AmericanHort Connect 2021 December

2021: December

An AmericanHort Member Benefit

A KNOWLEDGE RESOURCE FOR OUR INDUSTRY

Mike & Rachel Gooder host Sen. Joni Ernst at Plantpeddler in Cresco, IA

IN THIS ISSUE

Advocating For What Matters AmericanHort is a constant presence on Capitol Hill and has a seat at the table where decisions are being made that affect our green industry businesses. But even more effective than our voice—is yours.

FEATURES Congressional Site Visits: Nurturing Relationships with Lawmakers 2 An Update on Supply Chain Woes and Inflationary Pressures

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What’s Causing Volatility in the Markets?

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HRI & ADVOCACY UPDATES

UPCOMING EVENTS & EDUCATION

Study Spotlights from HRI’s Journal of Environmental Horticulture 10

AmericanHort Member Reception at MANTS

Steep 2022 H-2A Wage Increases Expected 12

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Marketing Mastery Series 15 Cultivate’22 15

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

Congressional Site Visits: Nurturing Relationships with Lawmakers Former secretary of agriculture Sonny Perdue arrives at Flowerwood Nursery, Inc in Loxley, AL for a site visit For those that participated in the Impact Washington Summit in October, you planted the seeds of a relationship during the Hill meeting with your Senator, Representative, or their staff. Now, how do you nurture and grow that relationship to successfully advocate for our industry? One very effective tool for developing a rapport with your lawmaker is hosting a site visit.

All politics is local There’s an old saying, popularized by the late House Speaker Tip O’Neill: “All politics is local.” It means savvy lawmaker are influenced by how policy decisions impact the everyday lives of their constituents. An effective advocate can likewise use site visits to help lawmakers understand how complex policy concepts apply to the real-world problems faced by a small business owner in the green industry. For example, providing a tour of your nursery can illustrate the labor intensity of plant production and drive home the need for a stable workforce, or hosting a lawmaker at your family’s garden center can provide a context for talking about tax policies that encourage the transfer of small businesses to heirs.

Laying the groundwork for a successful site visit While AmericanHort’s advocacy team can also work directly with you to prepare a successful congressional site visit, below are a few key steps to consider.

2 | AmericanHort.org

• Plan ahead: Start by creating a detailed agenda that showcases your individual operation while illustrating issues affecting your industry segment at large. Focus on sites that provide interactive experiences for lawmakers, employee or customer engagement, and compelling visuals —avoid conference rooms or lengthy sit-down discussions. Consider building visits around events such as company milestones that may attract local media coverage. Include in your agenda who the lawmaker will meet during the visit. One recommendation is to consider identifying industry contacts in your area to participate in the site visit and contribute their perspective on shared issues.

• Make your pitch, and then stay flexible and patient: Most lawmakers entrust their in-state appointments to staff in their local or state office, so contact your local office, explain your purpose, and inquire how to submit invitation. Include in your scheduling request the information prepared in your detailed agenda. Remember: you’re providing staff with the who,

Terri and Ryan McEnaney with Rep. Betty McCollum at Bailey Nurseries in St. Paul, Minnesota

what, where, when and why of the proposed site visit and equipping them to pitch the lawmaker. Also, it may take time before you receive confirmation.

Although lawmakers often return home on weekends, most events occur while Congress out-of-session. Except for August, the congressional calendar is fluid throughout the year. Following-up on your invitation once a month or so is acceptable but remain patient and understand an office may accept an invitation with at least a week notice if an unexpected opportunity for the visit presents itself.

• Be authentic but make the most of this opportunity: Before the visit, outline for staff any policy issues you plan to cover, so the lawmaker is prepared to substantively engage on each topic.

When the big day arrives, be prepared to personalize policy issues with concrete examples from your experience. If multiple people will interact with the lawmaker during the visit, plan what each person will contribute and rehearse the delivery.

Ready to host your own site visit?

Hosting a site visit is an excellent way to build upon existing relationships with lawmakers and positively influence policy decisions on behalf of the green industry.

However, preparation is key to success.

If the steps appear intimidating, not to worry! The advocacy team at AmericanHort ready and eager to help plan your event and support meaningful interactions with lawmakers in your communities.

