AmericanHort June 2023 Connect

Attend Cultivate’23 to Invest in Your Team with Essential Education

By Katie Gustafson, Marketing Communications Specialist, AmericanHort, KatieG@AmericanHort.org

AmericanHort’s flagship event, Cultivate’23, is coming up soon on July 14–18 in Columbus, Ohio. Not only is Cultivate is one of the green industry’s favorite events and biggest family reunions, it’s also one of the best places to find crucial training for yourself and your team.

to expect anymore, so getting this training is going to be essential, even if it is just a refresher of the basics to keep your skills sharp. We can always improve.”

PROVEN PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS

Whether you are a grower, retailer, or anywhere in between, you’ll find best practices you can implement today.

When you purchase an All-Access Pass, you’ll gain access to sessions that focus on:

FOUNDATIONAL & ADVANCED TECHNIQUES

Teach your team the basics, help develop your training plan, or take a deep-dive into advanced and crop-specific concepts.

CONNECTIONS WITH EXPERTS & PEERS

ESSENTIAL BUSINESS TOOLS

Improve your bottom line, stay on top of trends, master marketing tactics, forecast for the future, and more to take you to the next level.

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

You can take an active role in your learning through all four days of Cultivate with education on a variety of subjects, from fundamental skills to advanced techniques. The 160+ education sessions cover all segments of the industry and all aspects of your business. You’ll discover tested solutions for your business’s biggest pain points, learn tools to advance in your current role, and empower your team to get to the next level with education opportunities at Cultivate.

One of our Cultivate’23 speakers, Drew Jeffers, said it best. “Getting this training is so important because the industry is constantly evolving. From a business standpoint, growers are having to look at things differently. We just don’t know what

Jeffers is a Horticulture and Natural Resources Agent at Clemson University Cooperative Extension. Attending training and education helps improve the knowledge and skills of employees to match the various changes in the industry. And if you are looking for a way to show your employees that they are valued, according to a 2021 Gallup Poll, 66% of 18- to 24-year-old workers look for an employer that helps them grow their skills.

Neal Glatt, Managing Partner at GrowTheBench.com and another Cultivate’23 speaker also chimed in.

“Our employees are the core of what we do and what makes our businesses successful. Not the best plants or equipment; it’s the people who execute our plan. Training those employees is your best tool for translating a vision into results that matter.”

Don’t miss sessions led by industry leaders and subject experts while leveraging connections with peers.

Get the scoop on the latest industry research and stay up-to-date on break-out innovations, technology, and studies.

What if you can’t make it to Cultivate’23?

Or can’t bring your entire team?

The Cultivate’23 On-Demand education package provides access to sessions recorded LIVE at Cultivate’23. AmericanHort brings the world-class education that the green industry has come to expect from Cultivate directly to you, wherever you are.

How to Make H-2A Housing Work for You

By Dan Bremer; President, AgWorksH2, LLC, a másLabor Company

I recently worked with a potential H-2A farmer who wanted to use a farmhouse built in the early 1900’s to house 10 H-2A workers. With a couple added windows, an egress from the second story and one more sink, the building will pass inspection by the Wage and Hour Division. The point is—almost any building can be converted to use for housing workers. The only thing you need is a knowledge of the rules and a basic knowledge of construction.

In my experience, most farmers know how to build anything. If you think you will be using workers for a few years, I recommend building barracks style housing. Some of the housing units I designed have been around for 25 years with minimal upkeep. These units are all over the USA, being used every day for H-2A workers. Using the rules located at OSHA 1910.142, the farmer can determine how many sinks, showers, etc., must be installed. These rules are actually easy to read and put the requirements into black and white. Of course, these are the minimum requirements, but you can build more amenities and more room into your individual plans. Remember, no matter what you build, you still must comply with the minimum standards. For example, every

outside door needs a screen door with a self-closing device. Your private home may not even have that feature.

