Market Trends: March 1999

Walk-behinds Lead The Way

A survey of lawn maintenance professionals shed some light on contractors' buying habits when purchasing mowers based on deck size.

The percentage of companies using at least one mower that has a deck size smaller than 35 inches is 58.1 percent. Falling a bit from this top slot is the percentage of companies (56.8 percent) using a walk behind with a 40- to 54-inch deck size. Coming is third with 44.3 percent is the amount of companies using at least one walk-behind of 35 to 39 inches. Walk-behind mowers with deck sizes larger than 54 inches finished with 10.2 percent.

The number-one spot for riding mowers tied at 34.1 percent for both 45- to 54-inch and 55- to 61-inch decks. Following this, 23.9 percent of companies are using at least one mower that has a deck size smaller than 44 inches. Those riding mowers with decks larger than 61 inches are being used by 20.5 percent of companies.

EPA Moves Forward With FQPA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite controversy and doubts surrounding the administration of the Food Quality Protection Act, passed in August 1996, the program is seemingly moving forward with few disruptions to its plan.

The Environmental Protection Agency is on schedule to have one-third of the 9,000 tolerance reassessments completed by August 1999 without dropping organophosphates. FQPA calls for the 9,000 plus pesticide uses to be reviewed over 10 years with the first one-third to be done by August.

To reach this lofty goal, however, the EPA must rely on existing exposure data or its own “ultra-conservative” worst case scenarios. Neither course of action sits well with green industry officials.

Initial concerns by the green industry surround the use of sound science by the EPA. Pesticide manufacturers have long held the obligation and responsibility to submit mountains of data and use assessments before being granted registration from the EPA.

Political agendas have also been a concern to industry officials, although two recent resignations – EPA administrator Carol Browner and EPA Assistant Administrator Lyn Goldman – leave vacancies in the oversight of the EPA.

From the beginning, implementation of the FQPA did not bode well for the industry because of the lack of rules and guidance to the pesticide supplying community and the use of exaggerated assumptions about risk including a proposal to cancel organophosphates.

Led by the Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, task teams were established to lobby Congress and the EPA, to configure a major grassroots effort and aggressive industry media campaign.

Two strategies of green industry groups remain: delaying the reassessment of existing tolerances until the completion of the notice and comment period by the EPA and muster comments from the supplier, user, academic, state regulatory and international communities.

“BHI has made substantial progress in the facilities services division in the last nine months, including 11 acquisitions that added $58 million in revenue; introducing a call center in Florida; and improving margins,” said Michael Ashcroft, BHI chairman and CEO. One of these acquisitions was in the landscape industry – Keller Landscape in Florida. BHI provides janitorial, landscaping, security services, general repair and maintenance and other specialized services to commercial, institutional and industrial accounts.