Evan Lee Director Policy & Government Relations, AmericanHort EvanL@Americanhort.org

• Follow-up: In most circumstances, the lawmaker’s policy staff is DC-based and not present for in-state events. Obtain the appropriate contact information from local staff for future follow-up and send along points covered during the site visit.

Consider personalized thank you notes to the lawmaker and each staffer who worked to facilitate the visit.

2021: December | 3

SUPPLY CHAIN

“…final demand has accelerated as the pandemic has gone on, with many consumers discovering the unique health benefits and the social connectivity associated with flowers, which are especially important in a time of stress, anxiety, and social isolation.”

An Update on Supply Chain Woes and Inflationary Pressures The green industry has spent the past several decades perfecting a globalized “just-in-time” supply chain and the COVID pandemic has disrupted nearly every aspect of that globalized supply chain, illustrating the vulnerabilities of a usually-invisible pathway of growing, transportation, and logistics.

The supply chain disruptions go back to early last year to the beginning stages of the pandemic and included not only plants but ancillary hard goods as well. Factories in parts of the world where a lot of the globe’s manufacturing capacity sits were hit hard by the spread of coronavirus. Many factories shut down or were forced to reduce production because workers were sick or in lockdown. In response, shipping companies cut their schedules in anticipation of a drop in demand for moving goods around the world. While demand for some things cratered (e.g., restaurant meals, vacations, face-to-face services, etc.), the green industry experienced an increase in final demand, promulgated by the cash placed in people’s pockets through stimulative policies (remember that 70% of GDP is tied to personal consumption expenditures) and the additional time spent at home.

Americans took a portion the money they had been spending on experiences and redirected it to goods for their homes, which were suddenly doubling as offices and classrooms. They put office chairs and new printers in their bedrooms, while adding gym equipment and video game 4 | AmericanHort.org

consoles to their basements. They bought paint and lumber for projects that added space or made their existing confines more comfortable. They added mixers and blenders to their kitchens, as parents became short-order cooks for coopedup children. The timing and quantity of consumer purchases swamped the system.

Factories whose production tended to be predictable tried to ramp up to satisfy a surge of orders, adding to the logistical backlog.

Because containers were scarce and demand for shipping intense, the cost of moving cargo skyrocketed. Before the pandemic, sending a container from Shanghai to Los Angeles cost $2,000 or less. By early 2021, the same journey was 10-to-15 times more expensive. Many containers were getting bumped off ships and forced to wait, adding to delays throughout the supply chain. Even large companies like Target and Home Depot had to wait for weeks and even months to get their finished wares onto ships.

Meanwhile, at ports in North America where containers were arriving, the heavy influx of ships overwhelmed the availability

of docks. At ports like Los Angeles and Oakland, dozens of ships were forced to anchor out in the ocean for days before they could load and unload (which is still the case). At the same time, truck drivers and dock workers were stuck in quarantine, reducing the availability of people to unload goods, and further slowing the process.

This situation was exacerbated by black swan events such as the shutdown of the Suez Canal after a giant container ship got stuck there, and then by the closings of major ports in China in response to new Covid cases. Many companies responded to initial shortages by ordering extra items, adding additional strain on the ports, and filling up warehouses. With warehouses full, containers suddenly served as storage areas, and piled up at ports. Traffic jams of historic size resulted.

Unfortunately, these supply chain disruptions will take until the summer or fall of 2022 before they are sorted out. Even then, there will be shifts in how the green industry conducts business in the future.

As the industry continues to adapt to this changing business environment, especially changes in transportation and logistics, greater communication and collaboration is essential.

The price increases implemented in the industry already to respond to inflationary pressures will continue, but to a lesser degree next year. For example, the cost of inputs for growers increased by 8 percent this year and is expected to increase by another 5 percent next year (yes, that is an increase from what I said at Cultivate). By late 2022, the transitory part (as the Federal Reserve refers to it) of these inflationary pressures should start to dissipate during the first half of next year. But make no mistake here—economic recovery and future growth are highly dependent on whether the pandemic is brought under control.

