TNLA takes a deep dive with Mike Maroney, an independent lobbyist fighting for better workforce solutions and developing curriculum for high school students. Mike is a strong advocate when it comes to developing a strong workforce for the future. During this episode, he provides insight on some of the bills he has worked on when industries have hit the panic button on their employment struggle. Mike also walks us through his current work on driving policymakers to pass legislation to help add highly valued high school curriculum to TEA's "magic list" of IBC's, plus much more.

Green Report

TNLA Green Report Season 2 Episode 2: Mike Meroney - Advocating to Develop Employer Workforce Solutions to Build a Better Future for the Industry

Dr. Marco Palma & Dr. Charlie Hall What is the economic contribution of the Texas nursery and landscape industry?  Listen in as Dr. Marco Palma and Dr. Charlie Hall dive into the details of the most recent report from Texas A&M University on the impact of our industry on the State of Texas.  With the 2020 report detailing over $22 billion dollars in total sales, there is a lot of value to discuss for business owners and policymakers.  New! Watch the podcast on YouTube Here! 

TNLA Green Report Season 2 Episode 1: Economic Impact of the Texas Green Industry

Episode 10 features Zaira Garcia, Texas State Director of FWD.us, a national organization with state-level chapters focused on fixing the broken U.S. immigration system.  Amongst the priorities for FWD.us is improving the H-2B and H-2A programs, something the green industry has been working on for years. In this episode, we go into the work of FWD.us and their partnership with TNLA along with other Texas business groups to improve these vital programs.Thank you to our sponsor of this episode for the support, Hotchkiss Insurance Agency.   For additional information on the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association click here.

Episode 10: Zaira Garcia, Texas State Director of FWD.us

In this episode, our guest is John Farner who serves as the Industry Development Director for the national Irrigation Association. John jumps into topics related to COVID relief, federal developments on water, and a brief overview of the election landscape heading into November 2020. John gives our audience a perspective of someone who is working on water-related issues in Congress and someone who monitors the development of irrigation policy across the United States.   Thank you to our sponsor of this episode for the support, Hotchkiss Insurance Agency.

TNLA Green Report Episode 9: John Farner with the Irrigation Association

In this episode of the TNLA Green Report we interview Tiffany Lashmet, author of the Texas Agriculture Law Blog. Tiffany is an associate professor and extension specialist for the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension.  In our interview we covered the Water of the United States update, liability on pesticide drift, landowner liability, and property rights.  Be sure to listen to the episode and check out Tiffany's blog at https://agrilife.org/texasaglaw/about/.  

TNLA Green Report Episode 8- Tiffany Lashmet of Texas Agriculture Law Blog

The Green Report speaks with Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, head of a massive state agency that impacts the green industry daily. In this episode we review some of the critical functions of the agency and discuss some ongoing efforts TNLA and TDA are working in partnership. Commissioner Miller gives an update on the trade missions and disease control efforts in our state.   

Legislator Spotlight - Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller Ep. 7

In the past two years, major cities across Texas have expanded their regulatory authority by creating new employment mandates on businesses of all sizes.  As Texas employers struggle to comply, the business community, including TNLA, have begun to push back on these patchwork regulations.  This episode we speak with Annie Spilman, Texas State Director for NFIB and spokeswoman for the ASSET coalition on the fight against cities creating employer mandates. 

Issue Highlight - Cities Requiring Paid Sick Leave

Texas is preparing for the start of a new industrial hemp market and it has grower's curious about the role of nursery growers in the business potential of hemp propagation.  Listen in as we talk with Zack Guignardi from Colorado about how he is using greenhouses for the propagation of hemp clones, and producing clean, genetically consistent stock for row crop farmers in his state.  We get into propagation techniques, seeds vs. clones, the variations of the hemp plant, and potential risks.

Issue Highlight - Hemp with Zack Guignardi [Ep. 5]

Listen in as TNLA speaks with Texas House Ag Chairman Drew Springer Chairman Springer represents an expansive rural district in North Texas and, as a four-time elected state official, he is in his first session as a committee chairman.  We discuss some of the major issues being tackled this session and the work of his committee.  

Legislator Spotlight - State Rep. Drew Springer [Ep. 4]

State Representative Mary Gonzalez represents Texas House District 75 in eastern El Paso County.  A four-term Texas House member, she has served on various committees important to the Green Industry including Agriculture, Public Education, and House Appropriations.  Listen in as we discuss her entrance into politics, her district, her passion for agriculture, and some of the issues she is confronting in office.  A leading voice for rural Texas and the issues critical to her district, Rep. Gonzalez gives us insight into the inner workings of the Texas House.After the interview we follow up with Communications Assistant, Ashley and Director of Education and Certification, James on the things to look forward to for TNLA Members.

Legislator Spotlight - State Rep. Mary Gonzalez [Ep. 3]

Jay Williams with Landscape Art talks with the Green Report about his experience with the H-2B and the critical impacts this program has for the way his landscaping company is able to do conduct business.   Ryan Skrobarczyk takes a deep dive into H-2B as it happens in DC with NALP’s Vice President of Government Relations, Andrew Bray who shares his perspective of the current Federal climate and getting over the government shutdown and back to business. To stay up to date on TNLA following H-2B and all Federal and State Legislative Issues impacting the Texas Green Industry visit TNLA's Legislative Action Center or if you are a member of TNLA receive weekly e-news updates by subscribing to TNLA's Leader List. To learn more about the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association (TNLA) visit www.TNLAonline.org.

Green Report Deep Dive into H-2B with Jay Williams and Andrew Bray Podcast [Ep. 2]

Welcome to The Green Report.  My name is Ryan Skrobarczyk and I am the Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association.  The team at TNLA started the Green Report as a way to bring you up-to-date on the news and politics that affect the green industry in Texas.   From growers to landscapers and everyone in between, each business is impacted by the politicians, legislators, and regulators of every stripe and this is our effort to bring you up to speed on what you need to know. ​

Introduction to Green Report Podcast [Ep. 1]

Updates on news and politics affecting the Green Industry in Texas. Hosted by the Texas Nursery & Landscaping Association.

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Green Report

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