Emerald ash borer re-emerges in Maryland
In August, Md. Dept. of Ag. found emerald ash borer (EAB) larvae in a girdled detection tree near an area that was originally infested in 2003. Maryland's Prince George's County was originally infested by an illegal shipment of nursery stock from a quarantine area in Michigan. MDA issued a new EAB quarantine order for the area, which limits the movement of ash products, including nursery stock. Larvae only were discovered in the detection tree, with no adult exit holes found, according to MDA. EAB quarantines also exist in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
Nursery sales drop in Ohio
Wholesale nursery sales in Ohio dropped 16% from 2001 to 2005, down to $701 million from $834 million, according to Ohio Nursery & Landscape Assoc. ONLA exec. Bill Stalter said he can't explain the drop, but the industry experienced mergers and acquisitions during the 4-year span. Also, more nursery stock is being shipped to the region from Southern states. Ohio's wholesale nursery sales jumped 164% 1996-2001, up from $316 million. The entire Ohio green industry, including landscape and retail business, grew 48% from 2001 to 2005 to $4.13 billion. Landscape installation/construction grew $268 million during the period to more than $1 billion in sales.
Florida strong, sales reach $3 billion, despite hurricanes
The Florida green industry continues to boom despite being hit by 8 hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. Univ. of Fla. reports that from 2000 to 2005 the economic impact of the nursery industry rose 54% to $15.2 billion. The state remains the nation's No. 2 producer of nursery stock (behind California) with more than $3 billion in farm-gate sales in 2005. This is up 34% from 2000 farm-gate sales ($2.2 billion). Fla. Nursery, Growers & Landscape Assoc. estimates Florida growers suffered $2.1 billion in hurricane crop losses, structural damage and cleanup costs in 2004 and 2005. More than a quarter of the state's nurseries had business interrupted by hurricanes for 4 months or more in 2004 and 2005.
Iowa gets statewide pine shoot beetle quarantine
USDA's APHIS issued a statewide quarantine for pine shoot beetle in Iowa, according to North American Plant Protection Org. This action follows the detection of the pest in Iowa's Dubuque and Scott counties. The quarantine restricts the movement of products including pine nursery stock and Christmas trees.
California minimum wage to reach $8
The Calif. minimum wage will increase by nearly 20% to $8 an hour from $6.75. The wage will increase 75 cents on Jan. 1, 2007, and will rise an additional 50 cents on Jan. 1, 2008. The jump will make California's minimum wage the 4th highest in the country.
Worth a visit
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