But, as mentioned earlier, final demand has accelerated as the pandemic has gone on, with many consumers discovering the unique health benefits and the social connectivity associated with flowers, which are especially important in a time of stress, anxiety, and social isolation. This resulted in 2020 sales that were up year-over-year over 2019 and sale in the first half of 2021 resulted in yet another year-over-year increase in flower sales over 2020. Unless the Delta variant dictates otherwise, that consumer buying trend should continue to hold until at least 2023 because of pent-up demand. So now is the time to be shouting from the rooftops about the health benefits of flowers, shrubs, and trees in improved landscapes. In my humble opinion, vital fuel for future economic growth in the green industry. We will likely be contending with this health crisis for some time to come, and the health and well-being benefits of flowers are part of the answer. To use a word that has been used a lot during the pandemic, we are essential!

Dr. Charlie Hall AmericanHort Chief Economist

How Can AmericanHort Best Serve You? We want to hear from you! We need your input to best understand your needs and how AmericanHort can effectively serve you. Please take our brief survey. Respondents who complete the survey will be entered in a drawing for a $100 VISA® gift card.

Take the survey at AmericanHort.org/MemberSurvey

2021: December | 5

By Margo Madden, Vice President of Energy Solutions, APPI Energy— An AmericanHort Affinity Partner

Market volatility is seemingly settling in for the long haul as volatile Henry Hub natural gas prices—and as a result electricity prices—continue to rise. While no one can predict where prices will go as we head into winter, what we can do is take a closer look at what’s causing energy market volatility, as well as where to look to for viable solutions.

What’s Causing Energy Market Volatility?

While the market has been in a period of declining prices for a number of years, no market can continue to go lower and lower.

Currently, we’re seeing that play out, with increased market volatility and increased costs. There are a few reasons behind that: • Increasing Natural Gas Prices: Natural gas prices recently hit a 13-year high, more than doubling over the past 6 months. What’s more, the EIA predicts that the average home heating gas bill will increase by 30% as compared to last year.

• Increase in Exports: Exports of natural gas and liquefied natural gas account for nearly 20% of the country’s natural gas production as prices in Europe and Asia continue to set records, reaching $35 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in Asia and nearly $40/MMBtu in Europe in the first week of October.

• Decreasing Storage Levels: With natural gas becoming a global commodity, natural gas storage levels in the U.S. have dipped below their five-year average.

They’ve also gone below where they were one year ago. Storage is currently 11.7% less than this time last year.

6 | AmericanHort.org

A great place to start is by talking to our team at APPI Energy. Our data-driven approach coupled with our proven, 25year history, allows us to provide custom solutions for navigating the ever-changing energy markets. Chat with us here online, reach out via email at info@appienergy.com, or at 800.520.6685.

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Winter 2021–2022 Electricity and Natural Gas Forecast

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In each issue of Connect, we’ll be “hiding” a new small graphic.

When you find it, email us at ConnectSeekAndFind@AmericanHort.org, and tell us where you found it.

For this December issue, respond by January 1.

TO OUR LATEST WINNER

Ryen Roberts

What Can You Do?

Cottage Gardens Inc Hermitage, PA —————

While market volatility isn’t always a welcome turn of events, there are options for hedging against rising costs and minimizing budgetary risk.

• Lock in sooner rather than later: One approach is to get out ahead of the market. Generally, we recommend that our clients at least test the waters of the market 12 to as much as 24 months before their existing contract ends. While we don’t know if prices will be higher or lower in the future, what we do know is energy market volatility increases as the start date gets closer, primarily due to the impact of weather.

• Look to the future: Additionally, looking further out can be beneficial as well.

The “outer years” still represent a good buying opportunity and an effective way to combat higher near term prices.

• Reduce demand: The lowest priced kilowatt hour is the one you don’t use. By reducing your usage and reducing your demand, you can take more control of your future energy expenses even though prices are high.

• Explore efficiency and sustainability projects to increase resiliency: One of the trends we’re really seeing in the industry is a move away from centralized, utility-based generation to what’s known

I EK & F

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What’s Causing Volatility in the Markets?

as distributed generation. This shift from a single source to many sources, oftentimes at the customer site or what’s known as behind the meter distributed generation, allows for increased resiliency.

The end game of course is a greater level of reliability. Traditionally, if the central grid goes down, you have no real option to keep your facility open. But if you have solar with battery storage for example, you may be able to stay in operation until the grid comes back online.

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MARKET VO L AT I L I T Y

WITH US

Do you know a student who would benefit from exposure to the green industry?

