Professional application companies are being fitted with bulleyes by anti-pesticide crusaders in towns and cities across North America. Strangely, in many of these communities, especially in Canada, casual and retail sale of the same products that professionals use are still allowed.

Of the two user groups, which is more likely to use chemical products appropriately? Which is more likely to use them prudently, considering their cost?

But that's a small part of the bigger issue, just one of the inconsistencies in today's lawn care controversies that, once initiated, escalate beyond reason and tar the applicator segment of our industry with the blackest of brushes.

OK, enough of "Oh, why me? Why me?"

Rather than responding with a rant and bemoaning the unfairness of criticisms leveled at a service that millions of our customers desire and appreciate, Landscape Management, in partnership with the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), hosted the first-ever "Grassroots Lawn Care Forum" in July.

The 3-hour event took place the afternoon before PLANET's annual Arlington Cemetery Renewal & Remembrance service project in Washington, DC.

Individuals, including lawn care operators, discussed a range of issues (pesticide bans, neighbor notification, IPM, pre-emption). Each presenter got 15 minutes to discuss his or her particular issue. They got to the "meat" of how they met (or wish they had met) their particular issue.

They shared real-life lessons. These are lessons from people who learned from them. They can be invaluable to you too if (probably more accurately when) you're confronted with similar issues.

In addition to reading about these important "Grassroots" issues in this month's cover article on page 28, visit http://www.landscapemanagement.net/ and download the speakers' presentations on your iPod.

Our special thanks

Our fantastic digital team of Maegen Hurtado and Joe Kalinowski recorded (audio and video) each speaker. You can learn from the presenters as if you were at the Forum in person.

Thanks to PLANET for its cooperation and to the participants who gave up a Sunday afternoon to share their experiences — Frank Gasperini and Stacey Pine of Responsible Industry for a Safe Environment (RISE); Kenneth Morris, an attorney experienced in issues involving pesticides; Jennifer Lemcke, COO of Turf Holdings, Inc; Greg Adams, president of One Step Tree & Lawn, North Chili, NY; Ken Pavely, coordinator of IPM Council of Canada; and Richard Tice, a longtime lawn care company owner and executive director of The Environmental Industry Council.

We'll continue to keep you informed of this and other critical issues and deliver the type of information you can use.

Contact Ron at 216/ 706-3739 or e-mail rhall@questex.com
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