On May 19, 2015, the White House Pollinator Health Task Force released its "National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honeybees & other Pollinators." This strategy was issued along with a science based Pollinator Research Action Plan. Together they identify what needs to be done to understand pollinator losses, underlying causes, and how to support pollinator health. It also details actions that can be taken to achieve these goals.

Pollinator Week is June 15-21, 2015, and the landscape industry is part of this public initiative. Landscape companies can help consumers make the best decisions for their yards in order to support pollinator health. From building “drinking stations” for bees to using native plants in the yard, there are many things that homeowners can do to make their landscape a welcoming and healthy habitat for bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Sharing this information helps pollinators, makes consumers feel better about their landscape, and gives business owners a marketing opportunity.

We've assembled some facts and resources that companies can share with their customers.

PlantSelect® has much to offer for both the Colorado landscape industry and consumers. This spring, they launched a new logo, a new guide to plants that require fewer resources, and an upgraded web site.

The State of California has issued new regulations with regards to heat illness prevention, and it is possible that that these regulations may be eventually adopted nationally. With that in mind--and in the interest of the safety of your team--you should familiarize your supervisors and crews with information about safety in the hot summer months.

There are already regulations in place on a federal level from the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Following those regulations and using California's regulations as a guideline can help insure that your business will be in compliance and your employees will be safe.

The green industry is keenly aware of the public concern for the health of bees and other pollinators. It is responding with information, tools, and resources to help both landscape businesses and consumers make informed decisions.

This year, National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) issued Best Management Practices (BMPs) to Protect Pollinators, a list of practices recommended for landscape companies. The BMPs recommend an understanding of which plants attract pollinators and how to insure that those plants remain healthy pollinator habitats. 

Twitter has become a powerful tool for communications between legislators and their constituents. It allows citizens to communicate directly with their congressperson, city council, or other government officials about important and evolving issues. Grassroots efforts on Twitter can support advocacy efforts and affect change.

Interested in participating in advocacy from your computer or smartphone? It's as easy as opening your Twitter app.

On June 5, 2015, USCIS will reopen the congressionally mandated fiscal year (FY) 2015 cap and will accept Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, requesting new H-2B workers with an employment start date between April 1 and September 30, 2015.

New proposal from Environmental Protection Agency

EPA has posted to the Federal Register a document entitled “Proposal to Mitigate Exposure to Bees from Acutely Toxic Pesticide Products, Notice of Availability.” There is will be a 31-day comment period, ending June 29, 2015 on this proposal for changes to pesticide labeling.

BREAKING NEWS: Call for advocacy efforts

National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), of which ALCC is a member, issued the following legislative alert in response to the recently released Clean Water Act Rule:

Clean Water Rule finalized
Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army finalized the Clean Water Act Rule "to clearly protect from pollution and degradation the streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation’s water resources." The rule will be in effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.