AmericanHort is opening applications to its HortScholar program on January 10. The 2022 HortScholar class will receive a VIP Cultivate’22 experience, volunteer, and have meetings with the movers and shakers in the industry.

Learn more and find the application at AmericanHort.org/HortScholar

We want to get to know you better.

Help us do so by joining us on Social Media—our way of connecting with our members and community.

@AmericanHort

@youramericanhort

@American_Hort

@AmericanHort

“As a one of the 2020 HortScholars, and the 2021 HortScholar Coordinator, this unique experience helped me grow my career by exponentially expanding my network, opening my eyes to the numerous career options our industry offers, and fertilizing my passions and ambitions, all surrounded by supportive and eager plantspeople wanting to see me flourish. I strongly encourage green industry professionals to share this opportunity with any students they know who want to succeed in the horticulture industry.”

— David McKinney, 2020 HortScholar 2021: December | 7

WAGES AND HOURS

“…steering clear of any self-inflicted harm, such as legal missteps, is so critical…The measures necessary to help avoid both misclassification of employees and off-the-clock work claims are relatively straightforward.” bookkeeper, accounts payable or receivable clerk, or some similar clerical position, qualifies under the “administrative” exemption if the employee is paid a salary.

In most situations that assumption is erroneous.

or show a negative COVID-19 test on a weekly basis. As of this writing, several states as well as business groups have pledged to challenge this OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard when it is finally issued.

The vaccination mandate for employees of federal contractors, issued on September 9, 2021, may prove more difficult to challenge, since the federal government is largely free to decide with whom it will do business.

To qualify for the “administrative” exemption, an employee must be paid a salary of at least $684.00 per week ($35,568.00 annually) and perform certain duties. These duties must be “office or non-manual” work directly related to the management or general business operations of the employer or the employer’s customers. The employee must also exercise discretion and independent judgement with respect to matters of significance, which is most often at issue.

Both the type of work performed as well as the importance of the work are relevant.

The exercise of discretion and independent judgment “implies that the employee has authority to make an independent choice.”

Exempt “administrative” employees possess the authority to commit the employer in matters of significant financial impact or with authority to waive or deviate from established policies and procedures without prior approval. Using skill and experience in applying established procedure or standards generally will not satisfy the “discretion and independent judgement” requirement.

Examples of exempt administrative jobs would be purchasing agents, human resources personnel, buyers, inspectors, and executive assistants, among others.

These are merely a few of the hurdles that employers have had to overcome as the result of the pandemic. That is why steering clear of any self-inflicted harm, such as legal missteps, is so critical. One example that arises all too frequently is wage and hour violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or similar state laws. Chief among these violations is misclassification of employees as exempt from overtime. The overtime exemption for “administrative” personnel is most frequently misapplied.

Some employers mistakenly believe that an employee working in an office environment and performing work such as that of a

The harm that could result from misclassification comes in the form of a Department of Labor (DOL) claim or private lawsuit. Either could result in backpay for overtime wages for up to three-years for each week that a misclassified employee worked more than 40 hours. There is also the risk of liquidated (double) damages and DOL fines for each violation. If the matter is the subject of a private lawsuit, the employer would also be responsible for the complaining employee’s attorney's fees. If multiple individuals have been misclassified, the violations could be pursued as a collective and/or class action.

Common Employer Wage and Hour Errors to Avoid

By Rick Alaniz, Alaniz Law and Associates

Employers have rarely, if ever, been confronted with challenges as difficult or unique as they have faced over the past 18 months. The Coronavirus pandemic has been one of those once-in-a-lifetime events that no one, especially employers, ever wants to see again. From its first impact employers across the board have had to adapt to the federal government’s constant revisions and updates to its guidance for maintaining a safe workplace.

As businesses began to resume operations, the numerous operational problems were exacerbated by a lack of returning employees and inability to hire new ones.

Substantial increases in starting pay to help attract applicants were somewhat successful, but created the unintended consequence of wage compression, often upsetting existing employees. This resulted in unhappy, experienced employees leaving for open positions that offered more money for their experience in addition to quickly departing new hires job hopping through abundant available jobs. More employees have been leaving their jobs than at any time since 2000.

