The Scoop Online - February 2020

DAY ON THE HILL

PESTICIDE DRIFT, PT. 2

CLIENT BUDGETS

BLIGHT-RESISTANT CHESTNUTS? ALSO INSIDE:

SUSTAINABILITY MAKES SENSE

PLUS:

LEAVE IT TO THE BEAVERS

feb 2020 n v43 n2

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E M I N N E S OTA N U R S E RY & L A N DS C A P E A SS OC I AT I ON

ET V SA

HE

T E! A D

2020 SPRING EDUCATION EXPO Thursday, February 20, 2020

BRIGHT IDEAS FOR

2020 • Attend seminars to learn from vendors and experts • Find out about new products and plant material • 2020 catalogs available • Order your 2020 products and receive early order pricing

Meet with industry partners during the trade show and enjoy a FREE lunch!

WHEN:

Thursday, February 20, 2020 from 8:00am-3:30pm

WHERE: Mystic Lake Casino, Grand Ballroom 2400 Mystic Lake Boulevard | Prior Lake, MN 55372 RSVP:

Call us at 651-450-0277, ext. 1486.

5500 Blaine Ave. | Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076 651.450.0277 | gertenswholesale.com

WHOLESALE NURSERY & HARDSCAPES

Your Trusted Partner

2020 GREEN INDUSTRY DAY ON THE HILL Wednesday, March 4th

Join green industry professionals from around the state for a day of information-sharing and advocacy!

Our Day on the Hill is a critical opportunity for YOU to build relationships with elected officials and raise awareness about issues impacting your business, workforce, and the industry as a whole.

Members of MNLA’s Government Affairs Team and Day on the Hill veterans will guide you through the day’s events, helping foster connections between attendees and ensuring you’re prepared for successful legislative meetings.

Event Schedule:

Best Western Plus Capitol Ridge (formerly Kelly Inn) • 8:00-8:30 – Check-in & Complimentary Continental Breakfast • 8:30-9:20 – Issue & Advocacy Orientation • 9:20-9:45 – Team Breakout Sessions Capitol Complex, Senate & State Office Buildings • 9:45-4:00 – Meetings with your elected officials

Be sure to register by this year’s deadline – Friday, February 21st!

Registrations can be submitted electronically by visiting the Day on the Hill event page on the MNLA.biz event calendar.

We look forward to advocating alongside you to grow results in government affairs!

Thanks to our MNLA Government Affairs Program Sponsor:

feb 2020 n v43 n2

26 43

8 Events 31

10 What is an Association Health Plan?

Executive Director Larson explores what the possibilities might be for MNLA.

20 MNLA Board of Directors 37

12

Let’s Drift Apart, Part 2 Dr. Hannah Mathers explains the importance of the applicator understanding

Election results for 2020 announced.

28 Grow Your Business with MNLA Day on the Hill Help advance MNLA’s legislative agenda, which in turn helps your business!

all conditions as well as risks.    

18

Are Blight-Resistant American Chestnuts Possible?

Thanks to transgenic research they are, but Dr. Calkins explains that the

43 Sales Tax Guidance Helpful fact sheets and industry guides from the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

endeavor is not without controversy.    

26

Leave it to the Beavers Faith Appelquist tips her hat to the largest rodent in North America.  

44 MNLA Awards Brad Pederson and Craig Regelbrugge were honored during last month’s Green Industry Awards Celebration.

31

Six Reasons Your Client Says, “I Don’t Have the Budget” & 14 Ways to Get It When you’re told there’s no budget what should you do? Andrew Sobel

46 Looking Back on 2019 Highlights from MNLA’s electronic communications.

recommends these 14 strategies.    

37

Sustainability Makes Sense

47 Partner with the MNLA Foundation Explore various ways you can support the MNLA

Sean James explains how landscape pros have all the tools needed to align

Foundation including scholarships, events, and

environmental action with prosperity.   

workforce development.

 Landscape & Hardscape Install & Design  Garden Services & Landscape Mgmt  Garden Centers  Growers: Nursery & Greenhouse  Irrigation & Water Mgmt  Arborists & Tree Services  All

Cover photo: iStock.com/merc67. Table of Contents Images: Top Left: iStock.com/SylvieBouchard . Middle: iStock.com/Vladimir Obradovic.

Bottom: Heike Stippler.

february 20 MNLA.BIZ

5

DIRECTORY

feb 2020 n v43 n2

MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION Successful Businesses Grow Here!

1813 Lexington Ave. N., Roseville, MN 55113 651-633-4987 • Fax: 651-633-4986 Outside the metro area, toll free: 888-886-MNLA, Fax: 888-266-4986 www.MNLA.biz • www.NorthernGreen.org Mission: The mission of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is to help members grow successful businesses.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tim Malooly, CID, CLIA, CIC, President Water in Motion 763-559-7771 • timm@watermotion.com Randy Berg, Vice-President Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 • randy@bergsnursery.com Matt Mallas, Secretary-Treasurer Hedberg Supply 763-512-2849 • mmallas@hedbergaggregates.com Faith Appelquist, MNLA-CP Tree Quality LLC 612-618-5244 • faith@treequality.com Patrick McGuiness Zlimen & McGuiness PLLC (651) 331-6500 • pmcguiness@zmattorneys.com Mike McNamara Hoffman & McNamara Nursery & Landscaping 651-437-9463 • mike.mcnamara@hoffmanandmcnamara.com John O’Reilly Otten Bros. Garden Center and Landscaping 952-473-5425 • j.oreilly@ottenbros.com Jeff Pilla, MNLA-CP Professional Turf, Inc. (Proturf) 952-469-8680 • jeff@professionalturf.com Nick Sargent, MNLA-CP Sargent’s Landscape Nursery, Inc. 507-289-0022 • njsargent@sargentsgardens.com Cassie Larson, CAE MNLA Executive Director 651-633-4987 • cassie@mnla.biz STAFF DIRECTORY Executive Director: Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz Membership Director & Trade Show Manager: Mary Dunn, CEM • mary@mnla.biz Communications Dir.: Jon Horsman, CAE • jon@mnla.biz Education/Cert. Manager: Susan Flynn • susan@mnla.biz Government Affairs Dir: Forrest Cyr • forrest@mnla.biz Regulatory Affairs Manager: Jim Calkins • jim@mnla.biz Accountant: Kris Peterson • kris@mnla.biz Foundation Program Coordinator: Paulette Sorenson • paulette@mnla.biz Administrative Assistant: Lora Sondrol • lora@mnla.biz Advertising Sales: 952-934-2891 / 763-295-5420 Faith Jensen, Advertising Rep • faith@pierreproductions.com Betsy Pierre, Advertising Mgr • betsy@pierreproductions.com Legislative Affairs Consultant: Doug Carnival

6

MNLA.BIZ february 20

Albert J. Lauer, Inc. .............................................................................. 42 Anderson Nurseries, Inc. ..................................................................... 9 Aspen Equipment .................................................................................. 9 Bachman's Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes ............................... 3 Central Landscape Supply ................................................................ 43 COWSMO, INC. ......................................................................................... 9 CST Distributors ................................................................................... 29 Cushman Motor Co. Inc ...................................................................... 29 Davey Twin Cities Wood Products ................................................... 30 Edney Distributing Co., Inc. ............................................................... 15 Fahey Sales Agency, Inc. ..................................................................... 36 Frost Inc ................................................................................................. 43 Fury Motors ........................................................................................... 17 Gertens Wholesale & Professional Turf Supply ............................. 2 Glacial Ridge Growers ......................................................................... 11 Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies ..................................... 33 Jeff Belzer Chevrolet ..................................................................... 24–25 Klaus Nurseries .................................................................................... 33 Maguire Agency .................................................................................... 33 Monroe Truck Equipment .................................................................. 35 Out Back Nursery ................................................................................. 41 Plaisted Companies .............................................................................. 7 Rock Hard Landscape Supply ........................................................... 36 SMSC Organics Recycling Facility ..................................................... 11 The Resultants ..................................................................................... 15 The Tessman Company ....................................................................... 41 Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. .......................................................................... 45 Truck Utilities, Inc. ............................................................................... 36 United Label & Sales ........................................................................... 11 Versa-Lok Midwest .............................................................................. 39 Wolf Motors ........................................................................................... 41 Ziegler CAT ............................................................................. Back Cover

UPCOMING

FEB

14



MNLA CERTIFICATION EXAM Sit for the exam to become an MNLA Certified Professional in 2020. Additional date: February 21.

MNLA Office, Roseville ➽ MNLA.biz

FEB

25



HOT LEGAL TOPICS AND SALES TAX UPDATE Join us for an update on recent changes in the legal landscape. We’ll also be discussing best practices for sales and use tax. A must attend for green industry business owners and managers!

MNLA Classroom, Roseville, MN ➽MNLA.biz

FEB

28



SMALL ENGINE 101 In this hands-on class, you will learn the basic elements of a small engine. Save money and time knowing how to keep your equipment running top-notch.

St. Paul ➽ MNLA.biz

MAR

04



GREEN INDUSTRY DAY ON THE HILL This a great opportunity for YOU to build relationships with elected officials and raise awareness about issues impacting your business, workforce, and the green industry.

St. Paul ➽ MNLA.biz

MAR

05



GREENHOUSE IPM AND BIOCONTROL PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION WORKSHOP This workshop is geared to greenhouse growers, applicators, and managers.

Midland Hills Country Club, Roseville ➽MNLA.biz

MAR

06



MNLA CERTIFICATION EXAM Sit for the exam to become an MNLA Certified Professional in 2020. Additional dates: March 20 & 27.

MNLA Office, Roseville ➽ MNLA.biz

MAR

18 –19



iStock.com/rruntsch

PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP Prepare for the Category A & E Pesticide Applicator Certification Exam by attending this 1-1/2 day study program. Day 2 includes testing provided by the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture. Also offered on April 7-8 in Roseville.

