H-2B workers sue Imperial, contractor
12 Guatemalan immigrants from the H-2B program are suing Imperial Nurseries in Granby, Conn., claiming fraud and exploitation. A U.S. Dept. of Labor investigation found Pro Tree Forestry Services, an independent labor contractor retained by Imperial, had not paid the legally required wage. Imperial "was appalled to hear that Pro Tree was not paying its employees appropriately, because it paid Pro Tree well in excess of what they would need to pay their employees in compliance with applicable law," said Imperial Nurseries attorney Monte B. Lake. Under federal law, nurseries are responsible for the legal performance of their labor contractors, said Bob Heffernan, exec. sec. of Conn. Nursery & Landscape Assn. "Imperial is a first-class operation and a leader in many issues, including AgJOBS reform," Heffernan said. "For this to happen to them is sad because this is not what they stand for."

Tree specs posted online
The Ill. Tree Specification Review Committee completed its guidelines for growing, installing and maintaining trees. The guidelines are posted on the Ill. Nurserymen's Assoc. Web site. Topics for nurseries are impact of liner production, liner planting and harvesting the finished package. The site also outlines proper installation techniques, and there are plans to add tree delivery, acceptance and unloading guidelines. Methods for site maintenance after installation also will be added.

Oregon wants use exemption for liverwort control
Oregon has applied for an emergency-use exemption with U.S. EPA to use Gentry (quinoclamine) on liverwort. U.S. EPA will accept comments on the exemption until Feb. 22. The docket # is EPA- HQ-OPP-2007-0028. If growers nationwide comment on the exemption, U.S. EPA may be swayed to approve the Oregon application and subsequent ones, said Paul Pilon, owner of Perennial Solutions Consulting. Other states, including AL, CA, FL, MI, TX and WA are applying for the same exemption, he said. Comments should include percentage of crop infested, cost of hand-weeding and how liverwort deteriorates profitability.

N.J. upholds broad-spectrum insecticide ban
N.J. Dept. of Ag. requested an exemption from the prohibition of aerial spraying of broad-spectrum insecticides to spray trees with Dimilin (diflubenzuron) for gypsy moth control. The state's Dept. of Environmental Protection rejected the request. The Dept. of Ag. argued gypsy moth numbers in 2007 would equal an "environmental emergency" and use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) would be insufficient.

Worth a visit
The nursery business deserves its own action/adventure serial, "The Great Nursery Adventure: A Year in the Life of Greene Family Nursery." This month, the family faces a shortage of essential liners. Only on GreenBeam.com.

BroadStar™ -- a preemergence broad spectrum granular herbicide, fights resistance providing the longest residual control of any herbicide for containerized woody ornamentals.

Emerald Coast Growers produces superior starter plants in a variety of cell sizes; specializing in ornamental grasses and perennial plants.