There are decisions to be made on the location of the housing, whether on the farm or at another location, or what materials should be used for construction. I have always advocated for a metal building, insulated, with the same metal on the inside that is on the outside. Put all the plumbing in a group for kitchen and bathrooms to save on installation. With a concrete floor, these units are very easy to clean and are extremely durable for everyday use. Hooking to city or county water and sewer is the best solution, but, even if you need a well and septic system, most locations can be used.

Remember, the time to plan for an H-2A housing unit is before you spend the first dollar on construction. The minimum standards apply no matter the sophistication of the unit. Some farmers plan the building for dual purposes like housing workers for a season and then as an Airbnb for other parts of the year. With a little planning, maybe some moving of some beds and couches, about anything is possible—including generating a little extra income!

The ultimate goal is to be able to have workers who are comfortable in government approved housing. Without housing, you will not be able to be in the H-2A Visa Program. In most parts of the USA the H-2A Visa Program is the only game in town to actually have enough workers to get your crop to market. So, do not be too intimidated by the housing requirements. There are many creative solutions, and with a little help from a trusted program expert, you can have the housing you need for many years to come!

Mas t ery Series

AmericanHort Mastery Series on Navigating the H-2A and H-2B Now Available On-Demand

Are you a green industry business owner struggling to find and keep a reliable workforce? Look no further than the H-2A and H-2B employer-based visa programs.

The H-2A and H-2B programs provide a solution to the ongoing workforce scarcity challenges business owners face of securing capable, reliable, and legal labor year after year. This Mastery Series on Navigating H-2A and H-2B Labor Programs will guide you through the process of applying for and utilizing these visa programs to gain the workforce you need to grow your business. Access this series on-demand at Americanhort.org/H2MasterySeries

Thank you to our sponsor:

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Tax Policy Update

By Beth Swanson, Manager at Pinion: An AmericanHort Strategic Partner

Spring has sprung, and with it comes renewed tax policy efforts on multiple fronts. In this article, we’ll cover tax law proposals affecting horticulture.

Research and Experimentation (R&E) Deductibility

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 amended Section 174, effective January 1, 2022. R&E expenditures are now required to be capitalized and amortized over five years, rather than deducted in the year incurred. If your business performs any sort of activity designed to improve your products or processes, this change will have a significant effect on you. In each year R&E activities are performed, your tax liability will increase, because those activities are no longer deductible. In short, the additional tax liability caused by the capitalization requirement will prevent reinvestment in horticulture businesses and local economies in a meaningful way.

On March 16, a bipartisan group of senators introduced the American Innovation and Jobs Act, which would allow a business to elect for either expensing of R&E expenditures or capitalization, whichever is

How You Can Help

Voice your thoughts by sending a personalized letter to Congress today, highlighting the importance of R&E expensing and urging their support for the American Innovation and Jobs Act.

It’s easy to take action. Visit AmericanHort.org/TaxTakeAction to access a pre-written letter. Fill out a quick form, hit send, and the letter will be sent directly to your representatives.

better for the business, retroactive to 2022. We’re hopeful that this bipartisan coalition is a signal that Congressmembers of all parties can come together and pass this sensible bill to help American agriculture. Pinion and AmericanHort are working together to advocate for horticulture on this issue and pushing for quick passage of this law.

Federal Tax Policy: Administration’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Proposal

In early March, the Biden administration released its budget proposal for the fiscal year ending in 2024. It is unlikely any of these proposals will pass, and even less likely the President’s budget proposal will pass without any changes. However, the proposal is still an important marker for where mainline Democrats fall on key tax policy items. Notable proposals that would affect the horticulture industry include:

• Raising corporate tax rates from 21% to 28%

• Increasing the top individual income tax rate to 39.6% ahead of the scheduled sunset of December 31, 2025

• Creating a 25% minimum tax on “total income” (including unrealized capital gains) for individuals with personal net worth exceeding $100 million

• Increasing the net investment income tax rate to 5% (currently 3.8%)

• Taxing capital gains at 37% for individuals with income of more than $1 million

• Eliminating tax-free step-up in basis upon death

• Completely rewriting capital gains tax policy to require recognition of gain upon transfer of appreciated assets by gift (including into trust)

• Eliminating favorable tax treatment of certain types of grantor trusts

• Imposing a new per-donor annual gift tax exclusion limit

We’ll continue to monitor budget talks and update you on any progress.

