February 4 2022 Working for You

F E B R U A R Y

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Working for You TNLA E-NEWSLETTER

WE HAVE A RECORD OF CULTIVATING SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES

Board Nominations

Emergency Plan

H-2B Visas

Who do you know that has what it takes to be a TNLA leader?

A step by step guide for your Green Industry business

Get Expert Information from TNLA

TEXAS NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

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TNLA Updates Check Out the Fun we had at the TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum!

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Board Nominations Seeking Candidates by April 1, 2022

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TNLA Tailgate Topics Preparing an Emergency Response Plan

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Abstracts From The 1st TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum Master Classes Competition winners' abstracts from the Lone Star Hort Forum Master Classes

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TNLA Advocacy Report Supplemental H-2B Visas Rule Released

AD INDEX Inside Front Cover: OHP, Inc.

Inside Back Cover: Hotchkiss Insurance

06: Horizon

Back Cover: Gemplers

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TNLA

Updates Check Out the Fun we had at the TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum A few weeks ago TNLA conducted the TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum. We had a great time seeing familiar faces and making new connections over the three actionpacked days we spent together complete with TNLA CEU education offerings, tours, and celebrating this year’s winners at the TNLA Awards Festival. To see photos and download them from the event click here: https://kaylaprasekphotography.shootproof.com/gallery/1 7416603/

Make a Statement at EXPO Plans are underway right now for the 2022 Nursery/Landscape EXPO, August 10-12, 2022, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX. If you have not had a chance to reserve your booth space or are interested in branding your company with the help of EXPO’s sponsorship opportunities, don’t delay! Get in on the brand impressions and receive all the click rates you can now so buyers know whom to look out for this year. You can find more information about EXPO by clicking here: https://www.nurserylandscapeexpo.org/.

To select from this year’s sponsorship offerings visit here: https://s19.a2zinc.net/clients/TXNLA/NLE22/Public/spons orshipgallery.aspx?

ID=5052&sort=Price:%20High%20to%20Low

GOT USED POTS? You can help! Contact your local grower or wholesale supplier TODAY to discuss returning your extra pots.

Due to present supply shortages, certain wholesale and growing operations are looking for used pots in good condition.

You can

industry

help the

by contacting

your growers and suppliers NOW!

UPCOMING REGION MEETINGS TNLA Region IV, Feb. 16th, visit here for more information: https://www.tnlaonline.org/region-iv-dallas.html TNLA Region IV Day of Service, Feb. 19th, visit here for more information: https://www.tnlaonline.org/region-iv-dallas.html

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TEXAS NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

2022 Board of Directors Nominations Candidate Information: The Texas Nursery & Landscape Association (TNLA) is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2022 State Board of Directors. The Call for Nominations is now open and seeking candidates for the positions of: ​

State Region Directors Region I, II, III, VI, VIII State Directors To be eligible for election as a State Region Director, an individual must be employed by or own a company that has been a TNLA member in good standing of the Association for at least two years immediately preceding election.

State Business Category

State Region Director Job Description State Business Category Job Description (Retail Director) Criteria TNLA Code of Ethics

Nomination Form (download the appropriate form using links below) State Region Director State Retail Director Deadline for Nominations: April 1, 2022 Submit completed nomination forms by emailing them to info@tnlaonline.org or mail them to 715 Discovery Blvd Suite 109 | Cedar Park, TX 78613

State Retail Director To be eligible for election as a Business Category Director, an individual must be employed by or own a company that has been a member in good standing of the Association for at least two years immediately preceding election and hold a TNLA membership in the business category they seek election.

Service on the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association Board of Directors (TNLA) is a chance to help drive the decisions of the association and shape the future of the industry. The opportunity to work with other leaders in the association allows you to be part of the decision-making process on the state level, driving the strategic goals of the organization. This is an exciting time to join the leadership of the Association and help map the future of TNLA. For more information concerning the responsibilities associated with positions listed above, click the links at the bottom of this page. Candidates must meet a professional standard of excellence and adhere to the TNLA Code of Ethics.

Help lead your association and profession into the future by nominating a colleague or yourself. The Call for Nominations closes on April 1, 2022.

New board members take office July 1, 2022.

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TNLA TAILGATE TOPICS

PREPARING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN Objective: Fully complete an emergency response plan for your company with the help of all employees and through practice.

APPLICATION: Follow the steps below to begin creating or completing an emergency response plan for your company.