In addition, the expanding government regulation into U.S. workplaces has been expanded in the name of COVID-19 prevention. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines effectively became requirements. Most recently, the Biden administration has gone further by mandating that employers with 100 or more employees require that they be vaccinated 8 | AmericanHort.org

Another common wage and hour violation is off-the-clock work. These claims have escalated in recent years across nearly all workplaces. They often arise after an employee has left the employer. These claims can involve both preliminary and postliminary activities to the principal activities of the job. In certain industries “donning and doffing” of equipment can be compensable if “unique items are involved.” Similarly, preparing equipment and vehicles, transporting tools and equipment, security screenings, shift-change activities, and attending meetings and training programs are usually compensable time. The routine review and response to work-related e-mails or texts after the end of the normal workday has also served as the basis for off-the-clock work claims.

Since most employees are plugged in 24/7, this has become a common problem.

The measures necessary to help avoid both misclassification of employees and off-the-clock work claims are relatively straightforward. In the case of misclassification, employers should carefully review both the job descriptions and dayto-day activities of all exempt employees.

The job description should accurately reflect the work performed and comport with the claimed exemption. Regarding off-the-clock work, the best course of action is to post a notice to employees that no overtime work or work off-of-the-clock may be performed without the employee's supervisor’s prior authorization, and that violations will result in disciplinary action. The notice should also inform employees that repeated violations will result in termination. While employers are required to pay employees for off-theclock work, even though unauthorized, employers can and should discipline and even terminate employees for repeated violations.

Though little can be done to help ease lingering distress over events during the pandemic, being aware of and taking steps to avoid common wage and hour violations should make the future a little brighter.

2021: December | 9

HRI U P DAT E

2021 Research Spotlights from The Journal of Environmental Horticulture

By Jennifer Gray, Research Programs Administrator, Horticultural Research Institute, JenniferG@AmericanHort.org The Journal of Environmental Horticulture, established in 1983, serves as the research publication of the The Horticultural Research Institute (the research affiliate of AmericanHort).

The Journal’s mission is to publish peer-reviewed papers on topics of relevance to the green industry.

Unique among horticultural journals, this publication fills a niche in scientific reporting in that articles are targeted to both research and green industry businesses of all types. This is primarily accomplished by providing both a technical abstract on the science of what was done and interpretive summary on the significance of that science to the industry.

Take a look at the studies published in 2021!

Field Response of Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) to Aminocyclopyrachlor1

High pH, Low Alkalinity Pond Water Used for Overhead Irrigation Does Not Affect Plant Growth of Select Flowering Shrubs

Philip Westra; Curtis Hildebrandt; Hudson K. Takano; Todd A. Gaines; Franck E. Dayan

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— Trade Flows within the United States Nursery Industry in 2018 Melinda J. Knuth; Hayk Khachatryan; Charles R. Hall; Marco A. Palma; Alan W. Hodges; Ariana P. Torres; Robin G. Brumfield — Rooting Response of Boxwood Cultivars to Hot Water Treatment and Thermal Sensitivity of Calonectria henricotiae and C. pseudonaviculata in Diseased Boxwood (Buxus spp.)

Zachary Singh, Adam Maggard, Rebecca Barlow, John Kush —

Fredric Miller; Susan Wiegrefe

Use of Routine Leaching Fraction Testing to Guide Irrigation at a Container Nursery

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Analyzing the Structural Shifts in U.S. Boxwood Production Due to Boxwood Blight Charles R. Hall, Chuanxue Hong, Fred E. Gouker, Margery Daughtrey —

— Effects of Growth Substrate on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Three Annual Species

J. A. LaMondia, E. Allan-Perkins, S. Kodati

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Plant Growth Regulator Impacts on Vegetative Cutting Production of Moroccan Pincushion (Pterocephalus depressus) Plants

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Impacts of Wire Basket Retention and Removal on Whole Tree Stability and Long-term Growth Richard J. Hauer; Andrew K. Koeser; Jason W. Miesbauer; Jeff Edgar; David Kleinhuizen

You can read each of these studies at meridian.allenpress.com/jeh

Jacob D. Schwab; Kimberly A. Williams; Jason J. Griffin

Anna-Marie Murphy; G. Brett Runion; Stephen A. Prior; H. Allen Torbert; Jeff L. Sibley; Glenn B. Fain; Jeremy M. Pickens