New Brighton Community Center, New Brighton ➽ MNLA.biz

MAR

23



OSHA CHAINSAW & CONCRETE SAW SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE SEMINAR – ENGLISH AND SPANISH This half-day seminar (English in the morning/Spanish in the afternoon) covers OSHA rules and regulations regarding protective clothing, safety features, starting procedures,

The Scoop, February 2020, Issue 2, is issued monthly,

operating procedures and productivity, maintenance, chain sharpening, and more.

12 times per year. All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery &

MAR

24

Landscape Association, 2020, and may not be used without written permission of MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave



N., Roseville, MN 55113. Subscription price is $99 for one

MASTERING FOREMANSHIP TRAINING In this dynamic seminar, foreman learn how to more effectively handle tight deadlines, tight margins and increase customer satisfaction. ➽MNLA.biz

year, which is included with member dues. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Scoop, MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113.

2020 MNLA seminars

Editorial Contributions. You are invited to share your

generously supported by:

expertise and perspective. Article ideas and manuscripts should, whenever possible, reflect real and specific experiences. When submitting an article, please contact

Business

 Skills Training

 Networking

Leadership Development

General

the publisher at jon@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987. MNLA



reserves the right to edit all Scoop content.

➽Information on industry events: MNLA.biz/events. Free member-only videos: MNLA.biz/OnlineEducation.

8

MNLA.BIZ february 20



MINNESOTA’S WESTERN PLOW DEALER NETWORK SNOW PLOWS SPREADERS PARTS SERVICE DEALER LOCATOR For the dealer near you call:

877-888-9215

www.westerndealers.com

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Is an Association Health Plan (AHP) the Right Fit for MNLA Members?

Cassie Larson

MNLA Executive Director

For years, in surveys and conversations, MNLA members have asked the association to help with health insurance options — stating this as one of their top priorities for the association.

As a result, staff continues to keep a pulse on what may be

available in this area to assist members with operating their businesses more successfully. Several options have come and gone as possible solutions, but none have ever presented a cost savings over what is available in the market-at-large.

Recently, Association Health Plans (AHPs) have been gaining some traction and are indeed offering cost savings for some businesses. We have been watching and doing research to see if this might be a viable path forward for MNLA to offer a new health insurance program its members.

What is an AHP? AHPs are created in Minnesota when two or more employers come together to form an entity that offers health insurance benefits to its employees. These employers participate in the governance of both the association and the health plan it offers. In MNLA’s case, the association already exists and therefore, we would only be considering the addition of a health plan. AHPs provide health insurance under the large employer health insurance regulations and must follow federal requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

AHPs must also follow Minnesota laws that regulate Multi-Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs). The Minnesota Department of Commerce has created a fact sheet that describes AHPs in further detail and can be

found here on their website: http://bit.ly/35zkSVf. In an effort to find out more about the potential this could hold, MNLA staff met with both the Minnesota Credit Union Network, as well as Housing First (formerly the Builders Association of the Twin Cities). Both groups recently (in the last few months) launched AHPs for their associations. Both associations described the process for forming an AHP as a lengthy one, involving member demographic surveys, shopping of the results to insurance companies, and garnering commitment from member firms to participate. However, both associations are excited about the prospects and the plans that have been created and say it was worth the effort, even though results are yet to be determined.

Next Steps So, what’s the next step for MNLA? While it may or may not ultimately result in formation of an AHP, the MNLA Board of Directors has recommended that the association continue to pursue more information and research the options available including the formation of a task team to gather information and make recommendations on how best to move forward. Do you or someone in your company have expertise on this topic? We’d love to hear from you and have your participation in this important initiative.

Please reach out to me via e-mail or phone to learn more about how to get involved.

➽ MNLA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CASSIE LARSON can be reached at 651-633-4987 or cassie@mnla.biz.

10

MNLA.BIZ february 20

NEW 6” WIDE PRINTING

nativE Plants MN Dept of Ag. approved plant production “pollinator friendly”

Wildflowers, Grasses, Sedges, Rushes & Ferns

Wholesale native plants in 4” pots or economy plugs for larger projects.

NeW! Some of our natives will now be available in jumbo square pots throughout the growing season.

All native plants are tagged and bar-coded for retail sales.

WHOlEsalE

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Annuals, Baskets, Herbs, Vegetable Plants & Certified Organic Plants also available.

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Special order perennial 32 count trays are also available.

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All of our plants are produced with sustainable, bee-friendly practices.

Greenhouse 25132 250th Ave. Glenwood, MN 56334 Phone: 320.634.0136 Fax: 320.634.3931 email: glacridgegrowers@aol.com Website: www.glacialridgegrowers.com

Early OrdEr discOunts cOntact us fOr a frEE catalOg

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HERBICIDE DRIFT

12

MNLA.BIZ february 20

DRIFT Let’s

APART:

Reducing Herbicide Drift Hannah Mathers, PhD, Mathers Environmental Science Services, LLC

PART 2. VAPOR PRESSURE, VOLATILITY, AND THERMAL INVERSIONS. Unlike most other types of product labels, pesticide labels are legally enforceable, and all of them carry the statement: “It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling” (USA EPA, 2017). In other words, the label is the law.

Bailey Nurseries, Inc.

The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) (WSSA, 2019) provides a summary of

Herbicide Site(s) of Action (SoA) as a number classification system with SoA. Since the class 4 - Synthetic auxins (WSSA) have been the primary group in recent years causing drift related to volatility issues this will be the main group discussed in this Part 2 of the series.

SoA is the specific process in plants that the herbicide disrupts to interfere with plant growth and development. The SoA is the most important aspect of herbicides when dealing with prevention and control of herbicide resistant weeds; therefore, WSSA recently changed their classification system to specify SoA from mode of action (MoA). However, to understand how an herbicide causes damage, and potentially causes drift injury, MoA is the more important classification. Herbicides with the same MoA will have the same translocation (movement) pattern and produce similar injury symptoms. Selectivity on crops and weeds, behavior in the soil and use patterns are less predictable, however, they are often similar for the same MoA. february 20 MNLA.BIZ

13

Volatile herbicides Many consider the Group 4 herbicides to be volatile. Volatility is directly related to a substance’s vapor pressure. Vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by a vapor in thermodynamic equilibrium with its condensed phases (solid or liquid) at a given temperature in a closed system. At a given temperature, a substance with higher vapor pressure vaporizes more readily than a substance with a lower vapor pressure. A vapor pressure of 3.75 X 10-3 mm Hg or 4.5 mPa at 25°C is characterized as a moderately volatile compound (Bunch & Gervais, 2012). 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (Table 1) is probably the most commonly known Group 4 herbicide in the world.

It was also the first herbicide developed being first described in 1941. The straight acid form of 2, 4-D has a vapor pressure of 1.4 X10-7 mm Hg @ 25°C and thus has low volatility. The 2-ethylhexyl ester is more volatile than the straight acid, but not close 14

MNLA.BIZ february 20

Hannah Mathers

Group 4 herbicides – Synthetic auxin herbicides Any Group 4 MoA will express in the plant with multi-directional movement and systemic effects. Growth inhibition of roots and to a greater extent of shoots, which appears as a clumping of growth (Fig. 1) with decreased internode elongation and loss of apical dominance (Fig. 1) are common. Concomitantly, reductions in stomatal aperture, transpiration and carbon assimilation occur leading to reduced growth long-term (Cobb, 1992; Devine et al., 1993; Grossman et al., 1998 and Sterling and Hall, 1997). These phenomena are followed by accelerated and premature foliar senescence with chloroplast damage and progressive chlorosis and by the destruction of membrane and vascular system integrity, leading to desiccation, localized tissue death (necrosis) and plant death.

In part one of this series we discussed the EPA definition of spray drift as, “the physical movement of pesticide droplets or particles through the air at the time of pesticide application or soon thereafter from the target site to any non- or off-target site.”

Further to this definition, drift can be defined as “primary drift” and/or “secondary drift.” Primary is the active ingredient itself moving and depositing off-target. However, secondary is, “off-site movement of the active ingredient through the air after — droplets have been deposited on water or dust. The most common form of secondary drift is vapor drift, caused by volatile herbicides.

Hannah Mathers

HERBICIDE DRIFT

Fig. 1. A and B. A. (left) Growth inhibition of shoots and loss of apical dominance due to growing point death which appears as a clumping of growth on Quercus. B. (right) loss of apical dormancy and loss of turgor reducing leaf expansion growth.

to being classified as even moderately volatile with a vapor pressure of 1.82 X 10-5 mm Hg @ 20°C. The 2,4-D n-butyl ester (BE) or 2,4-D BE, which is no longer manufactured, was the form that was combined with the n-butyl ester of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) to make the notorious herbicide used in Vietnam, Agent Orange. The bigger problem with Agent Orange, of course, was that the 2,4,5-T was contaminated with TCDD. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, or dioxin) (Zimdahl, 2010). While there are many dioxins, 2,3,7,8-TCDD is the most potent of them all (Lah, 2011). 2,4-D (BE) with a vapor pressure of 5.29 Pa X10-2 or 5.29 X 103 mPa. Since 5.29 X 103 is considerably larger than 4.5 mPa, we know the 2,4-D BE today would be considered excessively volatile, or capable of volatilizing from soil and crop surfaces and by Henry’s Law volatile from water bodies (Qurratu and Reehan, 2016). The take home here is the form that the herbicide is manufactured in, salt, acid, ester, amine, and even the form of the ester, is relevant to volatility of the herbicide. In the case of 2,4-D it is not enough to say it was a 2,4-D containing herbicide, we need to know the form of the 2,4-D. Dicamba is another Group 4 herbicide (Table 1) in a different chemical family from 2,4-D but still in the same MoA. Dicamba has a vapor pressure of 4.5 mPa at 25°C and is characterized as a moderately volatile compound (Bunch & Gervais, 2012). The degree that dicamba volatilizes is dependent (as with 2,4-D) on several factors including the amount applied, atmospheric temperature, atmospheric humidity, chemical formulation, and surface upon which it was

applied and of course the formulation (Hartzler, 2017). The dimethylated salt of dicamba is considered more volatile than the newer sodium salt form, or the diglycolamine formulation (Hartzler, 2017). Egan and Mortensen (2012) found that when the volatile dimethylamine formulation was applied, vapor drift could be detected at mean concentrations of 0.56g ae/ha (0.1% of the applied rate) at 21 meters (m) away from a treated 18.3 X 18.3 m plot. Considering the amount of drift from this 334.89 m2 plot consider the potential drift from an application to 20 acres (80937.13 m2), i.e. it would produce a 241.68 times greater magnitude of drift.

