Election results will shape immigration
Last week's elections will have the Democrats controlling the House and Senate. ANLA speculates that this could lead to comprehensive immigration reform that could help the ag. labor situation. Several immigration-restrictionist candidates not in favor of comprehensive reform lost their election bids, including Rep. Jim Hostettler, R-Ind., Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., and Randy Graf, a Republican House candidate in Arizona who campaigned primarily on getting tough on immigration. "Rallying against illegal immigration and for 'enforcement only' did not pay dividends," said John Farner, ANLA dir. of legislative relations.
Minuteman founder: Bush will push amnesty
The Minuteman Project, a group that promotes closed borders and border security, issued a press release stating the election results could help President Bush promote his immigration policies. The Minuteman Project generally refers to Bush's comprehensive reform plan as amnesty. "Bush has been unable to pass his amnesty program through the GOP-controlled Congress, but he won't give up, so why wouldn't he welcome a more compliant, Democrat-led, pro-illegal-alien Congress, where he wouldn't have effective opposition from his own party?" said Jim Gilchrist, Minuteman Project founder.
States pass higher minimum wages
Voters passed measures to raise minimum wages in several states, according to ANLA. Those states are Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and Ohio. All of these minimum-wage measures included components that mandate raising minimum wages to match cost-of-living, inflation or Consumer Price Index increases.
Group hopes to plant 1 billion trees in 2007
A United Nations program is urging that 1 billion trees be planted worldwide in 2007. The Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign asks people, businesses, schools and governments to pledge tree planting. The idea was inspired by Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate for 2004 and founder of Kenya's Green Belt Movement, which has led to 30 million trees planted in 12 African countries since 1977. Pledges can be placed at the organization's Web site.
U.S. growers promote Japanese sales
A group of U.S. nurseries promoted their products at the IFEX horticulture show in Chiba, Japan, in late October. The trip and trade show booth were coordinated by Western U.S. Ag. Trade Assoc. (WUSATA). During the show, companies from 5 states wrote orders valued at $170,000 -- primarily starter plants and bare-root trees. About a third of the plants sold were patented varieties. "The Japanese are interested in our plant material. Until recently, the palette of plants available for gardens or landscapes in Japan was somewhat homogenous. Our ability to produce a similar plant but with different characteristics has caught their attention," said Patrick Mayer, Ore. Dept. of Ag. trade manager.
Worth a visit
North American Horticultural Supply Association president Ed McConkey talks about product sales and distribution and information dissemination. Only on GreenBeam.com.
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