Alicia L. Rihn, Charles R. Hall, Bryan J. Peterson, Ariana P. Torres, Marco A. Palma, Hayk Khachatryan

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Asexual Propagation by Stem Cuttings of Half-high and Low-bush Blueberries in Soilless Substrates

Factors Affecting Boxwood Blight Spread Under Landscape Conditions

Changes in Production Practices by Green Industry Growers from 2009 to 2019

Darby McGrath; Jason Henry; Ryan Munroe; Charlene Williams

— Relative Susceptibility, Preference, and Suitability of Carpinus Taxa for the Japanese Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

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From Propagation to Field: Influence of Tray Design on Tree Seedling Quality and Performance

Nina Shishkoff; Megan E. Miller; Marc. A. Cubeta

A Comparison of the Attributes of Pine Straw from Southern Pine Species

Jeff B. Million, Thomas H. Yeager

A.V. LeBude; J.S. Owen, Jr.; C. Holmes

Sean J. Markovic; James E. Klett —

! y a d o T e t a n Do It’s the time of year when we reflect on all the things in our lives to be thankful for—and we are thankful for you! Your donations and support make research like this possible.

Continue to support industry research and scholarship by texting HRI2019 to 44321 to donate to HRI!

2021: December | 11

FROM THE HILL

A D V O C A C Y U P DAT E S

Steep 2022 H-2A Wage Increases Expected

By Craig Regelbrugge, Executive Vice President of Advocacy, Research & Industry Relations, AmericanHort

Most H-2A visa users are bracing for hefty 2022 wage increases.

Though the new wages won’t be official until published in the Federal Register later this month by the Department of Labor (DOL), we know what to expect, since the USDA’s Farm Labor Survey (FLS) results are out. The regional gross average wages that become the H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) are derived from this survey. The AEWR is typically the applicable minimum wage that must be paid to H-2A workers and U.S. workers in “corresponding employment” who are performing any job tasks in common.

Growers in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania will take the biggest hit, with a 9.6 percent increase. California’s AEWR will increase over 8 percent; Arizona, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Virginia will go up in excess of 7 percent; and Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia will see an increase of 6.7 percent. The national average increase is above 6%.

We summarize the rates for each state at AmericanHort.org/AEWR2021.

Is there any relief in sight? The only sure way to relief is federal legislation. Provisions of the House-passed Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA) would freeze the AEWR for one year, then limit annual AEWR increases to 3.25% for most states.

For 2022, only six states (AL, FL, GA, ID, MT, SC, and WY) will see increases below that cap, meaning that if the FWMA provisions were law, nearly every state would get some needed relief. AmericanHort and coalition allies continue to press Senate negotiators to develop and pass their version of the FWMA.

Meanwhile, further regulatory changes to the AEWR are in the works, but these changes will not be helpful for growers. On December 1, DOL published a proposed rule that would further modify the AEWR methodology by requiring specific prevailing wages for certain job duties, such as truckdriving/hauling and on-farm construction.

Such wages, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics database, may be significantly higher than the traditional AEWRs. If DOL proceeds as proposed, inclusion of such specialized tasks in an H-2A job order would result in the highest applicable wage being required for all workers employed pursuant to the job order, and any US workers in corresponding employment.

Happy Holidays Download your 2022 Grower Calendar!

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This year has turned out to be another strong year for our industry - congratulations! Thank you for your continued support of AmericanHort and our efforts to help our members and the industry Perform Better, Grow Faster, and Prepare for the Future.

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anHor OH on July 16 t.org/ Cultiv -19. ate

I look forward to working with each of you in 2022 to find new ways to strengthen your business and ensure the long-term success of our industry.

In the meantime, download your 2022 Grower Calendar at AmericanHort.org/2022GrowerCalendar On behalf of our great AmericanHort staff and Board of Directors, thank you for your membership in AmericanHort.

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season.

Sincerely,

Ken Fisher President & CEO, AmericanHort

2021: Dece

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Don’t forget to pass along your Connect Issue!

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Americ anHort is a con at the stant pre table wh sence on ere dec industry isio Capitol busine Hill and sses. But ns are being made has even mo re effectiv that affect our a seat e than green FEATUR our voic ES e—is you Congres rs.