In a study by Egan and Mortensen (2012), applying the diglycolamine formulation of dicamba vs the dimethylated amine reduced vapor drift by 94.0%. Consider, in any situation where a sensitive crop (or area) is in close proximity always use the formulation that has the least volatility. What constitutes “close proximity to a sensitive crop” — may surprise you. Realistically, if the sensitive crop is within ½ mile (2640 ft.) of the target field, common sense would suggest it might not be advisable to apply a volatile herbicide to that field (Successful Farming, 2018). Additionally, in a study by Behrens and Lueschen (1979), the dimethylamine formulation of dicamba, was detected 3 days after the application, and the vapors caused symptoms 60 m downwind of the treated area. The extent and severity of vapor drift is significantly correlated with air temperature and surface texture with more volatilization from a coarse soil (Behrens and Lueschen, 1979). Volatilization injury from dicamba is known to increase as temperatures rise from 59 to 86° F, with no

increase in injury at above 86° F (Behrens and Lueschen, 1979). Thus, the rise to 85° F was ideal for maximum volatility. The greater the volatility of the herbicide, and the greater the species sensitivity to that herbicide, the greater the potential for injury from secondary drift. In addition to high temperatures, low humidity during application also increases secondary drift.

Temperature inversion a problem with volatile herbicides.

Warmer air temperatures near the earth’s surface allow volatile compounds to dissipate into the upper air levels. The problem with an inversion scenario — where cold air is trapped near the earth’s surface — is that it is very stable. The air is not mixing, any particles suspended in the air, stay suspended in the air. Later if a horizontal wind gust happens, those suspended herbicide particles, will move — like smog in a city. What causes a thermal inversion to occur, near the ground, is when air is cooled by contact with a colder surface until it becomes cooler than the overlying atmosphere; this occurs most often on clear nights, when the ground cools off rapidly by radiation. If the temperature of surface air drops below its dew point, fog generally results. Topography greatly affects the magnitude of ground inversions. If the land is rolling or hilly, the cold air formed on the higher land surfaces tends to drain into the hollows, producing a larger and thicker inversion above low ground and little or none above higher elevations.

Thermal inversions are known to change spray droplet velocity and trajectory and consequently the distance droplets will travel (drift) (Dexter, 1995). Thermal inversions can start at 6 p.m. and continued until 7 p.m.

The wind has died usually at this time and many will think this is a good time to apply herbicides -— but it is not!!

Conclusion Many labels of group 4 herbicide contain language that reads, “If applying at wind speeds less than 3 mph, the applicator must determine if: a) conditions of temperature inversion exist, or b) stable atmospheric conditions exist at or below nozzle height. Do not make applications into areas of temperature inversions or stable atmospheric conditions.”

“Avoid making applications when spray particles may be carried by air currents to areas where sensitive plants are growing, or when temperature inversions exist. Do not spray february 20 MNLA.BIZ

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HERBICIDE DRIFT

Table 1. Six chemical families included in the synthetic auxin mode of action (MoA) WSSA Group 4 herbicides. Pyrimidine carboxylic acid was discovered by DuPont™ Crop Protection (Finkelstein et al., 2008). (Compiled from various sources including Zimdahl, 2018). Some sources place aryl aliphatic acid and benozic acid in the same family.

Grossmann, K. 1998. Quinclorac belongs to a new

class of highly selective auxin herbicides. Weed Sci. 46, 707–716.

Grossman, K. 2000. Mode of action of auxin

herbicides: a new ending to a long, drawn out story.

Synthetic Auxin – WSSA Group 4 Mode of Action Chemical Family

Active Ingredient

Trends in Plant Science 5(12): 506-508.

Aryl aliphatic acid

Halauxifen

Hartzler, R. 2017. Factors influencing dicamba

Benozic acid

Dicamba

Phenoxyacetic acid

2,4-D

volatility. Iowa State University Extension. https:// crops.extension.iastate.edu/blog/bob-hartzler/fac-

tors-influencing-dicamba-volatility. Last accessed:

MCPA

May 8, 2019.

2,4,5 T (banned most uses 1970; all uses 1985) Pyridine Carboxylic acid

Picloram (contamination with HCB reduced to 200 ppm

Lah, K. 2011. 2,4,5-T Overview. Toxipedia website. https://www.healthandenvironment.org/docs/Toxipedia2,4,5-TArchive.pdf. Last visited: 09/22/2018.

1985) Lontrel®

Milbrath, M., Y. Wenger, C. Chang, C. Emond, D.

Garabrant, B. Gillespie, O. Jolliet. 2009. Apparent

Triclopyr

half-lives of dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated

Aminopyralid Pyrimidine Carboxylic acid

Aminocyclopyralid

Quinoline carboxylic acid

Quinclorac

biphenyls as a function of age, body fat, smoking status, and breast feeding. Environ. Health Perspect. 117 (3), 417–425.

Qurratu, A. and A. Reehan. 2016. A Review of

“

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D) Derivatives: 2,4-D Dimethylamine Salt and 2,4-D Butyl Ester.

AS STATED IN PART ONE OF THIS SERIES, PESTICIDE LAW IS VERY CLEAR: THE APPLICATOR, OR THE LICENSED APPLICATOR SUPERVISING THE APPLICATION, IS ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CHEMICAL BEING APPLIED; IDENTIFYING AND ELIMINATING POTENTIAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH APPLICATIONS.

near sensitive plants if wind is gusty or in excess of 5 mph and moving in the direction of adjacent sensitive plants”…“Coarse sprays are less likely to drift out of the target area than fine sprays.” As stated in part one of this series, pesticide law is very clear: the applicator, or the licensed applicator supervising the application, is always responsible for understanding the chemical being applied; identifying and eliminating potential risks associated with applications. These risks include the vapor pressure of the chemical and formulation you are applying, the volatility as affected by temperature, humidity, etc., and atmospheric conditions such as thermal inversions and more to be discussed in part three.

Literature cited: Behrens, R. and W. Lueschen. 1979. Dicamba

volatility. Weed Science 27:486-493. doi:10.1017/ S0043174500044453 16

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”

Bunch, T. R; Gervais, J. A.; Buhl, K.; Stone, D. 2012.

Dicamba Technical Fact Sheet; National Pesti-

cide Information Center, Oregon State University

Extension Services.. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/ archive/dicamba_tech.html.

Cobb, A., Ed. 1992. Auxin-type herbicides. In Herbicides and Plant Physiology, pp. 82–106, Chapman & Hall.

Dexter, A.G. 1995. Herbicide spray drift. North Dakota State University Extension Service EXT-A-657.

Devine, M. et al., Eds. 1993. Physiology of Herbi-

International Journal of Applied Engineering Research 11:9946-9955.

Senseman, S.S. (Editor). 2007. Herbicide Handbook. Ninth edition. Weed Science Society of America (WSSA). Lawrence, KS.

Smith, J. 1979. EPA halts most use of herbicide 2,4,5-T. March 1979. Science 2003:1090-1091.

Stellman, J.M., S.D. Stellman, R. Christian, T. Weber, C. Tomasallo. 2003. The extent and patterns of usage of Agent Orange and other herbicides

in Vietnam. Nature 422:681–687. http://dx.doi.

org/10.1038/nature01537

Sterling, T.M. and Hall, J.C. 1997. Mechanism of

action of natural auxins and the auxinic herbicides.

In Herbicide Activity: Toxicology, Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology (Roe, R.M. et al., Eds), pp.

111–141, IOS Press, Amsterdam.

Zimdahl, R.L. 2010. First edition. Elsevir. Burling-

ton, MA.

Zimdahl, R.L. 2018. Fundamentals of weed science.

Fifth edition. Academic Press. San Diego, CA.

cide Action, Prentice Hall.

Egan, J. F. and D.A. Mortensen. 2012. Quantifying vapor drift of dicamba herbicides applied to

soybean. Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry.

31:1023-1031.

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RESEARCH FOR THE REAL WORLD

Am

iStock.com/CherriesJD

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merican

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THANKS TO TRANSGENIC RESEARCH, BLIGHT-RESISTANT AMERICAN CHESTNUTS ARE POSSIBLE, BUT NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. Dr. James Calkins MNLA Foundation Research Information Director

RESEARCH FOR THE REAL WORLD

rior to 1900, the American chestnut (Castanea dentata), a member of the beech family (Fagaceae), was the dominant tree in eastern forests from Maine and southern Ontario (Canada) to Florida and west to the Ohio River valley accounting for 25% (and in some regions as much as 30–50%) of all the hardwood trees within the range of American chestnut (an estimated population of 4 billion trees). American chestnut was also commonly planted in designed landscapes both in and outside its native range as a shade tree and for its wildlife value. The stately trees grew to heights of 100 feet or more (up to 160 feet) with straight trunks that measured up to eight feet in diameter and was an important species commercially for its edible nuts and attractive, rot-resistant lumber, as a landscape species, and for its value as a reliable food source for wildlife in native ecosystems (nut crops were generally produced every year). The nuts were used as food for both people and livestock and the wood was used for just about anything that was constructed of wood including furniture, utility poles, wood flooring, musical instruments, railroad ties, and caskets, and most barns and homes east of the Mississippi River that were built between 1600 and 1900 were constructed from American chestnut lumber. But that was before the effects of the accidental, and very unfortunate introduction of the pathogenic fungus that causes chestnut blight to North America — Cryphonectria parasitica (formerly Endothia parasitica), a devastating fungus that colonizes the inner bark and cambium and causes expanding, deadly cankers on the trunks, stems, and shoots of American chestnut trees of all ages – began to appear. Thus far, no inherent resistance to the disease has been found in American chestnut populations.

