March 28, 2019 Issue #261
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Dear MNLGA Members:
Secretary Bartenfelder will be soon meeting with the Maryland Congressional Delegation and has asked for industry input before the meeting. Specifically, the meeting agenda will include the economic impact of labor shortages and inability of Maryland businesses to secure labor, in particularly H2B.
Please provide me your feedback/input as to
how your business is economically impacted due to your labor shortages and your inability to fully or partially secure the H2B workers that you requested.
Time is of the essence; please respond no later than
Monday, April 1 at
Vanessa@MNLGA.org.
I will compile responses and share with the Secretary. I will keep the name of your business in confidence, unless you expressly ask me to share it with the Secretary.
Please let me know if you’ve any questions.
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2018 Statistical Profile and Economic Survey -
If your business has not yet completed the 2018 Hort Industry Economic and Statistical survey, please do so as soon as possible and definitely before the end of April. This survey is very important for measuring the impact our businesses have across the state. The results give us power, including information for making future business plans, such as availability of markets and products, and hard data about the strength of the industry when working with financiers and legislators. I can not underestimate the importance of high participation in this survey to arm us with the most accurate reflection of Maryland’s horticulture industry. Please complete your survey. If you need the link or a paper copy, please contact BEACON at
beacon@salisbury.edu or via 410-546-6001. MNLGA has hired BEACON, the Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network at the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University, to issue, conduct, and compile the survey results. No one outside of statisticians at BEACON will have access to any individual responses. All responses will remain confidential.
Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine in DE, PA, and NJ – Quarantine permits will be strictly enforced beginning May 1! Our neighboring states have added staff to enforce quarantine compliance and trucks not displaying the quarantine permits will be stopped and fined. Please get your quarantine training; it's easy and relatively quick, online. Please visit the
DDA website at this link to view the specifics regarding the Delaware quarantine. For a refresher on the
PA and NJ quarantines, please visit this link; PA and NJ go hand-in-hand with quarantine training.
Sincerely,
Vanessa A. Finney
MNLGA, Executive Director
410-823-8684
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H2-A Compliance Webinar
In February, the UMD Ag Law Initiative hosted an H2-A Compliance Webinar. If you had any difficulty logging into the webinar or would like to view a recorded version, please see the link below.
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Box Tree Moth Findings Confirmed in Canada
HRI Press Release
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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed that box tree moth (BTM) was indeed found in three separate residential landscapes in Etobicoke, Ontario, a Toronto neighborhood in fall 2018. CFIA plans to assess the extent of spread and determine whether this is a transient, or not fully established, pest or if it is more widely distributed. Surveys and outreach efforts to educate the local public are planned as well. Control measures and future plans for delimitation will be coordinated among CFIA, the Ministry of Ontario, and the boxwood industry.
APHIS is still evaluating the need for a Federal Order requiring certification of boxwood entering the US from Canada; however, a Pest Alert bulletin was issued to ports of entry. Surveillance and monitoring along the border in addition to entry points will be heightened. Researchers are unsure how quickly BTM will spread in the US. Box tree forests do not exist here; so, less host material may (hopefully) translate to slower or less spread.
Read the full Press Release.
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Special Alert on Spotted Lanternfly
Special IPM Alert for UME
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From Stanton Gill: We are receiving many e-mails and calls from horticulture operations in Maryland concerned about the spotted lanternfly. Most of you are well aware that this insect has become a major issue for the southeastern portion of Pennsylvania. It is now confirmed in Maryland and the northwestern part of Virginia. On May 26, 2018, Pennsylvania instituted a quarantine for counties in the southeastern part of PA. The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (White), is an invasive planthopper native to China, India, and Vietnam. It was first discovered in Pennsylvania in Berks County back in 2012 and the spread has been rather rapid.
The University of Maryland Extension, through support of MNLGA, and efforts of Mary Kay Malinoski, printed up color cards with the various life stages to help your employees recognize the various life stages. You and your employees should be alert, looking for egg masses on anything shipped in from quarantine areas of Pennsylvania. Contact us if you need a copy of the color spotted lanternfly ID cards. If you find anything suspicious, then report it to MDA at
DontBug.MD@Maryland.gov.
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Job Posting Alert - MDA
MDA is hiring for spotted lanternfly
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H2B Rally Information - April 9th
Please see the information below regarding an H2B Rally that one of our MNGLA members has shared with us. This event is sponsored by the SEA (Seasonal Employment Alliance). The event will be held on April 9th at the House Triangle in Washington, DC.
Please see the flyer for more information.
Soil Conservation District Annual Report Available
2018 Annual Report Available
The Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD) has released its 2018 annual report titled, Pulling Our Weight for the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup. The report highlights how Maryland’s 24 soil conservation districts are helping farmers protect natural resources on their farms for a cleaner, healthier Chesapeake Bay. For a copy of the report, contact Lindsay Thompson at 443-262-8491 or
lindsay.mdag@gmail.com.
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The Agricultural Trucking Relief Act of 2019 - AmericanHort
Please see the information below shared with the MNLGA from Tal Coley of AmericanHort.
Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) recently released The Agricultural Trucking Relief Act of 2019 (H.R. 1673) — a bill that AmericanHort has been helping with since it was first introduced last session. The bill addresses the conundrum around the ag exemption associated with the ELD mandate, by specifically including horticulture and floriculture in the definition for an “agricultural commodity” as it pertains to transportation policy.
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New MDA Site for Registering Nursery Locations for Spray Drift Prevention
This new site is a voluntary communication tool that enables crop producers, beekeepers, and pesticide applicators to work together to protect specialty crops and apiaries through use of mapping programs. It is not a substitute for any state regulatory requirements.
Learn More.
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MD Turfgrass Association Jim Claxton Scholarship
Submit Applications by 5/31
The Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund was initiated during the Spring of 2011 in order to honor Jim and his contributions to the Mid-Atlantic area turfgrass industry and financially support students while pursuing a college degree.
Jim worked as a salesman for Newsom Seed from the early 1990's until soon before his passing on March 20, 2013. He made great contributions to turfgrass related businesses during this period, especially businesses involved in turf production.
The Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund allows for a single, annual $500.00 award to be issued to a winning applicant prior to the fall college semester.
Learn More and Apply Today.
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All About Maryland Festival: April 27 - 28
The Baltimore County Business Association reached out to the MNLGA to get some "green" involved in their All About Maryland Festival being held in April.
The festival will be showcasing the variety of talents we have in Maryland. Crafters, jewelers, artisans, retail and home services are welcome. The main requirement is that your business is based in Maryland or features some Maryland themed products. 100+ Vendors will be at The All About Maryland Festival.
Visit the festival website or take a look at the
vendor flyer.
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AG Literacy Opportunities
New Ways to Participate in the Ag Literacy Program
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George Mayo would like to share the following information: This Ag in the Classroom program seeks to instill in Maryland students the importance of agriculture in their daily lives. Any group or individual wishing to promote agriculture is invited to participate – Farmer Bureau members, FFA students, Young Farmers, Commodity group leaders, retirees, or interested individuals.
Literacy Volunteers set up a time to visit in a nearby school and read to students in grades K-3. Following the reading of the book, volunteers conduct an activity with the students and share their experiences in agriculture. The book is then left in the classroom or media center.
For more information or to order a book for $10, contact Jeanne Mueller at
jmueller@maefonline.com or 410-848-4745.
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