ANLA Report to National Plant Board Craig J. Regelbrugge July 27, 2010 Indianapolis, IN

State of the Green Industry

State of the Industry Economic downturn, virtual standstill in new construction have sent shockwaves through nursery & landscape industry CA: three quarters of a billion dollars smaller For some, “perfect storm”… Pressures are being felt in association community as well

Issues For Today… Farm Bill progress to date IPPC Plants for Planting draft standard Chrysanthemum white rust Prenotification, traceability State nursery license reciprocity

Farm Bill ANLA/Bernie Kohl (Angelica Nurseries, MD) testified before House Ag subcommittee Key focus: – Sec – Sec – Specialty Crop Block Grants – Specialty Crop Research Initiative – Biomass Crop Assistance Program – Labor

Sec FY $50 million in funds Frederick, MD “retreat” Goal 4 – Safeguarding Nursery Production – Continue pilot harmonized certification for fruit trees. Pursue berries, possibly grapes – Continue other efforts to advance audit-based systems for nursery certification…multiple paths, or coordinated initiative

Sec NCPN “The NCPN could be considered the poster child for positive impact from inclusion of specialty crops funding in the latest Farm Bill. The NCPN has enabled nurseries to eliminate common virus from nursery stock and, at the same time, to monitor for exotic, invasive disease in a unique and innovative surveillance program. The NCPN is also providing a mechanism to update and harmonize state certification programs which will facilitate interstate commerce of “clean” nursery trees. Perhaps the most significant benefit of the establishment of the NCPN, however, is the maintenance and improvement of clean plant programs at Washington State University and the University of California as well as Clemson University in South Carolina. These programs provide essential disease testing and therapy for both domestic and imported fruit and grape varieties, and Farm Bill funding via the NCPN has been timely, and critically important to sustaining their survival.”

NCPN… Concerns include: – Making stable funding permanent – Pressure to expand to additional crops…will dilute effort unless appropriate funds secured

Chrysanthemum White Rust

Options Going Forward Maintain status quo Deregulation Regulated non-quarantine pest status – Regulate at the propagator (cuttings only) level – Certification program with appropriate management practices, recordkeeping, response protocol, etc. – Advantages: protect finished product growers; reduce regulatory burdens Clarity on direction would be helpful

Grower Education by Jane Trolinger, Ph.D. Syngenta Flowers, Inc. 7 Webinars English and Spanish Good interest OFA Short Course

IPPC on Systems “Integrated Measures Approach for Plants for Planting in International Trade” draft Generally patterned after NAPPO RSPM 24 Reviews underway, e.g., Continental Dialogue Comments due to APHIS by September 13

NAPPO, Pathways

NAPPO pathways panel process itself got off on the wrong path but is back on track Pathways symposium – May 2010, Raleigh Pathways = theme of this year’s annual meeting

Prenotification, Traceability

Federal order on P. ramorum, prenotification a source of some angst in industry Concerns: precedent, targeting, effectiveness “Drowning in data, starved for wisdom?” Longer term: clear performance standards to facilitate traceability – ANLA, SAF cooperating with CPHST/NPB project

Nursery Licenses/Reciprocity Concerns that Montana nursery licensing law could lead to unraveling ANLA appreciates NPB support… Dialogue with MT industry, regulators; resolution in sight?