First detected and reported in 1904 when diseased American chestnut trees were observed by a forester in New York City in the New York Zoological Park (now the Bronx Zoo), it is believed that the fungus was introduced on Japanese chestnut trees imported as nursery stock from Asia sometime in the late 1800s.

Following its introduction and initial establishment, the disease spread rapidly, and chestnut blight has subsequently devastated the American chestnut population throughout its native range and, although not yet extirpated, the species has been classified as “functionally extinct” by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) since 1950. In his well-known Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their

NEWS & NOTES

20

MNLA.BIZ february 20

Figure 3. A young Am (Castanea dentata) t American chestnut b parasitica); note the canker surrounding a blighted side branch the canker that will e and kill the stem abo ultimately the entire

MNLA Board of Directors Election Results

Program Irrigation

the Irrigation

Berg graduated from

Member of the Year.

Partner of the Year and,

Association Board of

Duluth Area Technical

He is a past chair of the

in 2003 he was awarded

Directors and as

College with a degree

MNLA Communications

Tim Malooly, owner of

the MNLA Committee

treasurer on the MNLA

in horticulture and

& Technology and

Irrigation by Design

Member of the Year. He

Board of Directors.

landscape design and

Garden Center

and Water in Motion,

is currently the chair of

Randy Berg owner of

received his MNLA

Committees and has

was elected president

the MNLA Government

Berg’s Nursery,

certification in 1981

served as treasurer on

of the Minnesota

Affairs Committee and

Landscapers/Garden

and became an APLD

the MNLA Board of

Nursery & Landscape

is a past chair of the

Center, was elected

Certified Landscape

Directors. Nick Sargent

Association. In 2008,

MNLA Irrigation

vice president of the

Designer in 1997. In

was re-elected to the

Malooly was named

Industry Committee.

Minnesota Nursery &

2018, he was awarded

MNLA Board of

the EPA Water Sense

He has also served on

Landscape Association.

the MNLA Committee

Directors. He is the

James Calkins

James Calkins Linda Haugen, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

merican chestnut tree infected by blight (Cryphonectria e distinct, orange a small dead, h in the center of eventually girdle ove the canker and e stem.

Figure 1. An American chestnut (Castanea dentata) leaf showing its characteristic shape and distinctive teeth that are responsible for the specific epithet dentata (Latin for toothed); the emerging leaves are light green and lustrous with a reddish-purple tinge and long-pointed tips, becoming dark green as they mature.

Figure 2. American chestnut (Castanea dentata) fruits, catkin remnants, and leaves; American chestnut trees are monecious (male and female flowers produced on the same plant) and produce flowers on two types of catkins after the leaves emerge in the spring — catkins that produce only male flowers that bloom first, and catkins that produce male flowers along most of their length and several female flowers near their bases.

Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses, Dr. Michael Dirr describes American chestnut as “the queen of American forest trees” that has been “reduced to a memory” by chestnut blight. Today, scattered stumps that produce sprouts are all that remain of this iconic species, but the young stems are soon attacked by the fungus and never reach reproductive maturity, so seeds are never produced and the species is no longer self-sustaining. Although less susceptible, Castanea pumila (synonym Castanea alnifolia; Allegheny chinquapin/chinkapin, American chinquapin/chinkapin, or dwarf chestnut), a much smaller tree or large shrub (attaining maximum heights of only 30 feet) that is native to the eastern and southeastern United States from southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania to northern Florida and west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma, is also vulnerable to attack by the chestnut blight fungus.

Breeding and selection efforts have variously focused on the development of American and hybrid chestnut trees that are resistant to chestnut blight for decades with varying degrees of success, but no final solution.

Although traditional breeding and selection efforts continue, genetic engineering has received increasing attention as a method of developing blight resistant

chestnut trees in recent years. A prominent example is the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project (https://www.esf.edu/chestnut/), a nonprofit organization housed in the College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) at the State University of New York, whose goal is to reintroduce resistant American chestnut trees into forest ecosystems in New York and the rest of the eastern United States, and ultimately restore American chestnut to its native range in North America, has been pursuing the development of blight resistant trees using genetic engineering techniques. Interestingly, and although other species of chestnuts (Castanea spp.), specifically Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima; native to China, Taiwan, and the Korean peninsula) and Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata; also called Korean chestnut; native to Japan and South Korea), have genetic resistance to chestnut blight and have been used in breeding efforts to develop resistant chestnut trees with characteristics that are similar to the revered American chestnut, the gene that has been used to successfully confer blight resistance to American chestnut trees by ESF researchers comes from wheat (Triticum aestivum). Cryphonectria parasitica is an oxalate-producing fungal pathogen and the oxalic acid generated by the chestnut blight fungus

owner of Sargent’s

the MNLA Networking

Zlimen & McGuiness,

planning task team. He

McNamara, Hoffman

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PLLC in St. Paul, Minn.

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and McNamara

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Nursery & Landscape;

holds a Bachelor of

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2007, focuses on

at-large member of

Jeff Pilla, Professional

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Turf, Inc., John O’Reilly,

the University of

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Minnesota, Carlson

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Nick is a past chair and

Patrick is an attorney

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Faith Appelquist, Tree

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Quality.

➽ CONT'D on page 43

february 20 MNLA.BIZ

21

RESEARCH FOR THE REAL WORLD

weakens cell walls and creates an environment that allows other fungal enzymes to degrade cell walls and membranes which results in the death of cells, the formation of girdling cankers, and the death of the portions of the tree above the cankers. The gene that has been isolated from wheat provides codes the production of an enzyme called oxalate oxidase (OxO) which, when incorporated into the genome of American chestnut trees, confers genetic resistance to chestnut blight by preventing the formation of cankers by the chestnut blight fungus in transgenic chestnut trees by converting the harmful oxalic acid to carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide.

Although trees can still be infected by the fungus, the infections are not viable and the addition of the OxO gene to the American chestnut genome and the subsequent oxidation of oxalic acid by the oxalate oxidase enzyme has been described by some as a vaccine against the chestnut blight fungus.

A process called Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is used to facilitate the gene transfer wherein a “disarmed” (non-pathogenic) strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the resistance enhancing OxO gene is used to transform somatic American chestnut embryos (embryos developed from ordinary plant cells grown in culture under laboratory conditions). Wild type Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a pathogenic bacterium that causes crown gall in a wide range of herbaceous and woody plants; it is commonly found in the soil and is a natural genetic engineer that is commonly used in transgenic research as a result of its ability to transfer DNA into the cells of infected plants.

Using traditional tissue culture techniques, these transgenic embryos can then be multiplied and triggered to produce shoots which are then rooted and grown on to produce chestnut blight resistant trees. By crossing these transgenic trees with surviving wild American chestnut trees, the researchers hope to maintain genetic diversity and regional adaptations of America chestnut populations in future generations of American chestnuts while also protecting them from chestnut blight with the ultimate goal of producing trees that can reach reproductive maturity and produce seeds and offspring to conserve and restore the American chestnut to its native range.

Compared to traditional breeding to create interspecific hybrids between American chestnut and resistant species like Chinese chestnut, the transfer of the single gene that 22

MNLA.BIZ february 20

is responsible for the oxalate oxidase enzyme is much more targeted and precise than the thousands of genes that are involved in the creation of interspecific hybrids through traditional breeding and selection efforts.

As a result, the introduction of undesirable characteristics from the nonnative species is generally avoided such that the inherent characteristics of American chestnut are retained. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT; the transfer of genes between organisms in a manner other than traditional reproduction) between species, including the humanmediated transfer of the OxO gene from wheat to the American chestnut, is also a natural and random occurrence in nature via a variety of pathways and can have positive or negative effects on the genetically modified species depending on the circumstances. In addition to the development of blight resistant American chestnut trees Under controlled conditions, HGT may have the potential to be used to confer a number of traits to a variety of horticultural species including abiotic stress tolerances (e.g., drought, heat, flooding, and high pH tolerance), plant habit, unique flower forms, colors and fragrances, responses to daylength and flowering times, herbicide resistance, and resistance to other diseases and pests.

Needless to say, although genetic engineering may show potential for a variety of desirable outcomes, the use of biotechnology, including the use of genetic engineering and the development of genetically modified trees and other plants for agricultural, landscape, and conservation purposes is controversial and the transgenic research focused on the iconic American chestnut has become the “poster child” for both the proponents and detractors of biotechnology and genetic engineering as a means of creating improved plant selections, enhancing plant tolerances and performance, and improving tree and forest health. In response to the growing interest in genetic engineering and the associated concerns, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine has sponsored a review of the potential of biotechnology to address forest health concerns and has subsequently published a consensus study report entitled Forest Health and Biotechnology: Possibilities and Considerations (see “Citations” section) and may be of interest to nursery and landscape professionals that have an interest in these issues. In addition, in response to concerns about the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project’s plans to

eventually release genetically engineered American chestnut trees into the wild, the Campaign to STOP GE Trees, Biofuelwatch and Global Justice Ecology Project, an international alliance of organizations formed in 2004 and dedicated to stopping the release of genetically engineered trees based on a belief that such trees would have devastating ecological and social impacts, released a white paper in April of this year (2019) describing the science and potential risks of releasing genetically engineered American chestnut trees into forests. It is important to note that the ongoing ESF American chestnut research is regulated under a permit granted by the USDA and the potential deregulation and release of transgenic American chestnut trees into an unregulated environment would be subject to stringent regulatory review by the USDA and two other federal agencies — the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It must also be noted that the activities of these regulatory agencies are not universally respected by all concerned. Regardless, if the genetically engineered American chestnuts that are currently being developed are deregulated in the next few years, they would be the first genetically modified trees to be planted in the wild; a very big and potentially consequential development.

