Home > News > News You Need To Know > May 2009
Fertilizer Application Regulation
May 26, 2009
A bill that would require commercial fertilizer applicators to have a best management practices certification to use fertilizer in urban landscapes has passed the Florida state legislature and is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
Hillsborough Has $18 Million In Grower Grants
May 26, 2009
Do you have an idea for a value-added agricultural product and need funding to get the project off the ground? The Hillsborough County Agriculture Industry Development Program is encouraging local farmers to take advantage of approximately $18 million in USDA funding to help enter into value-added activities.
Market Watch: Perennials
May 26, 2009
Rick Brown of Riverview Flower Farm says promoting the nursery business as “green” is a good thing.
AgJOBS Bill Making Comeback
May 21, 2009
Last week, Congress reintroduced the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits and Security Act, a two-part bill that would reform the H-2A worker program and offer illegal immigrant workers temporary legal status subject to strict restrictions.
South Florida Farms Take Water Restriction Hit
May 18, 2009
The South Florida Water Management District approved emergency restrictions last week that cut water rations by 45% for farmers drawing from Lake Okeechobee.
State Legislative Update
May 18, 2009
The Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association’s (FNGLA) lobbying team found as many victories in protecting our industry from bad legislation as it did rallying legislative support for new state laws to benefit our industry.
Market Watch: Tropical Plants
May 18, 2009
Lisa Phillips of Living Colors Nursery says retail markets can’t support a lot of high-end, difficult-to-maintain plants right now.
Florida Nursery Files For Bankruptcy
May 11, 2009
A Bradenton-based flower wholesaler filed for Chapter 12 reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Tampa. Court records show $190,600 in assets but nearly $1.18 million in liabilities.
Irrigation Option
May 11, 2009
The University of Florida Department of Environmental Horticulture has published a new 8-page fact sheet that informs growers about irrigating with water processed from municipal sewage wastewater, the results of evaluations of overhead sprinkler irrigation systems, where to get it, and special application procedures and cautions.
State Of The Floriculture Industry
May 11, 2009
Is the wholesale value of floriculture crops up or down? How about the number of floriculture producers? Where does Florida rank in floriculture production?
Market Watch: Palms
May 11, 2009
Mike Allen of Soaring Eagle Nursery says with many new building projects on hold, selling palms has become quite a challenge in the Florida market.
Dosatron Launches New Website
May 11, 2009
Clearwater, FL-based Dosatron International has launched a new version of their website showcasing a new design, organizational structure, and features like on-demand video, RSS feeds, and blogs.
New Orchid Enemy Found In Florida
May 4, 2009
University of Florida Insect Diagnostician Lyle Buss collected a specimen of the orchid mealybug (Pseudococcus dendrobiorum) on Phalaenopsis orchids in a Gainesville greenhouse on March 27. Not only is this the first find in Florida, it is the first finding of P. dendrobiorum in the Western Hemisphere.
Climate Change Pushing Plant Bloom Times?
May 4, 2009
A nationwide initiative known as Project Budburst is tracking climate change by recording the timing of flowers and foliage. The project has collected nearly 5,000 observations from students, gardeners, and others to give researchers information about the response of plants to our changing climate.
Chomping Chilli Thrips
May 4, 2009