Take all employees' needs/concerns into consideration.

Prior to completing the plan, have employees practice responding to an emergency to see if any changes need to be made.

Preparing an Emergency Response Plan is highly valuable because it could possibly save your business, a life, or the environment of your community. Preparation should include input from all employees. Once a plan has been put in place, it should be made available to current and future employees and emergency response units.

Step #1: Identify Potential Hazards Conduct hazardous assessment by examining equipment, chemicals/pesticides, and the spaces and places in which potentially hazardous actives could take place. Use this information to address ways to remove the hazard from work areas.

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Step #2: Practice Responding to an Emergency Practice responding to all types of emergencies, including spills, fires, and accidents. You should be able to locate needed personal protective equipment, spill kits, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits. It is important to know how to use these items and to recognize when the situation is beyond their control. Post essential emergency phone numbers.

Step #3: Write an Emergency Response Plan Complete a response plan for your company that includes input from all employees. Once completed, the plan should be updated on a regular basis. It is strongly suggested having an emergcny mailbox on site to store information for emergency response units who may respond while no on is on the property.The response plan should include the following: Who to contact in an emergency Where employees should rendezvous if evacuated Types of chemicals stored on-site Precise locations of chemical storage areas A site map of your property and facilities Assigned duties for each employee

LONE STAR HORT FORM

Abstracts From The 1st TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum Master Classes BS Student Competition Winners 1st Place- Gretchen Plocek. Texas Tech University. ‘The Effects of Salinity on Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) and Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Microgreens’ The Effects of Salinity on Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) and Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Microgreens. Gretchen Plocek*

Below: Nine Texas Tech University students led by Dr. Catherine Simpson (front, L2) and Dr. Vikram Baliga (back, R3) participated in student competitions at the Lone Star Hort Forum.

and Catherine Simpson, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409. (gplocek@ttu.edu) Saline water has become an increasing problem in agriculture.

The total dissolved solids (TDS) level in Texas has been observed in excess of the TCEQ upper limit of 1,000 ppm of salts.

Irrigating crops with saline water can cause osmotic stress, reduce plant yield, and, in severe cases, cause crop failure.

Different species of crop plants also have differing salinity tolerances ranging from sensitive to highly tolerant. Knowledge of these categories are important for sprout and microgreen cultivation as these tender plants generally have a lower tolerance for stress. The goal of this experiment is to compare the physiological and chemical effects of saline water on Brassica oleraceae (broccoli, moderately tolerant) and Portulaca oleracea (purslane, highly tolerant) microgreens. Both varieties of microgreens were cultivated under the same conditions and irrigated with a salinity treatment ranging from 0 dS/m to 1.5 dS/m. Once harvested, each sample was analyzed for fresh/dry weight yields to evaluate physiological effects. Vitamin C and proline content were also analyzed. The results show no effect on dry weight for either broccoli or purslane. There was an increase in fresh weight for broccoli irrigated with 1 dS/m in one of the trials.

These results indicate that salinity levels commonly found in tap water have no negative effects on microgreen growth, and in some cases, some increases in yield were found.

MS Student Competition Winners 1st Place- Mason Marshall. Texas A&M University. ‘Efficacy of Plant Growth Regulator Applications on 'Sunfinity' Sunflower’ 2nd Place- Kamron Newberry. Texas Tech University. ‘Comparing Hydroponic and Aeroponic Lettuce Production’ 3rd Place- Emily Stamm. Texas Tech University. ‘Impacts of Carbamazepine Rates on Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata) Growth in Hydroponics Systems’

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Below: Texas Tech University Student Competition winners.

LONE STAR HORT FORM

Abstracts From The 1st TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum Master Classes cont.

MS Student Competition

2nd Place- Kamron Newberry. Texas Tech University.

1st Place- Mason Marshall. Texas A&M University. ‘Efficacy of

‘Comparing Hydroponic and Aeroponic Lettuce Production’

Plant Growth Regulator Applications on 'Sunfinity' Sunflower’

Comparing Hydroponic and Aeroponic Lettuce Production.

