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Author: Missy Henriksen

Issue Brief: 2018 predictions

Looking into government relations for the upcoming year, we see the ripple effects of the election of President Donald Trump working their way through the regulatory state. If your business relies on the H-2B seasonal guest-worker program, you can anticipate much more competition for the 66,000 available visas. We continue to work for visa cap […]

Issue Brief: Workforce efforts

It may at times seem like there’s no help in sight for the chronic workforce shortage that most industry companies face. But many groups and associations have been working on state and local initiatives to help attract new workers to the industry. In October, the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) hosted 40 executives from […]

Issue Brief: Maryland victory

Recently, the industry had a major victory in the fight to allow professionals to manage landscapes according to best practices and federal and state regulations and not at the whim of local cities, townships or counties. Two years ago the industry was rocked by a ban in Montgomery County, Md., that forbid the use of […]

Issue Brief: Long, hot summer in D.C.

This summer, Congress has many difficult challenges ahead. President Trump’s budget proposal is one of the most daunting. The 2,000-page proposal outlines a $4.1 trillion 2018 budget request. Total spending is projected to be $4.1 trillion while total revenue is projected to be $3.7 trillion, leaving a $440 billion deficit in 2018. The budget also […]

H-2B: Why you should care

Even if you don’t rely on guest workers through the H-2B visa program, you may find it helpful to be familiar with the program and how you can help. Access to a reliable, stable workforce is important to the future of the industry. The program is once again a source of consternation. In 2016 Congress […]

Issue Brief: Advocate in your state

All the focus is on Washington these days, and it’s easy to think that all the big, important decisions happen there. But every year, our state legislators take on thousands of issues. Much of their work occurs over a frantic six-month period. During this time frame, elected officials in state Capitols throughout our country make […]

Why preemption matters

Preemption can greatly affect your business, yet not everyone knows what it is. And since it’s different in every community, it isn’t on all contractors’ radars the way it should be. What if you had different rules in each town or county about whether or not you could use pesticides on lawns and trees? What […]

Why the industry’s lobbying efforts need support

Whether it’s the halls of Congress, our state capitals or on the community level, our industry is being targeted frequently. Now more than ever, it’s important for industry members be proactive on the advocacy front. Effective advocacy is about building relationships, and Political Action Committees (PACs), are perhaps the most vital tools we have to […]

Promoting the benefits of landscapes is crucial

In some communities, managed landscapes are under attack—by leaf blower or other noise bans, pesticide bans, code changes, water restrictions or other regulations. If this isn’t happening in your area right now, it may happen in the future. At the very least, the contributions of landscape and lawn care companies are under-appreciated and undervalued. People […]

New OSHA Rules affect D/B firms

Keeping up with all the federal, state and local safety regulations can be a big task. If your company does design/build work involving silica-containing concrete and stone, it’s important to look at the new Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) rule. If you drill, cut, crush or grind silica-containing materials, the new rules require controls […]

Issue Brief: H-2B relief, sort of

In December, Congress authorized an omnibus spending bill, which provided H-2B relief for industries that rely on guest workers. Through Sept. 30 the bill exempts H-2B returning workers from the 66,000 annual cap; addresses H-2B wages and allows the use of private wage surveys; clearly defines “seasonal” as 10 months; and prevents the Department of Labor […]

Issue Brief: Local jurisdiction jabs

Imagine if you had to follow different rules for pesticide and fertilizer application in every county and city in which you operate. That could happen if local communities were all able to create their own rules. Most states have some level of pesticide or fertilizer preemption laws, which means that local jurisdictions can’t create their […]

Issue Brief: Detrimental overtime rule in the works

You’ve probably heard about the new overtime rule that’s been proposed by the Department of Labor (DOL). The proposed rule would increase the minimum salary to qualify as an exempt employee from $23,660 per year to $50,440 per year. That would mean that any employee who makes less than $50,440 a year would be qualified […]

Attacks on managed landscapes gain traction

Historically, our industry has come under attack on various issues, including our equipment’s noise or carbon output; the inputs we use, which are EPA regulated and approved; our water use; and the use of turf, itself. The West’s drought exposed the industry to even more attacks. Water for landscapes is cited as the single biggest […]

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