State Update

States continue to consider and pass elective passthrough entity tax laws, which allow owners of passthrough entities to work around the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s $10,000 limit on the personal deductibility of state and local taxes. To date, thirty states have adopted passthrough entity taxes. Currently, five states are considering adopting similar measures: Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Vermont, and West Virginia.

Pinion Partners With AmericanHort

AmericanHort has an agreement with Pinion, the nation’s leading food and agriculture consulting and accounting firm, to provide a variety of business services to AmericanHort members.

In addition, AmericanHort premium members are given access to Pinion’s expert consults to exchange questions or ideas, as well as receive initial consultation regarding issues or concerns at no additional cost.

Are you a premium member who wants to connect with the Pinion team? Contact us and we’ll make the introduction.

Not a Premium member? Upgrade at AmericanHort.org/Premium

Advocacy Education at Cultivate’23

We know advocacy topics are important to you and your business. For those joining us in Columbus, Ohio for Cultivate’23, there are some great opportunities for you to stay informed on these critical industry programs and processes. When you purchase an All-Access Pass, you can choose from 160+ education sessions, including these sessions covering these advocacy and policy issues:

• Policy Focus: Innovation in Risk Management

• Demystifying SANC Applications

• H-2A vs. H-2B 101

• H-2 Programs, Process, and Current Events

• Using and Navigating the H-2A Program

Learn more at AmericanHort.org/Cultivate

5 Tips on Working with a Technical Rep to Diagnose Plant Problems

By Katie Gustafson, Marketing Communication Specialist, AmericanHort, KatieG@AmericanHort.org

Having a strong technically representative in your corner when diagnosing plant problems is a must. A technical representative basically acts as the middleman between growers and academics. They relay information in an intuitive way and provide expertise on your specific issue. A good tech is easy to talk and can explain things regardless of your own level of expertise on the topic.

Celebrate Pollinators with HRI!

The green industry plays a critical role in pollinator health. After all, horticulture provides the very thing pollinators need to thrive: diverse and abundant sources of forage. In recognition of that role, and in celebration of National Pollinator Week (June 19–25), Horticultural Research Institute (HRI) teamed up with AmericanHort to present a series of free tHRIve webinars focused on all things pollinator health.

Integrated Pest & Pollinator

Management for Ornamental Plants

Dr. Adam Dale, University of Florida and Dr. Jaret Daniels, Florida Museum of Natural History

Building a Better Monarch Butterfly Garden

Dan Potter, Professor of Entomology— Retired, University of Kentucky

Access all Pollinator Week webinars on-demand at HRIresearch.org/thrive

Bees, Pesticides and Politics: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Urban Landscapes

Dan Potter, Professor of Entomology –Retired, University of Kentucky

Pollinators, Plant Trials, and People: Discovering and Sharing the Best Pollinator Plants

Steve Foltz, Director of Horticulture, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Here are 5 tips to keep in mind when working with a technical rep:

1. You can never call your technical rep too early. The earlier, the better when you have a concern.

2. Take your time when capturing the problem. Clear photos are most the most helpful and be sure to send detailed notes. It is not possible to overshare.

3. When taking photos, one leaf isn’t enough detail you will need multiple shots including: close ups of the problem, photos with multiple plants in the area being affected, different angles, and the roots.

4. Don't throw plants away before getting an answer. You could be throwing away plants with an easy fix to their problem.

5. Save your email conversations with technical specialists for future reference.

These tips were shared by George Grant, Technical Specialist Supervisor at Griffin in the recent AmericanHort webinar, Diagnosing Plant Problems. Watch the recoding at HortKnowledgeCenter.org/ Diagnosing to get more tips!