Efficacy of Plant Growth Regulator Applications on 'Sunfinity'

Kamron Newberry, Vikram Baliga, and Catherine Simpson,

Sunflower. Mason Marshall*1, Terri Starman1, H. Brent

Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University,

Pemberton2, Calvin Trostle3, 1 Department of Horticultural

Lubbock, TX 79409 (Kamron.Newberry@ttu.edu)

Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2 Texas

As the world population increases and the amount of arable land

A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and

decreases, controlled environment agriculture (CEA) could serve

Extension Center, Overton, TX, 3 Texas A&M AgriLife Research

as a solution for this impeding problem. CEA utilizes mainly

and Extension, Lubbock, TX, USA (masonmarshall@tamu.edu)

soilless production systems that allow the grower to apply the

‘Sunfinity’ is a new ornamental Helianthus hybrid (sunflower) that

exact nutrient concentration and water needed by the plant to the

exhibits improved branching habit, indeterminate growth, and

root zone in the form of a diluted solution over a scheduled

increased inflorescences. To cultivate a marketable plant,

period. Hydroponics and Aeroponics are some examples of

‘Sunfinity’ plant height and width must be controlled during early

soilless production systems. The objectives of this study were to

production due to its natural growth habit. Recommended rates

build and design an Aeroponic system and deep water hydroponic

and mixtures for plant growth regulators (PGRs) need to be

system then compare the two production systems. Ten Lactuca

developed for grower guidelines. PGRs were applied through a

sativa cv. ‘White Boston’ seeds were sown into rock wool and

drench or foliar spray. A foliar spray tank mix of 3500/1250 mg L-

grown for 53 days until they reached maturity. The Aeroponic

1 Daminozide (B-Nine) + Chlormequat Chloride (Cycocel)

system produced double the amount of biomass and more

decreased overall plant height to 29 cm. A delay in flowering time

extensive root systems when compared with the hydroponic

by five days was recorded, but the treatment did not adversely

system. Nutrient concentration was very similar between both the

affect flower size. A foliar treatment of 50 mg L-1 Paclobutrazol

Aeroponic and hydroponic systems; however, sulfur (S), zinc

(Bonzi) resulted in plant height similar to the control (63 cm),

(Zn), and iron (Fe) were found in significantly higher amounts in

while a substrate drench of 5 mg L-1 Paclobutrazol decreased

the Aeroponic system. This could be attributed to the larger

plant height to 43 cm. Applied properly, tank mixing of B-Nine and

overall root mass in the Aeroponic system. Water use efficiency

Cycocel provides ‘Sunfinity’ sunflowers with an ideal growth habit

was numerically higher in the Aeroponic system; however, the

that is compact and aesthetically desirable.

Aeroponic system used double the amount of water than the hydroponic system did. This was expected because the Aeroponic system produced double the yield and needed more water to produce that biomass. Overall, the Aeroponic system outperformed the hydroponic system when growing lettuce. More research needs to be done to determine how well the Aeroponic system compares to a hydroponic system when scaled up to commercial size.

Left: 1st Place-Mason Marshall. Texas A&M University.

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LONE STAR HORT FORM

Abstracts From The 1st TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum Master Classes cont.

3rd Place- Emily Stamm. Texas Tech University. ‘Impacts of

Ph.D. Student Competition

Carbamazepine Rates on Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata)

1st Place- Bin Wu. Texas A&M University. ‘Real-time Monitoring

Growth in Hydroponics Systems’

System of Feeding Behavior Study Combined with Computational

Impacts of Carbamazepine Rates on Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var.

Analysis Provides Critical Answer to the 'To Eat, or Not to Eat"

capitata) Growth in Hydroponics Systems. Emily Stamm*1, ,

Question for Crapemyrtle Bark Scale’

Clinton Williams2, Cade Coldren1, Catherine Simpson1,

Real-time Monitoring System of Feeding Behavior Study

Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University,

Combined with Computational Analysis Provides Critical Answer

Lubbock, TX 79409, 2US Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center,

to the 'To Eat, or Not to Eat" Question for Crapemyrtle Bark

21881 North Cardon Lane, Maricopa, AZ 85138.

Scale. Bin Wu*1,2, Runshi Xie1,2, Elizabeth Chun2, Gary W.

