News

Small businesses eligible for health insurance tax credit
WASHINGTON – Small businesses can now apply for tax credits on money spent this year on health insurance for their employees.

The credit is one of the first health care reform provisions to go into effect. The credit, which takes effect this year, is designed to encourage small employers to offer health insurance coverage for the first time or maintain coverage they already have.
 
“We want to make sure small employers across the nation realize that – effective this tax year – they may be eligible for a valuable new tax credit,” says IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “We urge every small employer to take advantage of this credit if they qualify.”
 
In general, the credit is available to small employers who pay at least half the cost of single coverage for their employees in 2010. It’s specifically targeted to help small businesses and tax-exempt organizations that primarily employ low- and moderate-income workers.
 
For tax years 2010 to 2013, the maximum credit is 35 percent of premiums paid by eligible small business employers and 25 percent of premiums paid by eligible employers that are tax-exempt organizations. The maximum credit goes to smaller employers – those with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees – paying annual average wages of $25,000 or less. Because the eligibility rules are based in part on the number of FTEs, not the number of employees, businesses that use part-time help may qualify even if they employ more than 25 individuals. The credit is completely phased out for employers with 25 FTEs or more or pay average wages of $50,000 per year or more.
 
Eligible businesses can claim the credit as part of the general business credit starting with the 2010 income tax return they file in 2011. 
 
For more information, visit www.irs.gov.
 

ANLA launches new online job service
WASHINGTON – The American Nursery & Landscape Association has launched an interactive job board. With its focus on green industry companies, the ANLA Job Board offers its members, and the green industry at large, an easy-to-use resource for online employment connections. 

“We’re very excited about the ANLA Job Board because we know how critical it is for employers in the green industry to attract first-rate talent with a minimum expenditure of time and resources,” says ANLA President Tom Courtright. “This job board also allows future industry leaders to find career opportunities with premier green industry firms.”

While ANLA members receive preferred pricing, both members and non-members can use the board to reach qualified candidates. Employers can post jobs online, search for qualified candidates based on specific job criteria and create an online resume agent to e-mail qualified candidates daily. They also benefit from online reporting that provides job activity statistics.
 
For job seekers, the board is a free service that provides access to employers and jobs in the green industry. In addition to posting their resumes, job seekers can browse and view available jobs based on their criteria and save those jobs for later review if they choose. Job seekers can also create a search agent to provide e-mail notifications of jobs that match their criteria.
 
For additional information, contact ANLA Director of Member Services Amanda Flynn at aflynn@anla.org.

New ant guide available
CLEVELAND – Lawn & Landscape’s sister magazine has released the third edition of the “PCT Field Guide for the Management of Structure-Infesting Ants.”

Completely revised and updated, the guide is an essential educational resource for anyone managing ant infestations.

“To be without this field guide is akin to doing pest management without a flashlight,” said industry consultant Austin Frishman, AMF Pest Management Services, Boca Raton, Fla.
 
Unique behavioral characteristics, rapidly changing dietary needs and dozens of structure-infesting species all make control difficult. The guide was written to provide lawn care technicians with a handy resource they can access from their service vehicles for practical, up-to-date information on these challenging pests. Topics covered include:

• Basic Ant Biology
• Inspection Tips
• Successful Treatment Strategies
• Instant Ant Identification Guide
• Taxonomic Keys
• Full-Color Photo ID Section
• Emerging Ant Species

Author Stoy Hedges, manager of technical service, Terminix International, provides a thorough, updated review of the biology and behavior of ants, and has included new case studies from his extensive field experiences.

Perhaps the most significant revision is the inclusion of high-quality, four-color photos taken by Joe MacGown from the Mississippi Entomological Museum. MacGown used a digital microscope for the photos, which provide incredible detail of each ant species.

“The biggest challenge for our service professionals is the identification of the pests involved and this guide was written with the service professional in the field in mind, so that they can solve the problem as quickly as possible,” Hedges says.

This 325-page handy field guide is prices at $9.95 per copy; quantity discounts are available. 

For more information or to order visit www.lawnandlandscape.com/store or call 800-456-0707.

Stihl sees positive first-quarter sales increase
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Stihl’s first-quarter sales exceeded those of the previous year despite the softened handheld outdoor power equipment market.

“We are sensing that in a challenging economy, consumers want to buy reliable, long-lasting products to make their dollars go further,” says Stihl president Fred Whyte. “We are experiencing renewed optimism from our customers for continued economic recovery, and these results are certainly encouraging.”

