VNLA Apr/May/Jun 2014 VNLA Newsletter

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INSECTICIDES FUNGICIDES MITICIDES PGRS HERBICIDES

2014 VNLA Officers & Directors OFFICERS

1 YR DIRECTORS

President MATT SHRECKHISE Communications ‘08 Shreckhise Nurseries PO Box 428 Grottoes, VA 24441-0428 540-249-5761 Matthew@shreckhise.com

CHERYL LAJOIE Certification ‘09 Lancaster Farms 5800 Knotts Neck Rd Suffolk VA 23435-1353 757-484-4421 Fax: 7575-686-8637 Cheryl@lancasterfarms.com

Vice President SONYA L. WESTERVELT Public Relations ‘10 Saunders Brothers Inc 2717 Tye Brook Highway Piney River, VA 22964 (434) 277-5455 sonya@saundersbrothers.com

CHRISTOPHER BROWN ‘13

Secretary/ Treasurer Bill Gouldin ‘12 Strange’s Florist/Garden Ctrs 3313 Mechanicsville Pike Richmond VA 23223 804-321-2200x331 wjg@stranges.com Past President MATT SAWYER - Research Bennett’s Creek Nursery ‘07 5635 Shoulders Hill Rd Suffolk, VA 23435-1807 757-483-1425 Matt@bcnursery.com

Executive Director

VNLA Newsletter

TOM THOMPSON, Environmental Affairs ‘10 Natural Art Landscaping 3540 S Belmont Rd Richmond VA 23234-2912 (804) 674-5703 Naturalartlandscaping@yahoo.com

REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS Central Virginia Nursery & Landscape Assoc.

Greta Bjorkquist Hoyt 804-339-3661 gbjorkquist@jrgm.com Eastern Shore Nurserymen’s Association Stuart Burnley 757-442-3548 hermfarm@verizon.net

DOUG HENSEL Beautiful Gardens ‘08 Great Big Greenhouse & Nrsy 2051 Huguenot Rd Hampton Roads Richmond, VA 23235-4305 Nursery & Landscape Assoc Christopher@lancasterfarms.com 804-320-1317 doug@greatbiggreenhouse.com Wes Bray (757) 422-2117 VIRGINIA ROCKWELL wemows@aol.com Legislation ‘12 CRAIG ATTKISSON ‘13 Gentle Gardener Green Design Grower Guide Northern Virginia PO Box 418 Green Side Up Landscaping Nursery & Landscape Assoc Gordonsville, VA 22942-0418 PO Box 2026 Chuck Wood 540-832-7031 Glen Allen, VA 23058-2026 (703) 641-4790 (cell) 434-531-0467 804-514-4610 chuck@wheats.com Lancaster Farms 5800 Knotts Neck Rd Suffolk VA 23435-1353 757-484-4421

Virginia@GentleGardener.com

MANTS’ Directors JOHN LANCASTER‘02 Bennett’s Creek Nursery 3613 Bridge Road Suffolk, VA 23435-1807 757-483-1425 john@bcnursery.com

TOM SAUNDERS ’96 Saunders’ Brothers Inc. 2508 Tye Brook Hwy JEFFREY B. MILLER Piney River, VA Horticulture Management 22964-2301 Associates LLC 804-277-5455 383 Coal Hollow Road Christiansburg, VA 24073-6721 Tom@saundersbrothers.com 1-800-476-0055 DANNY SHRECKHISE Fax: 540-382-2716 Shreckhise Nurseries ‘12 info@vnla.org PO Box 428 Grottoes, VA 24441-0428 540-249-5761 Danny@shreckhise.com

VNLA Newsletter

2 YR DIRECTORS

craig@gsulandscaping.com

AARON WILLIAMS ‘14 Education Committee Williams Landscape & Design Inc PO Box 7001 Williamsburg VA 23188-7001 757-564-7011 aaron@wldgreen.com

Educational Advisors DR. ROGER HARRIS VA Tech Horticulture Dept. Head Saunders Hall (0327) Blacksburg, VA 24061-0001 540-231-5451 rharris@vt.edu

Piedmont Landscape Assoc Jessica Primm 434-882-0520 info@piedmontlandscape.org Shenandoah Valley Nursery & Greenhouse Assoc Matt Shreckhise 540-249-5761 matthew@shreckhise.com

Directors at Large MIKE HILDEBRAND ‘12 James River Nurseries 13244 Ashland Rd Ashland VA 23005-7504 804-798-2020

mchildebrand@ jamesrivernurseries.com

DR. JIM OWEN HARAREC 1444 Diamond Springs Rd Virginia Beach, VA 23455 (757) 363-3804 jim.owen@vt.edu

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Table of Contents

Ad - Bennett’s Creek Nursery ...................................... 75 Ad - Bremo Trees......................................................... 76 Ad - Carolina Bark Products ........................................ 57 Ad - Eastern Shore Nursery of Virginia....................... 53 Ad - Fairview Nursery ................................................. 57 Ad - Farm Credit .......................................................... 76 Ad - Goodson & Associates ......................................... 71 Ad - Gossett’s Landscape Nursery............................... 55 Ad - Guthrie Nursery ................................................... 23 Ad - Hanover Farms..................................................... 9 Ad - Hardwood Mulch ................................................. 59 Ad - Hawksridge Farms ............................................... 25 Ad - JOCO Plants......................................................... 56 Ad - John Stanley ......................................................... 44 Ad - Lancaster Farms ................................................... 45 Ad - Mid-Atlantic Solutions ........................................ 43 Ad - OHP - Marengo.................................................... 2 Ad - Pender Nursery .................................................... 73 Ad - Plantworks Nursery.............................................. 41 Ad - Shreckhise Nurseries............................................ 15 Ad - SiteLight Id .......................................................... 33 Ad - Turtle Creek Nursery ........................................... 14 Ad - VA Tech Masters in Ag and Life Sciences Online ......................................................... 19 Ad - VSLD ................................................................... 61 Ad - Waynesboro Nurseries ......................................... 11 Ad - Willow Springs Tree Farms ................................. 63 Events Calendar ........................................................... 74 Event - Hahn Garden Gala at Virginia Tech ................ 64 Events - Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden .................... 73 Events - North Carolina Summer Green Road Show... 49 Events - SNA ............................................................... 65 Legislation - How to Contact Congress ...................... 7 Legislation - Virginia Agribusiness Council General Assembly Wrap Up ......................... 64 Letters - Thank You IPPS Conference ........................ 9 Letters - Virginia Agribusiness Council ..................... 8 Letters - Virginia FFA ................................................. 8 News - Battlefield Farms Recognized f or Environmental Achievement .................................. 14 News - EPA Proposed Revisions to the Ag Worker Protection Standard (WPS) ............................. 24 News - HRAREC New Research Associates .............. 72 News - MANTS 2014 Stats ........................................ 45 News - Mike Hildebrand recipient of the “Alumni of the Year” ......................................... 15 News - Mobile ID for Invasive Pests ........................... 63 News - Mobile Weed Alert App .................................. 72 News - Mobile Weed Manual ...................................... 50 News - New VA Tech College of Agriculture & Life Sciences building creates scientific synergy .... 16 News - Up All Night: Robots Working ....................... 47 4

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News - USDA 2012 Census: Market Value of Production up Almost $1 Billion ................. 40 News - VDACS Announces Delay of Lawn Fertilizer Use Reporting ............................... 18 News - VDOT implementing (3) new Certifications... 42 News - Virginia Cooperative Extension Day marks Extension's Centennial ................................... 22 News - Virginia Tech CALS awarded conservation innovation grants ....................... 24 Obituary - Don Adams, 1989 VNLA President........... 13 Research - Unraveling the mystery of how plants store energy ....................................................... 53 Tips - Garden Center 2020.Engaging for Consumers. 44 Tips - Horticulture the Gardening Revolution ............. 42 Tips - Marketing for Growth ....................................... 52 Tips - Can You Dig It? Safety Guide Young Workers ....................... 31 Tips - Sun or Shade? Don’t Ask! ................................. 69 Tips -What Do You Remember ................................. 45 Tips - What Is a Watershed?........................................ 36 VNLA - 2014 Virginia Certified Horticulturist ........... 70 VNLA - Antitrust Compliance for Association: Policies and Procedures ........................................... 60 VNLA - Certification Quiz Info .................................. 38 VNLA - Certification Quiz Article .............................. 36 VNLA - Certified Horticulturist, New in 2014............ 70 VNLA - Environmental: Septic or Compost?.............. 10 VNLA - Login to Your VNLA Account ..................... 7 VNLA - Membership Survey Results.......................... 26 VNLA - Member Profile - Nicholas Swanson............. 20 VNLA - Photo Contest Rules ...................................... 17 VNLA - VCH Quiz Certification for CEUs ................ 39 Can you -do a copy theyour logolandscape with no background that74 I can use to VNLA VCH sealoffor plans ...............

VNLA - LEAN Program, Field Day & Summer Tour 34 Delete the white background VNLA - Profile:The Virginia School for the Deaf & Blind .............................................. 20 VNLA - Update - Legislative & Policy ....................... 60 VNLA - Website login ................................................ 7 VNLA - Welcome to these New VNLA Members! .... 66 VNLA - Photo Contest Winner: Michele Fletcher ...... 17

SAVE THE DATES! LEAN Management Seminar – Wed., August 13

April / May / June 2014 April/May/June 2014

FIELD DAY, Thursday, August 14 SUMMER Tour, Friday, August 15 At Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA Keynote Speaker: Doug Tallamy VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Mission, Vision and Objectives for 2014

Classified Ads

Mission Statement: To Enhance and promote Virginia’s nursery and landscape industry.

Vision: to become the leader and resource for the Virginia nursery and landscape industry.

Objectives Educated, Available Skilled Labor Force - Goal: VNLA will continue to promote programs that will education, train and provide an available skilled labor force.

Effective Communication and Advocacy GOAL: VNLA will effectively communication among staff, board, members, partners and the community.

Maximizing and Allocation Resources - GOAL: VNLA will secure increased funding from diverse sources and secure the necessary staff, board and committee members to run a dynamic organization.

Membership and Outreach - GOAL: Expand and communicate the value of membership.

Stewardship - GOAL: VNLA will promote adoption of Best Management Practices.

Strategic Marketing - GOAL: VNLA will promote itself as the leader and resource of the green industry.

What are members problems?

How are we going to help them become more successful?

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

Support VNLA Member Growers!

Online at www.VNLA.org New Native Plant Section!

For a print copy call 1-800-476-0055 email info@vnla.org

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Vol. 84, No.2; April/May/June 2014 Editor: Jeff Miller

Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 383 Coal Hollow Road; Christiansburg, VA 24073-6721 Internet E-mail Address: info@vnla.org www.vnla.org (Association Info) www.VirginiaGardening.com (Consumer Info) Telephone: 540-382-0943 or 1-800-476-0055 Fax: 540-382-2716 Disclaimer: Published for your information, this newsletter is not an endorsement for individual products or editorial comments.

President’s Message “If it was easy, everyone would be doing it!” This phrase was mentioned more than once at our nursery this past spring. Every spring has its challenges but the extended winter weather certainly made it more challenging. Our industry is resilient, however, and hopefully everyone will end the spring with strong sales.

I have heard over the last several months from numerous sales people that they believe our industry is on the rebound. While I tend to agree, I still encourage everyone to proceed with cautious optimism. This economic recession has proved that nothing is certain or predictable.

What I hope we’ve all learned over the last 10 years is that rapid growth can be as detrimental to a business as no growth at all, if not managed properly. Luckily, our industry does have a lot in its favor because; simply put, gardens and plants bring people happiness. But our industry is changing - demographically, economically and environmentally - and growers, landscapers, and retailers need to be aware of the changes taking place around us. This is why it is so important to be a member and stay connected to the VNLA. 6

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The VNLA also recognizes that we need to adjust to the changes and be more responsive to our members’ needs. Early in 2014 the VNLA conducted a member satisfaction survey to gather information that will help the board make our association more reflective of our members.

A summary of the results are on page 26 and can also be found online with all the comments to the questions at http://www.vnla.org/Mem bership/MembershipSurvey-Results-2014 While this information is invaluable to the board, I know the more active our members become; the more pleased they will be with their association. If you’d like to be more involved with the VNLA Board of Directors, please contact me, Jeff Miller or any board member.

Also, feel free to visit one of our meetings. Members do not have to be on the board to attend a meeting and we would love to have you!

As part of our strategic plan, the VNLA will be partnering with Access Communications of Roanoke, VA to update our marketing materials and create a marketing campaign. Another marketing benefit to our members is the Plant Something™ ad campaign. For more information on how April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

your business can take advantage of this ad campaign, please contact Jeff Miller or visit www.plantsomething.org We have several exciting events for our members this summer and two opportunities for members to visit one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. On June 14, the Virginia Tech Horticulture Department will have their annual Hahn Horticulture Garden Gala. This is always a fantastic event and it’s the perfect setting to celebrate horticulture. For more information visit http://www.hort.vt.edu/hhg/gala.html.

Later this summer the VNLA will be hosting our signature event, Field Day, on August 14th at Virginia Tech. The Field Day is sandwiched between a LEAN Production workshop geared toward nursery and greenhouse production to be held on August 13th and our popular Summer Tour on August 15th. We’re still in the planning stages as I write this so stay tuned as more detailed information becomes available. I hope to see you there!

The line between success and failure can be pretty thin and I think the VNLA’s efforts to keep our members informed on the latest business trends and technologies and new government regulations contributes to the success of many in our industry.

Above all, the educational and networking opportunities we provide are, I believe, essential to achievement in our industry. So, please stay connected and involved and thank you for your continued investment in the VNLA. Matt Shreckhise

By Matt Shreckhise, President VNLA 2014

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Login L t Your You urVNLA VNL LAAccount Acccount Login toto

VNLA Website L  Login U You ur Contactt Info  Update Your P Your Dues D  Pay R ReCertifica ation now oon  Re-Certification nowon l line.  S See Your CEU’s C R Previious Newsletters Newsleetters  Read Previous weebsite has had a The VNLA website overhau ul with a new design, compplete overhaul complete re-orrganized info o tabs and updated u re-organized inforrmation. information. our You can now log in, activate yo your accouunt and set up p your user name naame account p and password.

Acceess and updatee your contac ct Access contact inforrmation information See tthe CEU’s that thaat are recorded recorded for V Certiified Horticul lturist you Virginia Certified Horticulturist VNLA Newsletter

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Click C gin” top Click on on “log “login” top right rightt Click C on “Act tivate” in left Click on “Activate” in the thee left co olumn column

En nter your ail address. you have have Enter your em email address. If Iff you an n email addr ress in the d database, it an email address in the database, it will w email you ur login info a and let you will email your login info and let you se etup aa user ame and word. setup user na name and passw password.

Return R and login login Return to to the the main main screen screen and name and pa with w your user assword. with your user name and password.

Go G NLA” and ou can can see see Go to to “My “My VN VNLA” and yo you yo our contact t informatio on, sales your contact information, sales hi istory, CEU’s history, CEU’ss etc. etc.

Iff you dodo not h havean ail in in the the If you nothave anema email da atabase, con ntact the VNL LA Office database, contact the VNLA Office for fo or your Memb berAccount Account N Number your Member Number at at in nfo@vnla.org or 1-800-476 6-0055 info@vnla.org or 1-800-476-0055 April / May / June 2014 April/ /May/June 20 13 April/May/June 2014

Letterss - Thankk You for Reseaarch Gift ft, Kelly Ivors How to Contact On behalf of Congress the North Carolina Ag g-

ricultural R Research Serrvice, the NC C To Life contact your conAgriculturaal and Sciences Reegressman senator, search Founndation and ttheand College of o go the www.vnla.org Agriculturee and Life Scciences, thank k and click Nursery in the legisyou and tthe Virginia and d lation tab/button, and Landscape Associate for you ur then clickgiift on tothesuppo “Legislative Up$12,500 ort Dr. Kelly y date” or go directly to: Ivors' boxw wood blight reesearch. www.votervoice.net/ANLA/home Your invesstment in thee College and d Here, you can find your congressman the North Carolina Aggricultural Reeand senators’ contact info the andfutur cane search Servvice helps enaable email them directly from this link. breakthrougghs and advaances in agriiThere also summaries current culture,arebio otechnology andoflife sciiissues and sample letters. ences that w will benefit ccitizens in ou ur state, nation n and world.

“The squeaky wheel gets the oil!”

David W. M Monks, PhD, In Interim Associate Dean annd Director; C Catherine Maxwell Executiive Director, N NC Agricultural & Life Scieences Researchh Foundation

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Letters - Virginia FFA [Editor’s Note: The VNLA donates $1,000 to the Virginia FFA Nursery Proficiency Award each year] On behalf of the Virginia FFA Foundation and the 201314 Virginia KFFA officer team, I extend sincere gratitude for your financial support over the years. Holiday reflection allows us to thank and remember those who are closest to us.

For me, the pest part of serving as state officer is watching as FFA members grow from the first time we meet at FFA Camp to when we reconnect at a chapter visit. Thank you for helping to make these moments a reality Whitney Bowman, Virginia FFA Secretary

Letters - Virginia Agribusiness Council On behalf of the Virginia Agribusiness Council, we want to thank you again for your support of our Annual Membership Meeting and Luncheon. Thanks in large part to the outstanding support of members like you; the Council has continued to excel in representing our industry's interest with the legislature. Our Annual Membership Meeting and Luncheon is one opportunity for us to collectively celebrate these successes.

Our Chairman, Bill Hayter of First Bank and Trust, and I focused on the growth of the Council in 2013, particularly through new memberships and sponsorships, a new logo design, legislative and solution-building successes, and new team members including Director of Government Affairs Brad Copenhaver. They also unveiled opportunities for members to assist in the future growth of the Council, including the 2014 Member8

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ship Recruitment Drive to kick off in February of next year.

We were joined by President and CEO of CropLife America, Jay Vroom, who delivered a keynote address that stressed the need for unity among leaders in agriculture in order to enhance agricultural competitiveness and progress. Vroom pointed to areas within public policy that threaten to diminish agricultural progress within the U.S., including uncertainty surrounding the passage of new, permanent farm bill legislation and attempts to weaken the science-based regulation of agricultural April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

technology. He also called on us as agribusiness leaders to redouble our communications outreach efforts with the public. He noted that simply talking and listening to friends, colleagues and neighbors about issues related to modern agriculture can make a difference.

Thank you for attending the luncheon.

Your sponsorship of the Annual Meeting supports our efforts to promote and defend the business interests of our members.

Katie K. Frazier President

VNLA Newsletter

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(Letters Virginia Agribusiness Letters Council continued) th Thank supporting our 7for AnThanksyou so for much to the VNLA nual Legislative Golf Tournament on sponsoring our 2014 National PoliJune 12 at Mattaponi Springs Golf cy Meeting. We truly appreciate all Club.

Weand hadthe a terrific with that you VNLAresponse does to sup112 including a and number portplayers the Council’s events mis- of elected and appointed state officials, sion. Thanks, Jennifer Chambers 18-hole sponsors, three food and bevManysponsors thanks to and the VNLA for your erage numerous sponsupport of the Council and Sponsorsors of gifts and prizes. This is a subship of our April Board Direcstantial increase from of past years tors meeting at Battlefield Farms & thanks to your efforts.

Graves Mountain Lodge. We had an This event istour not ofonly a very enjoyoutstanding the nursery busiable promote agribusiness nessway and atogreat meeting - thanks into all participants, but it -also contributes part to your support.

Katie Frasier to the Council’s ability to represent Thank you again for your presentaour industry’s interest throughout the tion at our National Policy Meeting year with the General Assembly, last month. We’ve many Governor’s office heard statefrom agencies, of our members in attendance how congressional delegation and the genvaluable each of the commodity eral public. Our significant accompresentations was and that the insight plishments are attributable to the supthey gained was very beneficial. port you provide. Thank you.

Best, Brad Copenhaver

We look forward to your joining us

again nest year for outThank 8th Annual you Legislative gold Tournament. for your leadershipCouncil gift to Sincerely, Virginia Agribusiness the Flora of Editor’s Note: The VNLAVirginia was a team Prosponsor, prize and give away ject.contributor Such and a hole sponsor. support is especially Arbor Day Thanks welcome now as we embark on our Many thanks for the wonderful post-publication mission, education Swamp White Oak that was donated and outreach. This includes developto Lorton Library for Arbor Day this ment of our Flora App. year. It’s doing well and sprouting Yougrowth will beeven receiving a copy of the new as I write.

Flora of Virginia in recognition of An the will ceremony was yourarticle gift. I about know you get a lot of featured on the library website use out of it as more gardeners ask www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/ for native plants and more landscapIt was a lovely lo/oaktreeplanting.htm ers and nurseries .help make them day and I We know neighbors will available. are our having an energetic enjoy the tree for many years. response from garden clubs and Master Sincerely, Gardener Lorton groupsCounty aroundLibrary the state, which is strongly tied to increased Editor’s Note: Vice-Presiden,, interest in our natives and in siting Lou Kobus, provided the tree plants with an eye to ecological reon behalf of VNLA. quirements. It's an exciting ti me.