Check out these twenty bee magnets! Trees and shrubs like these are perfect to promote and spotlight at your business throughout the year.

Ten Great Trees & Shrubs for Honeybees

Cornelian cherry, Cornus mas

Higan cherry, Prunus subhirtella ‘autumnalis’

Foster’s holly, Ilex x attenuata

American yellowwood, Cladrastis

kentukea

Common winterberry, Ilex verticillata

Linden, Tilia cordata, T. americana

Golden raintree, Koelreuteria reticulata

St. John’s Wort, Hypericum frondosum

Bee bee tree, Tetradium danielii

Winged sumac, Rhus copallinum

Ten Great Trees & Shrubs for Bumblebees

American yellowwood, Cladrastis kentukea

False Indigo, Amorpha fruticosa

Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis

Sweetspire, Itea virginica

Golden raintree, Koelreuteria reticulata

St. John’s Wort, Hypericum frondosum

Clethra, Clethra alnifolia

Glossy abelia, Abelia x grandiflora

Seven-son flower, Heptacodium miconioides

Chaste tree, Vitex agnus-castus

AmericanHort Welcomes New Board Members & Slate of Officers for 2023–2024

AmericanHort announces the addition of three new industry leaders to the AmericanHort board of directors, along with the incoming slate of board officers. “We are pleased to have these respected industry members join the AmericanHort board to share their expertise and perspective as we continue to deliver on our mission,” said Ken Fisher CEO & President of AmericanHort. “The board plays an important role in shaping the future of the organization and we thank those who volunteer to serve the industry in this way for their dedication to the advancement of horticulture.”

The new slate of officers for 2023–2024 include Rob Lando as the incoming board chairman, and Ed Overdevest as the incoming board vice chairman. Jon Reelhorn of Belmont Nursery will become the immediate past chairman and J. Harvey Cotten will continue to serve as board treasurer in a non-voting position.

Rob Lando is best known in professional circles for his cofounding and building of Ohio based AgriNomix, North America’s largest supplier of automation to nurseries and greenhouses. During 2022, AgriNomix, Zwart Systems, Bellpark Horticulture and Plantech Control Systems joined forces to become AdeptAg where Rob continues to be involved as the new entity grows. Rob also consults and coaches with other firms within the Horticulture industry.

Ed Overdevest is the president and owner of Overdevest Nurseries, one of the leading nurseries in New Jersey where they sell to independent garden centers and distributors within a 300-mile radius of Bridgeton. With production facilities encompassing 290 acres, the nursery produces over 2,000 varieties of perennials, shrubs, and trees for east coast garden centers. The company has earned a sustainability certification due to their exemplary practices in conservation, and they are known for their strong labor relations and community involvement.

The AmericanHort membership has elected the following new Board Directors:

Derek Clark is Director of Sales for South Central Growers, a secondgeneration familyowned greenhouse in Springfield, TN, producing annuals and perennials for the big box retailers. He began working in the horticulture industry in 2005 and held several key account management roles before joining South Central Growers in 2013. Derek is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as well as a graduate of EAGL, the Executive Academy for Growth and leadership. He is passionate about helping strengthen the industry for future generations.

Brian Lloyd is CEO of Olson’s Greenhouse, a fourth-generation, family-owned group of companies growing, distributing, and merchandising bedding plants to mass market retailers throughout the Western United States. Brian has degrees in Marketing and Ornamental Horticulture from Utah State University and an MBA from the Marriott School of Management at BYU. He is an active member of YPO International, a worldwide leadership community of chief executives, and an alum of the Harvard Business School Owner/President Management program.

Emily Showalter is the Chief of Human Resources at Willoway Nurseries, Inc. in Avon, OH, a third-generation family-owned business and one of the largest wholesale growers of quality nursery stock in the Midwest. Emily grew up in the family business, graduated from The Ohio State University with a BS in Agriculture, completed the Goldman Sachs 10k Small Business Program, and is a graduate of EAGL, the Executive Academy for Growth and Leadership. Emily served as President of the Ohio Green Industry Association in 2020 and serves on area Horticulture program advisory boards.

