VNLA Letter from the President

The dog days of summer are here! Thank you to all who have renewed your 2025–2026 membership. As you take a break from the heat, read on about all the VNLA board and staff members are doing on your behalf to prepare for Field Day and more!

Field Day – We are looking forward to our 2025 Field Day, July 31, in Richmond! New this year we will be handing out VNLA swag, so make sure your www.vnla.org member profile is updated with your shirt size and VCH information. We want to recognize our sponsors who have committed as of this writing and thank Cross Creek Nursery and James River Nurseries for hosting us and all our micro-sessions, including:

• Entomology in the Greenhouse

• Entomology Update

• Equipment Demo

• Invasive Species Signage Updates

• More Than Payroll: Growing Your Business with Dominion Payroll

• Native Plant Alternatives to Some Common Invasive Plants in Virginia

• Potting Soil Science- the 101

• Soil disinfestation strategies without fumigation

• Soil Moisture Management

• Updates from the Office of Pesticides

• Using Soil-less Systems (Aquaponics and Hydroponics) for Enhanced Yields and Resource Efficiencies of Plant Production

• VCH Updates

• VSU Nourishing Bloom Buddies®: Companion planting with Edible Flowers, Herbs, and Vegetables using the VSU Foot Farming® Method

• Weed Management

• What Pollinators Really Want: Strategic Planting for Bees, Butterflies, and Beyond

We will then gather just down the road at James River Nurseries for our evening social, including federal, state and másLabor updates along with dinner and good cheer!

Field Day Tours – We also invite you to participate in our educational tours offered Friday, August 1. Thanks to industry partners for offering these great opportunities; tours will be offered at each location below from 9:00 am – 10:00 am and 10:30 am – 11:30 am!

• Colesville Nursery

• Hanover Farms

• James River Cellars

• Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

• Maymont

• The Gardener Nursery

• TreeDiaper Factory

Maymont and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will also be offering tours on Friday morning. Meet at Maymont for a tour from 9:00 am to 10:00 am and then make way to Lewis Botanical Garden for a tour from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. Each tour is $10.

Education – VNLA is increasing the branding of the VCH program by offering Virginia Certified Horticulturists a VCH logo polo and nametag. You also can purchase a stamp. To qualify for a polo, you must be an active VCH holder, meaning you’re up-to-date on your VCH. You also must update your desired polo cut and size. Register and attend Field Day, July 31, and you can pick up your VCH polo and nametag!

Government Affairs – VNLA is spending the summer engaging with several workgroups on your behalf, including the invasive species working group, subcommittee on signage, Migrant Labor Camp workgroup reviewing and revising regulations, as well as preparing for the 2026 General Assembly Session. The VNLA are also monitoring federal activity which recently passed with

expanded equipment deductions, R&D expensing restored and support for workforce development through credential funding. Note the threshold for issuing 1099s has also been raised from $600 to $2,000. VNLA and other trade associations also benefited from the elimination of the nonprofit parking tax and removal of royalty income tax.

Finally, we are pleased to share the news that AmericanHort is now offering educational training in Spanish to better serve our industry’s bilingual workforce! VNLA is equally working toward offering the VCH study materials and exam in Spanish. We are committed to meeting the needs of our industry while providing professional development for all.

Thank you for your support of VNLA! Remember to visit www.vnla.org to renew your membership, update your member profile and register for Field Day! See you then!

Warner Winthrop

VNLA President