Indiana Professional Lawn & Landscape Association News (blog)

CORE Exam Opportunity April 24, 2013

IPLLA Admin — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 03:42:03 GMT

Office of the Indiana State Chemist is offering the Core Exam Testing at
Primo West Conference Center in Plainfield on April 24, 2013

Test Only CORE Exam
Opportunity

Indiana State Chemist to Offer Core
Exam Testing Only Opportunity on April 24,2013

The Office of Indiana State Chemist will offer a Core Testing Opportunity at Primo West Conference Center in Plainfield, IN. on April 24^th.

This is an excellent opportunity to have your new applicators take the core at a central location. Primo West is at the intersection of I 70 and SR 267 just west of the Indianapolis International Airport.

We would emphasize that this is testing only and that no training will be offered prior to the examination.

Registration is now open by calling the Indiana State Chemist Office at 1-800-893-6637. I would urge you to make these arrangements as soon as possible as the session is limited to the first 100 people applying.

Bob Andrews
Executive Director
Indiana Professional Lawn & Landscape Association

Applicator Licensing Testing at IPLLA Regional Workshops

IPLLA Admin — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:01:04 GMT

Applicator Licensing Testing at IPLLA Regional Workshops

IPLLA’s Regional Workshops are scheduled for February 2013 and pre-registration is coming in daily for these popular events. Workshops are scheduled for:

February 12 –The Hotel Fort Wayne (formerly the Ft. Wayne Marriott)

February 13 – Merrillville at the Radisson Star Plaza

February 19 - Seymour at the Jackson County Learning Center

February 20 - Plainfield at Primo West Conference Center

For the first time ever, we will be offering you the opportunity to have employees take the Registered Technician or Core Exam at Ft. Wayne, Merrillville, and Seymour. The employee must be registered for the respective workshop, but there is no additional cost to then take the Registered Technician (RT) exam.

Your employee can attend the morning educational sessions and then take the RT Exam in the afternoon. Should they pass the exam, they will receive Continuing Credit Hours (CCH’s) for those sessions which they attended that morning. This is quite an opportunity for your employees to take the exam in your local area and we hope many of you will take advantage of it.

Remember, this is exam only and any training materials can be purchased through the Purdue Extension Education Store by call (765) 6794.

So, go online now at WWW.IPLLA.COM and get registered for the workshop of your choice, and the opportunity to have your employees take the applicator exam. If you have already registered to attend the workshop, then you can simply still sign up your employee for testing.

We’ll see you soon at the 2013 IPLLA Regional Workshops.

Bob Andrews
Executive Director
IPLLA

2013 Advanced Regional Workshop Brochure

State Chemist (OISC) Issues 2013 Lawn & Landscape Priorities

IPLLA Admin — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 21:01:27 GMT

The Regional Workshops Kick Off

2013 Educational Programs!

Click here for more information and to register:

Links

Office of the Indiana State Chemist
http://www.isco.purdue.edu/

Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/

2013 OISC Lawn & Landscape
Priorities

OISC Issues Lawn & Landscape Priorities for 2013

Click to Open

The above document is often requested from the OISC office and staff. Thanks to Joe Becovitz for making this available to us!

UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2013: As you prepare for next season, also prepare to attend our annual series of Educational Programs.

February 12, 2013 - Regional Workshop at the "The Hotel Fort Wane" in Fort Wayne (formerly the Ft. Wayne Marriott)

February 13, 2013 - Regional Workshop at Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville

February 19, 2013 - Regional Workshop at the Jackson Country Learning Center in Seymour (NEW Location!)

February 20, 2013 – Regional Workshop at Primo West in Plainfield

August 22, 2013 - 27^th Annual IPLLA Summer Field Day in Danville

December 18, 2013 – IPLLA Winter Workshop

More information about these events will be forthcoming as we move into the year.

Bob Andrews
Executive Director
IPLLA

GIA Legislative Reception set for January 9, 2013

IPLLA Admin — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:35:38 GMT

Unemployment Eligibility in Indiana

IPLLA Admin — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:58:51 GMT

Unemployment Eligibility in Indiana

IPLLA
Press
Release

December 5, 2012

Unemployment Eligibility in Indiana

We have received member inquiries regarding who is and who is not eligible for unemployment compensation during the normal downtime of the lawn and landscape season. These questions have arisen as a result of actions taken by the Indiana General Assembly in 2011 that do have some impact on contracted employees or those who are on-call, or those who are taking paid vacation during a normal lay-off period.