Thank you again for your generosity.

VNLA –Summer Board Meeting Minutes

Sincerely, J. Christopher Ludwig, President, Executive Director, and Co-Author www.floraofvirginia.org

Friday, June 23, 2006; 9:00 am to 12:30 pm LettersRoom, - Thank You Virginia Hampton Inn, Front Royal, VA IPPS Conference

9:00Scholarship a.m. Call to Order – Richard Winner Johnson, President called the meeting to order with the following people present: Lizzy Pine, Lesley Pine, Jeff This past November, I was awarded a Miller, Bonnie Appleton, Duane scholarship by the Virginia Nursery Shumaker, Butch Gaddy, and Billy and Landscape Association to attend Crigler. the 2013 International Plant Propagators Society Southern Region ConferGuest Introductions – Bill Dutcher, ence. The of conference was held the President the CVNLA, was at introUniversity of Georgiatointhe Athens, GA. duced and welcomed meeting.

While at the Conference, I was able Secretary’s Report, Butch Gaddy to participate in tours of local nursereported that the minutes had been ries and greenhouses, learn about exprinted in the VNLA Newsletter and citing new techniques being used emailed to the A motion was throughout theBoard. industry and meet made to accept the minutes, seconded growers and researchers with a wide and passed. variety of expertise.

Ad–- Hanover Hanover Farms Farms Ad

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During the conference I was provided the opportunity to tour large nursery operations including McCorkle Nurseries where I observed demonstrations of new automated robots that were able to move containers around via the use of laser sights. [see additional article on the robots on page 48 47]

Next, we toured R. A. Dudley Nurseries, an extensive container nursery production facility where I could observe the magnitude of applications and processes that go into such a large production facility. Then we were shown examples of new ornamental plant releases by First Editions as well as how these plants are evaluated, propagated and grown for wholesale.

see and hear about research being conducted at the center. We then toured a very interesting specialty nursery and spent time in the University of Georgia trial gardens. During the tours I was able to enjoy things I have not experienced before as well as learn more about the nursery industry, which will help apply my research to the industry, and ensure that my research is applicable to the midAtlantic and Southeastern regions.

Another aspect of the conference that will aid in my knowledge of nursery production was the presentations made by both growers and researchers. I learned about topics ranging from propagation techniques, breeding ornamental crops and water management. I gained several new ideas to apply to my future research at Virginia Tech while listening to the array of presentations. I was also able to meet many growers and researchers interested in all aspects of ornamental crop production. I found this aspect of the trip to be very fulfilling. The opportunity to sit down and discuss current research with a colleague or talk to a grower about their current practices was a particularly valuable experience, not only in my continuing education, but for my future work the horticultural scientific community.

I would like to formally thank all the members of VNLA and everyone involved with the organization for this opportunity that was bestowed upon me. It was truly a wonderful experience and an honor to be sponsored to attend.

Environmental Septic or Compost?

How Removing Invasive Plants from my Property was a Big Mistake Almost I don’t know how it is with nurserymen and I can’t speak for all landscapers, but after working in other people’s gardens, I have little time (and sometimes less desire) to work in my own - by the end of the season, I’m beat - so last summer when I was walking around my property just taking stock of things, I was a little surprised at how many invasive species of plants I discovered not only growing but thriving there. I’ve heard it said that auto mechanics always drive the worst cars, cobbler’s kids always need new shoes and doctors are always in worse health than their patients, but this was more than just a little embarrassing.

Lately, for obvious reasons, I’ve become a little more aware of invasive plants so I found it more than a little ironic that right in my own yard I found Ailanthus, Paulownia, Japanese honeysuckle, English ivy, Chinese wisteria and about 4000 square feet of the healthiest bamboo in the City of Richmond. Those were just the major infestations; there were a bunch more but they don’t have a place in this story.

Jeb S. Fields a graduate student at the Virginia Tech Hampton Roads AREC under the direction of Dr. Jim Owen.

After that, we toured James Greenhouses where we observed plug production facilities. The tour group then visited the Center for Applied Nursery Research where we were able to 10

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1334082 by Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org ; tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima

April / May / June 2014

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VNLA Newsletter

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war. The Ailanthus and Paulownia went down pretty easily and even though the ivy put up a fight, we (I drafted Elizabeth for this fight, too) were able to push it back.

5497538 by Frank Jurcik, Bamboo Invasions, Bugwood.org 1119516 by Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, Bugwood.org Chinese wisteria Wisteria sinensis

The feeling of embarrassment was stronger than the fatigue of a busy spring so I “sucked it up” and went to

Things got real when we went after the bamboo because the honeysuckle and wisteria had grown into it in places and formed a thicket of vine and broken bamboo stalks. By now it’s August and rather than risk divorce from a wife simmering in her own juices, I was working alone.

Now, 4000 square feet might not be a very large area in the greater scheme of things, but bamboo is incredibly sharp and by the time late summer rolls around the yellow jackets are a little testy - and did I mention the poison oak that had wound its way around the bamboo stalks? Yep, that was a pleasant surprise. I decided that a little R and R was in order - I’d take couple days and heal up, then finish it off. Never went back; I’ve still got a couple hundred square feet to cut down. Elizabeth has been VERY understanding.

Ever heard the old cliché that “the grass grows greener over the septic tank”?

Yep, you were faster on the uptake than I was. That’s why that bamboo was the healthiest bamboo in Richmond! Up until a couple of months ago, the extent of my knowledge of the plumbing trade was hot is on the left, cold is on the right and it doesn’t

Ad - Waynesboro Nurseries

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run uphill. That’s changed. Ever dug up the roots of a grove of bamboo?

In retrospect, I never should have cut that bamboo down. Actually, I never should have let it grow where it did, but I did and then I made the mistake - although an honest one - of cutting it down. I bet y’all are all thinking that the roots of that bamboo clogging the lateral lines of my drainfield are the reason that very drainfield is failing. At first I thought so too, but I was wrong and so are you.

The roots of that grove of bamboo were the reason my drainfield was still working! It’s just dumb luck and pure laziness that I left a couple hundred square feet of bamboo standing and the difference between having to make some very quick and very expensive choices and having the time to do the right thing, but more on that later.

I won’t get into details of how I figured out that the bamboo was actually “keeping us in business” suffice it to say that the reasons are much, much more important to me than they are to you, but I did discover something interesting. Just out of curiosity I did an internet search for bamboo and septic systems. I was expecting to read all sorts of warnings from plumbers along with ads for drainfield repair or drain cleaning or septic tank cleaning - didn’t find any of that. What popped up were dozens of reports on research into using bamboo and Phragmites(!) for phytoremediation. It seems that, in Europe, they have been experimenting with bamboo and Phragmites to treat waste water, including blackwater, successfully, for quite some time.

It seems that the more invasive a plant is - the faster it grows the more crud it will clean from the environment. Who’d of thought it - I had been cutting edge for years and didn’t even know it. I hope the Native Plant Society understands and the Invasive Species Working Group and Advisory Committee don’t throw me off their respective committees, but I’m 12

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going to let that bamboo grow back this year, but only temporarily. I need a little more time to gather some materials.

You see, I had originally planned to establish a pollinator’s garden where that bamboo was/is and maybe bring in a couple of bee hives. It’s one of the sunniest spots on my property and apparently the soil is quite fertile there. It should make a very nice perennial garden - that’s kind of part of doing the right thing. The other part is taking a BIG step toward sustainability (there’s that word again) - we’re going to install composting toilets (the city has already given its blessing) and abandon the drainfield altogether. I have been trying to talk Elizabeth into composting toilets for a while now - the technology has come a loooong way in the past few years, and faced with the expense of either digging a new drainfield and putting in a modern septic tank or hooking up to the city sewer system, she has finally given in. Of course, it probably helped when I told her that since we were putting in composting toilets, we might as well remodel the bathrooms completely, but a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do, right?

Do you need an official seal for your landscape plans?

If you are a VA Certified Horticulturist, order a Stamper from the VNLA Office for $65.95, includes tax and shipping

So, this year, composting toilets and a pollinator’s garden, along with the complete removal of the bamboo grove, and since I have to remodel the bathrooms I might as well re-plumb them right? I’m thinking plumbing the bathrooms for grey water irrigation. But that’s another story. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Tom Thompson, VNLA Environmental Affairs Chair

April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Obituary - Don Adams, President of the VNLA in 1989 Comments from members: ADAMS, Donald Thomas Sr., 88, has gone home to be with the Lord on April 22, 2014. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 63 years, Ann C. Adams; his daughter, Robin Howell (Howard); his son, Donald Adams Jr.; his daughter, Jennifer Ward (Andrew); grandsons, Jonathan Howell (Daniella) and William Thomas Ward; and granddaughters, Megan Adams, Lauryn Howell, Madison Ward and McKenzie Ward.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Carol Ann Adams.

A devoted servant of the Lord, Don was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church for the past 60 years, serving as a deacon and Sunday school teacher until recently. Don loved the Lord, his family and his country.

He fought proudly in WWII from 1945 to 1947.

Donald retired from Watkins Nurseries at age 84 after 35 years.

He was a past president of the Virginia Nurseryman's Association and worked in the nursery business for nearly 60 years.

Above all his accomplishments, Donald loved and adored his family. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, his legacy of love and faith will live on in his children and grandchildren and all those who knew and loved him.

Visitation was held Friday at Woody's Funeral Home on Huguenot Road from 5 to 8 p.m. Services were held on Saturday, April 26, at 11:30 a.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church, on Midlothian Turnpike, with graveside services to follow at Westhampton Memorial Park on Patterson Avenue.

Home Address: 1305 Knollwood Dr, North Chesterfield, VA 23235-4560, (804) 272-1556

(from the Richmond Times Dispatch)

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Highlights during the tenure of Don Adams as VNA President in 1989 Funded $10,000 for the Horticulture at the State Fair of Virginia for its second year, after contributing over $35,000 the previous year to for permanent additions to the grounds  Member lapel pins were introduced.  Started an industry appropriate video loan library for members.

Nursery Products named the First “Virginia’s Finest” commodity in VDACS new Trademark Program, receiving certificate #0001 at a press conference by Governor Gerald Baliles  Appointed a committee to proceed with plans for a planning meeting of horticulture industry Presidents and/or Executive Directors to plan for the future of the Horticulture Pavilion (beginning of the Virginia Green Industry Council).  The General Assembly passed Tree Replacement and Tree Conservation Ordinances with planting to be done in accordance with the Standardized Landscape Specifications by the VNA, VSLD and VA ASLA.  The Research Foundation passed the $100,000 level.  Advanced Woodies Certification program initiated.  The first 2-day long range strategic planning meeting was held in Charlottesville.  The Bylaws were updated to change the Board from 4 to 7 directors and an Executive Committee was established.  

April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

Thank you very much for the news of Don’s death. I got to know him during the 80s and early 90s when I was at IPN. Would see him 1st Tues of the month at the then Richmond Nsy Assoc. What a great person he was and I was fortunate to get to know him.

Thank you for your notice on Don's passing. My prayers go out to his family. We lost a good man and a significant, meaningful contributor to our V.N.L.A. family! - Thank you.

Highlights by Jeff Miller

Support VNLA Member Growers!

Online at www.VNLA.org New Native Plant Section!

For a print copy call 1-800-4760055 or email info@vnla.org 13

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News - Battlefield Farms Recognized for Environmental Achievement

Photo, left to right: Bobby van Hoven, Vice President of Battlefield Farms; Jerry van Hoven, Founder and CEO of Battlefield Farms; Anthony van Hoven, President of Battlefield Farms

Company Honored for Long Commitment to Environmental Stewardship (Rapidan, VA) Battlefield Farms, of Orange County, has been awarded the

Virginia Agribusiness Council’s 2014 Agribusiness Environment Award.

Council Board Chairman Danny Shreckhise, of Shreckhise Nurseries, presented the award as the Virginia Agribusiness Council Board of Directors toured the company’s facility on April 9.

The company was awarded the Agribusiness Environment recognition, presented annually to recognize a person, business, or industry’s outstanding achievements and practices that benefit both the agribusiness and the environment. Battlefield Farms has grown from a small hydroponic plastic range into a 65 acre nursery operation, with both indoor and outdoor production, where plants are produced year round for shipment throughout the Northeast. First founded by Jerry van Hoven and now owned by his two sons, Bobby and Anthony, Battlefield Farms is an industry leader in both plant growing and environmental stewardship.

The facility’s computer system constantly monitors and adjusts the greenhouse environment, and the company custom mixes soil on-site.

Furthermore, Battlefield has the ability to provide drip line irrigation, ebb and flood flooring, and boom watering, and captures all runoff from the operation for storage and reuse. The company has also installed a custom biomass boiler, which produces energy to heat both their buildings and water system through self-sustaining, environmentally-friendly energy production.

“Battlefield Farms in an outstanding operation. They have always gone beyond what is expected to protect the environment through installing best management practices,” said Orange County Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent Steve Hopkins.

“They are the gold standard when it comes to their management of pesticides to protect their workers and the environment.”

Ad - Turtle Creek Nursery

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April/May/June 2014

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Even after the family had to rebuild their operation after a devastating fire nearly 15 years ago destroyed nearly all of their facility and their production, Chairman Shreckhise said, “The van Hoven family has carefully built the business with a commitment to quality products and sound environmental practices.”

According to the company’s website, they feel they “have a social responsibility to foster a sustainable future and make tomorrow a better place to live.”

agriculture and forestry industries in the Commonwealth through effective governmental relations efforts and initiatives. Its membership includes farmers, foresters, and other agricultural producers; industry suppliers; marketers and processors; and commodity and industry associations. It is headquartered in Richmond. For more information, please visit www.va-agribusiness.org .

News - Mike Hildebrand is the recipient of the “Alumni of the Year” award for the VA Tech Horticulture Dept!

Attached Contact: Brad Copenhaver, 804.643.3555 (brad@va-agribusiness.org)

(l-r) VA Tech CALS Dean Alan Grant, Mike Hildebrand, Roger Harris, Horticulture Department Head

About The Virginia Agribusiness Council

Mike earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture in 1974. His horticulture concentration was Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design. However, his interest in hor-

The Virginia Agribusiness Council is a non-profit organization committed to representing the interests of the

Ad - Shreckhise Nurseries

Since 1936 Growers of Quality Trees & Shrubs, Conifers, Flowering Shrubs, Broad Leaf Evergreens, Shade & Flowering Trees, B&B Taxus & Thuja.

Specializing in Container Grown Trees Located in the Heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

1903 Forest AVE | PO BOX 428 | Grottoes, VA 24441 nursery@shreckhise.com 540-249-5761 | 800-628-5871 | fax 540-249-5762

www.

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

.com April / May / June 2014

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ticulture was cultivated in advance of attending Virginia Tech. While in high school, and even during his college years, he worked at DeHaven Nursery in his home town of Winchester Virginia. After graduating from Virginia Tech, he worked for Lairds Nursery in Richmond as a landscape foreman; Mike quickly moved up to the landscape designer and salesman positions. In 1983 he founded James River Nurseries with his business partner Al Jones in Hanover County. Several years later, Mike co-founded James River Irrigation and James River Grounds Management. These are premier landscape-related companies that are highly regarded in the trade. Mike takes pride in the fact that these companies have employed and still employs many Virginia Tech Horticulture and Landscape Architecture graduates. Mike’s other business ventures include Glen Allen Nurseries and James River Cellars. Mike’s contributions to the landscape industry go well beyond his business; he is involved in industry organizations such as the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), and Agriculture in the Classroom.

Mike is a true Hokie. He is an avid supporter of the Virginia Tech Horticulture Department and the Hahn Horticulture Garden. He and his wife Susie are members of the Virginia Tech Capital Campaign and members of the Agricultural and Life Sciences Steering Committee. The Department of Horticulture is very proud of Mike’s professional and personal achievements. His generous support of the Department of Horticulture and Virginia Tech are very much appreciated. On a personal note, Mike has been married to his wife Susie for 36 years; she’s a graduate of the University of Virginia but Mike tells us that their enduring love overcomes any intercollegiate rivalry! Mike has two sons who are both employed at James River Nurseries. Brian is a Radford 16

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University graduate with a Business degree and Dan is a Virginia Tech graduate who upheld his Dad’s tradition and earned a B.S. in Horticulture in 2007. Mike’s hobbies include coaching/attending sports activities; he has a special interest in Virginia Tech athletics and attends all the events that his schedule will allow.

News - New Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences building creates scientific synergy BLACKSBURG, Va., March 17, 2014 - In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences http://www.cals.vt.edu/ new Human and Agricultural Biosciences Bldg 1 http://www.cals.vt.edu/facilities/calsc onstruct/index.html, researchers and students from multiple disciplines are collaborating on issues ranging from fermentation and food safety to bioprocessing and biofuels.

These synergistic relationships are allowing the college to expand its scientific reach to address critical issues concerning agriculture, food security, human health, and climate change that will impact people the world over.

"The research activities and discoveries made in the new building will become the cornerstone of programs that will directly benefit the citizens of the commonwealth and the agriculture, food, and health industries," said Alan Grant, dean of the college. "The work that is happening in the new building will bring the promise of a healthy planet, healthy food, and healthy people."

Among the many new technologies in the building are state-of-the-art sensory panels, modern kitchen facilities, and a biosecurity level 2 food processing laboratory.

The $53.7 million building at the intersection of Duck Pond Drive and Washington Street is the first of four planned for the Biosciences Precinct where faculty members and students from various departments within the college will work together and further research, academic, and Extension efforts.

Watch a video about the new building: https://vimeo.com/88087446 In the new building, scientists from the Department of Biological Systems Engineering http://www.bse.vt.edu are developing new sources of energy to power the world, building water delivery systems that ensure people have clean water, finding ways to combat addiction through novel vaccines, and creating new targeted drug delivery systems to fight diseases.

At the same time, researchers from the Department of Food Science and Technology http://www.fst.vt.edu are finding ways for industries to provide healthy food for the world through pasteurization, fermentation, packaging, emulsion stability, probiotic culture viability, ingredient technology, and product and process development.

The 93,860-square-foot building that is home to some of the most cutting-edge and advanced technologies available was constructed with common areas and shared spaces to increase creative collaboration.

[continued on page 18]

April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Winner of the April/May/June 2014 Photo Contest

Photo Winner: Michele Fletcher Michele Fletcher Landscape Designs Rockbridge Baths VA 24473-2518 Camera- Nikon D7000

Woodland Phlox blooming in the spring. Sadly this area is being impinged upon by invasive plants such as garlic mustard and Eleagnus Win $50, submit your photos!

Good Luck and Happy Photographing!

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

VNLA - Photo Contest Rules 1.

The contest is open to any photographer (amateur and professional) except members of Board of Directors of VNLA and their families. Entries are limited to VNLA members and their staff.

2.

Each photographer may enter up to three (3) digital images per Newsletter deadline (see #6). E-mail images to info@vnla.org. Include your name, phone number and occupation. One 3. winning entry per photographer per year. You may re-enter non-winning entries.

4.

Please e-mail images separately. Feel free to elaborate on any story surrounding the photograph. Photos should be 300 dpi high resolution.

5.

All photographs submitted must have been taken within the past five years.

6.

All photographs must be related to the Green Industry.

The subject can be located in a nursery, back yard, or in a landscape--just so it is obviously related to the green industry profession.

7.

Deadline for submission is 5:00 p.m. on the Newsletter Copy Deadline, which is the 15th of January, April, July, and October. All submissions become the property of the VNLA. 8.

Model Release forms are required with each photograph which contains a clearly identifiable person. Release forms are available from the VNLA office, on request, and are also available for download from the VNLA website at Model release in MS Word format or Adobe PDF format.

Judging done by the VNLA Communication Committee.

All decisions are final.

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[continued from page 16]

"By having two departments, researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students under one roof we will be able to create a synergy among scientists where ideas are shared, hypotheses are debated, and the challenges of the world are tackled," said Saied Mostaghimi, associate dean of research for the college and director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station www.vaes.vt.edu.

Among the many new technologies in the building are state-of-the-art sensory panels, modern kitchen facilities, and a biosecurity level 2 food processing laboratory that will allow food science and technology researchers to work on issues that jeopardize safe, reliable food production, including E. coli and Salmonella outbreaks.

The new building will help scientists be more competitive as they apply for grants and funding. It will also help the college recruit top-notch students and faculty whose research requires state-of-the-art labs and equipment to solve the world's most pressing problems.

Both the biological systems engineer18

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ing and the food science and technology departments have seen tremendous growth in recent years as students choose disciplines that are rewarding and offer promising career paths. U.S. News and World Report ranked the biological systems engineering graduate curriculum eighth in the nation among biological and agricultural engineering programs in 2013.

