Nurseries that use H2A labor will likely be paying these workers higher salaries next year. The Adverse Effect Wage Rates (the required minimum wage for H2A employees) have been approved for 2002 and are up an average of 4.2%. TN, KY and WY are up more than 7%. Only CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI and VT saw decreases. AEWRs are based on statewide averages of agricultural pay rates. Since 1997, the average AEWR has increased 18.4%.

Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, and Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., introduced legislation that would alter wage rates for the H2A program. Their proposal would require growers using the migrant labor program to pay the Prevailing Wage Rate rather than the Adverse Effect Wage Rate. The PWR more accurately reflects local pay rates, said John Meredith, ANLA dir. of legis. relations. (202) 789-2900; http://www.anla.org

Senate Democrats last week abandoned efforts to pass a $73.5 billion farm bill before the end of the year in the face of stiff opposition from Republicans who regard the measure as too costly. Senate Democrats failed for the 3rd time in as many weeks to get the 60 votes needed to cut off debate and bring the measure to a final vote. The House has passed a version of the legislation, which would authorize crop subsidies -- most for traditional row crops such as wheat and corn -- as well as conservation programs.

North Carolina is the latest state to offer grants for growing and marketing specialty plants, including nursery crops. N.C. Dept. of Ag. and Consumer Services has $90,000 available through a block grant from USDA Commodity Credit Corp. Grants cover up to 60% of an approved project up to $10,000. Applications are due Feb. 1; grants will be awarded based on innovation, economic viability, applicants' experience, prospects for replication and size. (828) 225-1712.

A new book by Michael A. Dirr, Univ. of Ga. professor and NMPRO contributing editor, will be released in February. "Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates" describes woody plants for USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11 and is a companion to "Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs." This photographic encyclopedia contains descriptions and details on more than 400 species and hundreds more cultivars and varieties. The book is $69.95 though Timber Press. (800) 327-5680; orders@timberpress.com; http://www.timberpress.com

December 18, 2001
USDA restricted nationwide sales of certain types of artificial Christmas trees imported from China after brown fir longhorn beetle was identified on the product in Michigan. The trees have real cedar trunks and artificial branches and needles. Consumers who purchased these trees are being asked to check them for pests. Infestation signs include dead or live adult beetles (1/2 inch long and tan) and sawdustlike frass, which may indicate larvae under the bark. (800) 292-3939.

Canadian quarantines of sudden oak death in Oregon and California will cost Oregon growers a minimum of $10 million-$15 million annually in lost sales, said John Aguirre, OAN exec. dir. Losses could run as high as $20 million. OAN, CAN and ANLA all support USDA imposing a federal SOD quarantine of infected areas, which could lead to Canada lifting its statewide quarantines. jaguirre@oan.org

The Immigration and Naturalization Service will be restructured and divided into 2 bureaus. The Bureau of Immigration Services will process applications for naturalization, asylum and adjustment of status, and grant green card renewals for resident aliens. The Bureau of Immigration Enforcement will focus on national security and illegal immigration. The plan would eliminate more than 30 district and regional directors. Richard B. Cravener was named director of the Office of INS Restructuring. http://www.ins.gov

A good weed scouting program can save nurseries thousands of dollars annually, said Joe Neal, NCSU ext. weed specialist. But weed scouting differs from disease/insect scouting. The purpose of a weed scouting program is to quickly and simply note what weeds are present, their locations and their relative impact on production. Disease/insect scouting involves determining when pests populations have reached levels that warrant control measures. (919) 515-9379.

Steve McGonigal, former Wash. State Nursery & Landscape Assoc. exec. dir., was named exec. dir. of Wash. State Noxious Weed Control Board. "The brightest future for the plant and seed industries will include demonstrating to our state's citizens that the industries are made up of responsible people who avoid the unnecessary distribution of noxious weeds," he said. Marianne Pratt took over as WSNLA exec. dir. in April. smcgonigal@agr.wa.gov

USDA is proposing a reduction in the Florida citrus canker quarantine, removing an area in Manatee County. Surveys show the area has been free of the disease since Feb. 1999. Areas must be free of the disease for 2 years before becoming eligible for removal from the quarantine. Thousands of commercial and residential citrus trees have been destroyed in the state due to the disease in the past few years. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html