Handheld sales were up 5 percent compared to the first quarter of 2009, which the company credits to its distribution channels and the release of new products.

STIHL employs more than 2,000 people in its manufacturing facility and branch offices in the U.S.

PBI/Gordon introduces Q4 Plus
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – PBI/Gordon Corp. introduces new Q4 Plus, an improved formulation of its grassy and broadleaf herbicide containing quinclorac. Previously sold as Q4 Turf Herbicide with 0.5 lbs./acre of quinclorac, the product has been reformulated with 0.75 lbs./acre and will be sold as Q4 Plus Turf Herbicide. The other ingredients – sulfentrazone + 2,4-D + dicamba – remain the same.

With the disappearance of MSMA from use on residential and commercial turf, new Q4 Plus offers the professional turf manager control of grassy weeds, says Doug Obermann, product manager for Gordon’s Professional Products.

The fast action of Q4 Plus gives visual results within 24 to 48 hours, the company says. Q4 Plus is formulated for use on bluegrasses, perennial and annual ryegrass, fescues and, now, bermudagrass.

The EPA approved the new label in December 2009 and state registrations are complete with the exception of California, which is pending.

Valent launches EAB project
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – In an effort to help combat emerald ash borer (EAB) and other invasive tree pests, Valent Professional Products has launched the Legacy Tree Project.

A multicity, multiyear project due to begin this spring in the Chicago area, the project aims to preserve the natural history and beauty of America’s native trees by providing solutions to control EAB populations.

Valent is soliciting applications for the Legacy Tree Project and will choose four Chicago-area cities suffering from EAB infestation as partners in the program.

Valent will then team with a local tree service company to treat a number of municipal ash trees and cover all treatment costs of the program for five years. 
 
Since it was first discovered in the Detroit area in 2002, the invasive Asian pest has killed tens of millions of ash trees in at least 13 states across the Midwestern and Eastern United States.

To learn more about Valent’s EAB program, visit www.facebook.com/pages/The-Legacy-Tree-Project.

For more on how you can control EAB, search “tree care guide” at www.lawnandlandscape.com.
 

IA partnership testing rainfall shutoff devices
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Rainfall shutoff devices are now eligible for Smart Water Application Technologies (SWAT) testing, offered in conjunction with the University of Florida under the direction of Michael Dukes, associate professor and irrigation specialist. 

An initiative of the Irrigation Association, SWAT is a partnership of water purveyors and irrigation industry representatives created to promote efficient landscape irrigation technologies through product performance testing.

Testing is expected to begin in early May. Initial draft protocols will be available for public review this summer; developers expect second drafts to be completed by the end of 2010.

To review protocols or for more information, visit www.swatirrigation.org .

Rain sensors join “smart” controllers (climate- and sensor-based) as the first two types of products available for testing.

Additionally, two new testing protocols are currently in development.

Register for ASLA annual meeting and expo
WASHINGTON – Registration is open for the ASLA 2010 Annual Meeting and EXPO, Sept. 10-13, in Washington, D.C. Plan now to join more than 6,000 landscape architecture professionals from around the world to network, to earn up to 21 Professional Development Hours and to reconnect with the fundamental elements of design. Register by July 1 and save $100.

For registration, travel and lodging details, visit www.asla.org. The theme for the meeting is “Earth Air Water Fire DESIGN.”

People in the News
Steve Morton of Cape Coral, Fla., and Beau Mastrine of Wooster, Ohio, have become the 127th and 128th grounds management professionals to successfully earn the Certified Grounds Manager (CGM) designation from the Professional Grounds Management Society. Morton is the landscape manager at Shell Point Retirement Community, Fort Myers, Fla. Mastrine currently serves as director of grounds at The College of Wooster (Ohio).

Ruppert Landscape is pleased to announce the promotion of Jason Kilmore to branch manager for the Frederick landscape management branch.

John Johnson has joined Valent Professional Products as national sales manager for its turf, LCO, ornamental and aquatics business.

Gehl Company has named Daniel L. Miller president. He will succeed Malcolm “Mac” F. Moore.

Ariens announced the following personnel changes to its executive team: Jeff Hebbard will assume the new role of president of Ariens Company Wholegoods Business. Bob Bradford is senior vice president of operations. John Horn  is vice president of sales – Ariens Wholegoods. Bill Engler was named director of sales – LSC, distributor and Industrial.

Stihl has appointed Casey McGrath as branch manager for Pacific Stihl, the Visalia, Calif., based branch of the company.