Public angst related to genetically modified food crops, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in general, is certainly understandable and often justified, and public perceptions cannot be ignored and are regularly influenced by a variety of factors including a lack of clear and reliable information regarding the history and current status of traditional breeding and genetic engineering techniques, safeguards, and outcomes, media bias and a steady stream of negative stories and opinions about genetically modified organisms in the news and popular media (including social media), a general, and seemingly growing, mistrust of industry and regulatory authorities, and strong and committed opposition to GMOs by vocal activist groups. Without question, public concerns about genetically engineered plants and other organisms must be addressed if the science and desired outcomes of genetic engineering are to be understood and realized and nursery and landscape professionals need to be educated about the genetic engineering research and activities that have the potential to impact our industry and the plants we provide to our customers. Judicious

regulatory oversight is also needed to address the potential for harmful environmental impacts that might be caused by genetically modified plants and, as the science continues to move forward, it is clear that regulatory changes will be needed to address the many new innovations that have occurred in recent years and the future changes to come and the green industry will need to decide how it will be involved in this process. Although research focused on the improvement of landscape species, and especially woody plants, via genetic engineering has lagged behind research efforts with agronomic food crops, floral crops, and turf species, this is likely to change in the relatively near future as the technology improves and opportunities increase. The longer time frames that are needed to assess woody plant selections in general, and especially for trees given the extended time required to reach maturity for most tree species, are likely to remain somewhat of a barrier for assessing the longer-term characteristics of genetically modified tree selections just as they are now for conventional breeding and selection efforts with trees and other woody species.

Finally, it should be noted that American chestnut has also been historically threatened

by Phytophthora root rot caused by the fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi in the southern reaches of its native range and the development of viable selections and restored populations of American chestnut will likely require resistance to both pathogens. Obviously, this susceptibility to another serious disease complicates efforts to return American chestnut to its former status as an important landscape and forest tree and efforts are ongoing to hopefully accomplish this goal.

Clearly, the potential benefits that might be realized through genomic research and genetic engineering are exciting, but, at the same time, these emerging technologies also present significant, and understandable concerns and research and regulatory challenges. American chestnuts that have been genetically engineered to be blight resistant could be a good test case and may set a precedent and become a model for the future.

It will be interesting to see where we end up.

Citations: Powell, W.A., A.E. Newhouse, and V. Coffey. 2019.

Developing Blight-Tolerant American

Chestnut Trees. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a034587

https://www.esf.edu/chestnut/documents/Cold%20 Spring%20Harb%20Perspect.pdf

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,

Lucht, J.M. 2015. Public Acceptance of Plant Bio-

technology and GM Crops. Viruses 7(8):4254-4281. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/7/8/2819/htm

and Medicine. 2019. Forest Health and Biotech-

Herman, R.A., M. Zhuang, N.P. Storer, F. Cnudde,

National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

Genetically Engineered Crops Is Risky. Trends

nology: Possibilities and Considerations. The

This publication may be purchased, downloaded for free in pdf form, or read online at https://doi. org/10.17226/25221 or https://www.nap.edu/

catalog/25221/forest-health-and-biotechnology-possibilities-and-considerations

Smolker, R. and A. Petermann. 2019. Biotech-

nology for Forest Health? The Test Case of the

Genetically Engineered American Chestnut. The Campaign to STOP GE Trees, Biofuelwatch and

Global Justice Ecology Project. https://stopgetrees. org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/biotechnolo-

gy-for-forest-health-test-case-american-chestnut-report-WEB-1.pdf

The following, selected resources related to the genetic engineering of plants and the regulation of genetically modified plants may also be of interest: Conolly, N.B. 2007 (updated January 2015). Chest-

and B. Delaney. 2019. Risk-Only Assessment of in Plant Science 24(1):58-68. https://www.

cell.com/trends/plant-science/fulltext/S13601385(18)30230-9

Prakash, C.S. 2001. The Genetically Modified Crop Debate in the Context of Agricultural Evolution.

Plant Physiology 126(1):8-15. http://www.plant-

physiol.org/content/plantphysiol/126/1/8.full.pdf Westbrook, J.W., J.B. James, P.H. Sisco, J. Frampton, S. Lucas, and S.N. Jeffers. 2019. Resistance to

Phytophthora cinnamomi in American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) Backcross Populations that

Descended from Two Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) Sources of Resistance. Plant Disease

103(7):1631-1641. https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/ doi/10.1094/PDIS-11-18-1976-RE (abstract only)

https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PDIS11-18-1976-RE

nut Blight: Cryphonectria parasitica. Plant Disease

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. http://

ber 23, 2004). USDA, Animal and Plant Health

Diagnostic Clinic, College of Agriculture and Life

plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/chestnutblight.pdf Van Laere, K., S.C. Hokanson, R. Contreras, and J. Van Huylenbroeck. 2018. Woody Ornamentals of

the Temperate Zone. In: Van Huylenbroeck J. (ed.)

2014. Plant Protection Act (As Amended, Decem-

Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), Professional Development

Center (PDC). https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_ health/downloads/plant-protect-act.pdf

Ornamental Crops. Handbook of Plant Breeding,

Executive Office of the President (EOP). 2016.

link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-

ry System for Biotechnology Products. https://

Vol. 11. Pages 803-887. Springer, Cham. https://

90698-0_29#citeas (abstract and references only) Chang, S, E.L. Mahon, H.A. MacKay, W.H. Rott-

National Strategy for Modernizing the Regulatoobamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/

microsites/ostp/biotech_national_strategy_final.pdf

mann, S.H. Strauss, P.M. Pijut, W.A. Powell, V.

Executive Office of the President (EOP). 2017.

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Plant

nology Products: An Update to the Coordinated

Coffey, H. Lu, S.D. Mansfield, and T.J. Jones. 2018.

54(4):341-376. https://link.springer.com/article/10.

1007%2Fs11627-018-9914-1

Oliver, M.J. 2014. Why We Need GMO Crops

in Agriculture. Missouri Medicine 111(6):492-

507. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC6173531/

Leyser, O. 2014. Moving Beyond the GM De-

bate. PLoS Biol 12(6): e1001887. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001887

Stephen F. Chandler, S.F. and C. Sanchez.

2012. Genetic Modification; the Development of Transgenic Ornamental Plant Varieties. Plant Biotechnology Journal 10(8):891-903. https://

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.14677652.2012.00693.x

Modernizing the Regulatory System for BiotechFramework for the Regulation of Biotechnology.

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/ files/microsites/ostp/2017_coordinated_framework_update.pdf

Montgomery, E. 2012. Genetically Modified Plants

and Regulatory Loopholes and Weaknesses Under the Plant Protection Act. Vermont Law Review 37:351-379. https://lawreview.vermontlaw.edu/

wp-content/uploads/2013/02/03-Montgomery1.pdf To comment on this research update, suggest research topics of interest, or pass along a piece of research-based information that might be of interest to your industry colleagues, please email us at Research@MNLA.biz.

february 20 MNLA.BIZ

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proof of business.

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BEAVERS

BEAVERS Leave It to the

Faith Appelquist Tree Quality LLC

AS THE OLD SAYING GOES: A BEAVER IN THE RIGHT PLACE IS AN IDEAL CONSERVATIONIST; A BEAVER IN THE WRONG PLACE IS A NUISANCE.

Left: iStock.com/SylvieBouchard. Top: MattGrove.

Faith Appelquist

”

Faith Appelquist

“

Beavers prefer aspen and poplar but will also take birch, maple, willow, alder, black cherry, red oak, beech, ash, and hornbeam.

Protect valued trees with fencing at least 30" tall, reinforced with rebar around the base.

The largest rodent in North America is nothing if not a force of nature.

With orange teeth, a flat, paddle-shaped tail, and an insatiable desire for cutting trees and building dams, beavers can be equally frustrating and fascinating. As the old saying goes: A beaver in the right place is an ideal conservationist; a beaver in the wrong place is a nuisance.

Beavers have evolved perfectly for life in rivers, streams and lakes.

They have ear and nose valves that shut (and keep water out) as the animals submerge. Their eyes have protective membranes, similar to birds that act as natural goggles against irritation. Beavers use their web feet for propulsion, while their tail acts as a rudder. And, of course, beavers have extraordinary teeth that act like chisels and grow constantly. A single beaver can cut down hundreds of trees each year.

Perhaps beavers are best known for their dam building. The purpose of the dam is to provide water around their lodges that is deep enough that it does not freeze solid in winter. Besides providing a home, the deep water lets them escape from predators. The dams also flood areas of surrounding forest, giving the beaver safe access to its food, which is the leaves, buds, and inner bark of growing trees.

Beaver dams increase biodiversity, provide wildlife habitat, improve water quality and help prevent flooding. Beavers are a keystone species

and their removal can result in a cascade of changes for other species in the system. Conversely, their dam-building can flood roads and valuable farmland. Their penchant for tree cutting has resulted in the loss of valuable fruit and shade trees.

What almost drove beavers to extinction was their luxuriant pelt. A layer of chocolate-colored coarse hairs guard the surface, while underneath a thick layer of fine hairs have tiny hooks on them that mesh together tightly to keep water out. The further north a beaver lives, the thicker its fur. Thankfully, due to strict laws, beavers have returned to North America and are no longer endangered.

So, next time you pass a frozen wetland or pond keep your eyes peeled for gnawed trees or a rising stream, and tip your hat to one of nature’s busiest critters.

➽FAITH APPELQUIST is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, an ISA Municipal Specialist MN, and an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist®. Faith can be reached at faith@treequality.com. february 20 MNLA.BIZ

27

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Grow Your Business at MNLA’s 2020 Day on the Hill!

Forrest Cyr

MNLA Government Affairs Director

Get excited! MNLA’s Day on the Hill is almost here. Legislative and regulatory affairs are a top priority for the association and reason for membership; however, MNLA staff, lobbyists, and volunteer leadership aren’t nearly as effective without the involvement of members from across the state.

The expertise and involvement of our membership is the most

effective tool we have in our advocacy toolbox, and Day on the Hill on March 4 is the best way for members to get directly involved.