The building will be LEEDcertified, a designation given by the U.S. Green Building Council for structures that utilize the very best in energy and environmental design. From the first day workers broke ground on the new building, a host of sustainable methods and technologies were incorporated to support a high-performance, cost-effective, and environmentally sound project.

Asphalt from the old parking lot was recycled. Building materials were produced from renewable materials and wood used in the project came from a certified source to reduce the impact on forests. Low-emitting paints, sealers, and carpeting ensures clean air inside, and windows provide warm, natural light to reduce the amount of energy needed. The building's placement on the lot was chosen to minimize harsh western sunlight while maximizing passive daylight via large bay windows.

A complex network of computers monitors the temperature and environment, and water-saving fixtures and appliances are installed throughout. The flexible laboratory design of will allow for multiple uses over the years, saving on renovation costs and materials.

The grand opening of the Human and Agricultural Biosciences Building was, March 21, at which time prominent members of the academic community spoke in honor of the event and tours of the building's facilities were given.

"This is an exciting time for the college," Grant said. "This new building and future Biosciences Precinct is going to help the agriculture and life sciences disciplines and industries thrive while looking ahead to the future to April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

solve emerging challenges."

Nationally ranked among the top research institutions of its kind, Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (http://www.cals.vt.edu) focuses on the science and business of living systems through learning, discovery, and engagement. The college's comprehensive curriculum gives more than 3,100 students in a dozen academic departments a balanced education that ranges from food and fiber production to economics to human health.

Students learn from the world's leading agricultural scientists, who bring the latest science and technology into the classroom.

Zeke Barlow 540-231-5417 zekebarlow@vt.edu

News - VDACS Announces Delay of Lawn Fertilizer Use Reporting In 2011, the Virginia General Assembly amended the Virginia Fertilizer Law to require certain businesses and government agencies to submit an annual report to VDACS indicating the total acreage or square footage by zip code of nonagricultural lands receiving lawn fertilizer and lawn maintenance fertilizer. The first annual report for calendar year 2013 was to have been submitted during February 2014 using an online reporting tool.

However, due to implementation problems with the online reporting tool, the submission of the annual report is delayed until further notice.

VDACS anticipates the online reporting tool being fully operational later this spring and will notify businesses and state agencies once online reporting is available. Contact us for additional information about the reporting requirements.

From the Virginia Agribusiness Council 3/15/14

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Take your business to the next levelEncourage your employees to complete an online Masters of Agricultural and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech.

Students can study from anywhere with the flexibility and support they need!

The Plant Sciences and Pest Management Concentration This concentration will give your employees the comprehensive understanding of the scientific principals underlying plant sciences and managing ornamental and crop pests.

They will learn to implement management schemes that maintain and/or increase your production while conserving soil and water resources to preserve the delicate balance in the agroecosystem.

Students learn from topnotch faculty according to their own schedule and needs.

We have your business goals in mind with courses that will address your management needs and increase production efficiency.

Courses are taught by Virginia Tech faculty who also teach oncampus courses. Each student works with an advisor to tailor the program to their professional ambitions. The Online Masters of Agricultural and Life Sciences program is an excellent opportunity for employers to get employees the training they need with enough flexibility that they can still continue working.

Who should take this program?

An online masters is a great choice for Green Industry Professionals looking to enhance their current knowledge and take their career to the next level. Online courses are convenient for working professionals because they allow 24/7 access to course materials, so students can study and complete assignments according to their own schedule.

Contact Information Dr. Holly Scoggins Green Industry Contact Associate Professor Department of Horticulture (540) 231-5783 hollysco@vt.edu http://www.cals.vt.edu/online/

email Holly now

Member Profile - Nicholas Swanson training at the Allegheny Mountain School by spending a year working on a large-scale project at a nonprofit organization, the VSDB Educational Farm.

Through the gardens at VSDB, they will reach out to other school divisions to host seminars, workshops and programs at the campus for students and teachers to learn about sustainable gardening.

“We want it to be more of a community project rather than a VSDB project,” Armstrong said.

The Virginia School for the Deaf & Blind STAUNTON — In the early 1900s, the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind had its own produce gardens that supplied food for students and staff. They had cows and dairy production. Students would learn to farm while boarding at the school, often year-round.

“That’s just how things were done back then,” said Superintendent Nancy Armstrong. “In about the mid1900s that all went away.”

In the same fields that cows used to roam in, there will be about 2 acres of vegetable gardens in the next few years.

Three fellows from the Allegheny Mountain School — a fellowship program in Highland County that focuses on food systems — have begun cultivating the land on VSDB’s campus for food production.

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The idea is that, during the 12 months that the fellows are at the school, they will create a sustainable garden for the school to grow produce for the cafeteria. It’s also an opportunity for students at the school and in the Valley to learn about food systems and for teachers to learn how to use horticulture and gardening in the classroom for learning.

Ben Samuelson and Emily Melvin are building on a project that began last year between the Allegheny Mountain School and VSDB. They are also working with Trevor Piersol, a former fellow and now staff member and project manager at AMS. Last year, a fellow from the school worked full time at VSDB and with students to plant gardens, vegetable patches and raised flower beds. The fellow worked with horticulture project manager Nicholas Swanson to teach students about growing produce and help them take care of the gardens. This year, the three fellows will complete the second phase of their April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

Piersol has been helping research fences and track down supplies at a lower cost, to get the gardens started.

VSDB is not paying to have the fellows cultivate the gardens and the fellows are not leasing space at the school either; it’s a cooperative agreement that benefits all parties, Armstrong said. As part of the AMS program, fellows work for community groups at no cost to the groups. At VSDB, plants and seedlings are growing in the greenhouse before they are planted in the raised beds or the larger garden. They will grow garlic, herbs, tomatoes, lettuce, kale, radish, beats, peas, corn, peppers, cucumbers and many more fruits and vegetables.

Swanson said that last year they grew herbs and used them in the cooking club for Thai dishes. This year, the club is focusing on Latin cooking, and they are planning to grow many herbs focused on those flavors.

Students and fellows will grow plants that are both visually interesting as well as interesting for other senses — plants that have different smells and tactile feels for students who are blind and visually impaired, Swanson said.

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

As the warmer months roll in, the planting season will begin. By the end of this growing season, the educational farm should be well under way, Piersol said. They hope to have a quarter-acre of vegetables growing by the end of the year.

While planting and harvesting the produce, the fellows will share with students and teachers the history of VSDB and agriculture in this area.

college I worked as a vineyard manager for wineries around Charlottesville. In 2004 I suddenly and unexpectedly lost some of my central vision. This lead to a move to Staunton and subsequent work at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind. My wife, Casey Cook and I had a daughter, named Anja in 2007.

They are both amazing people.”

“We want to bring history into gardening as well,” Piersol said.

Reprinted with permission, Megan Williams Education reporter, The News Leader, www.newsleader.com

Nicholas Swanson Nicholas Swanson is Horticulture Project Manager for Virginia School for Deaf and Blind. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 2002 with a BS in Horticulture.

(r) Nicholas Swanson working with students to plant vegetables

“VSDB provides an environment which fosters self-confident students who are contributing citizens and lifelong learners and serves as a resource of excellence for the communities of Virginia who serve students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/vision impaired and deaf/blind.

One of the oldest schools in Virginia and the second of its kind in the world, the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (VSDB), located in historic and scenic Staunton, VA, was established by an act of the Virginia General Assembly on March 31, 1838.

Scholastic honors and activities: Spent one year on National Student Exchange at Fresno State University studying viticulture “I grew up in Midlothian. I attended Virginia Tech to study engineering; however, I switched majors to Horticulture halfway through my first year.

My mom, Claudia Swanson, owned Dirty Hands Garden Center in Powhatan and I had worked there in high school. In college I became interested in grapes and wine production. I studied viticulture for a year at Fresno State University. Following VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

In 2012 CROPS, a horticulture and garden based educational program, was started at VSDB. CROPS is an acronym which stands for Cooperation, Respect, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Skills. CROPS aims to reinforce April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

these concepts and values to its students with garden based activities and hands on learning. The mission of CROPS is to develop the students' ability to make connections between the natural world, their community and themselves CROPS has worked with teachers and classes, such as science, math, Spanish, and Independent Living Skills, to reinforce the academic lessons being presented in school. VSDB teaches students from pre-K up to 22 years old and thus a wide spectrum of students with different ages and abilities have the opportunity to get their hands dirty in the garden.

Students helped to construct wooden raised garden beds on campus, as well as establishing fruit tree plantings and a perennial sensory garden. VSDB has a 400 square foot greenhouse which serves as lab space as well as a production center for the plant starts that get planted in the gardens. In May 2014 CROPS will host its second annual Spring Garden Festival and Plant Sale, helping to raise money for the program.

Most of the focus in the program is on food-based plants. One of the goals is to help the students make connections between the source of their food and the importance of making healthy food choices. We find that students are more willing to try vegetables if they have been a part of growing them and are often surprised when they discover something new that they enjoy.

Students also get very excited about flowers. Just mention or sign that word to a group of kids and their faces light up.

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One of the benefits of having a garden at the school is that students get a chance to experience the growth and transformation of the plants and the garden spaces over time. This helps them to more fully understand concepts, such as the life cycle of a plant, from a seed germinating to its flowering stage. Additionally, for our population of students, hands on experiential learning is crucial to the overall education that they receive.

CROPS has been able to provide the school cafeteria with salad greens and herbs at times. The kitchen staff is extremely supportive and they also save pre-consumer compost waste, such as vegetable and fruit peelings and salad bar leftovers for the students to compost. There is a 3 bin compost unit by the greenhouse which actively composts this material along with school coffee grounds, leaves, and garden waste.

The students get a lesson in sustainability and decomposition.

There is a great confidence gained by the students when they are able to be the caretakers for a living plant. I believe that this pride and confidence gets transferred back to themselves and helps them to grow as individuals.”

Hobbies Playing music, (guitar, electric bass or the upright bass) Listening to vinyl records and music in general, hiking, cooking Favorite Plant Camelia sinensis Favorite Flower Color: Black, though they are hard to find.

Best Habit:

Walking

Hero: The Dude Favorite Quote: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today.” -Lao Tzu Aspirations: Always aspire to be happy

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Hardest Part of Your Workday: Procuring supplies and materials is a difficult task. We are always in need of growing supplies, material, equipment, seeds and plants.

Best Part of Your Workday: It is wonderful to witness children being excited about learning and discovering plants.

News - Virginia Cooperative Extension Day marks Extension's Centennial

Helpful Hint When Handling Employees: Don't. You really should not be lifting your employees.

Hottest Upcoming Trend: Farm to school Best Advise Ever Received: eat that.

Don't

Where do you think the green industry is going in the next 10 years?

“There is certainly a movement towards sustainable living. And there is a desire on the part of people to learn more about where their food is coming from and how they can take a more active role in the process. There is also a focus on educating young people about food and coming up with ways to demonstrate the importance of making informed choices when it comes to food. There is a certain power given to people with the transfer of knowledge.

You can look across the state and across the country and find more and more examples of schools and communities where children and youth are being exposed to gardening, horticulture, farming, sustainability and food.”

Edited by Sandy Miller

Send your news to the VNLA Newsletter VNLA members are encouraged to send in relevant news items, such as new hires, new products, acquisitions, honors received and upcoming events.

Send news and photos to Jeff Miller at NL@vnla.org or fax to 540-382-2716

April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

BLACKSBURG, Va., May 2, 2014 Virginians celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Virginia Cooperative Extension (http://www.ext.vt.edu) and the important service it provides to the people of the commonwealth, following Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s declaration of May 8, 2014, as Virginia Cooperative Extension Day. Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act on May 8, 1914, creating the Cooperative Extension Service, a state-bystate national network of educators who extend university-based knowledge to the people.

The governor’s proclamation (http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/centenni al/centennialarticles/stories/cooperative-extensionday.html ) 1. Acknowledges Extension as a critical component of the threepart land-grant mission at Virginia Tech and Virginia State University that works in partnership with federal, state, and local governments to bring the researchbased knowledge of land-grant universities to people where they live and work.

2. Recognizes that Extension works collaboratively with research and academic programs at colleges VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

and universities across the U.S. to reach traditional and underserved audiences.

3. Acknowledges Extension's role in translating science-based research for practical application through local and online learning networks where agents are uniquely available to identify emerging research questions, connect with university faculty members to find answers, and encourage the application of findings to improve economic and social conditions.

“While many things have changed over the past 100 years, we still work with people where they live and deal with the issues they face every day.

We help them use the knowledge from the land-grant universities to improve their quality of life and economic prosperity,” said Edwin Jones, director of Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Faculty members located on two

.

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

campuses, 107 county and city offices, 11 agricultural research and extension centers, and six 4-H educational centers provide educational programs in everything from family financial management and nutrition to agricultural best practices and food safety to small business development and leadership. In 2013, Extension programs reached more than 2.6 million participants statewide.

Jones acknowledges that Extension could not reach as many people as it does without the support of its talented volunteers. “Our volunteers help our educators deliver research-based solutions to Virginia's homes, farms, businesses, and communities,” said Jones. “Whether they are creating opportunities for youth to learn life skills, helping families to become more financially secure, teaching citizens about ways to improve and protect their environment, or educating young children and their parents about eating healthier, they are mak-

ing a difference in their communities.”

More than 29,500 volunteers donated more than 966,000 hours of their time in 2013, valued at $23.7 million. This includes volunteers from programs including 4-H Youth Development and the Master Gardener Program that was established in Virginia in 1979.

Many special events and activities to commemorate the centennial will take place over the next several months.

To see the events being held in communities across the commonwealth, visit the Virginia Cooperative Extension Centennial Web page. (http://ext.vt.edu/news/centennial/cen tennial-news.html ) For more information about Virginia Cooperative Extension in your area, contact your local Extension office

www.ext.vt.edu/offices/index.html

Ad - Guthrie Nursery

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News - Virginia Tech CALS awarded conservation innovation grants BLACKSBURG, Va., Nov. 11, 2013 - The Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences http://cals.vt.edu was recently awarded nearly $750,000 in funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop and test new conservation technologies to improve the health of two of agriculture's most valuable resources - soil and water.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grants Program is funded through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and is set up so grantees can work with producers to test and develop new conservation technologies.

Zach Easton, assistant professor of biological systems engineering and Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist, serves as the principal investigator on a federal grant that seeks to improve understanding and management of drainage and ditch systems.

The grant totals $748,648 and is in collaboration with Pennsylvania State University, the University of Delaware, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Watch Virginia Tech: http://vimeo.com/51009324 Biodigester from Virginia Tech http://vimeo.com/virginiatech on Vimeo (https://vimeo.com).

The project will seek to control nutrient loss using comprehensive drainage and ditch management systems that trap sediment and nutrients from farmland and understand how nutrients get from agricultural fields to water bodies.

"Our first priority is ensuring that nutrients stay in the field, which is how this research can help producers," Easton said. "Secondly, the drainage management systems we 24

24

develop can help address production and water-quality concerns."

Easton has conducted similar work on a smaller project to curb nitrogen and phosphorous run-off in the Chesapeake using a bioreactor he developed to filter out pollution.

At the state level, Virginia Tech received several grants including one from the Healthy Farms from the Soil Up: Finding Common Ground Program. Eric Bendfeldt, community viability Extension specialist, is the principal investigator on the grant, which was one of several awarded to Virginia Tech.

"Soil is a foundational resource so it has to be conserved," said Bendfeldt.

"We've recently seen a pretty dramatic increase of acreage going into vegetable production."

One question that the funds will allow Bendfeldt to answer is how to prevent soil loss in those areas as well as other agricultural fields, he said.

More and more research is going into areas that seek to understand the health of soils and how important it is to maintain a diverse microbiology in the soil.

"All of these grants allow Virginia Tech to leverage our ability to bring additional dollars into the state while helping to educate farmers on sustainability practices," said Bendfeldt.

Nationally ranked among the top research institutions of its kind, Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences http://www.cals.vt.edu/ focuses on the science and business of living systems through learning, discovery, and engagement. The college's comprehensive curriculum gives more than 3,100 students in a dozen academic departments a balanced education that ranges from food and fiber production to economics to human health. Students learn from the world's leading agricultural scientists, who bring the latest science and technology into the classroom.

April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

Related Links Virginia Tech partners with Smithsonian to discover deeper link between soil microbes and plants http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/20 13/10/101413calsoil.html Zeke Barlow, 540-231-5417, zekebarlow@vt.edu

News - EPA Proposed Revisions to the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking comments on the proposed changes to the agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) which are designed to increase protections from pesticide exposure for the nation's 2 million agricultural workers and their families. Potentially effected entities may include owners/employers on agricultural establishments that grow and harvest for commercial production of fruits and vegetables on farms; timber and trees in forests and nurseries; plants in greenhouses and nurseries; employers of researchers who help grow and harvest plants; and employers at commercial pesticide handling establishments. Proposed changes include but are not limited to the following: 









Increased frequency of mandatory trainings (from once every five years to annually); Train-the-trainer training for all trainers of workers, even if they are already certified; Expanded mandatory posting of no-entry signs for the most hazardous pesticides; Minimum age requirement for handling pesticides, with an exemption for family farms; No-entry buffer areas surrounding pesticide-treated fields; [continued on page 40] VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

April / May / June 2014

25

Constant Contact Survey Results

VNLA - Membership Survey Results

Survey Name: Membership Survey 12-23-13 Logic

Thanks to the Response Status: Partial & Completed

308 participants in this important survey!

Filter: None board will use this valuable information when making decisions that will affect our members. As VNLA The VNLA

members ourselves, 3/1/2014 3:17 PM EST we want to make this association the best nursery and landscaping association in the country but we need your input and feedback. Please don’t hesitate to contact a board member if you have an idea for us or if there is an issue you’d like to see us take on.

Thanks again!

Matt Shreckhise, VNLA President TextBlock:

See following pages for survey responses.

Please share your feedback on being a member or becoming a member of the VNLA so we can best meet your needs. (Complete

Tosurvey see all the comments toforthese to your contact info at the end of the to be eligible for a drawing a $150,questions $100, $50 giftgo cards!)

http://www.vnla.org/Membership/Membership-Survey-Results-2014

Survey response Page one, question/responses will need to member? be cut Are you a current VNLA and pasted below the paragraph Answer 0% box

Number of Response(s) 262

Response Ratio 85.0 %

No

20

6.4 %

Previous Member

26

8.4 %

0

0.0 %

308

100%

Number of Response(s) 224

Rating Score* 4.1

Guide to Virginia Growers

223

3.8

Virginia Certified Horticulturist Program Access to research

225

4.4

225

3.8

Networking

225

3.6

Membership overall

223

3.9

Website content

221

3.4

Field Day

222

3.5

Summer Tour

219

3.3

100%

Yes

No Response(s) Totals

How valuable do you find each of the following attributes of membership?

1 = 1 - No value, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5 - Very valuable Answer Newsletter

1

2

3

4

5

*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

26

26

April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Please rate your agreement with each of the following aspects of your membership.

1 = 1 - Strongly disagree, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5 - Strongly agree Answer I am getting good value for the cost of membership I am getting useful information Participating in events is worth my time

1

2

3

4

5

Number of Response(s) 225

Rating Score* 3.9

225

4.0

224

3.8

Number of Response(s) 224

Rating Score* 4.0

*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

Please rate your overall satisfaction with your membership experience.

1 = 1 - Fair, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = Excellent 1

2

3

4

5

*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

How likely are you to do each of the following?

1 = 1 - Very unlikely, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5 - Very likely Answer Recommend this association to friends or colleagues Renew your membership

1

2

3

Attend upcoming association events

4

5

Number of Response(s) 226

Rating Score* 4.2

224

4.5

225

3.8

*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

VNLA Newsletter

April / May / June 2014

27

1 = Least Likely, 9 = Most Likely

Number of Which ways do you prefer we communicate with you? Please rank in order of your preference.

Answer 1 2 3 1 = Least Likely, 9 = Most Likely Email Which ways do you prefer we communicate

4

5

6

7

8

9

Response(s) 224 with you? Please rank in order of your preference.

Number of Answer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Response(s) Facebook 205 1 = Least Likely, 9 = Most Likely Email 224 Number of LinkedIn 203 Answer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Response(s) Facebook 205 Paper 213 Email Newsletter 224 LinkedIn 203 Phone 203 Facebook 205 Paper Newsletter 213 Fax 200 LinkedIn 203 Phone 203 Online Newsletter 205 Paper Newsletter 213 Fax 200 Text Message 204 Phone 203 Online Newsletter 205 Twitter 201 Fax 200 TextRating Message 204 *The Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

Online Newsletter 205 Twitter 201 Text Message 204 *The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

Twitter

Rating Score* 8.7 Rating Score* 3.4 8.7 Rating 2.8 Score* 3.4 6.2 8.7 2.8 4.3 3.4 6.2 2.9 2.8 4.3 6.3 6.2 2.9 3.5 4.3 6.3 1.5 2.9 3.5 6.3 1.5 3.5

201

1.5

Number of Response(s) 221 Number of Response(s) 204 221 Number of 217 Response(s) 204 221 206 217 204

Rating Score* 4.5 Rating Score* 4.1 4.5 Rating 4.0 Score* 4.1 4.5 4.1 4.0 4.1

211 206 217

4.1 4.1 4.0

200 211 206

4.4 4.1 4.1

212 200 211

4.3 4.4 4.1

212 200

4.3 4.4

212

4.3

Number of Response(s) 222 Number of Response(s) 223 222 Number of 221 Response(s) 223 218 222 221 216 223 218 221 221 216 222 218 221 216 222 222 221

Rating Score* 4.4 Rating Score* 4.4 4.4 Rating 4.0 Score* 4.4 3.2 4.4 4.0 3.2 4.4 3.2 3.8 4.0 3.2 3.9 3.2 3.8 3.2 4.5 3.9 3.8

*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

How would you rate the VNLA's primary publications?

