AmericanHort and the Society of American Florists are working tirelessly with the ornamental industry’s Pollinator Stewardship Initiative on a number of new projects.

In late November, AmericanHort and SAF submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the Obama administration’s Pollinator Health Task Force. AmericanHort is urging the task force to remain focused on their original mission and to rely on credible scientific evidence.

The Horticulture Industry Pollinator Stewardship Task Force has developed an agenda to signal to researchers the kinds of targeted research projects the industry wishes to support.

Skagit Gardens, a wholesale grower located outside Mount Vernon, Wash., will eliminate all use of neonicotinoid pesticides beginning in January 2015.

UPDATE: The Obama Administration’s addendum to the Sustainable Practices for Designed Landscapes applies only to federal agencies “implementing landscaping practices on agency-owned or leased land or space.”

AmericanHort encourages industry members to contact their members of Congress to support legislation that would require federal agencies to take greater action to deal with parasite and disease factors impacting the health of managed bees, specifically focusing on Varroa mites.

Learn about the newly assigned industry taskforce, the status of funding the intiative and current legislation that affects your business.

The New Jersey Green Industry Council’s 2014 Pollinator Summit is an event and issue briefing for everyone who works in the green industry, agriculture, or related industries. The event will take place Nov. 11 at the National Conference Center, East Windsor, N.J.

Through increases in forage and habitat for bees, as well as good stewardship in using insecticides, our industry can be part of the solution.

Seattle City Council voted last week to pass a ban on the purchase and use of neonicotinoids on city property. Responsible Industry For a Sound Environment (RISE) provides insight on the ban.

On September 17, a committee of the Seattle City Council endorsed a ban on the purchase and use of neonicotinoid products on city property. The measure includes supportive language for sales and use bans for all use patterns, including plants, seeds or products containing neonicotinoids in the city, and support for a national moratorium on products.

Determined to find out firsthand what a ban on neonicotinoid pesticides would mean for growers, Bell Nursery CEO Gary Mangum challenged his team to grow without them. Read to find out about the lessons he learned.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded $6.9 million to Michigan State University to develop sustainable pollination strategies for specialty crops in the United States. The grant was funded through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), part of the 2014 Farm Bill.