Hines to deregister its common stock
Hines Horticulture plans to deregister its common stock this week. Hines is eligible to deregister because it has fewer than 300 shareholders of record. The company's stock may be quoted on the Pink Sheets after it deregisters. Pink Sheets provides financial information for over-the-counter securities markets. Hines cited direct and indirect costs associated with operating as a registered public company for deregistering, including the "historically low trading volume" of its common stock and the "concentration of stock ownership in relatively few holders." Hines also revealed steps to improve its performance: Divested underperforming facilities; entered into a new senior credit facility that increased its available borrowings and removed all financial covenants; and retained the services of an investment banking firm. Hines expects cash flows will not be sufficient to repay the principle of its senior notes when they're due in 2011.
USDA announces light brown apple moth funding
Strong support from ag groups resulted in USDA releasing $74.5 million in emergency funding to continue efforts in California to stop the spread of the light brown apple moth (LBAM). "Because of the intensive pest control efforts in 2007, the light brown apple moth has been contained in the initial quarantine area which has resulted in lifting control quarantine restrictions in 2 of the 12 infected California counties," said Acting Ag. Secretary Chuck Conner. LBAM, a pest of quarantine significance, was first found in Alameda County, Calif., last spring and soon after was identified in 11 other counties. Since then, USDA and Calif. Dept. of Food and Ag. have continued cooperative eradication efforts. Canada and Mexico have both imposed limited quarantines, which continue. USDA will initiate a 50-state national detection survey to verify that the pest is not present elsewhere.
Michael Dirr's daughter dies
Suzanne Ruth Dirr, daughter of Michael and Bonnie Dirr, died Jan. 24 after an extended battle with cystic fibrous. She was 31. Services were held on Jan. 29. The Dirr family is requesting contributions to Sweet Melissa Fund for transplant families at UNC Hospital c/o Becky Cicale, Lung Transplant Coordinator, 111 Hogan Ridge Court, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
Citrus greening quarantine covers Florida
USDA's APHIS expanded the citrus greening quarantine zone to include the entire state of Florida. This action, which revises the Nov. 2, 2007, federal order that quarantined 28 counties in Florida, is necessary to prevent the spread of citrus greening, also known as huanglongbing. On Nov. 30, 2007, APHIS confirmed citrus greening in 2 additional Florida counties — Lake and Hernando — bringing the total number of infected counties in the state to 30. Following discussions with the state of Florida, APHIS determined that it is necessary to impose statewide restrictions on the movement of all live host plants and host plant parts from Florida. The interstate movement of citrus fruit is not restricted by the federal order; however, under the federal citrus canker quarantine, fresh citrus from Florida must meet certain requirements and cannot be shipped to any citrus-producing states or territories.
Lowe's may have sold borer-infested planters
Wooden planter boxes sold at Lowe's across the U.S. may hold emerald ash borer larvae. Minn. Dept. of Ag. asked consumers to check if they had purchased wooden planter boxes labeled Nature's Own Planters, manufactured in Indiana by Lawson Products. The planters come from an area under federal quarantine for emerald ash borers. The planters are about 24 inches by 8 inches and the ash wood boards still have bark attached. They were shipped and probably sold last fall and summer. "We are asking people to either burn the planters or double-wrap them in 6-mm plastic bags and put them in the trash," said Geir Friisoe, plant protection division director. Lowe's officials were trying to determine how many planters may have been sold.
Tesselaar fine-tunes packaging for spring
Anthony Tesselaar Int'l. is ramping up packaging for 2 of its branded product lines. The company has redesigned, streamlined and improved the Maxi Pro Clip plastic stakes that clip to the lip of Flower Carpet and other pots to hold fertilizer sachets and labels. The booklet-style labels have been reworked, too. And the company has introduced full-color illustrated pots for the Volcano series of mildew-resistant phlox. Tesselaar, a pioneer of branded plant marketing worldwide, was the first to introduce the concept of selling branded plants in colorful pots.
Discovering the world of sustainability
Univ. of Md. is seeking funds for its "green" research farm. Project: Green Industry
Worth a visit
Learn to grow Echinacea purpurea 'Purity.' There's nothing boring about this white-flowered selection. Only on GreenBeam.com
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