For your information, I am enclosing a copy of this Alert forwarded to us by the Green Industry Alliance. Their ability to promptly respond to such questions is one of the real benefits of being a member of the Indiana Professional Lawn and Landscape Association.

The alert, and new guidelines, are linked below.

It is my opinion that the new regulations will not affect lawn and landscape companies unless they are, in some manner, compensating their employees during a layoff period or paying them to be on call during a layoff period. Determining how, or even if, these changes impact your individual operation is something that should be discussed with your accountant.

Caryl Auslander of the Corydon Group, our government affairs representative, will be on hand at the December 19^th Winter Workshop to give us an update on the upcoming legislative session. I have asked her to include this topic in her briefing.

We look forward to seeing you at the Winter Workshop.

View Unemployment Eligibility ALERT here

IPLLA 2012 Winter Workshop Registration Information

Bob Andrews
Executive Director
Indiana Professional Lawn & Landscape Association

Certification and License Renewal for Commercial Applicators

IPLLA Admin — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 21:35:49 GMT

Earn CCH's at our Winter Workshop on December 19, 2012. Click the link below for more information.

IPLLA 2012 Winter Workshop

IPLLA News Online

Certification and License Renewal
for Commercial Applicators

This is the time of year when all Commercial Pesticide Applicators need to renew their pesticide applicator license with the Office of Indiana State Chemist. As such, it is also a good time to review your current Continuing Credit Hours (CCH’s) going into the end of the year.

Your certification remains in force through December 31 of the fifth year following renewal. However, the applicator license and business license must be renewed each December. You should now have received that renewal invoice from the State Chemist Office and it must be paid by December 31, 2012 to avoid a penalty.

Certification renewal can be accomplished by either retaking the Certification examination in the respective category, or by accumulating the minimum number of CCH’s before expiration of your certification for that category

The minimum number of CCH’s required for renewal of each category relevant to members of the Indiana Professional Lawn & Landscape Association, is as follows.

Category 2                           10 CCH’s
Category 3a                         15 CCH’s
Category 3b                         20 CCH’s
Category 5                           15 CCH’s
Category 6                           15 CCH’s
Category 7a                         20 CCH’s

A commercial applicator can accumulate CCH’s only in the category in which he or she is certified at the time of participating in a specific training program.

A commercial applicator can accumulate a maximum of one-half (1/2) of the total number of CCH’s required at any one training program.

CCH’s accumulated by a commercial applicator in excess of the total number of CCH’s required shall not be carried forward to the next certification period.

IPLLA encourages every commercial applicator to keep close track of your individual accumulated CCH’s as well as the five year expiration date of your commercial applicator license.

The CCH program is one of the best ways possible to maintain your commercial applicator license and to keep yourself up-to-date on changing trends and new technology available to our industry.

Bob Andrews
Executive Director – IPLLA
Member – Indiana Pesticide Review Board

IPLLA will Offer Core Exam Testing in 2013

IPLLA Admin — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:46:13 GMT

IPLLA is joining forces with the Office of the Indiana State Chemist to
offer Core Exam Testing at various regional and statewide meeting sites starting in 2013

IPLLA
Press
Release

November 11, 2012

IPLLA to Offer Core Exam Testing in 2013

The Indiana Professional Lawn & Landscape Association is joining forces with the Office of the Indiana State Chemist to offer Core Exam Testing at various regional and statewide meeting sites starting in 2013. The announcement comes as the association prepares its education program for next year.

“One of our real concerns has been the lack of statewide Core Exam testing opportunities for new industry employees” said IPLLA Executive Director Bob Andrews. The new program will be launched starting with the association’s regional meetings scheduled to be held in February in northern, central, and southern Indiana. Such testing will also be offered at the annual Summer Field Day scheduled to be held in Danville on August 22, 2013. Those firms registering to attend such an event will have the chance to register employees to take the Core Exam as part of the educational event. The testing opportunity will be limited to 30 people at each site who will then earn appropriate Continuing Credit Hours (CCH’s), for that event, should they successfully pass the Core Examination.