Join your fellow association members and staff for this fun and impactful day of advocacy! MNLA members from across Minnesota will descend on the State Capitol to visit with lawmakers, advocate for the industry’s policy priorities, and build lasting relationships with elected officials. With your help, we can take our advocacy efforts to the next level.

MNLA’s grassroots network is vast, and your involvement in association advocacy is imperative to our continued success at the Capitol.

At Day on the Hill, MNLA members will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and experiences with those who write the laws that impact member businesses. Each year, Day on the Hill is scheduled during one of the busiest times of the legislative session, and the Capitol complex will be buzzing with activity, full of legislators, lobbyists, and citizen groups from across Minnesota. As a constituent and neighbor, and an expert in your field, your State Senator and State Representative want to hear from you! Your voice will cut through the noise at the Capitol to effectively promote the incredible work the green industry does in Minnesota and the work you do every day.

MNLA President Scott Frampton and Day on the Hill participants meet with Senator Susan Kent (DFL – Woodbury) at her Capitol office.

Plus, the Day on the Hill is a whole lot of fun! Prior to heading to the Capitol complex on the morning of March 4, attendees will meet at the Capitol Ridge Hotel for a debrief and preparation session for the meetings.

We can’t wait to see you on March 4! Registration is available at www.MNLA.biz.

➽ TO STAY UP-TO-DATE on all things Government Affairs, sign up for MNLA’s Grassroots eNews by sending an email to forrest@mnla.biz!

28

MNLA.BIZ february 20

iStock.com/Svitlana Unuchko

2020 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Support Irrigation Backflow Reform MNLA advocates allowing non-plumbers with the same training as a plumber to repair backflow prevention devices. Despite having identical training in the simple repair, MNLA members are prohibited from repair backflow devices, causing delays and risk. If a backflow device fails and needs rebuilding, irrigation contractors must shut down the startup process, call a qualified plumber, and wait for that rebuild to occur. This is a must-need change to ensure timely completion of projects and the protection of the public.

End the “Duty to Defend” (H.F. 879 / S.F. 948) Subcontractors in Minnesota currently bear the overwhelming burden of providing legal support for General Contractors, covering attorney’s fees and court costs, even if the General Contractor is negligent and the Subcontractor is not. Subcontractors must also purchase “project-specific insurance” plus general liability insurance to cover for General Contractors—resulting in more burdensome and unnecessary expenses.

MNLA seeks to end this practice.

Support Slip and Fall Liability Reform MNLA supports legislative efforts to restrict the use of indemnification and hold-harmless clauses in snow and ice contracts, used to compel snow and ice contractors to shoulder all liability from slip-and-fall lawsuits, which

YOUR ONE TRACTOR SOLUTION

incentivizes cost at the expense of safety.

Snow and ice contractors often bear the overwhelming burden of being responsible for all liability arising from slip-and-fall cases, even in situations where the fault or negligence lies with another party. MNLA supports changing this unfair practice to ensure quality work, safety of property, and that reputable snow contractors are able to stay in business.

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29

WOOD RECYCLING & MULCH Learn more about the wood recycling & mulch products from Davey Twin Cities Wood Products!

Davey Twin Cities Wood Products produces our mulch from local trees, by using recycled materials, with no chemicals or construction by-products. Coloring is done using natural additives, making it safe for the environment and end users who may come in contact with it, such as children and pets. Mulch helps conserve the moisture and improves the fertility and health of the soil.

OUR SOLUTIONS Grinding Services: Intended for large jobs, our grinding services in Minneapolis and St. Paul are operated by experienced, trained employees who will safely turn the largest piles of wood into natural or dyed mulch. Our solution will help you recycle wood material into a valuable product.

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Mulch & Wood Products: Our premium mulch is made at our facility located in South St. Paul, MN. Our color process is done with only natural additives, making it a safe product for the environment and end users who may come in contact with it.

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Formerly S & S Tree

Six Reasons Your Client Says “I Don’t Have Budget” and

14 WAYS TO GET IT

iStock.com/Vladimir Obradovic

Andrew Sobel

CLIENT BUDGETS

COMBATING YOUR CLIENT’S NUMBER ONE EXCUSE: “We don’t have the budget for this” is a phrase anyone who works with clients has heard many times. It’s one of the four fundamental objections in sales, which are: • No need (“We just don’t need what you have to offer.”)

• No urgency (“It’s interesting, but the timing is not quite right.”)

• No trust (“You seem like nice people but we’re not sure you have the right/most effective solution.”)

• No money (“I don’t have budget for this.”)

Before you craft your response, you need to understand WHY the client is saying “we have no budget.” What does this catch-all phrase really mean? Here are the main possibilities: Reasons why clients say there’s no budget • Working with junior buyer/not a real decision maker. The executive you’re talking to is not senior enough to control the kind of budget needed to buy your service/product and they can’t unilaterally raise their insufficient budget. The company MIGHT have the budget somewhere, but not where you are working in the organization!

• Not a priority for the organization. All the money has been allocated to other, higher-priority investments. “Priorities” will typically be initiatives that are strongly aligned with strategic goals, have senior executive sponsorship, are embedded in that year’s approved plans and programs, and/or form part of the client’s performance goals for the year.

• Outside the budget cycle. You’ve been caught in a rigid corporate planning and budgeting cycle, and the client has already structured their investments and time around a small set of strategic priorities for the year. In other words, you didn’t go deep enough and soon enough into the client’s planning cycle to get your engagement budgeted for.

• Lack of perceived ROI/Value. The client may have a need, and they may like you and your firm, but you haven’t demonstrated the “R” in Return on Investment in terms of the value and impact of your proposed solution. They just don’t see the value.

• No budget for YOU. The real objection here may be the second one, “No trust.” For the right solution/firm, the client can come up with the budget. But they don’t trust that you and your firm represent the best and highest value alternative.

• Spending freeze. The funny thing about this reason — the CEO declares a spending freeze on all non-essential and unbudgeted expenditures — is that, of course, the client is still spending money on lots of things, even though there is a so-called “Freeze.” I’ve had many clients declare an absolute freeze on outside consultants — “Not a cent!” But then, a few months later, I see that they’ve hired one (or more) of the large global consulting firms for a seven or eight-figure fee because a particular c-suite executive has decided that using them is utterly essential. This goes back to reason #1 — there’s always money if your client is senior enough and sees a high ROI on your proposal!

As you can see, there are potential solutions to the “No budget” objection, and they need to be tailored to the particular situation. Here are 14 ideas for you: iStock.com/Vladimir Obradovic

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MNLA.BIZ february 20

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CLIENT BUDGETS

“

WHEN YOU’RE TOLD THERE IS NO BUDGET, FIRST TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY. YOU MAY ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT — AND, HELP YOUR CLIENT WITH SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN THE PROCESS.

”

Strategies to Create or Free Up Budget 1. Gain sponsorship from a higher-level, more powerful economic buyer. You’ll have to work closely with your existing client to make this happen, as no executive likes it when you go over his or her head.

2. Redefine the issue so that it is more strategic and can attract the necessary funds. This may also be necessary to gain the higher-level sponsorship in strategy one.

3. Identify opportunities for the client to create efficiencies in their existing budget. This requires investment, but if you gain a deep enough understanding of your client’s overall set of expenditures you may be able to recommend efficiencies through service provider consolidation, productivity improvements, or other means.

4. Restructure the work to achieve cost savings. Whereas strategy three looks at their broad budget, in this case you recommend changes in the way the client is approaching your particular program or project so that it can be executed for less money.

5. Create flexible contractual terms. If it is a client you trust, and you can get the agreement in writing, you could offer to invoice and receive payments on a flexible schedule. A client, for example, may have the funds available in three or four months, and if you’re willing to accommodate that, you may be in business.

6. Increase the perceived value of the overall package. “It’s too expensive” usually means “We don’t perceive sufficient value.” More value could include advice and counseling around your core program or service, knowledge transfer, training, follow-up assessments, or many other things.

7. Appeal to an important personal “win” of the buyer. Most clients have a business agenda and a personal agenda. Showing how your offering can help accomplish both of these will raise the perception of overall value.

8. Combine budgets to fund your program. To the extent your project impacts multiple functions or business units, you might be able to get budget allocations from multiple sources.

9. Combine discounts to create a BIG discount. One of my clients was asked to discount their fees by 15%, and their ability to do this was going to make or break the deal. They responded by creatively finding a total of 15% from 8 different sources that all reduced their cost of delivery or otherwise saved them money—allowing them to pass on the savings to the client. These included early payment discounts, productivity discounts, a volume discount, and so on.

10. Restructure the project to meet the budget they DO have (if they have any left!). This is common sense and it can lead to a very fruitful dialogue about what is most important to the client.

11. Rename what you’re doing and find a different budget category. This could work in particular circumstances.

12. Tie your work more closely to quantifiable revenue increases or cost reductions. You should always be doing this, but it’s especially important today because of the intense scrutiny on even small amounts of spending at many corporations. You’re going to have to spend more time on the benefits case for each piece of work you sell. One tip: Have your client approve/endorse the benefits case. Otherwise it will carry little weight!

13. Provide ongoing advice to keep the discussion going. If a client has no budget to get a project started, you may — depending on the circumstances — be willing to meet on a regular basis to talk about the issue and give some free consultation to your client, all the while keeping the interest up so that when there is money available, you’re the preferred advisor.

Invest to stay on the radar screen.

14. If you’re outside the client’s budget cycle, then work with the client to get your proposal into their NEXT planning and budgeting cycle. You could suggest some modest upfront work to learn more about their needs, build some key relationships ahead of your next proposal iteration, and so on.

When you’re told there is no budget, first try to understand why. You may actually be able to do something about it — and, help your client with something important in the process.

➽ ANDREW SOBEL helps his clients build enduring relationships with their clients and other important individuals in their lives. Find out more at www.andrewsobel.com.

