TURFGRASS INDUSTRY NEWS
NALP Reports Preemption Bill Fails in Colorado House Te preemption of local authority in regulating pesticides is at the forefront of NALP's state-level agenda. Ensuring consistency and coherence in pesticide regulations across local jurisdictions allows members to operate in and service multiple communities without having to navigate through an everchanging and complex patchwork of regulations when crossing municipal boundaries. Colorado has seen intense battles over regulatory control in recent years, with increased pressure coming from environmental groups in favor of local control. Tis year, the legislative arena in Colorado witnessed the introduction of House Bill 1178, spearheaded by Representative Cathy Kipp of Larimer County. Titled "Local Government Authority to Regulate Pesticides," the bill aimed to grant municipalities the power to regulate pesticides within their boundaries, marking another chapter in the ongoing struggle over regulatory authority. Te bill's introduction in February spurred immediate action, which swiftly landed it in the House Committee on Energy and Environment, chaired by Representative Cathy Kipp. Tis strategic placement propelled Kipp to a leading role in the discussions surrounding the proposed legislation. In response, NALP and its members mobilized swiftly, launching an impactful email campaign, propelling Coloradan customers to advocate for statewide uniformity in pesticide regulations. Tis concerted effort sought to empower constituents to voice their concerns directly to their state representatives, emphasizing the importance of a cohesive regulatory framework. Despite the bill's advancement out of committee with an 8-5 vote, the collective action of NALP members and their customers resonated profoundly, as over 250 constituent messages flooded into more than 50 house offices within just a few weeks. Tis grassroots movement exerted significant pressure on key legislators, compelling them to heed the desires of their constituents and carefully consider the implications of local control. Troughout the legislative process, NALP’s advocacy remained steadfast, bolstered by weekly messages from constituent members strategically targeting offices that wavered or remained undecided on the bill. Tis concerted effort proved effective, stalling the bill's progression, and preventing it from advancing to a vote for nearly two months after its referral to the House Floor in mid-March. Despite the bill being brought up for discussion on Monday, May 6, it was laid over until May 9th, signaling the defeat of the measure without a formal vote being taken. Tis outcome underscored the impact of NALP’s members' persistent advocacy efforts in shaping the legislative landscape and preserving statewide uniformity in Colorado pesticide regulation. Compiled from NALP’s Te Advocate
NALP Signs on to Two Letters Addressing EPA Policies As reported in NALP’s Te Advocate, NALP signed onto two letters addressed to the Environmental Protection Agency in support of policies important to the green industry. Te first is a letter addressed to EPA’s assistant administrator for pesticide programs, Jake Li, in support of adding drift reduction adjuvants to the list of allowable mitigation measures for compliance with the Endangered Species Act. In the agency’s Vulnerable Species Pilot Project and Herbicide Strategy documents released last year, these additives were not included. Te agency has been
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open to suggestions as to how to make compliance with ESA requirements more workable. NALP is part of a coalition from both the agricultural and non-agricultural pesticide user realms working with EPA. Te second is a letter authored by Te Fertilizer Institute (TFI) addressed to EPA assistant administrator Michal Freedhoff on the agency’s draft risk assessment of formaldehyde, a chemical that is used in the manufacturing process for a common nitrogen fertilizer used in the green industry. NALP joins TFI in being deeply concerned with the conclusions reached by the agency that the very small and sequestered quantities of formaldehyde in fertilizer constitute an unreasonable risk to human health.
Commodity Classic Announces Preliminary Schedule for 2025 Show in Denver Plans for the 2025 Commodity Classic are well underway as America’s largest farmer-led agricultural and educational experience will occur March 2–4, 2025, in Denver, CO. Te theme for the 2025 show is “Elevating Excellence in Agriculture.” See the preliminary schedule for the 2025 Commodity Classic at the following link.
https://commodityclassic.com/2025-schedule. Te schedule highlights tentative dates and times for the dozens of sessions, presentations, special events, and the trade show. Approximately 30 educational sessions on the newest farming technologies will be added to the schedule beginning this fall. Te Denver show also features a new schedule that will run from Sunday, March 2 through Tuesday, March 4. Te new format will also include a pancake brunch, closing reception, and other exciting farmer-focused events. “Our 2024 show in Houston was a record-breaking event with over 11,500 attendees, so we’re excited to see what happens for the show’s first time in Denver,” said Deb Gangwish, a Nebraska farmer, NCGA member, and co-chair of the 2025 Commodity Classic. Excerpted from Commodity Classic Press Release
AR Improves Productivity and Efficiency in Agriculture, But Adoption Remains Limited According to a press release from GlobalData, the application of augmented reality (AR) technology is disrupting multiple industries with real-life use cases. Te hands-free data visualization provided by AR not only improves productivity throughout the agribusiness value chain but also increases the efficiency and efficacy of training in agriculture, using simulations or real-time direction. Against this backdrop, businesses will continue to adopt AR in the coming years, but high initial costs and limited investment will hinder widespread adoption in the short-term, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. GlobalData's Tematic Intelligence report, “Augmented Reality in Agriculture,” reveals that the AR market is poised to grow from $22 billion in 2022 to $100 billion in 2030. AR can streamline training on farms, help technicians repair agricultural equipment more quickly, and support precision agriculture. Te crux of AR's usefulness in farming is its capacity for hands-free data visualization, allowing farmers to access knowledge and insights without pausing other tasks. Tis has the potential to improve the productivity of all agricultural workers and help farmers increase the productivity of their resources. For more information go to:
https://www.globaldata.com or email
pr@globaldata.com.
TPI Turf News July/August 2024
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