Detailed planning is now underway and more information on the program will be announced online and at the IPLLA Winter Workshop which will be held December 19^th at The Oak Hill Mansion in Carmel.

IPLLA President Kyle Chaffee, Owner of Chaffee Turf Service in Batesville, says this offering will expand testing opportunities throughout the state and takes place during critical hiring periods of the year.

Watch www.iplla.com for updates on this new and exciting offering from IPLLA.

Bob Andrews
Executive Director
Indiana Professional Lawn & Landscape Association

Election 2012 Recap

IPLLA Admin — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:55:56 GMT

CLICK FOR RECAP OF THE 2012 ELECTION

Get Involved as IPLLA Prepares to Elect New Directors for 2013

IPLLA Admin — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:55:17 GMT

In early October, every member firm of IPLLA will be receiving an invitation to submit a name in nomination for election to the IPLLA Board of Directors. Board Members serve three year terms and are asked to attend four Board Meetings each year as well as participate in hosting the Summer Field Day, Winter Workshop, and Regional Meetings. They may have the opportunity to serve as an officer of the association or as Chair of one of our committees.

Most importantly, Board Members get the opportunity to grow--not only professionally-- but personally. Being a part of this group of industry leaders literally “rubs off on you”. You will meet fellow professionals that you never would have met, learn new business practices, and be in the middle of shaping the future of the lawn and landscape industry.

Being a Member of the IPLLA Board is an investment that clearly pays off. Ask any current or past board member and they will be happy to tell you of the knowledge and experience they have gained by serving on the IPLLA Board.

So when you get the Official Nomination Form, consider nominating yourself, or someone you believe would bring enthusiasm and fresh ideas to the Board. Nominations will be mailed on October 1 and due back by the end of the month. Our annual election will be held in November.

Thanks again for you support of the Indiana Professional Lawn & Landscape Association.

Bob Andrews
Executive Director
IPLLA

My First Summer Field Day Experience

IPLLA Admin — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 02:13:37 GMT

My First IPLLA Summer Field Day Experience

It was the summer of 1994, and I had just graduated from college and was entering the lawn care business. During this time, I had been researching my options for equipment and chemicals and working on my lawn care program. I had just joined the Indiana State Lawn Care Association--now called IPLLA. I received a brochure through the Association about an upcoming summer field day that August, and I thought it could be a great opportunity to make the most out of my membership and learn something. Boy, was I ever right!

During my first summer field day, I developed a relationship with an insurance provider and saved over half on my business owner’s insurance, located sources of equipment, found a reliable chemical supplier, and developed what has turned out to be long-term relationship with my sales representative. I didn’t realize at the time how beneficial that field day event really was, but looking back on it, I appreciate how much my membership had paid off for me--I didn’t know how much I didn’t know!

Being an active member of IPLLA has helped our company grow professionally. The numerous educational events held throughout the year have been invaluable, and I rarely miss one. In addition to earning CCHs at the events, I am able to speak to other business owners who face the same challenges I do, and I always learn something. I’m sure I learn as much from the classroom sessions as I do from talking to others, whether the conversation takes place in the hallway, over lunch, or at an exhibit booth. Joining IPLLA 18 years ago was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

This Thursday is our 26th Annual IPLLA Summer Field Day and I hope you will join us! See you there!

Steve Mattingly
Mattingly Lawn Care, Inc.
Indianapolis, IN

Available CCH's

Registration Fees

Complete Field Day Brochure

Register ONLINE now!

Time to Save Both our Landscapes and our Landscape Jobs

IPLLA Admin — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:41:07 GMT

Time to Save Both our Landscapes and our Landscape Jobs
Letter Submitted to the Editor of the Indianapolis Star

Letter
to the
Editor

August 16, 2012

Time to Save Both our Landscapes and our Landscape Jobs

Kristine Guerra’s article “Don’t Be Fooled: Drought isn’t Over” really was one of the first things I have read that called attention to one of the real problems associated with the Marion County Watering Ban.

The landscape around our homes and businesses is valuable. It has suffered significant damage from heat stress and lack of water. It is not going to magically recover without proper care, and soon. In order to do so, the landscape will need some water, and without water, the landscape industry cannot go back to work.