These new directors will join current board directors Kurt Becker, Dramm Corporation, WI; Matt Edmundson, Arbor Valley Nursery, CO; Kent Fullmer, Fullmer’s Landscaping, OH; Steve Mostardi of Mostardi Nursery, PA; Lyndsi Oestmann, of Loma Vista Nursery, KS; and Ann Tosovsky, Home Nursery Inc., IL.

AmericanHort and its members express appreciation to outgoing board members, Mike Gooder, Plantpeddler Inc., IA and Jonathan Saperstein, Everde Growers, TX who each served a three-year term from 2020–2023; and Cole Mangum, Bell Nursery USA LLC, MD who served on the board from 2017–2023 and was board chairman during his tenure.

Learn more about the AmericanHort Board of Directors at AmericanHort.org/Board

Cultivate’23 GardenRetail TourStop!

Breezewood Gardens—

More Than Just a Garden Center Chagrin Falls, Ohio

By Katie Gustafson, Marketing Communication Specialist, AmericanHort, KatieG@AmericanHort.org

Stylish, lush, and cozy are all words that come to mind when walking through Breezewood Garden & Gifts. Breezewood carries annuals, perennials, shrubs and other traditional garden center goods, but more than that, they have expanded their business to create unique experiences for the people living in northeast Ohio.

Breezewood is a family-owned, communityfocused business that has been operating since 1976. They boast three acres of plants and departments for floral, apparel, and landscape services. Young couples plan their weddings, fashionistas take advantage of the boutique, families pick out their spring annuals together, and homeowners enthusiastically use the landscape services. Breezewood is even a draw for plant parents hunting for hard-tofind interior plants and teenagers buying their first florals for prom.

The customer experience is at the heart of what Breezewood does. When you walk in, you are greeted by colorful and bountiful merchandizing displays with a wide range of products that you aren’t going to see in other garden centers. Being in an area

with many garden retail competitors, this element of the beautiful and unexpected helps them maintain a competitive edge. Along with carrying unique products, Breezewood also brings in plant material from numerous vendors. While this takes more time to source, it ensures that they are bringing in top-quality product from the growers that specialize in that plant type. Their focus on healthy, interesting, and lush plants is evident in every aisle.

Breezewood does many things to build customer rapport and joy – from making each Christmas tree a part of the family by giving it its own name, to actively supporting community organizations. This rapport is also built through regular events like their Easter egg hunts, wine and cheese nights, and porch pot classes. Other strategies include giving fun names to their custom-grown hanging baskets and creating mini gardens throughout the

garden center with their merchandise. If customers are lucky, they will even come across the furry friends of the Breezewood staff—who are always happy to greet and delight customers.

To maintain this experiential environment, brother and sister duo, David Kay and Whitney Ickes, lead a growing team of individuals who have been chosen for their knowledge, skills, and customerfocus. Their staff consists of around 75 individuals in Spring/Summer and 35 in the winter months. They even bring in H-2B workers during the summer and have helped six individuals get their green cards.

David and Whitney are proud of the fact that Breezewood has very little employee turnover and many seasonal employees that return every year. Which such low turnover, Breezewood customers have been able to build strong relationships and trust with their favorite staff.

Breezewood uses many strategies to bring in customers and the best way to see them all is to visit! For those joining us in Columbus, Ohio for Cultivate’23, be sure to check out the Garden Retail Tour. This tour will explore Breezewood Garden and Gifts as well as Bremec Garden Centers, Petitti Garden Centers, and Suncrest Gardens— all located in the northern Ohio area. Learn more and register at CultivateEvent.org

Welcome

New AmericanHort Members!

AmericanHort has welcomed over 80 new members! See anyone you know?

