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Farm Bill passes Senate
The Senate passed its version of the 2007 Farm Bill, 79-14. The bill includes most of the provisions advocated by the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, of which ANLA and SAF are members. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., was blocked in her attempt to include an amendment that would have returned the ag. functions of the port inspectors from the Dept. of Homeland Security to USDA.

Red palm mite spreads in Florida
Red palm mite (Raioella indica) has been discovered on additional palm trees in Florida's Palm Beach and Broward counties, Palm Beach Post reported. The mite, which has the potential to alter the palm-heavy landscape of Florida and wound a multibillion-dollar nursery industry, was found on 10 Palm Beach County coconut palms -- in West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Lantana, Hypoluxo and Lake Clarke Shores. Eight infested palms also were confirmed in Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale, state officials said. No red palm mites have been found in checks of 146 nurseries in Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Lee and Collier counties.

Comments sought for sustainable standards
Growers can take advantage of a public comment period for the 1st national standard for sustainable agriculture. The Draft National Sustainable Agriculture Standard for Trial Use, which will apply to food, fiber, floral and energy crops, was released for comment in October. This standard, scheduled for completion in 2010, will provide industry members with an opportunity to voluntarily participate in a program to certify for product labeling that identifies their company and products as sustainable. The current standard draft covers many areas and issues of agriculture and is very broad. Ultimately, the standards will be accredited by American Nat'l. Standards Institute (ANSI). Once accredited by ANSI, the standards can be used by any qualified 3rd party to create a certification program.

Texas counties quarantined for citrus-harming pest
Texas Dept. of Ag. quarantined 32 counties for Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphornia citri Kuwayama. USDA-APHIS issued an order quarantining the Texas counties for this psyllid insect pest. The order required TDA to establish a parallel quarantine; otherwise, APHIS would quarantine the entire state to prevent spread of the psyllid to other states. Asian citrus psyllid is a relatively new pest in Texas. It transmits the pathogen that causes citrus greening. This disease is not known to occur in Texas, but it is seen in Florida.

Chinese insects battle invasive plant
South Dakota officials hope a Chinese import — a ¼-inch-long beetle — will guard the state's water and native vegetation against an invasive plant species. The Dept. of Ag. introduced the yellow, striped Chinese diorhabda beetle in recent years to combat the spread of salt cedar, a shrub introduced to the U.S. in the 1800s for stream-bank stabilization, windbreaks and ornamental purposes. Salt cedar has since escaped into the wild and today covers as many as 2 million U.S. acres. The diorhabda beetle, aka salt cedar leaf beetle, feeds on salt cedar and can be used as a tool to control it. Besides beetles, state officials also are using herbicides to combat the spread of the plant. Mike Stenson, a weed management technician with the Dept. of Ag., said the state is trying to halt the salt cedar threat before it grows too large. "I'd say it's a concern — a major concern," Stenson told The Daily Republic in Mitchell, S.D. "If we ignore it, it will be a major problem."

John Deere Landscapes, Barbeques Galore team
Barbeques Galore, a specialty barbecue retailer, partnered with landscape distributor John Deere Landscapes to sell Turbo brand grills and accessories at the more than 630 John Deere Landscapes locations. "Through this partnership with John Deere Landscapes, we can effectively share these grills and accessories with hundreds of thousands of customers. John Deere Landscapes has an enviable reputation for excellence and we are very pleased to establish this partnership," said Jim Ginocchi, v.p. of commercial sales at Barbeques Galore.

Discovering the world of sustainability
Eco-friendly products will be showcased at 2 trade shows in 2008. Project: Green Industry

Worth a visit
GMPRO's Combo Chef, Kelli Rodda, shows you how to create a colorful combination planter for partial-shade conditions and a combination that makes a bold statement with color and texture. Only on GreenBeam.com.

Syngenta remains committed to investing in every aspect of our ornamental business to bring value to growers for producing beautifully strong plants.

Hortica is the horticultural industry advocate that is a trusted partner for your business insurance, employee benefits and personal insurance. Contact Hortica to discuss your needs.

The ANLA 2008 Management Clinic is coming! February 8-11, 2008 in Louisville, Ken.

Register now! Visit www.midam.org for details. Mid-Am, the Midwest's premier trade show, features hundreds of exhibits, 130+ hours of education, plus much more!