Two of our association members, Berger Hargis and All Green were both quoted in the Star article as to how much lost revenue the watering ban has cost their respective businesses. That translates into lost income for their companies and lost or reduced work for literally thousands of workers employed in the lawn and landscape industry. This is more than about aesthetics; it is about people and their jobs. The loss of those jobs hurts everyone involved, including the City of Indianapolis.

When this is all over, there will be time to thoroughly investigate all the reasons why Citizens Water needed a “watering ban” rather than “watering restrictions”. But now, we need time to go to work. There is a very short window between September and December and the landscape will need every day of it to recover. So will the landscape industry.

Mayor Ballard. Please lift the ban.

Bob Andrews
Executive Director
Indiana Professional Lawn & Landscape Association

5 Stages of LosingYour Lawn

IPLLA Admin — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:02:10 GMT

As submitted by a member....

Marion Co. Water Ban Memo

IPLLA Admin — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 03:52:42 GMT

GIA Board of Directors had a conference call with two senior members of Mayor Ballard’s (Indianapolis) staff on Wednesday regarding the Marion County water ban.

Marion County Water Ban Memo

July 26, 2012

GIA Conference Call with Mayor's Office (Indianapolis)

The IPLLA is a member and supporter of the Green Industry Alliance (GIA). The GIA Board of Directors had a conference call with two senior members of Mayor Ballard’s (Indianapolis) staff on Wednesday, including Ryan Vaughn, Chief of Staff, and Rick Powers, Director of Code and Enforcement in regards to the water ban.

A recap of the conference call details and clarification of the water ban in MARION COUNTY are in the document below.

The Town of Fishers also clarified their watering ban recently and that can be viewed HERE

Town of Fishers - Irrigation Clarification of Rules

IPLLA Admin — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 16:33:35 GMT

We received this information from the Town of Fishers regarding the installation, repair and maintenance of irrigation systems.

As per our phone conversation, the Town of Fishers will allow Irrigation companies to continue to install, repair, and maintain new and existing irrigation systems. We understand that brief water use will be required to verify installations, repairs, and or maintenance of irrigation systems. With that said, if our water emergency becomes more severe, additional restrictions may be put into place that will change our current position regarding irrigation water usage. If more severe restrictions are put into place, the Town of Fishers will issue a press release and post updated information on our website at www.fishers.in.us Please inform your customers that as the Town of Fishers does allow new seedlings or sod that was installed prior to the Water Emergency Declaration July 16, 2012 to be watered by a hand-held nozzle with shut off valve only not by sprinklers or irrigation. Contact me if you have any further questions or need clarification of any of these statements.

Regards,

Mark Fasel
Building Commissioner, Permitting and Inspections
P/F 317.595.3136 C 317.289.5560

www.fishers.in.us

Summer Field Day to Focus on Impact of Drought

IPLLA Admin — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 16:30:37 GMT

2012
Summer Field
Day Bulletin

July 20, 2012

IPLLA Field Day to Focus on Drought Impact & Recovery

On August 23^rd, the Indiana Professional Lawn & Landscape Association will hold its annual Summer Field Day at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds in Danville. Registration information has now been mailed and is also available on line by clicking here.

Due to our unprecedented drought and long periods of hot weather; we are asking each of our speakers to address the topic in terms of their area of expertise. This will provide all of us with an excellent opportunity to learn more about the long term affects of the drought on plant life, and how we can position ourselves to help properties recover.

There will be an outstanding group of experts there to answer all your questions. They include:

Joe Boggs – Ohio State University Extension
Aaron Patton – Purdue University Dept of Agronomy
Chuck Darrah – CLC Labs and soil analyst
Randy Zondag -_OSU Natural Resource Educator
Cliff Sadof - Purdue Department of Entomology
Janna Beckerman – Purdue Dept of Botany and Plant Pathology
Rob Golembiewski – Bayer Green Solutions Specialist
Gregg Munshaw – University of Kentucky Sports Field Specialist
Chris Foster – Hunter Industries Irrigation Specialist
Harry Knight – Applied BioChemists and Right-Of-Way Specialist
Rob Harper – DePauw University Grounds Management Specialist
Hannah Mathers – OSU Ornamental Plant Care Specialist
Nate Farris – Certified Arborist
Joe Rimelspach – Plant Pathologist – Ohio State University
Gail Ruhl – Plant Disease Diagnostician – Purdue University

No where else will you be able to have access to 15 top experts in the green industry, all of whom have extensive backgrounds in turf management, ornamentals, disease, insects, fertilization, grounds management, and much more.

