Arizona sees 2nd lawsuit against employer sanctions law
A 2nd lawsuit has been filed to stop enforcement of Arizona's new employer sanctions law, which is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The law would revoke the business license of companies that knowing or intentionally hire or employ illegal immigrants. On Dec. 7, federal judge Neil Wake threw out the 1st lawsuit that had been filed by a group of businesses and immigrants rights groups against Gov. Janet Napolitano, who signed the bill into law on July 2, and the state's attorney general. The judge told plaintiffs the lawsuit was filed against the wrong people. On Dec. 9, the lawsuit was refiled against the state's 15 county attorneys. Lawyers also sought a temporary restraining order to put the law on hold until a judge can determine the law's constitutionality.
Texas advises public to watch for chilli thrips
Texas Co-op. Ext. is advising home gardeners throughout the southern U.S. to be on the lookout for chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood). The pest attacks plants in 40 plant families. Susceptible plants include begonia, lisianthus, herbs, roses, pittosporum, ligustrum and Indian hawthorn. Discovered in Florida 2 years ago, the thrips has changed how landscape companies provide pest-control services, said Scott Ludwig, ext. entomologist and IPM specialist at Texas Co-op. Ext. Although the pests are easily killed with insecticides, no pesticides have been found to provide long-term preventive control. Insecticides have had to be applied every 2-3 weeks whenever plants produce a new flush of growth. Ludwig doesn't recommend preventive sprays because beneficial insects are likely to be killed.
Input sought on conflict with building inspectors
Connecticut growers are being asked to provide Conn. Greenhouse Growers Assoc. with info concerning problems they've encountered working with local building inspectors. Chris Laux, the state's building inspector, has agreed to work with the green industry in dealing with the local approval process for the renovation and construction of ag buildings. Earlier this month Laux met with legislators and exec. directors of the CGGA and Conn. Farm Bureau Assoc., where he heard about difficulties related to dealing with local building inspectors. Laux has agreed to identify the ag-specific provisions and exemptions in the state's 12-volume building code to help better educate ag companies and the inspectors in 169 towns. He has also requested help in identifying problem areas.
University develops new poinsettia
Bob Shabot, a horticulturist in Univ. of Conn.'s Dept. of Plant Science, discovered a sport of the Fischer poinsettia cultivar Cinnamon Star 5 years ago. The parent plant produces creamy golden horizontal bracts. The sport, which Shabot has named Cinnamon Stick, produces deeper gold, almost russet-colored bracts that point upward. The plant is undergoing trials in Germany and Colorado. Shabot said a primary concern in the potential commercialization of the plant is determining if this mutation will maintain its characteristics consistently. It has drawn favorable response from local growers and from individuals who've been asked to trial it at home. Shabot is working with the university's Center for Science and Technology Commercialization with the intention of applying for a patent.
Maryland sees problems on poinsettias
Maryland poinsettia growers are seeing damage on plants from a variety of insects and disease pests, report members of the Univ. of Md. Co-op. Ext. Moist growing conditions and close plant spacing are ideal conditions for slugs and snails to reproduce. Damage to plants can occur quickly and make them unsalable. Slugs are active at night so plants should be monitored for the slime trails they leave. Whiteflies are still being found on poinsettias, which makes control more difficult because plants are mature and their bracts have colored up. Univ. of Md. tests with Judo to control whitefly on Prestige poinsettias in full color resulted in no damage, but some residue was left on bracts and leaves. Botrytis (gray mold) is showing up on bracts. Once spores settle on plant tissue, they remain viable for several weeks. Space plants to ensure good air circulation, operate horizontal-airflow fans to keep air moving and keep foliage, bracts and cyathia as dry as possible.
Discoving the world of sustainability
Steven Cline at Missouri Botanical Garden has created perhaps the most successful horticultural plastics recycling program in the country. Project: Green Industry
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