TNLA Working for You E-Newsletter
TNLA
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
Working for You
TEAM TNLA IN D.C.
MEETING WITH POLICYMAKERS
DISCUSSING LABOR AND STORM URI RELIEF FOR THE GREEN INDUSTRY
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September 24,, 2021 - TNLA Working
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September 24, 2021 - TNLA Working
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Table of Contents 03 Meeting & Events Calendar Upcoming Region Meetings 04 Legislative & Regulatory Updates -TNLA Heads to Washington D.C. to Talk Disaster Relief & Labor Needs -Winter Storm Uri -Labor Challenges: H-2A & H-2B -Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for Business 06 TNLA Member Updates Updates from AgriLife 08 Remembering Billy Powell 09 TNLA Tailgate Topics: Tree Wrapping
Meeting & Events Calendar Accepting Applications
TEIL & TGRA Due Nov. 5, 2021 More Info Here! October 14-15, 2021
West Texas Workshop Alpine, TX More Info Here! January 10-12, 2022
Upcoming Region Meetings Region I: Oct. 19 Click Here for info Region II: Oct. 12 Click Here for info Region IV: Oct. 12 Click Here for info
TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum More Info Here!
Ad Index Inside Front Cover....OHP, Inc. Inside Back Cover...Hotchkiss Insurance
07....Horizon 10... Best of Texas Landscape Guide
10...Working For You Holiday Showcase Back Cover....RepairSmith Inc.
September 24, 2021 - TNLA Working
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Legislative & Regulatory Updates TNLA Heads to Washington D.C. to Talk Disaster Relief & Labor Needs
TNLA leadership and staff spent the first part of this week in Washington D.C. meeting directly with members and staff of the Texas congressional delegation. Special focus was placed on Texas congressional officials with key spots on agriculture or appropriations committees. In addition to a handful of important grower’s issues including trucking, farm taxes, and pesticide research, the TNLA delegation spent time sharing the need for relief from Winter Storm Uri. (Representing TNLA and the Green Industry in D.C. was Rachelle Kemp with Four Seasons Nursery and TNLA State Board of Director At Large, Ryan Skrobarczyk, TNLA Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, Terri Cook with Everde Growers, Adrian Muehlstein with Southwest Wholesale Nursery and TNLA Chairman of the State Board of Directors and Amy Graham, TNLA President & CEO.)
Winter Storm Uri Relief
BELOW IS Afor LIST PARTICIPATING TAKING PART IN THEprogram 2021 LAWN & GARDEN TAX losses The primary issue theOF meetings was the LOCATIONS need for a direct relief payment to address uninsured HOLIDAY OVERfrom THE Winter MEMORIAL THIS LISTproposals IS AS OF MAY 26, in the green industry StormDAY Uri.WEEKEND. Already several are2021 moving through Congress to address grower losses, primarily through the USDA’s WHIP+ program. WHIP+ was used in 2019 and several preceding years for weather related disasters. TNLA members urged Texas officials to do the following: increase the payment cap to get close to the average company loss, include the wavier for adjusted gross income to ensure more producers can participate, and to provide flexibility to incorporate any relief available for all businesses in the supply chain.
Labor Challenges: H-2A & H-2B
Without question, labor continues to be an issue that needs to be addressed for the grower and landscape sectors. The two foreign workers visas programs provided employees for jobs Americans won’t fill, however, both programs have significant issues for employers. HR 3897 which provides permanent H-2B cap relief is a huge push that continues to be TNLA’s main priority for the landscape industry. Reducing the costs and bureaucracy with the H-2A program, like proposed in the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, were stressed to our Texas officials.
Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for Business
The business community was sent scrambling for clarity with the announcement of President Biden’s vaccine mandate. The specifics included in the announcement were limited but did specify the following: • The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing a rule that will require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work. OSHA will issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to implement this requirement. This requirement will impact over 80 million workers in private sector businesses with 100+ employees. • Require the vaccination of employees working for federal contractors • OSHA is developing a rule that will require employers with more than 100 employees to provide paid time off for the time it takes for workers to get vaccinated or to recover if they are under the weather post-vaccination. The key takeaways are at this moment: 1) the OSHA emergency rule (ETS) will need to be released before the mandate takes effect, 2) the OSHA ETS will contain many of the specifics on the mandate that were lacking in the initial announcement, 3) we can expect lawsuits challenging the constitutionality and legality of the mandate, further slowing the implementation of the mandate. For the moment, companies should prepare by discussing the possibility of implementation with their HR and legal professionals.
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September 24,, 2021 - TNLA Working
BELOW IS A LIST OF PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS TAKING PART IN THE 2021 LAWN & GARDEN TAX HOLIDAY OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. THIS LIST IS AS OF MAY 26, 2021
Senator Cornyn's Office
Rep. Kay Granger's office
Rep. Van Duyne's Office
USDA Under Secretary Jenny Moffitt
Legislative meetings
Rep. John Carter's Office
September 24, 2021 - TNLA Working
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TNLA Member Updates HOT TOPICS TNLA is heading out West! If you are looking for new plant inspiration then you have to check out the West Texas plant scene during TNLA’s Region VI West Texas Workshop in Alpine, Texas, Oct. 14-15, 2021. There will be a tour, full day of education and plenty of time to unwind and connect with one another. West Texas offers a beautiful landscape sure to provide you and your team with new and creative ideas to bring back to your business. The Registration Discount for Members is $125, click here to see the list of speakers and schedule. (Thank you to our sponsors: TNLA Region VI, Environmental Landscape Solutions, Civano Growers, SiteOne Landscape Supply, Sod Solutions Professionals, Back To Nature, & Austin Wood Recycling.) BELOW IS A LIST OF PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS TAKING PART IN THE 2021 LAWN & GARDEN TAX HOLIDAY OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. THIS LIST IS AS OF MAY 26, 2021
DID YOU KNOW
Registration for TNLA’s newest event, Lone Star Hort Forum is OPEN! This event will be your team’s chance to get your New Year in gear by taking advantage of 8+ hours of earning CEUs and taking part in top-notch education Education, going on the Growers Tour and taking part in several social events! You don’t want to miss the opportunity meet up with old friends and make new ones! The Lone Star Hort Forum will be in College Station, Texas, January 10-12, 2022. To Register and Save on Hotel, click here! Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting, give us a call at 512-579-3858. DON’T MISS OUT Last week TNLA conducted the TNLA Advocacy ENGAGE Training. If you missed it, don’t worry, you can still watch it on demand and learn by clicking here. (To receive one hour CEU for watching the training fill out the CEU FORM by clicking here and submit it to certification@tnlaonline.org) If you know of a graduating Senior or College Student already pursuing a degree in the Green Industry be sure to let them know that the TNLA Foundation is offering some great sponsorship opportunities. The deadline to apply is December 15, 2021. For more information click here. Entries and Applications are now being accepted for the Texas Excellence in Landscaping Awards (TEIL) and also the Texas Garden Retail Program (TGRA) submit to become a winner no later than November 5, 2021. Click here for information on TEIL entry requirements and visit here for more information on the TGRA application process.
Updates from AgriLife Texas A&M AgriLife initiative fortifies industry-academic relationships. Corporate Affiliates Program invites industry collaboration, innovation and recruitment. Texas A&M AgriLife is seeking to increase multilateral relationships among the industry and agricultural academics across the University system. Read More Here.