Not many of us have experienced a growing season like this one, but all of us must now plan the best course of action to help our properties recover from it. The 2012 Summer Field Day is preparing to offer you the latest and most comprehensive information on drought recovery. This is a great opportunity for us all to learn and we’ll look forward to seeing you on August 23^rd.

Bob Andrews
Executive Director
IPLLA

Available CCH's

Registration Fees

Complete Field Day Brochure

Register ONLINE now!

Homeowners and Lawn Care Professionals Need to Work Together on Drought

IPLLA Admin — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:51:12 GMT

www.iplla.com

Homeowners and Lawn Care Professionals Need to Work Together on Drought

Contact: Bob Andrews
Email: admin@iplla.com
Phone: 317-575-9010

Indianapolis, Indiana, July 2, 2012: Both homeowners and lawn care operators can, and should work together to prepare drought stressed properties for maximum recovery this fall. This word comes from Bob Andrews, Executive Director of the Indiana Professional Lawn and Landscape Association. From Indianapolis to Evansville, drought conditions are worse than the previously reported dry weather of 1988. All of Indiana has been adversely affected.

According to Andrews, caring for your lawn is not business as usual. Lawns and landscapes each require some attention if they are to recover uniformly this fall. Your Indiana Professional Lawn & Landscape Members list some helpful hints.

1. No matter what you read or hear, lawn grass does not go into dormancy and then automatically come back. Most lawns in Indiana are made up of Kentucky Bluegrass and will begin to die if left without any moisture for six to seven weeks. This problem is exasperated by high temperatures. Thus some water is required.

2. During drought, water the lawn deeply once or twice a week. Watering once a week for 40 minutes in each sprinkler location will go a long way towards keeping the lawn’s root system alive.

3. Concentrate watering on sodded sections of your lawn, high traffic areas, or areas that receive little or no shade.

4. Water very early in the morning if at all possible. During drought conditions, you can also water at night or when pressure is at its highest.

5. Do not mow the lawn unless it is absolutely required. Cutting it too frequently, or at too low a level, removes much needed leaf blades which act to retain what moisture is available.

6. Maintain some fertility. All fertilizers are not the same and your lawn care professional will work with you to provide the lawn with a slow release type of fertilizer in order to provide the plant with proper nutrients during periods of stressful weather.

“High heat and drought changes the rules of how we need to deal with a growing plant” says Andrews. "Working with your local lawn care professional is the best way to see to it that your lawn and landscapes recover to their maximum potential this fall."

State Chemist Priorities for 2012 - Lawn/Landscape

IPLLA Admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:48:12 GMT

The Regional Workshops are set for the the month of February 2012.

Click here for more information and to register:

Links

Office of the Indiana State Chemist
http://www.isco.purdue.edu/

Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/

2012 OISC Lawn & Landscape
Priorities

OISC Issues Lawn & Landscape Priorities for 2012

Click to Open

The above document is often requested from the OISC office and staff. Thanks to Joe Becovitz for making this available to us!

UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2012: As you prepare for next season, also prepare to attend our annual series of Educational Programs.

February 14, 2012 – Regional Workshop at Primo West in Plainfield

February 15, 2012 - Regional Workshop at the Holiday Inn Express in Seymour

February 21, 2012 - Regional Workshop at the Marriott Hotel in Fort Wayne

February 23, 2012 - Regional Workshop at Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville

August 23, 2012 - 26^th Annual IPLLA Summer Field Day in Danville

December 19, 2012 – IPLLA Winter Workshop at Oak Hill Mansion in Carmel

More information about these events will be forthcoming as we move into next year..

Bob Andrews
Executive Director
IPLLA

Legislative Update Early January 2012

IPLLA Admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:37:51 GMT

The Regional Workshops are set for the the month of February 2012. Click here for more information and to register:

Links

Office of the Indiana State Chemist
http://www.isco.purdue.edu/

Purdue Plant & Pest Diagnostic Laboratory
http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/

Early January Legislative Update - 2012