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AmericanHort and other ag leaders and legal experts huddled at a recent agricultural labor forum to begin assessing how to best challenge the proposal. We also discussed growing concerns over DOL questioning seasonality and in some cases denying applications for H-2A temporary labor certification over this issue.

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Consumers have discretionary income, and their spending on horticulture products and services continues to be healthy. I’m optimistic that trend will continue throughout 2022. Strong sales, margins, and cashflow makes for a healthy industry. At the same time, labor, plant, and product availability and rising input costs create a set of challenges. At AmericanHort, we are committed to working hard on your behalf to develop solutions that help you and your business navigate the markets, workforce issues, and supply chain challenges ahead.

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HRI & ADV UPDATE OCACY S

Study Spot HRI’s Jour lights from nal of Environm ental Horticult ure Steep 202 10 2 H-2A Increases Wage Expected 12

UPCOM ING EVE EDUCAT NTS & ION American Hort Mem Receptio n at MAN ber TS Marketin 15 g Mastery Series Cultivate 15 ’22 15

2021: December | 13

UPCOMING EVENTS

NEW STAFF

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E , e v m a o n Le c l e e

AmericanHort continues to deepen investment in resources and capabilities to address key advocacy issues important to the success of our memberbusiness owners while protecting the industry from potentially harmful effects of legislation and government regulation.

Opportunities for Education and Connection Mastery Series AmericanHort Member Reception at MANTS

Part 1: Building an Effective Message

January 4, 2022 | 5–7 PM Pratt Street Ale House

Presented by Katie Dubow, Garden Media Group

Sponsored by

January 11, 2022, 2–3:30 PM, ET

Visit us at MANTS in Booth #2342

Part 2: Building a Strategic Communications Plan Ryan McEnaney, Bailey Nurseries

January 25, 2022, 2–3:30 PM, ET

EVAN LEE Director Policy & Government Relations EvanL@AmericanHort.org

Part 3: Hitting the Target to Drive Your Message

With more than a decade of experience advancing public policy in Congress and the Administration, Evan Lee brings an expansive network and technical expertise to his role as Director of Policy and Government Relations at AmericanHort.

Katie Elzer-Peters, Garden of Words, LLC

Prior to joining the advocacy team in 2021, Evan served as Chief of Staff for the Office of Congressional Relations and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During his tenure at USDA, he was responsible for the Department’s strategic congressional and stakeholder outreach and advised the Secretary on legislation applicable to the Department’s leadership in agriculture, natural resources, food safety, and COVID-19 pandemic relief.

Evan also served as an advisor on agriculture, labor, energy, and environmental issues to multiple members of the U.S. House of Representatives, most recently as Legislative Director for Congressman Neal P. Dunn, M.D. (FL-02).

A California native, Evan holds his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from University of California, Santa Barbara. Today he resides in Alexandria, VA, where his hobbies include golf, cooking, and watching his beloved Nationals baseball club.

THE GREEN INDUSTRY’S

st- Attend MuEVENT

PRE-REGISTRATION OPENS February 14–25

Scan Here

with your smartphone camera to visit our site.

February 8, 2022, 2 PM–3:30 PM, ET

Webinar Progress in Boxwood Blight Management in the United Kingdom & New Zealand: 1990s to 2021 March 10, 2022, 3 PM, ET

Register for all Events and Webinars by going to AmericanHort.org/Event AmericanHort Connect 2021: December Hello@AmericanHort.org 2130 Stella Court Columbus, Ohio 43215-1033 USA (614) 487-1117 Main 14 | AmericanHort.org

©2021 AmericanHort. All rights reserved. This material may contain confidential information and it is for the sole use of AmericanHort members. The information contained herein is for general guidance and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. It cannot be distributed, reprinted, retransmitted, or otherwise made public without prior written permission by AmericanHort. Please contact the editor at (614) 487-1117 for permission with acknowledgment.

About AmericanHort AmericanHort is the national association of horticulture businesses and professionals across the spectrum of the industry.

Perform better, grow stronger, and prepare for the future as a member of AmericanHort, the green industry’s leading association.

AmericanHort.org 2021: December | 15

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Questions?

Contact Amanda Holton at (614) 884-1153.

Make sure you and your employees are getting all communications and benefits from AmericanHort membership by updating your company roster at AmericanHort.org

Did you know that as a member of AmericanHort, all of your employees are members too?

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