1 = 1 - Not useful, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5 - Excellent, 6 = What's That?

How would you rate the VNLA's primary publications?

Answer 1 2 3 4 1 = 1 - Not useful, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5 - Excellent, 6 = What's That?

Newsletter print version How would you rate the VNLA's primary publications?

5

6

Answer 2 3 5 6 Newsletter 1 = 1 - Not online useful,flip-page 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 1= 5 - Excellent, 6 = What's That?4 version Newsletter - print version Guide to Virginia Growers Answer 1 2 3 4 5 6 Newsletter online flip-page print verison Newsletter - print version version Guide to Virginia Growers Guide to Virginia Growers Newsletter online flip-page online lookup version print verison version Basic Certification Study Guide Guide to to Virginia Virginia Growers Growers Manual online lookup version print verison Advanced Certification Study Basic Study GuideCertification to Virginia Growers Manual Manual online lookup version Would access to the Study Advanced Certification Study Basic Certification Study Manual online be useful?

Manual Manual *The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

Would access to the Study Advanced Certification Study Manual Manual online be useful? *The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

Would access to the Study Manual online be useful?

*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

Please rank these issue as importance to you.

1 = 1 - Not Important, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5 - Very Important

Please rank these issue as importance to you.

Answer 1 2 1 = 1 - Not Important, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5 - Very Important Economy Please rank these issue as importance to you.

Answer 2 Environmental Issues 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 15 = 5 - Very Important 1 = 1 - Not Important, Economy Education for Employee Answer 1 2 Environmental Issues Labor - Seasonal Economy Education for Employee Labor - Supervisory Environmental Issues Labor - Seasonal Legislation Education for Employee Labor - Supervisory Marketing to Labor - Seasonal Consumer/clients Legislation Labor - Supervisory Professionalism in the the Marketing to Green Industry Legislation Consumer/clients

3

4

5

3

4

5

3

4

5

*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

Professionalism in the the Marketing to Green Industry Consumer/clients

28

April / May / June 2014

*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

Professionalism in the the Green Industry

*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

222 222 222

4.5 3.9

VNLA Newsletter

4.5

Page 3

What suggestions do you have for us to improve the value of your membership?

51 Response(s)

Would you be willing to provide your expertise to any of these activity areas?

Number of Response(s) 0

Response Ratio 0.0 %

Environmental issues

0

0.0 %

Legislative issues

0

0.0 %

Marketing/Promotion

0

0.0 %

Membership support

0

0.0 %

Publications (Newsletter, Guide to Virginia Growers) Research

0

0.0 %

0

0.0 %

0

0%

Number of Response(s) 8

Rating Score* 4.2

8

3.6

8

4.1

7

3.7

7

4.1

Membership overall

7

4.0

Website content for members Field Day (annual event at a different location each year) Summer Tour (annual event at a different location each year)

7

4.0

7

3.9

7

4.3

Answer Certification program

0%

100%

Totals

How valuable, to you, would each of the following attributes of membership in the VNLA? 1 = 1 - No value, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5 - Very valuable Answer Newsletter (quarterly 68page 4-color magazine, print and online) Guide to Virginia Growers (print and online) Virginia Certified Horticulturist Program Access to latest research to help your business Networking with peers

1

2

3

4

5

*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

VNLA Newsletter

April / May / June 2014

29

Which ways do you prefer to communicate?Please select all that apply.

1 = Least Likely, 5 = Most Likely Answer Email

1

2

3

4

5

nOiSE Facebook

LinkedIn Hearing loss from noise is gradual, painless, Paper Newsletter and permanent but can be prevented. Wear Phone earplugs or muffs when working with loud equipment.

Fax

Number of Response(s) 8

Rating Score* 4.6

7

3.0

7 a SafE & HEaLtHy WORkpLaCE

You have the right to:

1.9

7

3.3

7

2.3

• A safe and healthy workplace.

7

Online Newsletter

2.0

7 • Tell your employer about unsafe or 4.6

SLipS & tRipS Twitter

unhealthy work conditions.7

1.9

Other 4 work • Report unsafe or unhealthy It is easy to lose your balance when land*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by theconditions number of total responses. to OSHA and do so scaping.

Tips you can use to avoid slips and confidentially. trips include:

You may not be fired or punished for:

• Do not run while on the job.

• Remove anything from the ground

• Raising concerns about workplace safety

that could make you trip before you Please rank these issue as importance to you. start the job.

1 = 1 - Not Important, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5 - Very Important • Wear sturdy boots or shoes with

Answer non-slip Economy

1

soles.

2

Environmental Issues

ELECtRiC SHOCk

Education for Employee

Use tips to avoid being electrocuted: Laborthese - Seasonal Labor - Supervisory

• Check electrical cords and cables for

Legislation defects

and proper grounding.

Marketing to • Turn off and unplug tools and Consumer/clients equipment before you clean, check, Professionalism in the the Green Industry do maintenance on the equipment.

1.5

or

or health;

• Contacting OSHA; 3

Number of

Rating

• Participating OSHA inspection; or 4 5 in an Response(s) Score*

4.1 • Refusing to work if 1) you 8are in serious

4.6 and immediate danger, 2) 8you ask your employer to fix it and he doesn’t, 3) there 8 4.2 is no time to call OSHA, and 4) there is no 8 2.8 other way to do the job safely.

7 3.1

6 3.2 In order to get help you must report to OSHA within 30 days of the firing or other punishment.

8 3.9 7

EqUaL EMpLOyMEnt OppORtUnity

4.1

*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.

• Keep power tools and equipment

away from water.

• Never touch a fallen power line.

• Stay a safe distance from power lines

You have a right to work without being treated differently because of your race, skin color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or age (age 40 or older). Your employer cannot fire or punish you for reporting these concerns.

trees, on metal ladders, Would when you beworking willing toinprovide your expertise to any of these activity areas? or when carrying metal ladders.

Number of Response(s) 1

Response Ratio 100.0 %

Environmental issues

1

100.0 %

Legislative issues

0

0.0 %

Marketing/Promotion

0

0.0 %

Membership support

0

0.0 %

Publications (Newsletter, Guide to Virginia Growers) Research

0

0.0 %

0

0.0 %

1

100%

Answer Certification program

0%

100%

Totals

Page 5

HOW tO find HELp

This guide is provided as a public service. For more information or to file a complaint, contact the federal agencies listed below. Their services are free.

COnCERn

agEnCy COntaCt

Safety & health information, inspections, investigations, & complaints

OSHA Occupational Safety &

Pesticides, pest control, heat stress

EPA Environmental Protection

Wages, hours of work, types of jobs you can do

ESA Employment Standards Administration, Wage & Hour Division 866-4US-WAGE TTY: 877-889-5627 www.youthrules.dol.gov

Discrimination & harassment

EEOC Equal Employment

Safety & health information, statistics & research

NIOSH National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health 800-35-NIOSH www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/youth

Lead-based paint, mold, allergy, asthma, or other unsafe or unhealthful conditions in homes

HUD Housing & Urban

Health Administration 800-321-OSHA TTY: 877-889-5627 www.osha.gov

Agency 800-858-PEST TTY: 202-272-0165 www.epa.gov/pesticides

Opportunity Commission 800-669-4000 TTY: 800-669-6820 www.youth.eeoc.gov

Development 202-755-1785 www.hud.gov/offices/lead

a Safety & Health guide for young Workers in Landscaping, greenhouses, & nurseries For more safety and health information for young workers, please visit us at www.youngworkers.net.

nOiSE

Hearing loss from noise is gradual, painless, and permanent but can be prevented. Wear earplugs or muffs when working with loud equipment.

SLipS & tRipS

It is easy to lose your balance when landscaping. Tips you can use to avoid slips and trips include: • Do not run while on the job.

• Remove anything from the ground

that could make you trip before you start the job.

• Wear sturdy boots or shoes with

non-slip soles.

ELECtRiC SHOCk

Use these tips to avoid being electrocuted: • Check electrical cords and cables for

defects and proper grounding.

• Turn off and unplug tools and

equipment before you clean, check, or do maintenance on the equipment.

• Keep power tools and equipment

away from water.

• Never touch a fallen power line.

• Stay a safe distance from power lines

when working in trees, on metal ladders, or when carrying metal ladders.

a SafE & HEaLtHy WORkpLaCE

You have the right to: • A safe and healthy workplace.

• Tell your employer about unsafe or

unhealthy work conditions.

• Report unsafe or unhealthy work

conditions to OSHA and do so confidentially.

You may not be fired or punished for: • Raising concerns about workplace safety

or health;

• Contacting OSHA; • Participating in an OSHA inspection; or • Refusing to work if 1) you are in serious

and immediate danger, 2) you ask your employer to fix it and he doesn’t, 3) there is no time to call OSHA, and 4) there is no other way to do the job safely.

In order to get help you must report to OSHA within 30 days of the firing or other punishment.

EqUaL EMpLOyMEnt OppORtUnity

You have a right to work without being treated differently because of your race, skin color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or age (age 40 or older). Your employer cannot fire or punish you for reporting these concerns.

HOW tO find HELp

This guide is provided as a public service. For more information or to file a complaint, contact the federal agencies listed below. Their services are free.

COnCERn

agEnCy COntaCt

Safety & health information, inspections, investigations, & complaints

OSHA Occupational Safety &

Pesticides, pest control, heat stress

EPA Environmental Protection

a Safety & Health guide for young Workers in Landscaping, greenhouses, & nurseries

Health Administration 800-321-OSHA TTY: 877-889-5627 www.osha.gov

For more safety and health information for young workers, please visit us at www.youngworkers.net.

Agency 800-858-PEST TTY: 202-272-0165 www.epa.gov/pesticides

SiteLight 11-07 Employment New address.qxd Standards12/14/2007 Wages, hours of.5 pg ad ESA Administration, Wage & Hour Division work, types of 866-4US-WAGE jobs you can do TTY: 877-889-5627 www.youthrules.dol.gov

Discrimination & harassment

EEOC Equal Employment

Safety & health information, statistics & research

NIOSH National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health 800-35-NIOSH www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/youth

Lead-based paint, mold, allergy, asthma, or other unsafe or unhealthful conditions in homes

HUD Housing & Urban

Opportunity Commission 800-669-4000 TTY: 800-669-6820 www.youth.eeoc.gov

Development 202-755-1785 www.hud.gov/offices/lead

3:54 PM

Page 3

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14345 Justice Road, Midlothian, Virginia 23113 VNLA Newsletter

April / May / June 2014

33

VNLA/VSLD Summer Tour –Friday SPECIAL NOTE: Since the Summer Tour starts with a wine/beer reception and dinner. ALL Summer Tour participants will be provided with hotel van transportation to and from the Holiday Inn Blacksburg to the Hahn Horticulture Garden. The Summer Tour will also start Friday morning with the bus leaving from the Holiday Inn Blacksburg.

If you are staying at another location or driving in for the day, you will be required to ride the bus Friday as all tour stops have limited access. You may park at the Holiday Inn during the tour.

Thursday Evening, 14-- Beer & Wine Reception and Dinner will be held in Thursday Evening,August August 14 Hahn Horticulture Dinner in the Garden 5:30 pm - Shuttle van begins departures the Holiday Inn to the Hahn Horticulture Garden 6-9:00 pm –You’ll be treated to a sumptuous Buffet Dinner. Mark Weathington, Assistant Director and Curator of Collections at the JC Raulston Arboretum, will talk about "Typhoons and Iguana Stew - The Glamorous Life of a Plant Explorer". Plant exploration sounds like a romantic, exciting adventure but the truth is always a bit more mundane. Strange foods, bad hotels, and even worse weather are the norm. We'll take a spin around the world from South America to Asia, New Zealand and back to our own corner of the world shining a light on the realities of the modern day plant hunter.

9:00 pm – Van shuttles return to Holiday Inn Blacksburg for overnight accommodations

Friday, August 15 - Private Garden Tours and lunch at Riverbend Nursery 6-7:30 am 7:45 am 4:00 pm

Breakfast and checkout Holiday Inn Buses depart for tours (see descriptions below) Buses arrive back at the Holiday Inn

Private Garden Of Dr. Jerzy Nowak & Stefanie Hofer This new wrap around the house garden was developed over the past seven years.

It includes mixed perennial and annual boarders, a front rock garden, fenced backyard with ‘Green Giant’ Thuja hedge, extensive hardscapes, a large gazebo, three distinct patios, a cascading pond, a French potage, and an outdoor kitchen.

Under parental/guardian supervision children are welcomed to use hammock and swing, and climb stairs, gazebo, and “Mr. Bighead”, a large rock excavated during the construction of back patio, named after the Rocko’s Modern Life character. Throwing small white rocks into the fountain is also permitted for children under four.

34 p6+7_SummerTour.docxx

April / May / June 2014

VNLA Newsletter

Private Gardens of Elissa Steeves Elissa Steeves’ Garden: Elissa’s goal in gardening is to have something of interest or blooming year round.

Her garden is one of a plant collector, full of plant lust treasures collected over the years. The garden contains collections of tropicals, Japanese maples, bog/swamp plants & native plants to name a few. It is organized into two areas: The oldest part is one of contemporary good taste & the newer half is of fun and whimsy.

Numerous garden rooms have been created with the use of structures & color.

The garden has been featured in Southern Living & Horticulture Magazines.

Private Gardens of the Knight’s Stonewood Garden Stonewood Garden is the twoacre private garden of Mary LaLone & Kim Knight. As you'll see, we love gardening.

Mary has a greenhouse with tropicals, including orchids and carnivorous plants, and gardens outside with tropicals, heaths & heathers, and potted plants. Kim has designed, built, and gardens all the rest of the property, including an Italian garden, arbors and terraces, a Japanese garden with pond and stream, a potager, and a cactus greenhouse/orangerie.

Tour and Lunch at Riverbend Nursery Riverbend Nursery is a progressive container grower of quality perennials, herbs, groundcovers, and ornamental grasses. A Wholesale Only grower, Riverbend sells to independent garden centers, landscapers, and distributors. Riverbend Nursery primarily services the Mid-Atlantic States. Our main facility is situated on 100 acres in Riner, Virginia. The scenic Little River surrounds the property on three sides in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Fifty eight acres are utilized for production; 31 acres in container crops and 7 in field production. A total of over 2.5 million containers are grown annually. Over 1100 varieties are produced in both heated and unheated greenhouses and 70% of these are propagated in-house. In 2011 we added a second location 20 minutes away. The 40 acre Childress farm is primarily set up for our LiveRoof portion of the business. The addition of this farm has allowed us to move green roof production here and increase plant production at the main facility.

Riverbend Nursery is a progressive, container wholesale growing operation that sells Select BIG Tag Groundcovers, Perennials, Ferns, Herbs and Ornamental Grasses; Jeepers Creepers, Gilbertie's Herbs, and LiveRoof pre-vegetated green roof modules to retailers, landscapers, and re-wholesalers.

publication 426-041

Urban Water-Quality Management

What Is a Watershed?

Traci Gilland, Extension Agent, Portsmouth

Laurie Fox, Horticulture Associate, Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center Mike Andruczyk, Extension Agent, Chesapeake Susan French, Extension Agent, Virginia Beach Lynnette Swanson, Extension Agent, Norfolk

A Watershed Defined A watershed is an area of land that drains to a lake, river, wetland, or other waterway. When precipitation occurs, water travels over forest, agricultural, or urban/suburban land areas before entering a waterway. Water can also travel into underground aquifers on its way to larger bodies of water. Together, land and water make up a watershed system.

Watersheds can be any size, but generally, the larger the body of water the larger the watershed. For example, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed covers 64,000 square miles and drains from six states, including Virginia. Smaller, local watersheds drain much smaller areas. Even a local stream has a watershed associated with it, perhaps only a few acres in size.

Virginia Watersheds No matter where you live in Virginia you are part of one the state’s nine major watersheds. You may have even noticed signs identifying the boundaries of each watershed while traveling through the state.

Virginia’s watersheds ultimately drain into three main bodies of water. Nearly two-thirds of Virginia drains into the Chesapeake Bay. Southeastern and south-central Virginia drain into the Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. Rivers in Southwest Virginia flow to the Mississippi River and on to the Gulf of Mexico.

There are nine major watersheds in Virginia. Some flow to the

Chesapeake Bay. Some go directly into the Atlantic Ocean. Others flow to the Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. Some rivers in Virginia even flow to the Mississippi River and then to the Gulf of Mexico.

1. Shenandoah-Potomac 2. Rappahannock 3. York 4. James 5. Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay and coastal rivers 6. Chowan 7. Roanoke 8. New 9. Tennessee -Big Sandy

www.ext.vt.edu Produced by Communications and Marketing, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2009 Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Rick D. Rudd, Interim Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; Alma C. Hobbs, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State, Petersburg.

Why Are Watersheds Important?

Human Impacts on Watersheds

Healthy watersheds are a vital component of a healthy environment. Watersheds act as a filter for runoff that occurs from precipitation and snowmelt, providing clean water for drinking, irrigation, and industry.

Recreation and leisure are important components of watersheds, with many Virginians taking advantage of boating, fishing, and swimming in our waterways.

Watersheds also support a variety of plant and wildlife communities.

Nearly all watersheds have something in common; they are populated by humans. With humans comes development and, unfortunately, pollution. As development encroaches on natural areas, the filtering system of the watershed is replaced by impervious surfaces such as concrete and asphalt. Water runs off these surfaces in sheets, carrying with it a variety of pollutants. This type of pollution is called non-point source pollution because it comes from multiple sources over a large area. Anything on the impervious surface, such as automobile fluids, litter, leaves, debris, sediments, or animal feces is swept away by the run-off. It is carried directly into a waterway by storm drains and culverts.

These non-point source pollutants can have devastating effects on the health of Virginia waterways.

Scientists and community leaders recognize the best way to protect our water resources is to understand and manage them on a watershed basis. Human activities as well as natural events that occur in a watershed can affect water quality throughout the entire system.

Unhealthy System

Healthy System

Nutrients

Toxicants

Sediments

Water Column Habitat • Clear water • Algal growth balance • Oxygen levels adequate • Finfish abundant

Algal Blooms Human Health Concerns

Low Disolved Oxygen Poor Water Clarity Aquatic Plant Habitat Flourishes

Food Chain Effects

Aquatic Plant Growth Inhibited Fish, Shellfish, and other Organisims Stressed Bottom Habitat Healthy

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Fertilizer runoff from lawns and landscapes is another part of non-point source pollution. The overuse and incorrect use of fertilizers account for this type of pollution. The adage “if a little is good, then more is better” is not only false, but has serious detrimental effects on water quality. Excess fertilizer in the lawn is easily washed off by rain or irrigation. It travels into waterways, causing algal blooms that block sunlight, smother aquatic plants, and increase bacterial decay.

As a result, dissolved oxygen is decreased and the water is unable to provide a healthy environment for aquatic life.

How can you help?

If everyone in Virginia would do a few simple things, we can greatly improve how our watersheds function in protecting water quality. Below are just a few ways you can help.

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•

Reduce your daily water usage.

•

Never dispose of anything by dumping into a storm drain. Storm drains lead directly to waterways.

•

Use the correct amounts of fertilizer at the correct time for your grass species.

•

Reduce your use of pesticides and fertilizers by replacing grass with hardy trees and shrubs.

•

Follow label directions carefully on all chemicals and use them only when necessary.

•

Clean up after your pets.

•

Maintain home septic systems.

•

Create buffers along waterways on your property.

•

Know your watershed address.

•

Volunteer for clean up, restoration, and conservation programs.

•

Promote sustainable land stewardship throughout your community.

For more details about watersheds and what you can to do to help, please refer to the following agencies.

• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation http://www.dcr.state.va.us/sw/index.htm • Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay http://www.alliancechesbay.org • Chesapeake Bay Program http://www.chesapeakebay.net/ Virginia Cooperative Extension offers a wide variety of publications regarding proper fertilizer and pesticide use, plant selection and buffers. Please see our website, http://www.ext.vt.edu, or contact your a local Extension agent for more details.