Premium Members

AdeptAg

Hawaiian Sunshine Nursery

Plus Members

Concept Data Systems

Crop Defenders

Sila Grow

Yangzhou Kailai Plastic Co, Ltd

Viemose DGS

Plastika Kritis S.A.

Harish Coconut Products

Pvt Ltd

Saminathan Ponnusamy

Idromeccanica Lucchini Spa molter bv

Debets Schalke

ECOAGRO

ARaymond Agriculture

Manisha Exports (Pvt) Ltd

Lytone Enterprise

Begrow

Integrated Store Systems, Inc

Array Industries Inc

IC3D Printers

Sol Soils

Don’t Forget!

When your company is an AmericanHort member, all of your employees are members too. Be sure to update your member profile on AmericanHort.org to include your employees so they can access these resources and member benefits.

Sierra Natural Science

Plant-I-Boost

Predictive Nutrient Solutions

RedSea

Curtis Wagner Plastics Corp

DesignLights Consortium

Cedar Ridge Sales

POSitive Technology

Eaton Brothers

Wivid NA

AG2 TC, LLC

Thriving Design

Cheap Carl’s

Fish Head Farms

Precision Laboratories

Terra Vera Corp

Midwest Perlite

Scapify

Valoya Inc

GROPRO Corp

Barnel International, Inc

Basic Members

Southern Plants

HARSTER GREENHOUSES INC

Sunterra Farms Greenhouse Ltd

SAHIN - Takii Europe

Anthura B.V.

Outback Plants

Horticulture Club at the University of Kentucky

Crown Equipment Corporation

Cityscapes Plantcare

Petals Farm & Garden

Design

Goldie & Pearl’s Berries

Ritters Garden Center & Nursery

PLANTPOCKETS INTL

Fertinagro Biotech International

Hannibal Garden Center

The Flower Patch

The Botany Scholar

Baucoms Nursery Company

The Taunton Press

Park District of Oak Park

Block’s Stand and Greenhouse, LLC

Gilberts Garden LLC

Key Solutions Group

Strader’s Garden Center

Agra Greenhouse Group

CSK Greenhouses/ Mischel’s Greenhouses

Academic Members

Martin Hamilton, Oak Spring Garden Foundation

Mark Valen, Southwestern College

Glory Benacka, The Land Institute

Denise Wood, Indiana University

Nicholas Nehring, Indiana University

Geoffrey Njue, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Student Members

Qi Wang, BEIJING

JIANHUA TRADING CO LTD

Jennifer Norbut, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL

Brianna Haynes, North Carolina State University

Carolyn Blaine, Bedner’s Farm and Greenhouse

Crystal Trentelman, Progressive Plants

Lisa Hardin, St. Edward High School

UPCOMING

Webinars Opportunities for Education & Connection

June 27, 1–2 PM, ET

Master The Art of Trade Shows

Presented by Rayne Gibson, Taproots Horticulture Consulting

June 28, 2–3:30 PM, ET

Industry Insider: Maximizing Your Time at Cultivate’23

Presented by a panel of Cultivate veterans

June 29, 3–4 PM, ET

Back2Basics: Interior Plantscaping

Presented by a panel of interiorscaping experts

August 24, 1–2:30 PM, ET

Industry Insider: Training Tools & Programs

Presented by an all-industry panel

Moderator: Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM Managing Partner, GrowTheBench.com

August 29, 2–3 PM, ET

Addressing Nursery Labor Shortages with Automation

Dr. Amy Fulcher, Extension Specialist and Professor, University of Tennessee–Knoxville

Register

About AmericanHort

Events

July 15–18, Columbus, Ohio

The Green Industry’s Must-Attend Event

Hosted by AmericanHort

Can’t make it to Cultivate’23? Access LIVE education recordings by purchasing an On-Demand Pass. Learn more at AmericanHort.org/Cultivate-On-Demand

September 18–21, Washington DC

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

AmericanHort Connect 2023: June

Hello@AmericanHort.org

2130 Stella Court Columbus, Ohio 43215-1033 USA

(614) 487-1117 Main

©2023 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.