(emstamm@ttu.edu)

Knox3, Mengmeng Gu4, Hongmin Qin2. 1Department of

As water security becomes a more substantial threat to our

Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX

population, alternative water sources have been considered and

77843, 2Department of Biology, Texas A&M Univ., College

studied. Reclaimed wastewater from wastewater treatment

Station, TX 77843, 3Department of Environmental Horticulture,

facilities (WWTF) has become the primary alternative to potable

Univ. of Florida/IFAS North Florida Research and Education

water. A concern with reclaimed wastewater is that there may be

Center, Quincy, FL 32351, 4Department of Horticultural Sciences,

contaminants that are resistant to degradation and filtration.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, College Station, TX

Contaminants of emerging concern (CEC’s) include

77843. (hqin@bio.tamu.edu)

pharmaceuticals as well as other chemical compounds. The focus

As an invasive sap feeder, crapemyrtle bark scale (CMBS

of this study is to determine how much of a specific

(Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae)) has spread across 16 U.S.

pharmaceutical is taken up by edible crops by mathematically

states on ornamental plants, crops, and native species, posing a

modeling the pathway the CEC takes from the roots to the rest of

devastating potential threat to the Green Industry and

the plant. The pharmaceutical used in this study is

ecosystems. The chances of successfully eradicating this

carbamazepine (CBZ). Introduced in the 70’s, CBZ has been in

relatively new invader recede with time. It is time-pressured but

frequent use in the U.S. and is used most commonly as an anti-

imperative to obtain critical knowledge about this relatively newly

epileptic drug but can be used for other conditions such as

emerged insect to control its spread. Determining this insect's

bipolar I and trigeminal neuralgia. CBZ was selected as the

host plants guides the Green Industry better in minimizing the

pharmaceutical of this study because of its prevalent use and

application of the host plants. Unlike conventional methods to

resistance to degradation which results in CBZ’s persistence in

determine the hosts of sap-sucking insects, time-saving

the environment. WWTF were designed and built prior to the

approaches to confirm the hosts are in great need. Here, we used

knowledge of CEC’s and as a result the WWTF are ill-equipped to

a real-time feeding monitor technique, Electrical Penetration

filter out these CEC’s; only 7% of CBZ is filtered out during

Graph (EPG), to track this insect's stylet penetration in a plant for

wastewater treatments. It has been shown that pharmaceuticals,

rapidly assessing the plant’s susceptibility to CMBS. To extract

such as CBZ, have been found in edible crops at varying

the electrical waveforms of CMBS's feeding activities quickly and

concentrations. This is concerning as we do not know how these

accurately with less human input, we developed an application (a

CEC’s will affect humans, animals, and the environment long

web version and a software version) by modifying the R

term. Because of its success in hydroponic conditions and

programming packages to identify and characterize them

because it has been shown to take in CEC’s, lettuce

semiautomatically. Based on the comparison results about the

(buttercrunch) was selected as the edible crop in this study.

CMBS's feeding waveforms on eight different plant species, we found that the occurrences of waveform E and waveform G could be vital evidence to unveil host plants rapidly.

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LONE STAR HORT FORM

Abstracts From The 1st TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum Master Classes cont.

Moreover, feeding behavior details on the plants having different

3rd Place-Aqeela Sehrish. Texas Tech Univ. ‘Effect of Seed

suitability levels improved the understanding of the CMBS-plant

Treatments on Physiology and Nutrition of Cotton Seedlings’

interaction, which would help develop the integrated pest

Effect of Seed Treatments on Physiology and Nutrition of Cotton

management for CMBS.

Seedlings. Aqeela Sehrish1*, Catherine R. Simpson1, Megha N. Parajulee2, Suhas S. Vyavhare2, Cade L. Coldren1, and Haydee

2nd Place- Runshi Xie. Texas A&M University. ‘Life Table

E. Laza1. 1Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech

Construction for Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Acanthococcus

Univ., Lubbock, TX 79410, 2Texas A&M AgriLife Research &

lagerstroemiae) and its Application in Evaluating the Effect of

Extension Center at Lubbock, Lubbock, TX 79403.

Different Plant Nutrient Conditions on Insect Performance’

(aqeela.sehrish@ttu.edu)

Life Table Construction for Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) and its Application in Evaluating the Effect of Different Plant Nutrient Conditions on Insect Performance. Runshi Xie*1,3, Bin Wu1,3, Mengmeng Gu1,2, and Hongmin Qin3, 1Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843, USA, 2Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, College Station, TX 77843, 3Department of Biology, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843. (hqin@bio.tamu.edu) Crapemyrtle Bark Scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae; CMBS) is an invasive pest species that primarily infest crapemyrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) in the United States. Recent reports have revealed the dire threat of CMBS to attack the U.S. native species such as American beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.) and Hypericum kalmianum L. (St. Johnswort). A better understanding of plant-insect interaction could provide alternative pest management strategies, thus increasing the effectiveness in controlling this pest insect. Therefore, we constructed the first comprehensive life table for CMBS to characterize CMBS

Above: 1st Place- Bin Wu. Texas A&M University.