Editorial Contributors Barry Fox, Extension Specialist, Virginia State University Leanne Dubois, Extension Agent, James City Peter Warren, Extension Agent, Albemarle County

/ May / June 2014 April/May/JuneApril 2014 3

Complete the Quiz on page 39 and get 1 CEU for your Virginia Certified Horticulturist re-certification!

VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Certification Quiz# 68 If you are a Virginia Certified Horticultu33rist, answer the following questions from the previous article, mark your answers on the card insert to the left and mail or fax back to the VNLA office towards your recertification CEU’s for your Virginia Certified Horticulturist.

What is a Watershed?

Prepared by: Nanette R. Whitt

1. Land and water make up a watershed system. a. True b. False 2. How many states drain into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed? a. Three b. Four c. Five d. Six 3. Virginia has how many main watersheds? a. Seven b. Eight c. Nine d. Ten 4. Which river is a part of Virginia’s main watersheds?

5. Leisure and recreation are important components of watersheds. a. True b. False

6. What acts as a filter for runoff occurring from precipitation and snowmelt? a. Asphalt b. Concrete c. Watersheds d. None of the above e. All of the above

7. Which is not a healthy watershed trait? a. Finfish population b. Algal blooms c. Clear water d. Adequate oxygen levels

VNLA Newsletter

a. Know your watershed address b. Clean up after your pets c. Reduce use of pesticides and fertilizers d. All of the above 11. Excessive algae bloom in water is partly caused by excess fertilization of lawns. a. True b. False 12. How much of Virginia’s watersheds drain into the Chesapeake Bay? a. One quarter b. One third c. One half d. Two thirds

8. Water run offs from impervious surfaces such as concrete is called: a. Point source pollution b. Human source pollution c. Non-point source pollution d. All of the above 9. Fertilizer runoff from lawns and landscapes is not considered a non-point source pollution. a. True b. False

a. James b. New c. Chowan d. All of the above VNLA Newsletter

10. Virginians can improve watersheds by doing which of the following?

Support VNLA Member Growers!

Online at www.VNLA.org New Native Plant Section!

For a print copy call 1-800-4760055 or email info@vnla.org

April / May / June 2014

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[EPA & WPS continued from page 24]



Requirements that employers keep records of applicationspecific pesticide information as well as farmworker training and early-entry notification for two years;



Personal Protection Equipment (respirator use) must be consistent with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration standards for ensuring respirators are providing protection, including fit test, medical evaluation, and training; and



Availability to farm workers or their advocates (including medical personnel) information specific to the pesticide application, including the pesticide label and Safety Data Sheets.

Comments must be received on or before June 17, 2014 and must be submitted to http://www.regulations.gov identified by docket number EPA-HQ-OPP2011-0184. Your comments will help EPA determine the final version of this regulation.

Provided by Mr. Micah B. Raub, VDACS Program Coordinator, Office of Pesticide Services, 804-786-4845, Micah.Raub@vdacs.virginia.gov Additional information regarding the proposed changes is available at

http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/ workers/proposed/index.html#overview.

Need Extra CEU’s???

Write an Article for This Newsletter!

Earn 1 CEU! Contact: 800-476-0055 Email: info@vnla.org 40 40

News - USDA 2012 Census: Market Value of Production on Virginia Farms up Almost $1 Billion USDA 2012 Agriculture Census Provides a Snapshot of Agriculture in the U.S. and Virginia.

Virginia Farm Land Increases; Up to 8.3 Million Acres Virginia Farm Land Increases, Up to 8.3 Million Acres.

RICHMOND - Virginia’s farms saw a dramatic increase in both the market value of production and the average value of products sold per farm according to the preliminary results of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2012 Census of Agriculture. From 2007 to 2012, market value of production sold increased 29 percent to $3.8 billion while the average value of products sold per farm increased 33 percent to $81,540.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced today the first look at state and national data from the 2012 Ag Census. The preliminary results were provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

“It is terrific to see such a dramatic increase in the value of production coming off of Virginia’s farms in the last 5 years,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry, and it is my administration’s priority to continue that growth through sound policies and aggressive economic development efforts. Increasing farm production puts people back to work in our rural communities and provides the commodities that feed our robust agribusinesses throughout the Commonwealth.”

Virginia also showed a reversal in the April / May / June2014 2014 April/May/June

loss of farm land in the Commonwealth with a gain of 3%, rising to 8.3 million acres of land held in farms. While farm land has increased, the number of farms has decreased, meaning that farms are growing larger here in Virginia.

Farmers in Virginia are also continuing to age, now averaging 59.5 years, up from 58.2 years in 2007, and a full year older than the national average of 58.3 years.

“As Secretary, I am fully committed to helping our farms generate more income through the development of markets both domestically and internationally,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore.

“The increased value of production being sold by Virginia’s farms is an indication that our efforts are making an impact. The ability to generate greater value on the farm enables land to be kept in production rather than being converted to other uses. However, we are not without difficulties here in Virginia. We continue to lose farms at the same time that the average age of our farmers is increasing.

My secretariat will continue to focus on these challenges through farm retention programs in our Office of Farmland Preservation such as the Purchase of Development Rights, the Farm Link and Certified Farm Seeker programs.

The preliminary 2012 Census data show the following key trends for Virginia. 

In 2012, the number of farms in Virginia totaled 46,036, down 3 percent (1,347 farms) from 47,383 farms in 2007



Land in farms, 8.3 million acres, was up 3 percent from 8.1 acres in 2007



The average size of farm in Virginia was 181 acres, compared to 171 acres in 2007



Market value of production sold was $3.8 billion, up 29 percent VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

from $2.9 billion in 2007 

The average value of products sold per farm was $81,540 compared to $61,334 in 2007



The average age of the principal farm operator was 59.5 years, compared to 58.2 years 2007



There were 38,383 principal male operators and 7,653 principal female operators in 2012, compared to 39,537 male and 7,846 female in 2007

At the national level, the 2012 Census reported little change in land in farms, a more diverse principal operator population and several historic changes in value of sales for U.S. agriculture producers from 2007 to 2012.

Between 2007 and 2012, the amount of land in farms in the United States declined by less than one percent, from 922 million acres to 915 million. While continuing a downward

trend, this is the third smallest decline between censuses since 1950 and is within the margin of error.

According to the 2012 Census, principal farm operators are becoming older and more diverse. The average age of a principal farm operator was 58.3 years, up 1.2 years since 2007, and continuing a 30-year trend of steady increase. And, more minorityoperated farms were also accounted for in 2012 than in 2007.

The United States had 2.1 million farms, down 4.3 percent in 2012. In terms of farm size by acres, the decline continued a downward trend in mid-sized farms, while the smallestand largest-size farms held steady.

In 2012, the value of agriculture products sold totaled $394.6 billion, up 33 percent ($97.4 billion) from 2007. For only the second time in Census history, crop sales ($212.4 billion) exceeded livestock sales ($182.2 billion).

“One of the most important takeaways to remember about the Census of Agriculture is that the information is used for decision-making by producers as well as all those who serve farmers, ranchers and rural communities - federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations and many others,” said Herman Ellison, State Statistician for USDA. “When we look at the data for our state, we can all use it as a snapshot in time to see how Virginia agriculture is changing over time and how it compared to the rest of the country.”

The release of the preliminary 2012 Census of Agriculture results is only a first look at the data and NASS will publish the final report this May. The 2012 Census was not conducted in a typical crop year, and drought had a major impact on U.S. agriculture, affecting crop yields, production and prices. NASS is still reviewing all 2012 Census items to the county level and therefore data is preliminary until

Ad - Plantworks Nursery

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published in the final report.

Conducted since 1840, the Census of Agriculture accounts for all U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. When available in May, the final report will provide even more detailed information for Virginia, providing data on all farm operators and data down to the county level. The publication will also provide new insights into the agriculture industry reporting new or expanded data on internet access, regional food systems, biomass production, agro-forestry and equine.

For more information about the Census, including access to the 2012 Census of Agriculture preliminary report and the full report when it is released in May, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.

According to a 2013 economic impact study conducted by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, agriculture and forestry are two of Virginia's largest industries, with a combined economic impact of $70 billion annually. Agriculture generates more than $52 billion per annum, while forestry induces over $17 billion. The industries also provide more than 400,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.

Asif Bhavnagri, Office of Governor Terence R. McAuliffe, Press Special Assistant, 804.971.8513, asif.bhavnagri@governor.virginia.gov

News - VDOT is moving toward implementing (3) new Certifications by Jan 1, 2016 1. "VNLA Horticulturalist and Nurseryman" Certification will be required by all Landscape Project Supervisors doing work for VDOT. 2. "Advanced Crew Manager" Certification will be required by all Landscape Crew Managers on Site from day to day, whether working as a Sub for a Prime Contractor or working on a "Stand Alone" project.

3. "ISA Certified Arborist" will be required by anyone doing major tree work (trimming, shaping, uplimbing). ISA certification will not necessary for minor pruning of trees and shrubs to be installed — this will be covered by # 1 above.

4. An already existing requirement (by way of reminder) is that anyone spraying herbicide or pesticide will need to have their VDACS Commercial license.

Please call if you have any questions: Al Bryan, P.L.A., East Region Landscape Architect, VDOT Location & Design, (8041 371-6737

SAVE THE DATES! LEAN Management Seminar - Wednesday, August 13 FIELD DAY, Thursday, August 14 SUMMER Tour, Friday, August 15

At Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA

Tips - Horticulture the Gardening Revolution The gist...

Gardening is about people—people who want to buy dynamic, kickass plants that matter. Our product development, merchandising and our audiences deserves passion.

To put the culture in horticulture, we must...

1. Be dynamic. To change the mindsets of the audience we serve, we have to change our own and our products too. Where is the wow?

2. Be passionate. It's addicting, because it causes people to react with awe. Awe is a powerful component of the chemistry of how ideas catch on.

3. Be stylish. Yves Saint Laurent put it best "Fashion fades, but style is eternal." Gardeners want gardens to look like them, savvy expressions of their personalities and attitudes no matter the scale.

4. Be visible. We have to inspire an audience to want something they don't yet know they need.

5. Be compelling. The last thing new consumers want is something simple. They aren't dumb.

6. Be revolutionary. We have to go to work and focus on the people who matter and give them what they want: a truly great gardening experience.

Why is this article so short?

To quote Seth Godin, "if I had worked less diligently...[it] would have been longer."

Kelly D. Norris, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Dmbotanicalgarden.com, Kellydnorris.com

Keynote Speaker: Doug Tallamy Tallamey 42

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VNLA Newsletter

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Tips - Garden Center 2020....Engaging for Consumers My conference presentations and workshops at present are focused on what garden centers will look like in 2020. For certain they will look completely different than they do today and we are only looking six years into the future.

My view is that the large corporate garden outlets will still have a major part of the market share, but the growth sector will also be with local niche specialist retailers. The danger zone will be those that are stuck in the middle. Around the world we have already seen many of these business flounder as they do not fit into either market segment.

Garden centers have to focus on either providing the best price or the best value to the consumer. Large outlets will focus on the best price, leaving the specialist the value option.

Garden Center 2020 will look completely different in so many ways, the way it is designed, the way it is merchandised and the way the team sell.

Many of these changes will be driven by the Millennium Generation who think and behave differently to the generations before and by 2020 will want to beautify their apartments and homes.

I this article I will focus on how the team at Garden Center 2020 will delight their customers. I use the word "delight" on purpose as customer service will not be the way of the future We will be living in the digital world and all retailers will be focused on a combination of digital and brock’s communication models.

The focus will be on developing loyal customers, not because loyal customers will buy more plants, they probably will not space will be limited, but 44

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because they value the experience that you offer and are advocates for your business. We already have retail models that garden centers can model themselves on and the online retailer Zappo is already showing the opportunities and how to deliver "happiness" to consumers.

Successful garden center’s will have entered the era of digital marketing and will be communicating with their customer base via handheld smart devices. The consumer will expect the communications to be a smooth experience, but the critical thing to remember is that research shows that 70% of "memorable" experiences involve being engaging with people.

This is one reason customer service will be a thing of the part and the team engaging with the consumer in the garden center will be so important. The majority of the selling process will have taken place online.

Technology will shine

mend to me new management books I may be interested in. Garden centers will be recommending new plants online using the same format. Smart phones will have voice activation based on developments using applications such as "Lexee" or" Nina" applications and this will allow for a personal conversation that has been pre-programmed between the plant manager and the consumer. By 2020 we will also have "feel” screens on our smart phones and research is being carried out where smell can also be transmitted, ideal for selling plants.

This "High Tech" development also means that the garden center team will have time in the garden center to provide "high touch" as we continue to better understand what drives "delight" in the consumers mind.

Research by RightNow reveals that 86% of consumers will pay more for better customer experiences and 89% will change who they do business

Although engagement will be important I do not want to down Ad - John Stanley play the importance of technology .By 2020 technology will be playing a more important   part in the cus tomer experience   process. Garden  center’s will be   conducting more  business online   and will be  providing per sonal recommen  dations to cus tomers in the   same way that  Amazon .com   communicate  with me today.  Since I am a buyer of management books Amazon recom-

  

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with because of a poor consumer experience.

This will provide the specialist independent garden center with a unique marketing niche That niche will be 1. Technology will be used to make the sale.

2. The garden center will be a venue where the decision making takes place and the consumer engages with a "garden guru"

and having a video conversation with their garden friends on the plants on offer whilst in the center. They will be in the garden center looking for inspiration and engagement with the team. The consumer will be making buying decisions based on what friends are saying and will be selecting an independent garden center that inspires them All this and it is only six years away...it is starting now John Stanley

This means that the garden center will look completely different today The garden center consumer will walk into the garden center having already engaged with the business on their smart phone, they will be checking on the product on offer in the center on their smart phone and looking at consumer reviews of the product, rather than just relying on the garden center team’s advice. They will be looking at videos of plants growing

News - MANTS 2014 Stats 

3,182 non-exhibiting (buying) companies



10,352 paid registrations, including exhibitors



967 exhibiting companies in over 1,530 booths

Tips -What Do You Remember - Memories on Replay Someone once said, "The way you describe the events of your life could very well affect the way you live out your life."

This is a very thought-provoking statement that could certainly be expanded to say, "The way we replay our memories could very well affect the way we live out our life." We all know that the mind is like a great recording device, and we decide which scenes we will play over and over again from our memory. Unfortunately, the natural response of the mind is to replay the negative scenarios rather than the positive. We are much more apt to relive a fight than to dwell on a pleasant event.

What if we could learn to fast forward or even erase the negative and

Ad - Lancaster Farms

Quality is a Matter of Choice

5800 Knotts Neck Road Suffolk, Virginia 23435

(757)484-4421 (800)336-2200 www.lancasterfarms.com Annuals ❀ Azaleas ❀ Broad Leafs ❀ Conifers ❀ Fruits ❀ Perennials ❀ Roses ❀ Shade & Flowering Trees VNLA Newsletter

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develop the habit of dwelling on positive things in our memory? What if we consciously "recorded" the things that we wanted to keep and go back to later? What if we became acutely aware of simple little scenes in our life that are worthy of recording and committed them to memory . . . to appreciate the sound of a parent's voice when they are thrilled to hear you on the other end of the phone, to really watch your child or grandchild take his first steps, to remember the look of pride or accomplishment or love on the face of someone you care about . . . to internalize the feeling of celebration when your company or sports team has a big win. The list is endless and as personal as each of the memories themselves.

The way the event is stored and replayed over and over again in the "Movie Theater" of the mind will affect how we approach similar events in the future. Harnessing the positive energy and growing from it produces positive results in every similar event in the future. We can't control the various scenes that will play out in our lives, but we can decide how we will recall them and what we will do with those memories.

How did you as a leader recently describe a past event to someone? What words did you use to tell about the crew that did not finish a job on time, the misunderstanding with a spouse or child, or a positive experience that happened in recent weeks? How are you storing it in your memory and 46

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how are you playing it on the "movie screen" or the "voicemail" inside your head? If the inspiring quote above holds any truth, the way you describe it may very well be influencing the rest of your life. WOW!

Captured Memories We know that a lot of great memories are triggered by looking at old pictures or movies and none of them would have been possible if someone had not consciously stopped to record the experience to enjoy later. It is our awareness of the significance of the moment that prompts us to capture it for the future.

A few years ago we had a visit with an elderly lady who was walking through our gardens, and she said something I have gone back to dozens of times. At one point she stopped, looked around and then closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and then said, "I'm just taking a picture in my mind so I can come back and visit this beauty any time I like." What a fantastic reminder that we can determine what details we will capture and dwell on in the future.

In fact, I wonder what can I be focusing on right now that will stir a positive emotion? What am I aware of in this moment?

As our awareness of the moments and the musical score playing behind them increases, then this upcoming year can be one that does not just slip by, but one that has significance and meaning to ourselves and the lives of those around us.

Packing Memories Memories are such an important part of our past that can actually frame the future and how we view it. I heard once from a backpacker that it isn't the distance that challenges us but the weight of the pack. Much of life's "quality" is affected by the burdens we choose to carry. Like a backpacker who needs to pack absolutely everything she will need, we can also choose to carry too much and find that the journey wears us down. We April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

make it, but the fatigue is overwhelming and because of it, we miss some of the most splendid scenery - the special benefits of our journey. What are these weights we carry through life? Guilt, resentment, an overwhelming sense of responsibility, limiting beliefs, and fear are a few.

Most of our baggage is the memory of old hurts or wrongs done to us. We think we need to keep them for protection against ever letting them happen again but all they actually do is get heavier as we go on. The challenge we face is to begin the process of forgiving old hurts and mistakes we have made and leave them behind allowing us to move forward unencumbered.

The opposite is a backpacker who carries the minimum of creature needs and is able to look around on the journey and see the treats of the trail even when climbing. When we go through life consistently cleaning out our emotional packs and lightening our loads, opportunities present themselves. Without extra baggage, side-trips are not a painful diversion, but rather a special adventure with gifts for the taking. Our eyes are not focused only on the step before us, but the horizon spread out ahead. We have more choices to enjoy and a lightness of step that allows us to pursue them.

How much of the scenic view of your life are you missing because of the baggage you carry in the form of limiting beliefs, past disappointments, or misplaced anger? What if you were able to mentally dump the contents out on the floor, examine what is there, and then begin repacking with only what you want in the pack? The process of putting down some of the weights you are carrying will be liberating and moving on with what you need for the journey will be ENERGIZING. Remember that it's not the distance; it's the weight.

JP Horizons Inc., 8119 Auburn Road, Painesville, OH 44077, Phone: (440) 352-8211, Fax: (800) 715-8326, e-mail: jim@jphorizons.com, web site: www.jnhorizons.com VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Up All Night

Harvest Automation Robots Working Night and Day at Flowerwood Nursery

B

egun as the backyard hobby of Harry H. Smith, Flowerwood Nursery was incorporated as a nursery in 1946. Today Flowerwood is a thirdgeneration family-owned wholesale nursery selling only to the trade with locations in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Flowerwood provides broadleaf evergreens, conifers, deciduous shrubs, grasses, groundcovers, trees, perennials, and seasonal color throughout the Southern and Mid-Atlantic states.

Flowerwood Nursery specializes in improved products, including the many varieties of Encore® Azalea, offering more blooms, more often.

Selections like Encore Azaleas, the Southern Living® Plant Collection, Endless Summer® Hydrangeas, the Knock Out® Rose, and Anthony Tesselaar products (along with other known industry favorites) help create a product mix designed to satisfy the needs of retail garden centers and professional landscapers.

Over the years Flowerwood experienced many of the problems common to operations reliant on manual labor to complete the most difficult and repetitive tasks.

Spacing plants is the most repetitive and physically VNLA Newsletter

demanding task in a Nursery or Greenhouse, but it is arguably the most critical. Workers who can move plants at a rate of hundreds of pots per hour for short periods will quickly slow to a fraction of that as the day wears on.

Repeatedly bending and picking up a plant that weighs up to 22 pounds for 8 hours a day under the hot sun not only tires a person, but can lead to debilitating back injuries, lost work days and expensive workers compensation claims. With tough work conditions to offer Flowerwood found that it was difficult to both recruit and retain its manual labor workforce. And in the critical spring season when both spacing and shipping must be done, the demand on the HR team to find and replace workers was acute.

But this spring was different, thanks to the Harvest Automation HV-100 plant moving robots. Customers that have used the HV-100 to move plants have experienced a reduction in plant moving related injuries and a projected savings in worker’s compensation insurance claims, along with the added benefit of a happier, healthier workforce leading to fewer lost work days and fewer instances of workers not showing up for

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Free Robot Work

Harvest Automation is happy to announce that it is now offering 100% free robot work at no obligation. We will bring robots to your Greenhouse or Nursery for multiple days and our robot operators will space, consolidate or collect plants to any configuration that meets your production needs.

work. But just as importantly all of the work has been completed on time. “We’re in the middle of our big spring shipping season, and the robots have allowed us to do our spacing on-time,” said Tom Meadows, Flowerwood Production Manager. “We have not pulled one person from shipping to assist with spacing.”