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MNLA.BIZ february 20

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february 20 MNLA.BIZ

37

SUSTAINABILITY

LANDSCAPE PROS HAVE ALL THE TOOLS NEEDED TO ALIGN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION WITH PROSPERITY. This article was originally published in Landscape Trades (Canada’s Premier Horticultural Trade Publication), and thus reflects a Canadian perspective on this North American-wide issue.

What do potential customers care about, and how can it help your business?

Heike Stippler

It seems we professionals are often playing catchup with what the public really wants. Opportunity is out there. So, what do we need to know, and what can we do to be part of the expanding interest in eco-friendly landscaping? Garden experts and landscapers from across Canada have offered their insights.

I was chatting with exclusively-organic Halifax gardening guru, writer, blogger and radio show host, Niki Jabbour, who observes, “My readers range from newbie food gardeners to those who have been gardening for decades. Often they’re looking to expand their skill set into winter harvesting, greenhouse growing, or want to try cool new-to-them crops like cucamelons or ground cherries.” Niki understands what the public wants; they want what’s new and cool. They need someone to teach them. That should be us. We need to keep up, but we have to get outside our regular circles.

Heike Stippler

Above: There is an incredible — and urgent — opportunity for industry to be a force for positive change. Everyone has to be a leader. Opening page: To elevate the industry, we need to make people understand that it’s more than just mowing lawns. It’s the thinking that sets things apart.

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MNLA.BIZ february 20

Poised for Leadership Heike Stippler, from Whistler, B.C., says, “The biggest challenge is showing people that [eco-friendly gardening] takes time and understanding — that it’s not ‘instant.’ But once you get eco-friendly, it’s even more about timing. Eco-friendly lawns and fertilizers take more time. Even pruning and recovery; all these things take time.”

As president of Heike Designs, she laments, “It gets frustrating being the bearer of bad news; having to fix the mistakes of others, educating the client.” Having the depth of knowledge to offer this education is an ongoing gift and challenge.

Lorraine Johnson is an Ontario writer and popular speaker who’s been advocating for environmental landscape practices through her books, such as 100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens, for decades. Her thoughts are blunt, but good words and what we need to hear: “I think there’s an unfortunate Catch-22 happening, and it’s impeding progress on the environmental front. The horticultural industries often say they provide what the market wants. At the same time, consumers are highly motivated to make environmentally-positive choices, but in many cases, the products or services just aren’t available. Think, for example, of the difficulty of finding native plants grown from local seed sources in the general nursery trade. This is just one example.

There is an incredible — and urgent — opportunity for industry to be a force for positive change, but we’re just not seeing it yet on the scale that the environmental crisis demands from everyone — industry and individuals. We need to stop waiting for others to lead. Everyone has to be a leader. Now, not later.”

What more can we do? Starting small is something. Stippler feels, “Even just making smart trips, minimizing waste, doing several things in one trip, taking the time to be sure you’ve got everything and are organized, can save a lot of carbon — and save money on crew wages.

Route planning can make a huge difference.” Landscape Ontario’s En-

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GETTING THE WORD OUT While word of mouth is great, today’s customers (or is it ‘audience’? Same thing maybe!) get a lot of information from social media.

How to get the word out? In a perfect world, folks can’t get away from you! Every turn. Every click. Every time they search ‘gardens’ or ‘landscapes.’ Being everywhere is an ongoing challenge today, but a mission that can be Niki Jabbour

fun, fulfilling, and even educational.

In what ways can a professional get the word out there? Niki Jabbour tackles it on many Cucamelons have been called the “cutest superfood you can grow yourself.”

“

gardening club and talk to experts to expand your knowledge.” Good thoughts. Why don’t

‘GOOD HORTICULTURE’ AND ‘ECO-FRIENDLY’ GO HAND-IN-HAND. PROPER HORTICULTURE IS NOT THAT FAR FROM BEING ECO-FRIENDLY. WE KIND OF HAVE TO BE HORTICULTURALLY SMART TO HAVE A BASE TO BE ECO-FRIENDLY.

vironmental Stewardship Committee urged folks to start ‘at home,’ looking for ways to run companies in environmentally-friendly ways, before looking for ways to make landscapes eco-friendly.

“I don’t really use the word eco-friendly. I use the term ‘environmentally-conscious,’” says Stippler. “‘Good horticulture’ and ‘eco-friendly’ go hand-in-hand. Proper horticulture is not that far from being eco-friendly.

We kind of have to be horticulturally smart to have a base to be eco-friendly. In Whistler, there are quite a few clients that want a natural look; blending into the environment. A few people are asking specifically for ‘natural’ and ‘low-maintenance.’ Doing it right is a good fit for them. [There’s also] the other end of the spectrum; people want what they want. Some can be educated, but others not. Most people don’t know which plants are native and which aren’t. If they don’t ask for eco, they don’t need to know that their landscape is designed with beautiful natives and nativars, supporting biodiversity, lowering water use, and still raising property values. Just do it. There’s no harm.”

Green Value Appreciates Jabbour offers more thoughts: “I practice diversity in my vegetable garden to encourage a healthy soil food web and avoid 40

fronts. She says, “Read, research, join a

MNLA.BIZ february 20

”

nutrient depletion, but also to invite a wide range of beneficial insects to my garden. Plus, pairing food and flowers makes for a gorgeous garden that’s eco-friendly and beautiful for the gardener. Being an eco-friendly food gardener is viable for anyone. Paying attention to your soil health is vital. Healthy soil grows healthy plants, which in turn offer a good harvest. I also practice crop rotation, so my soil isn’t depleted of essential nutrients, and insect pests and disease problems are minimized.”

Incidentally, following folks like Jabbour on social media is an excellent way to get ahead of what the public is interested in. Other greats include The Garden Professors Blog with Dr. Linda Chalker Scott, Master Gardeners of Ontario and soils expert Cristina da Silva — and that’s just scratching the surface (see sidebar).

Manitoba’s Guy Dowhy of Dowhy Design & Landscapes shares his thoughts, “Landscaping on the Prairies is tough, or should I say hard-y.” He continues, “We think that the best thing we can do is start with locally-sourced, prairie-hardy plant selections. We have great plant growers and breeders in Manitoba who are improving the aesthetic characteristics of our hardy plants. Every client wants a great-looking yard but minimal maintenance, so plants have to be given the best opportu-

we join garden clubs? Is it a feeling of superiority? “There’s nothing they could teach us.” It’s certainly not a lack of civic duty. It’s fantastic how many community projects landscape companies get involved with. Remember that an army of horticultural society members (and no, they’re not all little old ladies!) is great at spreading the word about organizations they like.

“What if I’m not interesting enough?” Don’t be afraid. Just post about what interests you today. The folks you want to work with will find it interesting. Those who don’t find it interesting? You probably didn’t want to work with them anyway. Make sure your photos show things being done safely, professionally and in good taste, although a touch of impish humor doesn’t hurt when trying to engage folks.

The beauty of using social networking is that as you build a following (which doesn’t happen overnight, but be patient), your followers will do your outreach for you.

Niki Jabbour, who is also one of the intenselypopular ‘Savvy Gardeners’ on Pinterest, is practicing techniques like diversity, intensive planting, interplanting, and companion planting to promote a healthy garden. Her 20 raised beds are a combination of vegetables, herbs, and flowers to attract bees and other pollinators as well as beneficial insects to reduce and control pest populations. There are many ways to do good.

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“

SUSTAINABILITY

IF WE WANT TO ELEVATE THE INDUSTRY, WE NEED TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT IT’S MORE THAN JUST MOWING LAWNS. IT’S THE THINKING THAT SETS THINGS APART.

”

nity to get established, and then survive for years to decades. The best thing we do is educate the client on the benefits of using organic mulches versus crushed stone on filter fabrics. Once we explain that the mulches will regulate soil moisture and temperatures while suppressing weeds and contributing to the soil’s organic matter content, they will always agree to go with this option.”

Dowhy believes it’s about the long-term success and return on investment for the customer. Soil stewardship may be the best hope for reversing climate change. More on the bright side, Dowhy continues, “Our industry is the only property investment that will increase a property’s value and aesthetic over time, with proper initial installation and some guided upkeep.”

The Recruitment Angle The new Ontario curriculum for Horticultural Apprenticeship and the national Red Seal Program have large swaths dealing with soil and water stewardship as well as enhancing biodiversity, in part to satisfy the demands of a potential workforce that wants to change the world.

Forward-thinking concepts are introduced, such as ‘refugia’ (leaving piles of brush for creatures to hide in, possibly tucked behind some shrubs) and ‘let it lay’ (allowing fallen logs to rot in place providing habitat for all forms of life), which is especially important since, according to Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees, 60 percent of all living things have to spend part of their life in rotting wood.

Other benefits? Back to Whistler and Heike Designs: “Being eco-friendly can bring and keep employees in their mid-20s to mid30s. They care about that kind of stuff and they like that part. It’s sometimes challenging when it comes to training them how to deal with each property differently. Sometimes you leave the seedheads and sometimes you don’t. It’s not quite as simple and straightforward as traditional horticulture, and it requires more training and understanding of how and why it needs to be done this way and to judge.”

It’s a challenge to be embraced, not feared. Stippler is firm in her beliefs. “If we want to elevate the industry, we need to make people understand that it’s more than just mowing lawns. It’s the thinking that sets things apart. Being involved in associations and staying on top of what’s happening is what makes a difference — not just what happens on site. There’s so much to learn. With the internet and social media, people find out a lot on their own.

In the long run it pays off. Stick with it. You will save money doing it right. It doesn’t happen overnight. It goes with building relationships with clients; even building relationships with gardens, like you know the plants personally (laughing). We do inspire and we do make quite a bit of a difference. Think about how many trees we plant and how much stormwater those trees take up and how that affects the whole environment we live in.” ➽ SEAN JAMES operates Ontario-based Sean James Consulting and Design and is an eco-consultant and popular speaker.

