News for the Louisiana Nursery and Landscaping Association

Act Now to Keep H-2B Viable for Green Industry

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:41:00 GMT

Act Now to Keep H-2B Viable for Green Industry

H-2B Program Update	Take Action!


The H-2B Program Rule is slated to go into effect in one week - on April 23 - unless a Federal Court or Congress intervenes. ANLA and many state partner associations support litigation being filed this week in the Northern District of Florida. We hope the court will issue a temporary restraining order blocking the Department of Labor (DOL) from implementing the program rule. ANLA is also working with Congress to fight these two rules. We are encouraging Congress to pass legislation that would block DOL from implementing both the H-2B program rule and the wage rule. Please contact your two Senators and your Representative in Congress today to stress the importance of the H-2B program to the green industry and to your business. Please tell them that the H-2B program rule that goes into effect next week and the H-2B wage rule that will take effect in October will make it very difficult for you and others to use the H-2B program, which is the only legal labor safety net for many green industry businesses. Ask them to support and work to pass a resolution (H.R. RES 104, S.J. RES 38) which would prohibit DOL from implementing these rules. You can reach your two Senators and Member of Congress through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 225-3121. Once connected to the office, please ask for the staff person who handles immigration issues and tell them you need their help to save the H-2B Program. If you have not already done so, please also send a letter to your elected officials through the ANLA website (www.capwiz.com/anla/home). It only takes a few moments and a few clicks to personalize and send your letter. More Background on the Rules As you know, DOL issued a final rule on January 19, 2011 that will artificially increase H-2B hourly wages by more than 50%. On February 21, 2012, DOL issued a final rule that would make the program even more expensive and complicated to use. The rule requires employers to hire any qualified U.S. worker up to 21 days before the H-2B worker is scheduled to begin. The proposed rule would also involve labor unions in the hiring process and require employers to pay transportation and subsistence costs for potential U.S. workers who work for at least 50% of the season. In addition, the rule includes provisions requiring employers to pay workers with "corresponding employment" duties similar wages. Many of these new requirements are adopted from the H-2A program. Through our experience with the H-2A program, we know that many of these new requirements will make the H-2B virtually impossible to use. ANLA is continuing to strongly oppose both H-2B rules and will continue to work to generate Congressional opposition to the rules. We appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to reach out to Congress, as well.

Category: Legislation

ONLA Backs Fight to Save H-2B

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:23:00 GMT

Category: Legislation

Everris Celebrates Grand Opening

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:08:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lynette Von Minden, 402-437-6457, lynettev@swansonrussell.com

EVERRIS™ CELEBRATES THE GRAND OPENING OF AMERICAN OFFICES AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FACILITIES

DUBLIN, OH (March 26, 2012) – Almost exactly one year after announcing the sale of Scotts Professional to ICL, officials from ICL and Everris™ celebrated the opening of Everris’s new offices and research and development facilities in Dublin, OH.

At the grand opening on February 27, Yossi Zidon, CEO of ICL Specialty Fertilizers, Fred Bosch, CEO of Everris and Ariana Cohen, president of Everris Americas presided over a ribbon cutting ceremony. Steve Lombardo, manager of research and development for Everris Americas, then led tours of the new facilities, including an in-depth look at the laboratory’s capabilities. “This new lab will serve as a key resource for both field technical services and field salespeople,” Lombardo said. “This space has all the features we need to conduct both present and future product analysis and development.”

Everris will formulate its new and existing plant protection products at this lab, as well as coat and blend its new and improved controlled release fertilizers. Technical specialists will also benchmark release profiles for products from Everris and its competitors at these facilities, leveraging their findings to develop new formulas and optimize existing ones.

The grand opening reception concluded with a catered lunch and presentations from both Zidon and Bosch. “This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Everris,” Zidon said. “These new facilities reflect ICL’s long-term commitment to Everris, its team members and its customers. I have every reason to believe that this grand opening is just one of many successes we will have to celebrate.”

For more information about Everris, or to find an Everris Territory Manager near you, please visit www.everris.us.com.

About ICL:

ICL is one of the world’s leading fertilizer and specialty chemicals companies. For a world challenged by population growth and scarce resources, ICL makes products that increase global food and water supplies and improve industrial materials and processes.

ICL produces approximately a third of the world’s bromine and is the sixth largest potash producer in the world. ICL is a leading supplier of fertilizers in Europe and a major player in specialty fertilizer market segments. One of the world’s most integrated manufacturers and suppliers of phosphate products, ICL has become the world’s leading provider of pure phosphoric acid and a major specialty phosphate player.

ICL is comprised of three core segments: ICL Fertilizers, ICL Industrial Products and ICL Performance Products. Its major production activities are located in Israel, Europe, the U.S., South America and China, and are supported by major global marketing and logistics networks. ICL employs approximately 10,000 employees worldwide. For more information, visit www.icl-group.com.

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Members of the press are welcome to contact Lynette Von Minden at lynettev@swansonrussell.com or 402-437-6457 to request a high-res image of the grand opening festivities.

Everris executives cut the ribbon to officially open the company's new American offices in Dublin, OH.

From left to right: Ryan Lewis, Marketing Communications Manager; Ariana Cohen, President; Yossi Zidon, CEO of ICL Specialty Fertilizers; Fred Bosch, Everris CEO; and Steve Lombardo, Manager of R & D.

Category: Press Releases

Nursery and Landscape Association's Open House and Garden Tour

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:41:00 GMT

Saturday May 12

9 am until 12 noon

LSU AgCenter

Hammond Research Station

21549 Old Covington Hwy

Hammond, LA

Additional information or questions:

Allen Owings at aowings@agcenter.lsu.edu or 225.603.8096

Southeast LA Nursery Association

New Orleans Horticulture Society

LA Nursery and Landscape Association

Baton Rouge Landscape Association

LA Irrigation Association

Jambalaya Lunch in the Margie Jenkins Azalea Garden's Gazebo

prepared by Horticultural Chef Joey Quebedeaux

All Nursery, Landscape, Irrigation & Retail Professionals Invited!!

