Don't expect huge jumps in retail plant sales
Standpoint Marketing Research, which has conducted garden-buying surveys since 2000, concludes that retail plant buying will remain flat for years to come. "Retailers must recognize they can no longer expect the same kind of robust growth they experienced as a result of the baby boomers," a Standpoint report stated. Homeowners 25-40 spend less on gardening products than previous generations. Baby Boomers are spending less on garden products at retail sites, and more on lawn-and-garden services.
IRS enacts new rules for immigrant wages
The Internal Revenue Service announced a new rule regarding the amount of income tax employers must withhold from wages paid to nonresident alien employees, according to Fed. of Employers & Workers of America (FEWA). As of Jan. 1 of this year, IRS can impose interest and penalties on employers of nonresident aliens for underpaying income tax withholdings according to the new rules. FEWA advises employers of such workers to contact a tax consultant.
Pine shoot beetle invades Connecticut
Pine shoot beetle was discovered in Connecticut's Windham County. This is the first time this pest has been found in the state, according to Conn. Nursery & Landscape Assoc. Pine shoot beetle, introduced from Europe, attacks both healthy and stressed pine trees. Its range in North America includes the North Central United States, New England, Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia.
Texas awards grants for specialty crops
Texas Dept. of Ag. awarded more than $156,000 in grants to promote specialty crops, including nursery, produced in the state. Projects funded will educate consumers on locally grown products. Texas is already one of the top 3 lawn-and-garden markets, according to TDA. The state's growers have a chance to expand its market share in coming years. Horticulture is the state's 4th largest ag. industry with $1.38 billion in cash receipts annually.
FNGLA names trucker-friendly nurseries
Fla. Nursery, Growers and Landscape Assoc. named 10 companies Trucker-Friendly Nurseries for 2007. This program, started 16 years ago, is designed to bring nurseries and trucking companies together to expand communication. Each year, trucking firms evaluate nurseries on criteria such as road conditions, after-hours accessibility, dock height, paperwork accuracy and transport-friendly packaging. Winners are Boyd Nurseries, Loxahatchee; Butler's Foliage, Princeton; Country Joe's Nursery, Lake Worth; Heart of Florida Greenhouses, Zolfo Springs; Kraft Gardens, Fort Pierce; Mercer Botanicals, Zellwood; Plants of Eden, Homestead; Rose of Sharon Nursery, Miami; Silver Krome Gardens, Homestead; and Suncoast Nursery, Bradenton.
Worth a visit
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Emerald Coast Growers produces superior starter plants in a variety of
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