability for forgiven PPP loans was passed through second reading on Wednesday and win the final vote from the House on Thursday before heading to the Senate. · HB 2089 is the bill which establishes new cooperative agreements to focus on plant pest and disease detection and surveillance. The bill is expected to be voted out of House Ag favorably this week and be scheduled for a vote in the full House in the coming weeks. · HB 19 which provides commercial vehicle tort reform was voted out of committee and is expected to be scheduled for a House vote next week. This bill hampers lawsuit abuse against commercial vehicle owners and operators. · SB 14 is the bill which preempts cities trying to regulate employment practices like paid sick leave, scheduling, and overtime. The bill was voted from committee and is scheduled to pass quickly through the Senate as a Lt. Governor priority. · HB 3938 which reforms how industry-based certifications get into high schools. The bill was heard in committee on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the bill was given a large fiscal note from the legislative budget board. However, the bill will be amended before next week to address this and zero out the fiscal impact to the state. Listening Session: 2021 H-2B Nonimmigrant Worker Supplemental Visas on April 8th U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites you to participate in a listening session on Thursday, April 8, 2021, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern, click here to register. The listening session is for stakeholders to provide feedback on Section 105 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which again authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of Labor, to increase the number of H-2B visas available for U.S. employers. USCIS is hoping to solicit information on the current needs of U.S. employers in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, possible worker protection options, and the effect that any potential increase in the number of H-2B workers may have on the U.S. workers.
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TNLA’S VIRTUAL ADVOCACY WEEK WAS A MAJOR SUCCESS Four days of meeting with Elected Officials and their offices, talking with State Agencies and Being the Voice of for Industry!
First and foremost, thank you to the TNLA members who participated during the TNLA Virtual Advocacy Week. If you participated in one way or another, your involvement made a difference. Our delegation met directly with multiple chairmen of the House and Senate as well as Ag Commissioner Sid Miller. In addition, we have three days’ worth of individual meetings with legislative offices where our TNLA member provided a voice to discuss our legislative priorities. The efforts of our members and the association are already paying dividends. Shortly after our meetings, TNLA’s priority bill HB 1070 to protect landscape applicator’s rights was voted unanimously out of the Texas House and sent to the Senate. It was the first of only five bills in the House to have completed half of the legislative process. Our Monday Legislative Orientation featured a review of the major legislative issues facing our industry, speakers from the Keep Texas Trucking Coalition & the ASSET Coalition, and the office of State Rep. Cody Harris. Each morning the following three days started with policy briefings including addresses from Senate Chairman Charles Perry, House Chairman Tracy King, and Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller. TNLA’s tireless work to advance the industry priorities continues today. You can still participate in our efforts by visiting the TNLA Legislative Action Center by clicking here. WATCH TNLA’S LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW BY CLICKING HERE!
Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller during TNLA’s Advocacy Week
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TNLA TAILGATE TOPICS: TIME OF BLOOM Objective: Participants will be able to correctly differentiate between annuals and perennials. This includes when they are used in the landscape and when they should be planted.
APPLICATION: Use pictures or actual job sites to illustrate poorly and properly planted sites that use both annuals and perennials. Then give examples of annuals (each type) and perennials. Most annuals are easily categorized by planting season. Bedding plants are used in commercial, residential, and recreational settings. Bedding plants (annuals) and perennials are often used together in mixed borders and in containers. Ornamental plants can be generally placed into two categories; annuals and perennials. Annuals can be broken down into hardy, semi-hardy, and tender. 1. Annual: Often tender perennials that are killed by frost. Used for a single season’s worth of color. (Examples: petunia, pansy, periwinkle, etc.) • Hardy annual (Winter annual): an annual that withstands a hard freeze and is able to overwinter. Are not heat tolerant. Should be planted in the fall to allow for establishment. • Semi-hardy annual: Withstand some frost, but cannot sustain a freeze. Intolerant of high temperatures. Should be planted in fall. • Tender annual (Summer annual): Do not withstand any frost or freeze. Tolerant of high temperatures. Plant after last killing frost. Usually best to plant once soil temperature has warmed. Planting can continue through summer months and in to fall. 2. Perennials: Plants that live for more than two growing seasons. Bloom time and bloom length varies. Planting time for most perennials will vary by species. It is best to plant when dormant, usually early spring or late fall. By knowing the bloom time of annuals and perennials and incorporating them both in a landscape can develop yearlong seasonal interest. The planting soil should always be properly amended before planting. This is true for both annuals and perennials. Always take spacing needs into consideration when choosing species of annuals and perennials.
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April 2, 2021 - TNLA Working For You
New Members REGION I Government Wayne Gisler P.E. Karnes County Karnes County, TX
REGION III Educator Charlotte Main Bullard High School Lindale, TX
REGION II Educator Richard Klein Southwest Schools Houston, TX
REGION IV Landscape
REGION IV Grower
Austin Buonasera Richardson, TX
Clint Cotton Waxahachie, TX
Southwest Greenscapes LLC Crape Myrtle Guy
REGION IV Student Heather Glenn UT - Tyler Dallas, TX
REGION V Landscape The Landscape Partners Klark Larrieu Fort Worth, TX
Out of State Grower Stewart Tree Service Randy Stewart Brooksville, FL
Out of State Out of State Supplier Grower T & R Nurseries, Inc. Docuprint Forms And Signs George Breust Patrick Lugo Elgin, IL Miami, FL
REGION VI Irrigation Amarillo Land Services Remmington Holt Amarillo, TX
REGION VIII Student Dale Hoover Austin Community College
Out of State Grower Cannon Trees, Inc. Adam Cannon Brooksville, FL
Out of State Supplier Flame Engineering Inc Mel Limon La Crosse, KS
Out of State Supplier Rapid Garden POS Bliss D'Sa San Diego, CA
New TNLA Certified Professionals Texas Certified Nursery Professional Stephen Holley, TCNP Calloway’s Nursery
Texas Certified Nursery Professional Madeleine Varner, TCNP
PURCHASE ONLINE Get your team up to speed on the latest information to select and maintain plants that grow best in your area.
Scan to Purchase
www.TNLAonline.org
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April 2, 2021 - TNLA Working For You
New Green Report Podcast CHECK OUT THE LATEST GREEN REPORT PODCAST, SEASON 2 EP. 2 WITH MIKE MERONEY ADVOCATING TO DEVELOP EMPLOYER WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
TNLA takes a deep dive with Mike Meroney, an independent lobbyist fighting for better workforce solutions and developing curriculum for high school students. Mike is a strong advocate when it comes to developing a strong workforce for the future. During this episode, he provides insight on some of the bills he has worked on when industries have hit the panic button on their employment struggle. Mike also walks us through his current work on driving policymakers to pass legislation to help add highly valued high school curriculum to TEA’s “magic list” of IBC’s, plus much more. (Podcast available on Google Play and Apple Podcast) Thank you to this episode’s sponsor, Hotchkiss Insurance
Click here to listen today!
Page January 11 2020 - Green Concept
January 2020 - Green Concept Page 11
PROVIDING PROTECTION IN A WORLD OF UNKNOWNS
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April 2, 2021 - Working For You
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