The HV-100 plant moving robots allow growers to do spacing all day long. Flowerwood Nursery is one grower that is taking advantage of this. “Before robots, there was no way we could do spacing at night,” said Tom. Previously it would have been too dangerous for workers to space plants at night with irrigation ditches and pipes that are hard to see even with illumination. Plus spacing accuracy is difficult under low light conditions. “The Harvest Automation robots can work night and day with the same level of productivity and accuracy.” The HV-100 does not rely on the availability of ambient lighting conditions, its sensors produce their own infrared light, and can navigate just as well in darkness as in light. This capability has allowed Flowerwood to extend the workday with double shifts in order to get all their spring spacing done on-time. Ultimately for Flowerwood this has led to higher profit margins with fewer workforce headaches.

For more information about Flowerwood Nursery, Inc. please visit http://www.flowerwood.com/.

For details please contact Greg Timbol at (978) 528-4450 or gregt@harvestai.com.

To contact Harvest Automation sales to find information about our free robot work offer, to arrange an on-site demo or to discuss our flexible financing, leasing and short term rental program please call Greg Timbol at (978) 528-4450 or gregt@harvestai.com.

For more information about Harvest Automation and the HV-100, please see http://www.harvestai.com.

TOUGH. SMART. SIMPLE.

Education & Trade Show for the Green Industry

In Conjunction with the 2014 NC Urban Forestry Conference

Raleigh Convention Center August 13-15, 2014 Trade Show Partner

For more information: www.ncnla.com or 919.816.9119

In the Landscape

Figure 1. Mobile Weed Manual (www. mobileweedmanual.com) is a new turf and ornamental weed-control resource.

Figure 2. Mobile Weed Manual provides three options for selecting herbicides.

Figure 3. The “Search by Weed Species” function.

Figure 4. The colorcoding of herbicides corresponds to expected levels of control.

Mobile Weed Manual: A New Resource for Managers of Ornamentals and Turf

By James T. Brosnan, Ph.D., and Greg K. Breeden, University of Tennessee

H

erbicide selection is an important step in effectively managing weeds throughout the landscape.

Individuals caring for warm- or coolseason turfgrasses and/or ornamental plants can face unique challenges in selecting herbicides for weed control. Weeds that persist in ornamental areas are often different from those found in turfgrass stands.

Additionally, desirable ornamental plants found throughout the landscape can be quite diverse and thus exhibit variable tolerance to herbicide applications. Lastly, many herbicide products labeled for use

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in turfgrass are not labeled for use in ornamentals and vice-versa. All of these factors make the process of herbicide selection in turf and ornamentals quite challenging.

What is Mobile Weed Manual?

The University of Tennessee Turf & Ornamental Weed Science Team has developed a new resource to help green-industry professionals meet this challenge.

Mobile Weed Manual is a new mobile website —www.mobileweedmanual.com — to help practitioners select herbicides for use in both turfgrass and ornamental April / May / June 2014

tennessee greentimes Fall 2013

areas (see Figure 1). The site contains weed-control efficacy data and turfgrass and ornamental tolerance information for over 2,300 different species, as well as labels for nearly 100 different herbicides, all of which are optimized to be easily accessible from the palm of your hand.

How does Mobile Weed Manual work?

Mobile Weed Manual will work on any mobile device (i.e., smartphone, tablet, etc.), regardless of manufacturer or operating system. Although the site will also VNLA Newsletter

Figure 5. List of herbicides displayed from a Mobile Weed Manual search.

Figure 6. Additional information on a particular herbicide.

function on a desktop or laptop computer, it was designed for use on devices with touchscreen capability.

Mobile Weed Manual offers users three means of selecting herbicides for weed control (Figure 2).

Search by Herbicide This option is designed for individuals who are curious about which products are labeled for preemergence (PRE) or post-emergence (POST) weed control in either turfgrass or ornamentals, regardless of species. How could this be useful?

Select PRE herbicides for turf, and the site will list all active ingredients labeled for PRE weed control in turf. Interested in POST weed control in ornamentals?

This function will populate a list of all products labeled for such use.

Search by Desirable Species This option is designed for individuals who need to know which herbicides are labeled for PRE and POST weed control in or around the specific turf/ornamental species that they manage. For example, this option would allow a lawncare professional to view a list of all the herbicides labeled for PRE weed control in tall VNLA Newsletter

Figure 7. Links to herbicide label and MSDS information.

fescue turf or determine products labeled for POST weed control in a species of Liriope. The opportunities are endless.

Search by Weed Species This is the most powerful function of Mobile Weed Manual. This function allows user to select herbicides to control a specific weed that is growing in a particular species of turf or ornamental planting.

The steps are simple (Figure 3): • Select a use area (i.e., turf or ornamentals).

• Select an application timing (i.e., PRE or POST).

• Select the desirable species (i.e., the type of turf or ornamental planting in which weed control is needed).

• Select the weed type.

• Select the specific weed to be controlled.

These steps serve as filters to narrow down the 100 different herbicides and 2,300 different plant species to best fit the user’s situation. All of these filters must be completed for the site to function properly and provide correct herbicide recommendations. Users will be alerted in the event that they omit required information.

Figure 8. Mobile Weed Manual shortcut on the bottom right-hand side of the home screen on an iPhone.

The site will then display a list of herbicides labeled to control the weed selected. Herbicides are color coded by the level of control that can be expected by an application made, according to label directions (Figure 4). These rankings are based on the results of research trials conducted at the University of Tennessee. It is important to note that it is impossible to research the efficacy of every herbicide for control of every weed that could possibly invade a landscape. Thus, herbicides coded gray are labeled for control of the weed selected but have not been evaluated in research trials at the University of Tennessee (Figure 5).

Users can select a particular product from the list to access additional information about how to best use this herbicide for weed management. Mobile Weed Manual will display a page that provides users information on the full array of turf and ornamental species listed on the product label, suggested application rates and remarks and precautions to adhere to before applying the product (Figure 6).

Lastly, this page will contain links to each product’s label and material safety data sheet (Figure 7). It is always the herbicide applicator’s responsibility, by law, to

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In the Landscape read and follow all current label directions for the specific herbicide being used.

How to Access Mobile Weed Manual

Figure 9. Support link for users interested in donating funding to support the continued development of Mobile Weed Manual.

Using the internet browser on any mobile device, simply visit www.mobileweed manual.com. We recommend that users bookmark the site and create a shortcut to it on their home screen (Figure 8).

Directions on the Mobile Weed Manual home page can guide users through this simple process. Creating a shortcut on the home screen will facilitate faster access to Mobile Weed Manual content in the future.

At the current time, Mobile Weed Manual is a free resource. Should users find value in the content provided, they can donate funding (in an amount of their choosing) to support the continued development of this new weed-control resource.

Donations can be made by selecting the “Support” button on the Mobile Weed Manual main page (Figure 9).

Impact The University of Tennessee Turf & Ornamental Weed Science Team hopes that Mobile Weed Manual becomes a valuable tool for all green-industry professionals. The site will be updated continually to expand the database of turf, ornamental and weed species information, as well as to include information on new herbicides entering the marketplace.

Since debuting online in May 2013, the site has been used by individuals managing turf and ornamentals in all 50 U.S. states and 72 countries worldwide. Our hope is that Mobile Weed Manual use expands even further in the future.

Please send any questions, concerns or comments about the Mobile Weed Manual to info@mobileweedmanual.com. Also, be sure to stay in touch with the University of Tennessee Turf & Ornamental Weed Science Team at http://tennessee turfgrassweeds.org. C

“Marketing for Growth” – Presented by Virginia Department of Business Assistance & People Inc At the VCTGA Annual Meeting, August 2013, Summary by Jeff Miller

Why is Marketing important?    

No customers + No sales = No BUSINESS! Marketing is the most important activity you can engage in!

Times have changed in the way we do business 100 Billion searches are conducted every MONTH on Google Consumer spending channels are changing

Social Media Social Media is a Conversation.

 

Technically, it’s the same thing people have been doing since the beginning of time, but now it’s instant and not face-to-face Over 50% of consumers who use their mobile devices to locate businesses and shop online. Try some of these links to explore how to interact with them.

tennessee greentimes Fall 2013

Facebook www.facebook.com YouTube www.youtube.com Twitter www.twitter.com Pinterest www.pinterest.com EBay www.ebay.com Etsy www.etsy.com

sun045

People talking to each other, brands talking to fans, fans talking to brands

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     

Mobile Marketing

Text Messaging from you smart phone QR Codes www.unitaglive.com/qrcode - provide consumers product info, and how-to info.

Marketing will not fix your Broken Business If your product is rubbish, marketing WON’T fix it!

Don’t be afraid to try something NEW! Be creative, find your niche and keep trying, trying and trying!

Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and expecting a Different Result. – Albert Einstein

April / May / June 2014

VNLA Newsletter

Research - Unraveling the mystery of how plants store energy Anyone who has dabbled in the most basic gardening or even pondered a field of wildflowers has taken for granted that plants turn light into energy. And though science has accepted this fact for years, researchers have only just begun to unravel the mystery of how plants regulate energy to grow and thrive.

While a plant is not going to raid the break room for a donut, an intricate level of signaling that turns certain cell responses on and off means plants experience metabolic changes in much the same way as humans.

by drought and nutrient-poor soil.

By discovering more about how to manipulate a plant's ability to synthesize cellulose for energy use, we'll certainly learn a lot about our own biological processes, and the concrete connection between all living organisms as well.

Ultimately Gillaspy's work could help engineer plants that can adapt to an ESN-117 45 Years/4.5x7.25 8/30/04 increasingly warming world plagued

10:15 AM

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Ad - Eastern Shore Nursery of Virginia

Scientists now know there is an innate energy-sensing system at work in the structure of plant life.

"Plants utilize some of the same energy sensing and metabolic processes that we do," said Glenda Gillaspy, professor of biochemistry in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Gillaspy's focus is on the main energy expenditure for plants — creating cellulose. Plant cell walls are composed of cellulose, which is where energy made from light, is stored.

Her research builds upon what scientists now know, that plants don't continually store energy; they go through periods of energy deprivation and surpluses, just like animals and other complex organisms, even humans.

The similarity between humans and plants lies in one of the major controlling proteins that occur in plant signaling — the same protein found in animals and yeast.

This protein interacts with the fuel gauge that regulates how much energy the plant uses. The fuel gauge talks to the signaling network, and there is crosstalk that happens that indicates to the plant how it should spend its energy. Researchers still don't know how, they just know it occurs.

Consider the importance of the 10 a.m. coffee break for someone who hasn't eaten breakfast.

WH O C A R E S T H AT W E ’ V E KEPT OUR NAME GROWING FOR OVER 45 YEARS? Maybe you should care. Chances are, you can think of many businesses that have come and gone over the past four decades.

We’ve been here through it all—putting down strong roots and branching out to provide our customers with quality plants year after year.

And cultivating the expertise that can help Eastern your bottom line grow today and tomorrow.

Shore Call Eastern Shore Nursery of Virginia Nursery Of and order plants from a company with a Virginia long history of excellence.

Keller, Virginia • 1-800-323-3008 • www.esnursery.com

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Spring Board Meeting Minutes

is June 1 to May 31.

Guidelines: 

The 3 VNLA representatives should be representative of the retail, landscape and grower sectors of the VNLA membership, if there are qualified willing nominees.



The senior VNLA MANTS director will provide MANTS reports/updates for each VNLA Board meeting and will attend the Fall VNLA Board meeting to review the MANTS financial reports.



A new VNLA MANTS Director will be appointed by the VNLA Executive Committee each year for a 3-year term. Current VNLA MANTS Directors can be re-appointed for successive terms.



Rotate one director on and one off every 3 years instead of every 2 years. This would make it a 9 year position. We are also fine with re-nominating a director for a second 9 year term. (Executive Committee, 7/12/13)

Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - 10 pm - 4 pm Board Room, Department of Forestry, Charlottesville, VA VNLA Dashboard Metrics Current Membership Membership 1 year ago 12/30 Peak Membership (2008)

495 487 632

Current VCH Count VCH Count 1 Year ago 5/12

428** 549

Total Income YTD Dec’13** Budget Year 2013 Total Income YTD Dec’12

446,2350 392,225 408,701

Total Expenses YTD Dec’13 Budget Year 2013 Total Expenses YTD Dec’12

350,923 392,100 328,677





**Cert# change due to date corrections 10:14 a.m. The meeting was called to order by Matt Shreckhise with the following present: Sonya Westervelt, Bill Gouldin, Matt Sawyer, Cheryl Lajoie, Christopher Brown, Craig Attkisson, Tom Thompson, Jeff Miller, and Virginia Rockwell. (Absent: Mike Hildebrand, Doug Hensel) Matt introduced Aaron Williams, who had agreed to come on the board in the vacant directors position as the Education Committee Chair. 

Matt Shreckhise will contact Tom Saunders about continuing as a MANTS director or selecting a new director for 2015.

Membership Survey - Matt Shreckhise reported that there had been a great response to the Membership Survey with over 300 members and nonmembers responding. Since the survey had just closed on 2/28/14, he only has preliminary results.

Some of the top program values and issues were the Virginia Certified Horticulturist program (VCH), professionalism in the green industry, economic and environmental issues. The Board needs to be more proactive and reach out to members. The consensus was that a copy of the survey results should be sent to the respondents.



President’s Report  MANTS Directors Selection, Rotation and Reporting Policy Procedure Development As a result of discussions with the Doug Hensel, Tom Saunders, and John Lancaster, the consensus was to propose a rotation of VNLA representatives to the MANTS Board.

The rotation would start in 2012 with the first VNLA nominee attending the fall 2011 MANTS board meeting in October. The MANTS fiscal year

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April/May/June 2014

TASK LIST FOR NEXT MEETING from 1/7/14 1. Life time Certification status review - Cheryl Lajoie 2. GAR addition of VCH for Washington DC projects - Cheryl Lajoie 3. Review revised Marketing Proposal from Kegley Communications - Executive Committee 4. Establish a Search Committee - Matt Sawyer 5. Establish a “Plant Something” Committee of VNLA members - Sonya Westervelt

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Marketing Proposals - Matt Shreckhise discussed the three marketing proposals that had been received and the Executive Committee would have a conference call in the next week to discuss these and make a decision on which firm to proceed with.  Member signs at MANTS - Christopher Brown reported that there was a very positive response to providing the VNLA member flags at member exhibitors booths.  PLANET Day of Service - (April 22) (Doug and Christopher had suggested that this event be forwarded to members each year as a tool members could use to give back to their local community.  Social Events - A motion was made for the VNLA to sponsor a free social event this year for members and potential members in conjunction with regional meetings or as a separate event, seconded and passed. Mike Hildebrand will have a proposal at the June 14, VNLA Board Meeting for a fall social event in the Richmond area.

Secretary’s Report - Bill Gouldin asked for corrections/additions to the January 7, 2014 VNLA Board Meeting Minutes. A motion was made to remove the “5 years” from the paragraph of Art Parkerson’s letter 

Fund Accounts VNA Horticulture Research Fndtn VNAHRF Checking VNAHRF Beautiful Gardens VNLA Money Market Fund VNLA Rainy Day Fund VNLA Checking Account Shoosmith Scholarship Fund Laird/Gresham Scholarship Fund CW Bryant Scholarship Fund Total Assets

1/1/13

12/30/13

672,269

696,377

24,108

21,775

13,651

16,519

189,806

225,845

278,121 5,465

307,976 18,073

195,531

217,300

66,101

67,507

37,980

52,055

1,480,929 1,623,427 

 

Membership - Mike Hildebrand

Ad - Gossett’s Landscape Nursery

OTTO LUYKEN LAUREL JAPANESE MAPLE FIREPOWER NANDINA HARBOR BELLE NANDINA

GOSHIKI OSMANTHUS CAMELLIA JAPONICA CAMELLIA SASANQUA BLUE STAR JUNIPER

OVER 200 OTHER VARIETIES CONTAINER GROWN LOCATION: NC 68, TWO MILES SOUTH OF I-40 AVAILABILITY AND PLANT PICTORIAL BUYERS GUIDE AT WWW.GOSSETTSNURSERY.COM VNLA Newsletter

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 

to request the Board establish a transition search committee, seconded and passed.

Financial Reports - Bill Gouldin and Jeff Miller presented the financial reports as of 12/31/13.

Executive Director’s Report - Jeff Miller (emailed, see attached) Antitrust Compliance for Association: Policies and Procedures was reviewed by Jeff Miller and a copy was given to each board member to review and use whenever they held committee meetings.  Volunteer Leadership Magazine - this publication (American Association of Association Executives - ASAE) was distributed to the board to review leadership tips. o Association Law Essentials o Fiduciary Fundamentals o Future Focus - Strategic Planning o Executive and Board Evaluations o Setup Committees for Success o Advocacy o Habits of Highly Effective Boards Certification - Cheryl Lajoie  Online manual/review classes will be done under a contract with Dave Close, VA Tech Horticulture Department in conjunction with the Certification 



Committee. When completed, it will be part of the VA Tech Scholars program with online access.  Chesapeake Bay Landscape Certification  Plant Id Updates is being reviewed  Life time Certification status review was discussed with the possibility of honorary members, no future action was taken.  GAR addition of VCH for Washington DC projects was discussed  Bill Gouldin and Doug Hensel agreed to review the Retail Display Chapter for updates.  CEU Awards - A motion was made to adopt the system for awarding CEUs that is being used by LGBG/CVNLA for CEUs for Field Day and the LEAN program and to invite the VSLD and MACISA to these meetings, seconded and passed.  VDOT is moving toward implementing Three (3) new Certifications by Jan 1, 2016 1. “VNLA Horticulturalist and Nurseryman” Certification will be required by all Landscape Project Supervisors doing work for VDOT. 2. “Advanced Crew Manager” Certification will be required by all Landscape Crew Managers on Site from day to day, whether working as a Sub for a Prime Contractor or working on a “Stand Alone” project.

Ad - JOCO Plants

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VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

3. “ISA Certified Arborist” will be required by anyone doing major tree work (trimming, shaping, uplimbing). ISA certification will not necessary for minor pruning of trees and shrubs to be installed this will be covered by # 1 above.



VNLA needs to point out that there will never be a commitment to 'freeze' the curriculum content because it was approved by an agency at some point in time, thereby letting others outside VNLA or our educational collaborators/experts at VT, Sustainable Sites or elsewhere, dictate when and if the curriculum is updated.

VAC Legislation Appreciation Banquet Gift Basket Delivery to General Assembly, Governor, and Cabinet  VAC National Policy Meeting, March 19 will be attended by Virginia Rockwell, Bill Gouldin and Jeff Miller.  Congressional HR 2575 bill to change the definition of full-time employees from 30 hours to 40 hours was discussed by Bill Gouldin.

Education - vacant position. At this meeting, Aaron Williams agreed to come on the VNLA board and work as the Education Chair. He will talk to Steve Griggs about the position past activities.

Public Relations - Sonya Westervelt  Field Day and Summer Tour will be at the VA Tech Hahn Horticulture Gardens on August 14-15 with different tours repeated in the morning and afternoon possibly including Saunders and Latham Halls, Kentland Farm and the Urban Horticulture Center. There will not be any vendors, but we will move to sponsorships and encourage sponsors to promote Field Day to their customers and encourage donations for swags and sell ads on program  

4. An already existing requirement (by way of reminder) is that anyone spraying herbicide or pesticide will need to have their VDACS Commercial license.

When engaging with any of these agencies or NGO's it's always important to let them know the VNLA VCH curriculum is - going forward from November 2011 VNLA strategic planning session in Lynchburg an evolving product based on best management practices, sound science, and a continuous improvement process not just in how the content is delivered, but the content itself.

Legislative/Regulatory Review - Virginia Rockwell/Bill Gouldin (see attached report)





Ad - Fairview Nursery

Ad - Carolina Bark Products

P.O. Box 395 Seaboard, NC 27876 Phone: (252) 589-1324 Fax: (252) 589-1642 •

Suppliers of bulk aged pine bark fines.

•

Custom mixes available containing lime, sand and/or minors.

•

Fast, dependable service Memberships: North Carolina Association of Nurserymen Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association

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brochure. Dinner Thursday evening will be an independent event from Field Day and Summer Tour. Mark Weathington will be the guest speaker.

The Summer Tour will include 3 private gardens and a tour and lunch at Riverbend Nursery. Aaron Williams volunteered to help with the committee.  LEAN program - will be on August 13 at the Holiday Inn Blacksburg, 1-5 p.m., coordinated by Jim Owen.  “Plant Something” Campaign for Spring 2014 is a membership benefit. Doug Hensel agreed to take the lead on this and a conference call will be set up to develop direction and participants.

Communications - Matt Shreckhise VNLA Facebook has over 300 people engaged and reaches over 2,400.

Newsletter - The featured member will be a horticulture teacher at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton.

Christopher Brown suggested that new members be listed in the Newsletter and that a Young Grower of the Year Award be established. The VNLA needs to make everyone feel more involved.