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MNLA.BIZ february 20

NEWS & NOTES

NEWS & NOTES ➽ CONTINUED from page 21

In Memoriam: Ed Lynde The Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association would like to express its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Ed Lynde, Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery. Edward Spencer Lynde, Age 71 of Maple Grove, Minn. passed away Wednesday, November 20, 2019 in his home. Preceded in death by his parents Charles and Violet (stepmother) Lynde; and his daughter, Andrea “Annie” Lynde. Survived by his wife Lynn Lynde; son Derek Lynde (Katie) of Maple Grove; sister Susan Baumgartner (Dean) of Henderson, NV; nephews Brian Baumgartner (Laurie) and Sean Baumgartner (Regina) of NV; and grandchildren Evelyn and Charles Lynde of Maple Grove. Edward was the fourth generation to own and operate Lynde Greenhouse & Nursery in Maple Grove. He also started the Maple Grove Yardwaste Site with his business partner Jeff McLeod. Both companies were run out of the office of the greenhouse, and Ed was still happily working up until his last day.

Sales Tax Guidance Did you know that the Minnesota Department of Revenue has published Fact Sheets and Industry Guides to help with sales and use tax? Nursery and Greenhouse Production: Nursery and greenhouse production farms that grow trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, potted plants and other plants for sale ultimately at retail qualify for the agricultural production and farm machinery exemptions. (The definitions of farm machinery and agricultural production are included in the fact sheets.) Nursery and greenhouse operations that store plant stock waiting to be sold at retail or house inventory for landscapers do not qualify. Please download the latest version of Sales Tax Fact Sheet 121C for further details at

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http://bit.ly/ 2Pzj2hT. Farm Machinery: New and used farm machinery is exempt from sales tax. To qualify for the exemption, the machinery must meet the definition of “farm machinery” and must be used directly and principally in “agricultural production.” The definitions of farm machinery and agricultural production can be found online.

Landscaping Construction Contracts: Minnesota Sales Tax does not apply to landscaping construction contracts for improvements to real property, but sales tax does apply to landscaping maintenance contracts to maintain a pre-existing garden or lawn. Further guidance can be found in Sales Tax Fact Sheet 121B which can be downloaded from http://bit.ly/35y87dA. Lawn and Garden Maintenance, Tree & Shrub Services: Minnesota Sales Tax applies to lawn and garden

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43

AWARDS

CONGRATS!

The following individuals were honored at the 2020 Green Industry Awards Celebration on January 14th.

Pederson Named Volunteer of the Year

Regelbrugge Receives Special Service Award

Brad Pederson was named MNLA Volunteer of the Year during

Craig Regelbrugge was honored with a Special Service Award

the Green Industry Awards Celebration held Jan. 14 at the

by the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association during the

Minneapolis Convention Center. Pederson is an owner of Bloomington Garden Center and Landscape located in Bloomington, Minn.

Green Industry Awards Celebration, held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Jan. 14, 2020. Regelbrugge serves as Senior Vice President for AmericanHort where he leads the staff team responsible for

The MNLA Volunteer of the Year Award honors an individual who has,

industry advocacy and research programs. AmericanHort is the national

within the previous 18 months, risen up to make special achievements

trade organization representing the horticulture industry, encompassing

happen for the association. Working within the MNLA, this individual’s

plant breeders and growers, garden retail and landscape businesses, and

leadership and commitment will have helped significantly improve the

product and service suppliers to an industry that has a total economic

activities, stature, or services of the association. Pederson was honored

output approaching $350 Billion.

this year because of his support and volunteerism at Northern Green, the industry’s yearly trade show and convention. He assists exhibitors with

MNLA’s Special Service Award honors MNLA members or industry friends

move in and move out and serves as “The Voice” of Northern Green, the

who have, over a long period of time, given of themselves personally

announcer for the event.

and/or professionally to make the nursery and landscape business a better industry.

“Pederson has shown a tremendous work ethic during his many years of service on the Trade Show Committee and is always thinking about how

Regelbrugge serves in national leadership positions representing the

the event can be better each year. His dedication to the green industry

horticulture industry on matters relating to the labor force, immigration

and this committee has an impact on leaders throughout MNLA,” said

reform, plant health and production, and trade. With 30 years of service

MNLA Executive Director Cassie Larson.

as an association professional representing horticulture, he is wellknown in Washington and across the country, within the horticulture

According to MNLA President Scott Frampton, “Northern Green is a

industry itself, and among policy-makers and regulators.

featured event for MNLA and MTGF each year. This event supports industry education, legislative and regulatory initiatives, workforce

Regelbrugge has been a steadfast partner to the Minnesota Nursery &

development and other activities to help the association thrive

Landscape Association (MNLA) for many years – assisting and consulting

throughout the year. Without integral volunteers like Brad, putting on an

on both state and federal policy issues when called upon. He has a keen

event this size would not be possible. We thank Brad for all he’s done to

understanding of how state and federal associations can accomplish

help ensure Northern Green is a success.”

more through partnering together.

Pederson got into the growing business in 1959 when he purchased

Regelbrugge received his undergraduate degree in horticulture from

Kidder Nursery from Merle Kidder. He later changed the name to

Virginia Tech, and he worked in the retail nursery industry and served as

Bloomington Garden Center and Landscape Co. His son, Eric, and his wife,

a county horticultural extension agent in Virginia before joining the

Barb now run the day to day operation of the business which just passed

American Nursery & Landscape Association, then the industry’s national

the 100-year mark in 2019. And, although Pederson is officially retired, he

organization, in December 1989.

remains passionate about growing and is at the garden center nearly every day during the season with a watering wand in hand.

He is a frequent presenter, author, and spokesperson on topics relating to the workforce and immigration, production, trade, and environmental

Pederson has a long history of volunteerism with the Minnesota Nursery

issues impacting farmers and small businesses in and serving the

and Landscape Association including serving as President from 1989–1990.

horticulture industry. Personally, he is an avid gardener of landscape

He was also inducted into the MNLA Hall of Fame in 2002. Finally, he has

plants, vegetables, berries, and…oysters.

served on a variety of committees over the years and currently serves on the Trade Show Committee.

According to MNLA President Scott Frampton, “Regelbrugge has gone above and beyond to ensure the success of MNLA’s advocacy efforts both

Pederson also volunteers many hours serving the local community in

federally and through support at the state level. We appreciate all he’s

various ways. He enjoys singing in the church choir and with various

done on behalf of the green industry in Minnesota and nationwide during

quartets. Pederson and his wife Beverly have two sons and five grand-

his time with AmericanHort.”

children; they enjoy traveling and spending time with their family.

44

MNLA.BIZ february 20

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LAST WORD

LOOKING BACK ON 2019

❶

❷

❹ Highlights from MNLA.biz MNLA eNews, and the MNLA Foundation’s Research for the Real World

MNLA.BIZ february 20

❺

Top 10 MNLA.biz Pages: Top 10 eNews Stories: • Member Search • What’s Hot This Year: Top Five Landscape Trends for 2019 • Career Center • 3 Predictions for the Future of the Landscape Industry • High School Horticulture Curriculum • Millennials Rank Lawns as Top Home Priority • Event Calendar • Trend Watching: 12 Landscape Design Trends from the UK • MNLA Certified Professionals • Spring 2020 Landscape Color Trends • Save Money • Millennials Are the Customers You’ve Been Waiting For • MNLA Exchange • Natives Versus Nativars: What’s the Difference and Why Does It Matter?

• Value of Membership • 2019 Trends in Garden Design • MnDOLI Power Limited Technicians • MN Accreditation to Test/Inspect Backflow Prevention • About MNLA • New Labor Standards and Wage Theft Law

Highlights from Research for the Real World: • A Water-Efficient Alternative to Overhead Mist — Aug: Submist shows promise as a viable alternative to overhead mist for rooting herbaceous stem cuttings.

• Canine Employees: Plant Pest Detection Using Sniffer Dogs — Feb: Exploring the use of dogs as an effective pest detection method.

• Are Impatiens Walleriana Ready to Rebound? — Apr: Research on impatiens downy mildew resistance may soon yield a comeback for this former top bedding plant.

• EAB Infestation Spreads — May: A report on the new discovery in Stearns County and how this issue continues to affect Minnesota.

• Cold Hardiness List Updated — Mar: An update on the 2019 Cold Hardiness List now available through MDA. 46

❸

Captions & Credits: 1. Coleuses are easily propagated by seed and from cuttings.

2. Trained, scent-discriminating canines have the potential to detect plant diseases and pests. 3. New selections of impatiens downy mildew-resistant varieties of true Impatiens walleriana will soon be available. 4. Treating healthy ash trees to protect them from EAB maintain the many benefits provided by existing, mature ash trees. 5. Hydrangea anomala subsp. Petiolaris – Main Stem & Bark. All photos courtesy of James Calkins.

Partner with the MNLA Foundation INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF THE GREEN INDUSTRY

Your investments to the MNLA Foundation have a real impact on getting students interested and involved in the green industry.

Please partner with the Foundation this coming year to help make a greater impact for the good of your company and the green industry!

JULY 22ND

SEPTEMBER 22ND

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JANUARY 15TH, 2021

Sponsor Student Scholarships • Pledge $500 for a college student, the Foundation will match it with another $500.

• Pledge $250 for a high school student, the Foundation will match it with another $250.

Northern Green 2021 Minneapolis Convention Center • Donate items to the Silent Auction.

• Donate bottles of spirits to the Bottle Pull.

PARTNERS FUND Contribute to the Research & Education Partners Fund at a participating supplier. Your voluntary donation of ¼ of 1% on purchases is used to grow a brighter future for the industry, supporting Research for the Real World, Career Development & Promotion, and Scholarships. Thanks to these Partner Suppliers: TM

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Estate Plan or giving a donation yearly at the time of your MNLA Business Member Dues Renewal.  Donate surplus materials to the MNLA Foundation Surplus Auctions.  Donate materials for student hands-on school agriculture projects.  Give a talk at your community high school or attend career fairs to spread the word about the green industry.

Get involved today! Contact Paulette Sorenson at 651-633-4987 or email paulette@mnla.biz.

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