Category: Trade Show

2012 Mid South Green Industry Conference

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:40:00 GMT

Category: Trade Show

Azalea Symposium

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:15:00 GMT

Azalea
Symposium

Wednesday April 4, 2012

8:30 am – 3:00 p.m.

New Encore Azaleas for 2012!

New Southgate Rhododendrons!

History of Azaleas in Louisiana!

Best Landscape Performance from Azaleas!

Companion Plants for Azaleas!

SPEAKERS
Buddy Lee – Encore Azalea Breeder
Pat Newman - Folsom Nursery
Rick Webb - Louisiana Growers
Allen Owings - LSU AgCenter

$20 / person
Lunch & Handouts provided

SEATING IS LIMITED
Register today!

Hammond Research Station

21549 Old Covington Hwy., Hammond, LA
www.lsuagcenter.com/Hammond 985-543-4125

Event co-sponsored by:

Category: Trade Show

12th ANNUAL Nursery and Landscape GOLF SHOOTOUT

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:12:00 GMT

12th ANNUAL
Nursery and Landscape
GOLF SHOOTOUT

Friday June 15, 2012
Registration: 7:00-8:15 AM
Shotgun Start at 8:30 AM
Entry Deadline: Tuesday May 3rd

LSU Golf Course
Nicholson Drive at Burbank Drive
Baton Rouge, LA

For more information and the form click here.

Mid South Agricultural Labor Seminar Coming Up

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:16:00 GMT

March 1st, 2012
7:00AM - 3:15PM

West Baton Rouge Conference Center & Tourist Bureau
2750 North Westport Dr.
Port Allen, LA

(225) 344-2920

Training farmers and ag businesses on how to avoid lawsuits, labor law violations, delays and highway violations.

This year’s Mid-South Agricultural Labor Seminar is targeted to address current agricultural labor problems.

Do not make a mistake in managing your employees that could result in a fine, lawsuit or jail time. The Mid-South Agricultural Labor Seminar will provide you with some of the best legal advice in the country on how to avoid labor law and highway violations. You will also receive the latest on other issues impacting agricultural labor. The Mid-South Agricultural Labor Seminar is unique and will provide farmers and agribusinesses with information you need that you will not hear at other meetings.

Get your labor questions answered, attend this Seminar!! See below for registration.

For more information contact Brian Breaux at (225) 922-6210.

For the brochure click here.

For the agenda click here.

For the registration click here.

Congratulations: Pass List from September 2011 CNLP Exam

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:48:00 GMT

Congratulations to the following individuals for passing all 5 parts of the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association’s Certified Nursery & Landscape Professional Exam conducted at the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center in Lafayette, LA on September 23, 2011. This is an outstanding achievement and certifies that these individuals are Certified Nursery & Landscape Professionals.

Tags: cnlp

Judge Denies Union in H-2B Case

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:24:00 GMT

Judge Denies Union in H-2B Case

Written by

Craig Regelbrugge

For Immediate Release

November 29, 2011

In a positive move, the federal judge hearing the Bayou Lawn and Landscape Services et al v. Solis case in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Florida has denied a petition by the Comité de Apoyo a Los Trabajadores Agrícolas and several other worker unions to intervene in the case.

Plaintiffs, which include several trade associations and individual employers, assert that the Department of Labor lacked the authority and failed to adhere to the Administrative Procedure Act in promulgating rules that would sharply increase the wages that must be paid to H-2B temporary and seasonal workers. Though it does not in any way indicate how the judge will ultimately rule, the American Nursery & Landscape Association and other green industry groups supporting this litigation welcomed the news.

If the rule stands, H-2B employers will face wage increases often in the range of 40 to 70 percent, even if they are bound by contracts based on the existing prevailing wage standards.

From ANLA.org.

Tags: ANLA,H2B

Category: Legislation

News for the Louisiana Nursery and Landscaping Association

Act Now to Keep H-2B Viable for Green Industry

ONLA Backs Fight to Save H-2B

Everris Celebrates Grand Opening

Nursery and Landscape Association's Open House and Garden Tour

2012 Mid South Green Industry Conference

Azalea Symposium

Azalea Symposium

Wednesday April 4, 2012

8:30 am – 3:00 p.m.

Hammond Research Station

12th ANNUAL Nursery and Landscape GOLF SHOOTOUT

12th ANNUAL Nursery and Landscape GOLF SHOOTOUT

Mid South Agricultural Labor Seminar Coming Up

March 1st, 2012 7:00AM - 3:15PM

West Baton Rouge Conference Center & Tourist Bureau 2750 North Westport Dr. Port Allen, LA

(225) 344-2920

Get your labor questions answered, attend this Seminar!! See below for registration. For more information contact Brian Breaux at (225) 922-6210. For the brochure click here.

For the agenda click here.

For the registration click here.

Congratulations: Pass List from September 2011 CNLP Exam

Judge Denies Union in H-2B Case

Judge Denies Union in H-2B Case

Azalea
Symposium

12th ANNUAL
Nursery and Landscape
GOLF SHOOTOUT

March 1st, 2012
7:00AM - 3:15PM

West Baton Rouge Conference Center & Tourist Bureau
2750 North Westport Dr.
Port Allen, LA

Get your labor questions answered, attend this Seminar!! See below for registration.

For more information contact Brian Breaux at (225) 922-6210.

For the brochure click here.