Publications - Grower Guide - Craig Attkisson - Jeff noted that if there are any changes to be made in the content/format of the Guide, it needs to be decided by the end of August.

Environmental Affairs - Tom Thompson - A motion was made to have VNLA representatives at the Chesapeake Bay Business Forum on March 27, 2014, at the Dominion Innsbrook Center at Glen Allen, seconded and passed. Tom Thompson and Bill Gouldin will attend representing the VNLA.  A motion was made to be a $2,500 sponsor of the Business Forum, seconded and failed.  Tom will continue to monitor invasive plant issues.

Research  2015 Research Gala/Auction - Christopher Brown is working on possibly setting up a ‘kick off’ event on the second setup evening or a networking event with the silent auction, light refreshments and drinks, or selling raffle tickets on the floor for a tractor.

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Old Business None

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New Business None



3:30 p.m. - Final thoughts and adjournment



TASK LIST FOR NEXT MEETING 1. Potential Board Members - Matt Sawyer 2. Member social events proposals (Fall event in the Richmond area) - Mike Hildebrand 3. Changes in Guide to Virginia Growers?

Summer Board Meeting, Saturday, June 14, 2014, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Virginia Tech Hahn Garden Gala, June 14, 6-9 pm "Strategy gets you on the playing field, but execution pays the bills."

Gordon Eubanks What are our members’ problems?

How is the VNLA going to make them more successful?

Reports Executive Directors Report for 3/5/14 Meetings Attended     

Jeff noted that plans need to be finalized by June 15 to develop the ad/flyer for MANTS to include in their promotional materials and mailings. 

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Strategic Planning - Matt Sawyer  Establish a Search Committee - Matt Sawyer (the process is defined in the VNLA Policy Manual)

MANTS - January 6-10 Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course January 12-15 Piedmont Landscape Association Short Course, February 20 Virginia Society of Landscape Designers Annual Meeting and Program, February 22 Northern Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association “Spring Jump Start”, March 10 – distributed Newsletters, Grower’s Guides, Certification info, 50% off memberships – Many questions on certification and membership

MANTS - Many positive response about the member signs

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VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Certification Test Registrations, test revisions, CEU reporting during January and February. We need to develop a more uniform policy/plan to work with the regional groups on somewhat standardizing the class schedule, teacher qualifications, etc. (same as last year) 2013 Financial Report - the net income looks high compared to the budget but the following budgeted line items were not used:  $5,000 Certification Manual and Review Online  $9,000 for Strategic Plan Initiatives  $2,500 for Legislative Conference which wasn’t held and was considered for reallocation to have VNLA members attend “fly-in” with the ANLA, but was not followed through on this.

The $15,000 that was transferred to the Rainy Day Fund does not show up as an expense on the P&L, as it was just a transfer from the checking account to the SunTrust Rainy Day Investment Account.

Interest/Dividend Income from Investment Accounts was up $33,000 over budget projections.

Website - The Re-Certification Application is now available online for submission and payment. This will not actually show up on a persons’ screen unless they are really due to be recertified.  Map lookup for members with VCH on staff - if dues

are not paid by 3/31/14, they automatically come off the map list 

Grower Guide online now has an option to look up growers who list native plants



Membership renewal is available online

 Most forms have been converted to fill-in PDF files Website upgrades in the works: - Continuing on upgrades this spring, home page layout improvement Virginia Agribusiness Council - invited to participate, again this year, at their National Policy Meeting on March 21 on a panel to share our industry’s top three national priority issues. This year, our keynote speaker will be Brent Blevins, who works for the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee in Washington, DC, and we are planning to have a retrospective Farm Bill focus to the meeting. With this in mind, we would like to invite you to speak on behalf of your industry about your national priorities for 2014, including a look at how the recently-passed Farm Bill will affect you. We’d really like to ensure that each of our industry segments are represented and the impacts of the Farm Bill across agriculture are presented.

By Jeff Miller, Exec. Dir. VNLA for 3/5/14

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VNLA Newsletter

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April / May / June 2014

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Hardy, Northern-Grown

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Founded over a century ago, Sherman Nursery continues to offer the finest selection of

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Antitrust Compliance for Association: Policies and Procedures

of member companies and Association employees annually and that the same be read, or understood at all meetings of the membership and committees of the Association.

Anti-Trust annual review - anti-trust issues to avoid at meetings and committee chairs should review them with their committee members.

Public Relations Committee Report 2.26.14

(Please review and retain for personal files.)

It shall be the policy of the Association to be in strict compliance with all Federal and State Antitrust laws, rules and regulations. Therefore: These policies and procedures apply to all membership, board, committee and other meetings of the Association, and all meetings attended by representatives of the Association.

Discussions of prices or price levels is prohibited. In addition, no discussion is permitted of any elements of a company's operations which might influence price such as:

   

Cost of operations, supplies, labor or services; Allowance for discounts; Terms of sale including credit arrangements; and, Profit margins and mark ups, provided this limitation shall not extend to discussions of methods of operation, maintenance, and similar matters in which cost or efficiency is merely incidental.

It is a violation of Antitrust laws to agree not to compete, therefore, discussions of division of territories or customers or limitations on the nature of business carried on or products sold are not permitted.

Boycotts in any form are unlawful. Discussion relating to boycotts is prohibited, including discussions about blacklisting or unfavorable reports about particular companies including their financial situation.

It is the Association's policy that all meetings attended by representatives of the Association where discussion can border on an area of antitrust sensitivity, the Association's representative request that the discussion be stopped and ask that the request be made a part of the minutes of the meeting being attended. If others continue such discussion, the Association's representative should excuse himself from the meeting and request that the minutes show that he left the meeting at that point and why he left. Any such instances should be reported immediately to the President and staff of the Association.

Field Day and Summer Tour- We held a committee conference call on Friday, February 21st. Sonya Westervelt, Jeff Miller, Sandy Miller, Lisa Lipsey, Jim Owen, Holly Scoggins, Maria Hudson, Roger Harris, Alex Niemiera were present. We have identified that Field Day will be held at Virginia Tech on Thursday, August 14th. There will be a dinner independent of Field Day and Summer Tour on Thursday evening. Summer Tour will begin Friday, August 15th.

The Field Day format will be a bit different this year as we will break the group in two allowing for extensive touring of the Virginia Tech Department of Horticulture facilities at Saunders Hall, Latham Hall, The Urban Horticulture Center, and Kentland Farms. All participants will enjoy lunch in the Hahn Horticulture Garden and have access to guided tours of the gardens throughout the day. Speakers will include many Virginia Tech faculty as well as Mark Weathington for a cocktail hour.

Tour sites for Summer Tour are being researched and we hope to have a full lineup shortly. We will be working to send out a save the date asap and have registration open by end of May. I have approached several individuals about stepping into my role for this event and have yet to find someone. I am looking for volunteers.

Plant Something Campaign- I have begun to reach out to retailers on this. Jeff and I agreed that I need not be leading this charge as I will be transitioning off the board in the coming years. I am looking for volunteers.

Submitted by Sonya Westervelt

VNLA Update - Legislative & Policy For more information contact Virginia Rockwell virginia@gentlegardener.com or Jeff Miller info@vnla.org

ACTIVITIES & EVENTS JANUARY - VIRGINIA AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL DINNER - RICHMOND, VA Both outgoing and Governor-Elect attended.

It is the Association's policy that a copy of these Antitrust Compliance Policies and Procedures be given to each officer, director, committee member, official representative 60

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JANUARY - VIRGINIA NATIVE PLANT MARKETING AND CONSERVATION LANDSCAPE CREDENTIAL CONFERENCE - represented VNLA at Germanna CC, Cheryl LaJoie represented VNLA at Tidewater CC. Presentation by Dot Field, DCR, on the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 15+ year effort to collect, propagate and make available for commercialization local genotypes of native plants. Private sector participants included land planners, landscapers, nurseries, Virginia certified horticulturalists, but comprised only about 20% of the attendees.

Collaboration via internet at both sites to provide input to the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council conservation landscape credential; repeated VNLA position that the credential must be based on existing credentials and not a minimum, additional, separate requirement to design, install and maintain conservation BMP’s (best management practices) in VA. Attached: BLM native plant presentation, notes on conservation landscape credential, attendee list.

JANUARY - Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP) Landscape Best Management Practices Manual and Cost Share funding program announced by 4 pioneer Soil & Water Conservation Districts. This program targets non-agricultural lands with significant cost share assistance for landscape improvements, including planting trees. Funding available to landowners in 4 districts comprising Attached: VCAP Manual and Cost Share requirements pdf. .file://localhost/evernote/:::view:15768654:s143:7612652b -1d6a-4877-97b7-52bafc2f33ee:7612652b-1d6a-4877-

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97b7-52bafc2f33ee: Updates online at Thomas Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District website.

FEBRUARY - VIRGINIA GROWN PLANT GIFT BASKETS TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH. Thank you again to Doug Hensel of Great Big Greenhouse for composing and delivering beautiful Virginia Grown plant gift baskets. This year’s selection included flowering plants, native plants, and edible plants (Strawberries with buds blooms and fruit!). Thank you to Tom and Elizabeth Thompson, Matt Shreckhise of VNLA; Brad Copenhaver and Katie Frazier of Virginia Agribusiness for pointing us in the right directions; and the volunteer Pages who kept us from getting lost and declared the Virginia Grown plants “Cool!” Meet and greet with Del. Ed Scott, Eldon James of Rappahannock River Basin Commission, and aides from the Lieutenant Governor’s office.

Attached: Thank you note from Governor McAuliffe.

FEBRUARY - MISSION H2O LISTENING SESSION WITH VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ). VNLA represented by Bill Gouldin. Mission H2O represents VNLA and other Virginia industries and localities in water policy matters in the Commonwealth and region. New groundwater management policy for the VA Eastern Groundwater Management Area will be promulgated by DEQ in the coming year; DEQ scheduled this listening session.

For more information: contact Ed Tankard, Virginia Rockwell or Bill Gouldin.

FEBRUARY - USDA AG CENSUS PREVIEW HIGHLIGHTS STRONG GROWTH OF VIRGINIA AGRICULTURE. Detail will be released in May. Attached: Governor McAuliffe’s press release.

For over 50 years VSLD has been providing the best resource for landscape design expertise. Show your clients that you are a qualified professional by joining us today!

Join as a certified landscape designer, associate member, or student member. Visit our website for the application forms & membership requirements: http://www.vsld.org/types.htm

MARCH - General Assembly wrapup from Virginia Agribusiness Council attached.

MARCH - Noxious Weeds regulations proposed final draft to VDACS Board for approval.

Attached: Note from Andres Alvarez of VDACS. 6-7 MARCH- GOVERNOR’S CONFERENCE ON AGRIBUSINESS, RVA CONVENTION CENTER. 9 MARCH - VIRGINIA AGRI-

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BUSINESS COUNCIL NATIONAL POLICY UPDATE ON FARM BILL - briefing on implementation of the long-awaited Farm Bill.

27 MARCH - CHESAPEAKE BAY BUSINESS FORUM - INNSBROOK DOMINION CENTER GLENALLEN, VA - recommend VNLA attend and sponsor.

Commonwealth of Virginia Office of Governor Terry McAuliffe Feb. 24, 2014 USDA 2012 Census: Market Value of Production on Virginia Farms up Almost $1 Billion

~ Virginia Farm Land Increases, Up to 8.3 Million Acres ~

USDA 2012 Agriculture Census Provides a Snapshot of Agriculture in the U.S. and Virginia RICHMOND - Virginia’s farms saw a dramatic increase in both the market value of production and the average value of products sold per farm according to the preliminary results of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2012 Census of Agriculture. From 2007 to 2012, market value of production sold increased 29 percent to $3.8 billion while the average value of products sold per farm increased 33 percent to $81,540.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced today the first look at state and national data from the 2012 Ag Census. The preliminary results were provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

“It is terrific to see such a dramatic increase in the value of production coming off of Virginia’s farms in the last 5 years,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry, and it is my administration’s priority to continue that growth through sound policies and aggres62

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sive economic development efforts. Increasing farm production puts people back to work in our rural communities and provides the commodities that feed our robust agribusinesses throughout the Commonwealth.”

Virginia also showed a reversal in the loss of farm land in the Commonwealth with a gain of 3%, rising to 8.3 million acres of land held in farms. While farm land has increased, the number of farms has decreased, meaning that farms are growing larger here in Virginia. Farmers in Virginia are also continuing to age, now averaging 59.5 years, up from 58.2 years in 2007, and a full year older than the national average of 58.3 years.

“As Secretary, I am fully committed to helping our farms generate more income through the development of markets both domestically and internationally,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore. “The increased value of production being sold by Virginia’s farms is an indication that our efforts are making an impact. The ability to generate greater value on the farm enables land to be kept in production rather than being converted to other uses. However, we are not without difficulties here in Virginia. We continue to lose farms at the same time that the average age of our farmers is increasing. My secretariat will continue to focus on these challenges through farm retention programs in our Office of Farmland Preservation such as the Purchase of Development Rights, the Farm Link and Certified Farm Seeker programs.

The preliminary 2012 Census data show the following key trends for Virginia.

In 2012, the number of farms in Virginia totaled 46,036, down 3 percent (1,347 farms) from 47,383 farms in 2007  Land in farms, 8.3 million acres, was up 3 percent from 8.1 acres in 2007  The average size of farm in Virginia was 181 acres, compared to 171 acres in 2007  Market value of production sold was $3.8 billion, up 29 percent from $2.9 billion in 2007  The average value of products sold per farm was $81,540 compared to $61,334 in 2007  The average age of the principal farm operator was 59.5 years, compared to 58.2 years 2007  There were 38,383 principal male operators and 7,653 principal female operators in 2012, compared to 39,537 male and 7,846 female in 2007 At the national level, the 2012 Census reported little change in land in farms, a more diverse principal operator population and several historic changes in value of sales for U.S. agriculture producers from 2007 to 2012. 

Between 2007 and 2012, the amount of land in farms in

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VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

the United States declined by less than one percent, from 922 million acres to 915 million. While continuing a downward trend, this is the third smallest decline between censuses since 1950 and is within the margin of error.

annually. Agriculture generates more than $52 billion per annum, while forestry induces over $17 billion. The industries also provide more than 400,000 jobs in the Commonwealth.

According to the 2012 Census, principal farm operators are becoming older and more diverse. The average age of a principal farm operator was 58.3 years, up 1.2 years since 2007, and continuing a 30-year trend of steady increase.

And, more minority-operated farms were also accounted for in 2012 than in 2007.

Asif Bhavnagri, Office of Governor Terence R. McAuliffe, Press Special Assistant, 804.971.8513, asif.bhavnagri@governor.virginia.gov

The United States had 2.1 million farms, down 4.3 percent in 2012. In terms of farm size by acres, the decline continued a downward trend in mid-sized farms, while the smallest- and largest-size farms held steady.

In 2012, the value of agriculture products sold totaled $394.6 billion, up 33 percent ($97.4 billion) from 2007. For only the second time in Census history, crop sales ($212.4 billion) exceeded livestock sales ($182.2 billion).

“One of the most important takeaways to remember about the Census of Agriculture is that the information is used for decision-making by producers as well as all those who serve farmers, ranchers and rural communities - federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations and many others,” said Herman Ellison, State Statistician for USDA. “When we look at the data for our state, we can all use it as a snapshot in time to see how Virginia agriculture is changing over time and how it compared to the rest of the country.”

The release of the preliminary 2012 Census of Agriculture results is only a first look at the data and NASS will publish the final report this May. The 2012 Census was not conducted in a typical crop year, and drought had a major impact on U.S. agriculture, affecting crop yields, production and prices.

NASS is still reviewing all 2012 Census items to the county level and therefore data is preliminary until published in the final report.

News - Mobile ID for Invasive Pests Invasive species trackers at the UGA Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health have developed a suite of apps to help farmers, forestry personnel and home gardeners identify strange unwanted invasive pests. They can now identify their problem invasive pests in the field. The app is one of 17 the center has developed. It provides apps for different parts of the country.

The center website generated 9.3 million users last year and 260 million hits. http://apps.bugwood.org/apps.html www.bugwood.org

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Conducted since 1840, the Census of Agriculture accounts for all U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them.

When available in May, the final report will provide even more detailed information for Virginia, providing data on all farm operators and data down to the county level. The publication will also provide new insights into the agriculture industry reporting new or expanded data on internet access, regional food systems, biomass production, agro-forestry and equine.

For more information about the Census, including access to the 2012 Census of Agriculture preliminary report and the full report when it is released in May, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.

According to a 2013 economic impact study conducted by the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, agriculture and forestry are two of Virginia's largest industries, with a combined economic impact of $70 billion VNLA Newsletter

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Legislation - Virginia Agribusiness Council General Assembly Wrap Up All in all, it’s been a fairly uneventful session for our industry- luckily!! No input needs at this point- you may want to take a copy of our most recent Cap Report (will go out on March 1) as a guide. Key items for us include: 1)

2)

n that was worked out in negotiations between legislators, environmental community, builders/developers, localities and DEQ. The bill will allow localities that do not have an MS4 permit (most rural localities, (Augusta county is an exception to this) to turn over management of the Va. Stormwater Management Permit program to DEQ, and delays stormwater requirements for 6 months for other MS4s. It also exempts from permitting requirements (although they still have to meet the same standards) single family home construction.

The bills have received broad support.

On-Farm Activities/Agritourism - Negotiated compromise between agricultural stakeholders to establish limits on how local governments can regulate non-production or harvest activities on agricultural operations, such as pick-your-own,

small retail, etc. The Senate bill is now before the Governor, and while local government and some conservation groups are opposed, both bills passed with bi-partisan support.

3) Local/State Taxes - no major changes this year, although tax reform/restructuring is an issue that will likely be perennial. Specifically, there is discussion about 1) reviewing all existing tax incentives/preferences and evaluating their efficiency, 2) looking at taxes on services, and 3) possible changes to the corporate income tax and or/elimination of the BPOL tax.

You mentioned healthcare/medicaid--- the big outstanding issue of session that will likely lead the GA into overtime.

The Senate (thanks to support from all Dems and 3 Republicans) have crafted a proposal in their budget to create a Va. Marketplace for those who are in the “gap” between federal and existing state coverage. The House republicans are almost all united against any Medicaid expansion (save for 1 republican from NOVA). Governor has said he won’t sign budget if issue isn’t settled to his liking…so we shall see.

2012 Census data for Virginia isn’t publically available yet, looks like state level data will come out in May. Provided by Katie Frazier, VAC

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10 Annual Garden Gala – “It’s all about the Garden!” th

June 14, 2014 5:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Please join us for the for the best garden party in Blacksburg – June 14th from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

For our 10th Gala , the focus is on the garden. We’re celebrating established gardens, new features, new plants, and more, so please take some time during the party to stroll around!

Enjoy fabulous food and drinks by Blue Ridge Catering of Roanoke and live music by the old-time string band Farm Use Only. Be tempted by a silent and live auction with vacation destinations, plants, art, and more – visit www.hort.vt.edu/hhg/gala for a list of items.

Purchase your tickets prior to June 1st for $75 each ($90 thereafter) - online ticket sales are available through Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education www.cpe.vt.edu/reg/gardengala or call (540) 231-5182.

Please consider a sponsorship this year – the dollars beyond the ticket price are what helps the garden grow. Visit www.hort.vt.edu/gala, or call/email Dr. Holly Scoggins for more information [(540) 231-5783, gala@vt.edu].

Your name tag will be mailed to you the first week of June, and serves as your ticket.

Attire is dressy casual, no jeans or shorts please. The gala goes on, rain or shine!

Need additional information? Check our website at www.hort.vt.edu/hhg, email gala@vt.edu, or call (540) 231-5970.

Hahn Horticulture Garden at Virginia Tech 64

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If you would like to become a sponsor, see sponsorship form online at www.cpe.vt.edu/reg/gardengala.

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Connecting the Industry Across the Southeast

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July 22 -24, 2014 Atlanta Georgia Georgia International Convention Center

Plants, Products, People.

Mark et p la c e , Education and More.

SNA 2014 combines a Regional Marketplace with the Southern Plant Conference, the SNA Research Conference, the SNA Annual Business Meeting, the SNA State Officer’s Conference, and SNA Day @

for one unparalleled industry event.

Plants

Products

People

Featuring the best ornamental trees, shrubs, and color from top growers across the region

Featuring the latest in retail, landscape and outdoor living products, garden gifts, accessories and more

Connect with industry’s most forward thinking growers, breeders, researchers, retailers, landscapers, manufacturers, and distributors from across the Southeast

www.sna.org

Education and More Educational sessions for retailers, growers and landscapers by top industry experts

Welcome to these New VNLA Members for 2014!

