The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service again has funding to prepare an annual Floriculture Crops Summary report (after several years lapse in the survey). The information is valuable to producers to help learn industry sales and pricing trends. Good survey results depend on a high percentage of the industry reporting. The survey is being mailed out to commercial floriculture growers the week of Dec. 10 and reporting is due before Feb. 8. More information is available at https://safnow.org/commercial-floriculture-survey-responses-needed.

You hopefully recall that you need to have a copy of the information contained on the pesticide label in your custody at application. Given all of the information found on the label, it is simplest to just use a copy of the label – in the past it was NYSDEC’s interpretation that this needed to be a paper copy. Now they have released a decision that they will accept a digital copy. If inspected you will need to produce the labels – you can’t do an internet search for them, and it should not be just a link.

Here’s the info from the NYSDEC:

ECL 33-0905(5)(a) and (b) require pesticide applicators to have in their possession a written copy of the information, including any warnings, contained on the label of the pesticide to be applied. Section 325.2(d) of 6 NYCRR requires pesticide applicators to have a copy of the New York State registered pesticide label in their custody while using a pesticide. Although the ECL requires a written copy, the regulation does not specify the format in which the label must be maintained.

The Electronic Signatures and Records Act (ESRA) Article 3 of State Technology Law (STL) and its corresponding regulations in Part 540 of 9 NYCRR have established that an electronic record used by a person shall have the same force and effect as those records not produced by electronic means. Therefore, pursuant to STL Article 3 and Part 540 of 9 NYCRR DEC will utilize enforcement discretion to allow pesticide applicators to possess copies of the New York State accepted pesticide labels in electronic or non-electronic format to comply with the label information requirements in ECL 33-0905(5)(a) and (b) and section 325.2(d) of 6 NYCRR. In addition, electronic or non-electronic labels must be available for inspection by DEC upon request.

However, this enforcement discretion does not apply to pesticide container labels. Pesticide containers must display the appropriate information in written format due to the definition of label in ECL 33-0101 (28). A label “means the written, printed, or graphic matter on, or attached to, the pesticide, or its immediate container and any outside containers or wrappers.” An electronic version of the pesticide container label would not be compliant with this definition since the electronic label could not be on or attached to the pesticide container.

From: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/materials_minerals_pdf/pestlawncare.pdf

DATE:  Deadline is July 30, 2019

The Long Island Flower Growers’ Association (LIFGA) will celebrate its 60th anniversary on August 8 at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead, NY.

A special Anniversary Book is being prepared to celebrate this event. You can highlight your business in the Anniversary Book by purchasing a full-page ad, a half-page ad, or a quarter-page ad.

Your ad can contain anything you would like, including a logo and photos.  (The book will be published in black-and-white only).

Time is limited! Responses are needed as soon as possible in order to have the book printed.

Applications are now being accepted for more than 25 different scholarships through the American Floral Endowment (AFE).

Sophomore, junior, senior and graduate students studying floriculture and horticulture must submit their applications online by the May 1 deadline.

Scholarships range from $500 to $6,000. In 2018, the Endowment awarded more than $42,000 in scholarships.

“AFE strives to support the next generation of industry members in any way we can. One of the ways we do this is through awarding scholarships to help ease their financial burdens,” said Greg Royer, Chairman of Royers Flowers & Gifts and AFE Education Committee Chair.

For more information on each scholarship and to apply, please visit Endowment Scholarships.