December 11, 2001
Pay attention if you use municipal yard-waste compost in your media: U.S. Composting Council warns that clopyralid herbicides can persist in compost and harm crops. Damage to sensitive crops has been noted in Spokane, Wash., and at Penn St. Univ. Dow AgroSciences responded that labels on all its clopyralid products state that manure and foliage treated with the product should not be used as a source for compost. Also, circumstances at Spokane and Penn St. were unusual and using composted municipal waste as a percentage of potting media should not cause problems. The company is working with universities, the compost industry and grower groups to develop best practices. http://www.dowagrosciences.com http://www.compostingcouncil.org/

There has never been a more critical time for growers to look at changes in U.S. tax laws, said Pat Frishkoff, dir. of Ore. St. Univ.'s Austin Family Business Program. "We've got to get back to the business of planning and have people remember there are opportunities that need to be looked at in a timely enough manner to take advantage. That means getting some things planned well before Dec. 31." Growers should pay attention to new income tax rates, new retirement savings programs and the changing estate tax laws. http://www.familybusinessonline.org

Plant America acquired Etera Networks, the Web-hosting and e-commerce division of Etera Corp., which filed for bankruptcy in July. The move adds 1,700 garden center Internet sites to Plant America's existing customer base, making it the industry's largest Web-hosting firm. Etera's plant-production division was purchased by Northwest Horticulture in October. (703) 346-6814; albizo@plantamerica.com

Minn. Nursery & Landscape Assoc. and Minn. Christmas Tree Assoc. will receive part of a $370,000 grant to promote the state's Minnesota Grown program. The grant is part of a $1.7 million Minn. Dept. of Ag. project to stimulate specialty crop production. MNLA and MCTA will share the grant with Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Assoc. and Minnesota Apple Growers. (651) 296-6382.

Last month's NMPRO online poll showed that almost half of the 214 respondents use herbicides as their primary form of weed control. Hand cultivation followed with almost 40% of the response. This month's poll deals with new plant varieties. To participate, go to http://www.greenbeam.com/vote.stm

You can increase municipal and community planting in your region. American Forests recommends the following tree coverage: urban residential, 25%; commercial, 15%; suburban, 60%. The recommendations are adjusted for local climates. For instance, in plains or dry Western areas, recommended tree canopy coverage is lower. Armed with this information, growers can approach governing boards and encourage more tree planting. http://www.americanforests.org

December 4, 2001
Washington State Dept. of Ag. placed a quarantine around the Tukwila site where 3 citrus longhorn beetles were captured in Aug. The quarantine prohibits moving any possibly infested plant material out of the quarantine area. The beetles were found at a Tukwila nursery on maple trees imported from Korea; 5 other beetles escaped. The beetle -- which closely resembles the Asian longhorn beetle -- attacks and kills some 40 species of trees. (800) 443-6684; http://www.wa.gov/agr/CitrusLHBeetle.htm

Two new early-blooming liatris species were discovered by researchers at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas in Fort Worth -- Liatris aestivalis and L. glandulosa. Both bloom in summer rather than fall. L. aestivalis is similar to L. mucronata. L. glandulosa secretes a sticky substance. Guy L. Nesom and Robert J. O'Kennon discovered the species in North-Central Texas. http://www.brit.org

Want to know which varieties do best in the Pacific Northwest? Ore. Assoc. of Nurserymen is developing field trials to test performance of new perennial and annual cultivars. The trials would be similar to outdoor trials conducted in other parts of the country. (800) 342-6401.

Mich. Dept. of Ag. earmarked $2.1 million to enhance and develop the state's specialty crops, and nursery growers qualify for funds. Specialty crops are defined as any ag crop except wheat, feed, grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts and tobacco. Grants may be used for promotion, marketing, technical assistance and/or research of new products, new methods of introducing new products to the market, or new marketing channels. (517) 373-9710; burkep@state.mi.us

The 2002 ANLA Management Clinic will be Jan. 31-Feb. 3 in Louisville, Ky. The event has been held annually for more than 30 years and is designed to help growers, retailers and landscapers improve their businesses. This year's event includes 2 new educational tracks: landscape distribution and professional growth. Landscape distribution seminars will focus on rewholesale issues and will include a case study of Southwest Wholesale Nursery in Carrollton, Texas. http://www.anla.org