FirstName Shannon Jeanette Marquette Jason Taylor Bobby Todd Janice Tom John Ore Nathan Mark David Alyson Beverly John Joshua Brian Billy Debra Jeffrey Mark Clare Brent Yvonne Randy Judy Hannah William William Patrick Gregg Jonathan Cynthia Joe John Karen Henry Steve Phillip 66

LastName Adams Antoma‐Sey Brandon Burger Duke Ezell Hagadone Hunter Kniezewski McIntyre Navarro Neufer Nielsen Olson Petty Sanders Scureman Shade Watson Yuhase Zajic Williamson Langan Robertson Hunsinger Hansotte Lawrence Carson Watson Phillips II Speidel Sullivan Hinegardner Butrico Winemiller Edwards Williams Williams Brown Rossi Maggi

CompanyName Associate ‐ Adams Associate ‐ Antoma‐Sey Associate ‐ Brandon Associate ‐ Burger Associate ‐ Duke Associate ‐ Ezell Associate ‐ Hagadone Associate ‐ Hunter Associate ‐ Kniezewski Associate ‐ McIntyre Associate ‐ Navarro Associate ‐ Neufer Associate ‐ Nielson Associate ‐ Olson Associate ‐ Petty Associate ‐ Sanders Associate ‐ Scureman Associate ‐ Shade Associate ‐ Watson Associate ‐ Yuhase Associate ‐ Zajic Associate Williamson Blue Ridge Property Services LLC Blue Skies Greenhouse Brent's Native Plantings Brookville High School Casey Tree Farm Colonial Williamsburg Fdn Columbia Gas of Virginia Custom Lawn Service Elizabeth River Landscape Management Evergreen Landscape Corp.

First Class Lawn Care LLC Foundry Landscapes Greenleaf Services, Inc. James River Grounds Management John Tyler Community College Mid Atlantic Plant Co Norfolk Botanical Garden North Stafford High School Philip J Maggi Landscape Design April / May / June 2014

City Charlottesville Alexandria Lynchburg Lynchburg Manassas Midlothian Fairfax Scottsville Sterling Arlington Earlysville Alexandria Arlington Fredericksburg Virginia Beach Springfield Richmond Snell Glen Allen Powhatan Leesburg Portsmouth Warrenton Huddleston Fredericksburg Altavista Berryville Toano Richmond Bowie Driver Norfolk Bridgewater Richmond Newport Glen Allen Midlothian Newark Norfolk Stafford Washington

State VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA MD VA VA VA VA DE VA VA DE VA VA DC VNLA Newsletter

Welcome to these New VNLA Members for 2014!

FirstName Kurt LaRue R. Paul Mark Ian Matthew Susan Jamesetta Aaron Dale William Jonathan Ross Brandon Adam Cody Roy Brandon Morgan Warren Jake Tevin Joel Tucker Robert Derek Augustus Joshua Trafton Justin Cody Chaz Bryan Brian Collin Riley Kendall Normand Mimi Sarah VNLA Newsletter

LastName Petrich Powell Rossen Antonne Ricketts McKeown Cox Hilleary Walker McCann Bray Orr Baughn Giserman Adkins Anderson Barb Belmonte Doyle Edwards Gaines Heuple Howard Hudnall Hyman Layne Lynn Miller Nunn Parsick Paybe Pierce Ramsey Sours Thomas Wells Wimer Wolfe Adams Adams Auringer

CompanyName Portco Powell's Nursery Rossen Landscape Sentara RMH Medical Center Site Improvement Associates State Gardens Student ‐ Cox Student ‐ Fauquier High School Student ‐ TCC Student ‐ Virginia Tech Vintage Resource LLC Virginia Sustainable Landscaping Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech 2‐Year Ag Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior April / May / June 2014

City Portsmouth Holly Springs Sterling Harrisonburg Chesapeake Vienna Fairlawn Warrenton Chesapeake Arlington Williamsburg Richmond Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Roanoke Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Newport Blacksburg Forest Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Amissville Blacksburg Blacksburg Floyd Blacksburg Blacksburg Waynesboro Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg

State VA NC VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA 67

Welcome to these New VNLA Members for 2014!

FirstName Colleen Philip Allison Dustin Skyler Alexandra Lindsay Jacob Tyler Christopher Chelsea April Angela Ned Ethan Cassandra Kaitlyn Izak Abby Allyssa Mark Amy Anna James Gregory Clinton Heather James Travis Joshua Emily Benjamin Celia Gabriel John Harris Beth

LastName CompanyName Beard Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Beethoven‐WilsoVirginia Tech Horticulture Senior Bowden Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Brugler Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Byrd Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Cantwell Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Day Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Dombroski Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Edwards Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Gore Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Gusler Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Hamilton Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Hancock Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Harm Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Harris Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Hickey Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Hunter Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Khani Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Lorenze Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Mark Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior McNees Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Puckett Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Rakes Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Rockwell Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Strosnider Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Thackston Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Truax Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Ulmer Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Wagoner Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Wilson Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Wingfield Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Harder Virginia Tech Horticulture Senior Clark Washington & Lee University Clark Washington & Lee University Wescoat Wescoat Nursery Wheeler Wheeler's Landscaping Services LLC Gay Yard‐nique Inc

City Blacksburg Blacksburg Check Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Sugar Grove Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Atkins Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Millington Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Fieldale Blacksburg Blacksburg Blacksburg Hanging Rock Blacksburg Christiansburg Blacksburg Ridgeway Blacksburg Lexington Lexington Eastville Richmond Richmond

State VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA MD VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA

Virginia Tech Horticulture Seniors and Second year 2-year Ag students were given a complimentary membership for 2014 to give them an opportunity to have interaction with VNLA members through the VNLA Newsletter, E-News, Events and the opportunity to take the Virginia Certified Horticulturist Exam at the member rate.

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VNLA Newsletter

Tips - Sun or Shade? Don’t Ask! Ask the “Right” Questions

By Judy Sharpton

At the recent Ball Customer Day celebration at the company’s headquarters in West Chicago, I had the opportunity to discuss how independent garden centers and farm markets could develop their store’s unique brand. We talked about how the store looks to the customer - from the structure to staff dress to cash wrap clutter. We also discussed the well-documented intimidation factor surrounding gardening, especially among young gardeners. As Dennis Snow, formerly of Walt Disney World and author of Lessons from the Mouse, told us in his recent keynote at the OFA show, “Our customers don’t know what we know.” The former Disney employee turned consultant was referring to the confusion Disneyworld customers encounter and some of the seemingly ridiculous questions they ask - like “What time does the 3:00 o’clock parade start?” When it comes to silly questions, Disney can’t top the garden center! “You mean this has to be watered?” Or, “Why are these dead leaves on my lawn?” This from a customer who has a massive maple in full fall glory in his back yard.

The language we use with customers can quickly descend into pure scorn if we are not careful. That’s before we start spouting Latin. So, given the wealth of research from reputable sources like Bridget Behe and Kip Creel about the fear factor surrounding gardening, how does a store enhance its brand with this demographic (in all age groups) without sacrificing its position of expertise?

A woman at the Ball event gave me the opportunity to explore that question. In my presentation, I advocated not asking the customer (seemingly) innocent questions - like “sun or shade? - that the customer can’t answer. And certainly not such complicated questions as “Wet or dry area?” or (heaven forbid) “Annual or perennial?” At the close of the program, we had two minutes for question.

The woman put me right on the spot. “So what do I ask?” she said.

Don’t ask anything. Not even “May I help you?” She doesn’t know the answer to that one either. Instead of asking a question, approach the customer as if he or she has been shopping at your store for years. Just greet the customer as you would any other familiar face and then HUSH! You can even go back to watering or dead heading. But only after you have said “Good morning” or Good VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

afternoon” or “Welcome to __________ “, or, or, or! Anything that does not have a question mark after it. This takes practice; staff can learn it through role playing with each other. Say hello to every person who walks by - staff or customer. When each employee engages in this greeting ritual, something happens to the uncertain garden center customer: she relaxes and becomes more confident. Something happens to the store as well: the energy level increases and focuses on the customer, even while the staff continues to water or dead head.

At some point during her movement through the store, the customer will let some staff person know she’s ready for assistance. She will ask a question. Or, she will pose the opening “I have this area that I want to _______________ . Now you can ask some questions.

Here are some non-threatening possibilities: What colors do you like?

Do you have any favorite plants?

Is that deck area hot in the afternoon (or morning) or is it shady and pleasant?  What color is your deck furniture?  Do you want to dig holes and plant in the ground or would you like to start with something easier like some nice containers?  Do you want to dig holes and plant in the ground or would you like to start your vegetable garden in a raised bed?  Are you interested in learning more about gardening or do you want some easy color (in time for that barbecue)?  What time are your guests arriving for your barbecue?

All these are questions she can answer, questions that allow the staff to engage the customer in a non-threatening way.   

The “What time does the 3:00 o’clock parade start?” question is really a simple request to know what time the parade arrives where I and my family are standing along the route. And, that’s critical to the enjoyment of that (very expensive) experience. Our customer’s questions and the ones we use to gather information from them are equally as critical in enhancing our customer service brand and our customer’s loyalty to that brand.

Reprinted from Green Profit magazine. Copyright Growing Places Marketing 2013, by Judy Sharpton, Growing Places Marketing, 770-457-0608, judy@growingplaces.com

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Congratulations to these new 2014 Virginia Certified Horticulturist FirstName Shannon John Esteban Eddie Michael Marquette Henry Regina Jason Jonathan Michael Charles Celia Gabriel Ernesto Kate Shannon Taylor Angela Kevin Pat William April Yvonne Ginny Julie Tim Janice Matt Thomas Jason Megan Rollin James Sara Aaron Mark John Ian Aaron Greg 70

LastName Adams Arrington Asensio Baldree Berlin Brandon Bray Brydges Burger Butrico Carr Cassick Clark Clark Dovis Downey Doyle Duke Fink Foster Goff Grimes Hamilton Hansotte Hardman Hees Hess Hunter Jones Kelly Kennedy Lacey Larrick Lilley Marks McCann McGinnis McIntyre McKeown McNeil Moeller

CompanyName Associate ‐ Adams RSG Landscaping & Lawn Care Inc JW Townsend Inc Associate ‐ Baldree Shipp & Wilson Associate ‐ Brandon Lawns & Gardens Plus Inc Ruppert Landscape Associate ‐ Burger Foundry Landscapes Arborscapes LLC Ruppert Landscape Washington & Lee University Washington & Lee University JW Townsend Inc South Riding Nurseries Colesville Nursery Inc Associate ‐ Duke JW Townsend Inc RSG Landscaping & Lawn Care Inc Arborscapes LLC Associate ‐ Grimes Southern Landscape Group Inc Brookville High School Growing Habits Ruppert Landscape Southern Landscape Group Inc Associate ‐ Hunter Ruppert Landscape JW Townsend Inc Southern Landscape Group Inc Strange's JW Townsend Inc Lilley Farms & Nursery Inc Sunrise Landscape & Design Student ‐ Virginia Tech Campbell & Ferrara Nursery Inc Associate ‐ McIntyre State Gardens RSG Landscaping & Lawn Care Inc Colesville Nursery Inc April / May / June 2014

City Charlottesville Concord Charlottesville Virginia Beach Mechanicsville Lynchburg Virginia Beach Ashland Lynchburg Richmond Midlothian Mechanicsville Lexington Lexington Harrisonburg Chantilly Ashland Manassas Charlottesville Concord Powhatan Virginia Beach Evington Altavista Richmond Ashland Evington Scottsville Ashland Charlottesville Evington Henrico Charlottesville Chesapeake Sterling Arlington Alexandria Arlington Vienna Concord Ashland

State VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VNLA Newsletter

]

Congratulations to these new 2014 Virginia Certified Horticulturist FirstName Patrick Robert Kaitlyn Luke Owen Nicholas Clare Phillip Eric John Benjamin Stephen Joanne Brian Ken Heather Trey Harris Greg Rachel Aaron Billy

LastName O'Hagan Poindexter Poulter Puglia Randolph Roberts Robertson Rodes II Schimmel Scureman Shifflette Shrout Shumpert Sutton Trail Vail Watford Wheeler Whetzel Whitmore Williams Yuhase

CompanyName Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Southern Landscape Group Inc Lancaster Farms Inc JW Townsend Inc SG Designs Shipp & Wilson Inc Blue Skies Greenhouse James River Nurseries Lancaster Farms Inc Associate ‐ Scureman Chapel Valley Landscape Co Greenleaf Services, Inc. Landscape Design Associates James River Grounds Management RSG Landscaping & Lawn Care Inc Associate ‐ Vail Williams Landscape & Design Inc Wheeler's Landscaping Services Williams Landscape & Design Inc Chesterfield Technical Center Williams Landscape & Design Inc Associate ‐ Yuhase

City Richmond Evington Windsor Charlottesville Richmond Richmond Huddleston Ashland Suffolk Richmond Richmond Newport Great Falls Glen Allen Concord Stanardsville Williamsburg Richmond Williamsburg Chesterfield Williamsburg Powhatan

State VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA DE VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA VA

2014 List of VCH through 4/30/14

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News - HRAREC New Research Associates Mrinalini Nikrad Dr. Mrinalini Nikrad recently joined the Specialty Crop Research Initiative Project team as a postdoctoral associate at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Virginia Beach. Both her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees were completed at the University of Colorado. She received her Ph.D. in marine microbial ecology at the University of Delaware, where she studied the conversion of organic carbon into carbon dioxide gas by bacteria in the ocean. Her expertise is in applying molecular techniques to study microbes and their cycling of nutrients in aquatic environments. Dr. Nikrad is currently examining nitrifying microbes in nursery irrigation ponds.

The goal of her research is to determine whether ammonia in these ponds is converted to nitrates, a process which could be beneficial for plant growth. Overall, Dr. Nikrad is looking to understand microbial activity and function in recycled irrigation water to improve plant health, quality, and production.

wood blight development. These studies are housed in Dr. Baudoin’s lab in Blacksburg for easy access to the university growth chamber facility and infested fields in Carroll county, southwestern VA and for biosecurity reasons. His research will produce data essential for improving the current best management practices (BMP) protocols for boxwood blight and for developing and calibrating a disease forecasting model that will aid farmers, retailors, landscapers, historic garden managers and homeowners to use fungicide protection of their boxwood crops only when necessary.

Joining him to Virginia are his wife, Sharon, and two sons, Benjamin and Noah.

Provided by Dr. Chuan Hong, VA Tech HRAREC, chhong2@vt.edu

News - Mobile Weed Alert App PBI-Gordon Corporation has announced the availability of its new WeedAlert mobile app. The app provides enhanced mobile functionality and access to information from the WeedAlert.com online weed identification and control resource.

Herve Avenot Dr. Herve Avenot recently joined the boxwood blight research team at Virginia Tech as a Postdoctoral Associate. Herve was born in Libreville, Gabon, and received his PhD degree in Microbiology from the University of Angers (France) in 2005. He brought diverse research experience to the team. Herve worked as a Postdoctoral Associate (2006-2009) then Project Scientist (2012-2014) on the epidemiology, genetic basis, and management of fungicide resistance in fungal pathogens of nut (pistachio, almond, walnut) and fruit (grapes, pomegranate) crops at the University of California in Parlier. He also worked as a Postdoctoral Associate on the detection and molecular mechanisms of fungicide resistance in fungal pathogens causing significant damage to pecan, watermelon, peanut crops in the southeastern states and on the molecular epidemiology of gladiolus rust at the University of Georgia, Tifton and Griffin from 2009 to 2012. Herve will be conducting both growth chamber experiments and field studies to assess the impact of environmental factors on box72

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The WeedAlert mobile app features detailed color photos of more than 100 weeds, allowing turf professionals to search and identify weeds by name, appearance or region. Detailed information about each weed includes description, non-chemical cultural practices in how to control the weed, geographic coverage maps of where the weeds grow and when they are prevalent in the various growing zones, as well as herbicide use and recommended control products.

Help in identifying weeds.

Visit www.weedalert.com on your mobile device to download the app.

April / May / June 2014

April/May/June 2014

Provided by pbi/Gordon Corp

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Pender ad half page_VNLA pender half page ad 1/15/14 11:21 AM Pa

News – Virginia Agribusiness Events - Lewis Ginter Banquet & Town Hall Meeting Botanical Garden Programs for Seasoned Gardeners and Green Industry Professionals

Ad - Pender Nursery Ad – Pender Nursery

Looking for in-depth instruction? Try these programs aimed at individuals who want to expand their knowledge or freshen up what they learned in school.NEW AD Instructor: Dr. Douglas A. DeBerry, Research Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at the College of William and Mary. Supported in part by the Freas Foundation.

The course includes lecture, lab, and field practicum.

Attendees should come prepared for some “off-trail” hiking, rain or shine. Lunch is on your own.

en Industry Council members install plants and flowers for the Virginia Agribusiness Council Banquet.

Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes t) Lorene Blackwood, (l‐r) Bill Bonwell, Gwynn Hubbard, 2 Mondays, August 11 & 18, 9 am - 5 pm Peggy Seay, Cary Gouldin

Identification of grasses, sedges, and rushes is often perceived as one of the most difficult activities in the realm of botany. This is due to many factors, the most prominent of which are that grasses, sedges, and rushes (i.e., “the graminoids”) are usually small, narrowleaved plants with unassuming, diminutive flowers and they all look alike! Even more disconcerting, the “language” surrounding graminoid botany seems like an insurmountable pile of un-pronounceable Latin words with no end in sight. This course is for the disgruntled multitudes who would like to gain a better understanding of grass, sedge, and rush terminology, classification, nomenclature, and most importantly, James River Nurseries installing James River Nurseries installing plans identification.

In addition, thoseplants already proficient in and sod from Brookmeade Sod Farm and sod from Brookmeade Sod Farm plant identification will find this course to be a useful refresher.

Emphasis is on native or naturalized species in Virginia, and the use of dichotomous keys in technical plant manuals and regional floras. $150 / $128 member.

2 sessions = 16 hrs. GES: HL, 16 Virginia Certified Horticulturist = 16 CEUs Register at 804-262-9887or online at

http://www.lewisginter.org/events/event_detail.php?ev ent_id=1377

Town Hall meeting at Grelen Nurseries, Orange, VA

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VNLA Newsletter

January / February / March 2014 April / May / June 2014

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Upcoming Events July , 2014, Green Industry Professional Field Day & Trade Show American University 7:30 am - 2:30 pm 703-250-1368 greeenisdc@aol.com www.greenindustryseminar.org

September 12, 2014, WAYNESBORO PLANT HEALTH CARE FOR URBAN TREES WORKSHOP Best Western Inn & Conference Center, Waynesboro 540-942-6735 www.treesvirginia.org

July 22-24, 2014, (SNA) SOUTHERN NURSERY ASSOCIATION TRADE SHOW & PLANT CONFERENCE, Atlanta, www.sna.org mail@sna.org 678-809-9992

September 17-20, 2014, IPPS - EASTERN REGION ANNUAL CONFERENCE Niagra Falls, Ontario 631-765-9638, ippser@gmail.com www.ippseastern.org

July 30-31 2014, PANTS Trade Show Philadelphia, http://www.pantshow.com/ August 5-7, 2014, IGC EAST Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, MD lisa@IGCshow.com, 203-682-1664 August 13, 2014, VNLA LEAN SEMINAR, Blacksburg, VA info@vnla.org 800-476-0055 August 14, 2014, VNLA FIELD DAY, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg info@vnla.org 800-476-0055

January 14-16, 2015, MANTS Trade Show, Baltimore Convention Center, www.MANTS.com

August 15, 2014, VNLA SUMMER TOUR, Blacksburg Gardens & Riverbend Nursery, Riner info@vnla.org 800-476-0055

January 20-23, 2015, MIDATLANTIC HORTICULTURE SHORT COURSE, Newport News Marriott at City Center, www.mahsc.org

www.VirginiaChristmasTrees.org

If you are a VA Certified Horticulturist, order a Stamper from the VNLA Office for $65.95, includes tax and shipping

October 17-19, 2014, NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING, Virginia Beach www.vnps.org October 23-24, 2013, PLANET GIE_EXPO Kentucky exposition Center 800-558-8786 info@gie-expo.com www.gie-expo.com

August 13-14, 2014, VIRGINIA CHRISTMAS TREE GROWERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Winchester, VA

Do you need an official seal for your landscape plans?

For a Current Calendar of all Green Industry Events, go: http://virginiagreen.org/events.htm

540-382-7310

August 13-15, 2014, NCLA SUMMER GREEN ROAD SHOW Raleigh Convention Center, NC www.ncnla.com, 919-816-9119 August 26-27, 2014, TURFGRASS FIELD DAY at VIRGINIA TECH, vaturf@verizon.net

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VNLA Newsletter

VNLA Newsletter

Our plants are featured based on the characteristics for which they are most appreciated.

You will find the main feature of each plant listed on the top right corner of its tag.

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COLOR PICTURE TAGS WITH YOUR PRICE & SKU!

SHADE TREES

www.BloomingAndBeautiful.com

Prsrt. Std U.S. Postage PAID Blacksburg, VA Permit No. 107

Your Roots Are In Virginia!

383 Coal Hollow Rd. Christiansburg, VA 24073-6721

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