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September 24,, 2021 - TNLA Working
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September 24, 2021 - TNLA Working
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Remembering Billy Powell
Billy grew up in LaRue, Texas, graduated La Poyner High School and attended Henderson County College (now Trinity Valley Community College). He married Ada Ruth Haws, and the couple were married for 68 years. Early in their marriage, Billy served in the Army where he was assigned to be a cook stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He would use his cooking skills throughout his life as many remember over the years his wonderful "cathead" biscuits, ribeyes, and more. When the couple returned to East Texas, they started Powell Plant Farm which consisted of one greenhouse and a roadside stand. Billy became a leader and pioneer in the industry, serving as president of the Texas Association of Nurserymen [TAN], frequently appearing in grower magazines, garnering many awards and recognitions, and eventually owning the largest nursery operation in Texas, second largest in the U.S. He loved farming and ranching. As owner and operator of 5P Farms, he became a leader in the Brahman cattle industry, winning Grand Champion at the International Brahman Show and the Houston Livestock Show. He was also a pioneer and leader in the deer breeding business. Whatever he pursued, he desired to be the best and has left a legacy of excellence in all his endeavors. Billy was a pilot and enjoyed flying. His pursuits led him to travel the world, visiting places such as Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Out of all his travels, one of his favorite places was his ranch in La Pryor, Tx. There he shared his love of hunting and the outdoors with his many friends and family. He especially loved to spend time hunting and fishing with his grandchildren. Billy was preceded in death by his parents; sons Barry, Cliff, and Randy Powell; brother, Jack Powell; and sister-in-law, Jean Powell. Left to cherish Billy’s memory are his beloved wife, Ada Ruth Haws Powell of New Summerfield and his grandchildren: Blake Powell and wife Ashly, Jason Powell and wife Erica, Brandon Powell and wife Carey, Kara Laney and husband Josh, Cortney Holman and husband K.C., Jordan Powell and wife Kelsey, Alex Powell and Kris Cauley; and 20 great grandchildren with one more on the way.. He is also survived by a close friend, Nick Maestas; niece, Liz Kimbrell and nephew, Paul Powell.
September 24,, 2021 - TNLA Working
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TNLA Tailgate Topics: Tree Wrapping Objective: Participants will be able to identify a tree that should be wrapped and take the proper steps to wrap the tree. APPLICATION: Practice locating trees that should be wrapped and your company’s proper wrapping technique. PVC pipe, broom or mop handles, or stool legs can be used to simulate a young tree trunk. Be sure that participants can tell you what types of trees should be wrapped and what purpose the wrapping serves.
WHO: • •
Fall transplanted trees Usually thin barked trees
•
Injury due to exposure of bright sunlight and cold temperatures
WHAT: WHEN: • WHERE: • • WHY: • HOW: • •
Sunny, cold winter days Injuries are most often seen on the south or west side of the trunk Injuries occur on side of trunk where sunlight is intense Tree trunk is heated to much higher temperatures than the air temperature Sudden changes in temperature between tree truck and air temperature kills cambium layer of trunk. Scald wounds or frost cankers occur where there is damage.
To deter winter scorching and sunscald, the trunks of transplanted trees should be wrapped after planting. Wrapping should be done during the tree’s first winter season and again during the second winter season if believed susceptible. Trees should be wrapped using a material that does not trap moisture. Wrapping materials and methods vary, however most wrappings are spirally wound around the tree. Trees in exposed sites should be wrapped after leaf drop until the canopy develops or the trunk become corky. Wrappings should be inspected regularly for moisture and insects.
September 24, 2021 - TNLA Working For You
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Page January 11 2020 - Green Concept
January 2020 - Green Concept Page 11
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May 28, 2021 - Working For You
NEW TNLA MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER
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By bringing top-quality, convenient service direct to fleets, RepairSmith enables fleet managers to avoid service disruption, unnecessary expenses, and the headaches of traditional fleet service. TNLA MEMBERS RECEIVE: 15% discount on all services vs what is available at reparismith.com Preventative Maintenance available as needed or scheduled regularly-discount for multi vehicles/services Dedicated Fleet Account Manager 12 month and 12,000 mile warranty Services available 7 days a week and available during off peak hours Approved Fleet Management Company “Shop” (ARI, Element, Enterprise, Merchants, to name a few) Special pricing on all Michelin tires and tire services
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12-month/12,000-mile warranty on all repairs
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Focus on your business and leave the repairs and maintenance to us. For more information contact: Bill Bauer Business Development Manager bill.bauer@repairsmith.com (480) 495-4932 www.repairsmith.com