Ph.D. Student Competition Below: 2nd Place- Runshi Xie. Texas A&M University. Ph.D. Student Competition

biological parameters, including developmental stages, reproductive behavior, and fecundity. Through the life table study, we also evaluated the effects of host plant physiological conditions on the development of the CMBS life cycle. The indirect effect of three plant nutrient conditions (water, 0.01 MS, and 0.1 MS) on CMBS populations was examined using the agestage, two-sex life table. The demographic analyses revealed that the plant nutrient conditions had significantly altered CMBS development in terms of the intrinsic rate of increase (r), the finite rate of increase (λ), the net reproductive rate (R0), and mean generation time (T).

Higher r, λ, and R0 were recorded under nutrient-deficient conditions (water), while CMBS reared on plants with healthier growing conditions (0.1 MS) had the most prolonged T.

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TNLA

ADVOCACY REPORT 9

City of Austin Developing New Landscape and Irrigation Ordinance The City of Austin announced its intention to develop a new water conservation ordinance regulating the installation of landscape and irrigation in new residential landscapes. The city will be conducting a series of stakeholder and public meetings to gather input from the community in the development of these regulations. The ordinance could potentially limit the size of residential irrigation systems, ban non-native or adapted plants and grasses, limit the size of grass in yards.

February 10th at 7 pm is the first stakeholder meeting to be conducted virtually. TNLA is encouraging local landscape contractors to become involved in the process to make sure the industry has its voice heard.

You can register at https://www.speakupaustin.org/irrigation-andlandscape-ordinance-update-for-single-familyresidential Supplemental H-2B Visas Rule Released The DOL and DHS have announced their rule to release 20,000 additional H-2B visas for the first half cap. The H-2B program has seen historic increase in demand of the visas available in this year. Of the 20,000 going to be released, 13,500 visas are allotted for returning workers from the past 3 years.

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TNLA

ADVOCACY REPORT continued

The remaining 6,500 visas are dedicated to the northern Central American companies and Haiti.

You can find the full rule here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/ 01/28/2022-01866/exercise-of-time-limitedauthority-to-increase-the-fiscal-year-2022numerical-limitation-for-the While the release of 20,000 supplemental visas for the first half cap is very promising, our coalition is going to be pushing for another release on the second half cap as well. In addition, long-term cap relief remains the objective to avoid this year-in-year-out fight. You can visit the TNLA Legislative Action Center at https://www.votervoice.net/TNLA/Home TNLA Heading to Washington D.C. A delegation of TNLA members is heading to Washington D.C. in the next two weeks and will be meeting with members of the Texas congressional delegation. Key issues we will be focusing on include H-2B cap relief, pesticide regulations, and helping the industry deal with electric equipment mandates.

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TAMU Crapemyrtle Bark Scale Q&A Register at Meeting Registration - Zoom For more information contact mgu@tamu.edu How to participate: Our Crapemyrtle Bark Scale Team has recorded many webinar videos available at www.stopcmbs.com, especially the following: • 2020. CRAPEMYRTLE BARK SCALE-CHEMICAL CONTROL. • 2020. CRAPEMYRTLE BARK SCALE-POLLINATORS & BENEFICIALS. • 2020. CRAPEMYRTLE BARK SCALE-MECHANICAL CONTROL AND BIOPESTICIDES. • 2014. CURRENT SITUATION ON CRAPE MYRTLE BARK SCALE. We encourage you to watch these videos and send all questions to mgu@tamu.edu, preferably before Feb. 14. That’ll give our team plenty of time to prepare for the questions.

TNLA Career Center Update!

Check out these great opportunities!

Production Assistant Manager Glueck Tree Farm Cat Spring, Texas

Landscape Designer Colorful Impressions, LTD Dallas, Texas

Purchasing Manager LMI Landscapes, Inc. Carrollton, Texas

Second Assistant Golf Course Superintendent The University of Texas Golf Club Austin, Texas

Head Horitculturalist Austin Country Club Austin, Texas Part-Time Office Coordinator Fannin Tree Farm Frisco, Texas

Landscape Services Supervisor Sam Houston State University Huntsville, Texas

Head to https://careers.tnlaonline.org/jobs/ for more details!

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