Open Register

Nursery research funding could be cut

ANLA is urging members to ask Congress for continued funding of floriculture and nursery research. The association expects that 2009 will be a difficult year for securing funds. Retailers can take action by filling out this online form.

-- Sarah

Help the Georgia green industry make it through spring

The drought in Georgia has shaken state and local officials. Their reaction was to enact a strict ban on all outdoor watering. By early December 2007, the restrictions contributed to unemployment of about half the green industry.

Sherry Loudermilk, executive director of the Georgia Green Industry Association, and many others have been lobbying on several fronts to save the industry. Their campaigning led to the watering ban being lifted at the state level in February.

However, the public is still reluctant to garden. The Georgia green industry has decided a publicity campaign is needed to teach homeowners that gardening is safe and can actually help with drought, if done responsibly. For that, funds are needed.

Keep reading to see Loudermilk’s letter to GGIA members and supporters. A link to the donation form is included.

-- Carol

Garden center exec enters congressional race

Walt Minnick, chairman of the SummerWinds Garden Centers chain, is running for a congressional seat in Idaho, the Idaho Press-Tribune reported. Minnick is 1 of 3 Democratic candidates vying for a win in the 2008 primaries.

-- Sarah

Taxes on Internet purchases eyed again

Congress is considering a new tax system intended to create a “level playing field” for shoppers, businesses and governments, and to help states collect sales taxes not being charged on many Internet purchases. A separate measure calls for lawmakers to decide whether to let a temporary ban on Internet access taxes continue when it expires Nov. 1.

Opponents, including National Taxpayers Union and Direct Marketing Association., say imposing additional taxes on consumers through the Internet is uncalled for because users already pay fees and other charges for Web service. Supporters, including Jewelers of America and the E-Fairness Coalition, say traditional retailers, as well as local governments and states, are losing out on big bucks as Internet sales continue to soar.

-- Kevin

Eisley’s Nursery under eminent domain threat

Anyone who regularly attends national industry events has probably met the Eisley crew. I see Earlene Eisley Freeman on most of the tours I attend. I first made a point of introducing myself because I was sure that with a name like Earlene and her friendly personality, she had to be from Texas (she’s not).

Located in Auburn, California, Eisley’s has been a popular institution in its community for 100 years. Since the family and staff make a point of attending retail tours and seminars, the store benefits from the extra ideas and knowledge. It’s kept clean, customer service is top notch and plants are healthy.

And, I found out when reading a post on The Golden Gecko blog, it has been labeled blighted by a consultant firm hired by the local city council this past spring.

The area near Eisley’s is currently undergoing a development project. The city wanted to expand the area of development by a few hundred acres, so it hired the firm.

The Eisleys, alarmed, started protesting. According to a local newspaper, word got around the community, angry phone calls to the town hall started, and petitioners to block the expansion showed up at the city council meetings in droves.

The city council has said it never intended to use eminent domain on Eisley’s. And when that assurance was not enough to calm the waters, it created a clause that the city could not use eminent domain to acquire a commercial business and turn it over to private developers.

How secure are you?
Even with the clause, it seems to me that Eisley’s is still at risk. How binding is the clause? What type of loopholes could a future council slip through? What security does the garden center have that, if it wished to build new structures or install expensive demonstration gardens, that it would not lose its store before paying off the loans?

Small businesses need to pay close attention to any local authority that has power over it. I know several people in the industry that regularly attend council meetings, some that make a point of befriending the members. Cory Bordine with Bordine Nursery in Michigan once said that he seriously considered running for the council so he could have more power to block rulings that hurt his business.

-- Carol

ANLA urges industry to weigh in on immigration

Senators need to hear from constituents in support of comprehensive immigration reform, said Craig Regelbrugge, American Nursery & Landscape Association’s vice president for government relations.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tabled reform debate earlier this month, citing the need for Republicans to gather more support for the legislation. Experts suggest that failure to achieve comprehensive reform will result in widespread nonfederal action, much of it targeting employers and immigrant employees.

“We will all be well-served by a system that is fair, rewards work and restores the rule of law,” Regelbrugge said.

USA Today reported that the Senate will likely revive the immigration bill and resume debate later this month.

-- Sarah

Eloquence (hopefully) equals action

OK, I know I said I’m very apolitical, but I can’t resist this one. I was flipping channels the other day when I skipped over CSPAN2. I glanced at the name bar and saw the speaker was Craig Regelbrugge. I kept going but my mind was racing – I knew that name. Wasn’t he a baseball commissioner?

I returned to the channel and realized, no that was Craig Regelbrugge of the American Nursery & Landscape Association. He was speaking on a topic drawing intense scrutiny – immigration and nursery workers.

I live in Texas, which is a veritable hotbed of controversy when it comes to immigration. A lot of people have a lot of ideas and are very vocal about them. Me being very apolitical, well, I choose to ignore them.

However, before I could hit the up channel button Mr. Regelbrugge’s absolute eloquence and passion for the topic ensnared me and literally held me captive through his whole talk. His words were not inflammatory nor were they condescending. He spoke plainly, with conviction and with common sense and compassion. For someone who’d been through near riots on this very subject it was a surprising eye-opener.

My point (yes, I have one) is that I think this topic could not have a better spokesperson for our industry with the government. I hope – okay, expect – very good things to come from his involvement.

Honestly, anyone who can make me watch CSPAN with avid interest and understanding gets my vote!

-- Jennifer