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Site Index Business Management Top 10 ways to get your press release published One way of controlling your company's image and information about it, is through the use of a press release. They are a really great tool for getting your message out if used properly. However, it does take sometime, commitment and technique to get them published. Louisville -- You'll like it Now I remember why I like the Outdoor Power Equipment Expo so much. Get ready to make this sorta-Southern city your new fall stomping grounds. Best Practices: It's your money; ask for it Here are some simple best practices to turn your receivables to cash faster with less effort. Training Room: Fall is client reconnect time Do effective communications help keep customers? Yes. Is training required to make it happen? Yes. As always, it's up to you. On the Record: Trim the fat Lean doesn't mean laying people off or sacrificing quality; it means being more efficient. Register now for upcoming fall trade shows It's not too late to plan your trip to the International Lawn, Garden and Power Equipment Expo; Green Industry Conference; PGMS School of Grounds Management; and International Irrigation Show. Manager, leader ... or both? Ever think about what these terms really mean? They?re simple concepts but now that I know the differences I can spot these people a mile away. Field Report: Grassroots efforts build momentum at RISE conference Speakers at this year's RISE/CropLife America meeting discuss the importance of local efforts in the pesticide regulation battles. From the Shop: Find the abusers If you did not have to live with a mower or truck two days in a row, why keep it clean or take care of it?  MORE ARTICLES Fertilizer Field Report: Grassroots efforts build momentum at RISE conference Speakers at this year's RISE/CropLife America meeting discuss the importance of local efforts in the pesticide regulation battles. NJ county considers regulating lawn fertilizer use The Ocean City Health Department is concerned that excess nutrients are changing the bay's ecology, encouraging algae growth and making it more attractive for invasive species. Annapolis to ban phosphorus fertilizers in most cases Ordinance's goal is to ensure homeowners do their part to reduce nutrient loads to waterways Wisconsin lawmakers move closer to phosphorus ban Lawmakers in Wisconsin believe removing phosphorus from fertilizers will reduce the amount of algae in state waterways. Pollution of freshwater by nitrogen and phosphorus costs U.S. $4.3 billion annually Kansas State researchers calculated the money lost from that pollution by looking at factors like decreasing lakefront property values, the cost of treating drinking water and the revenue lost when fewer people take part in recreational activities like fishing or boating Tampa Bay group seeks ban on summer fertilization with nitrogen products The Tampa Bay Estuary Program seeks to reduce the amount of nitrogen washing from properties into lakes, streams and rivers that drain into Tampa Bay during the rainy season. Scotts Miracle-Gro moves to fill void left by departure of Spectrum products Scotts is in discussions with retail partners to provide private-label brand lawn fertilizers and growing media products. Converted Organics partnering with ADM to produce organic-based fertilizers Converted Organics will be in position to become a major distribution channel for the ADM NaturStim product line to the U.S. professional turfgrass market. Converted Organics strikes deal with Simplot Partners Simplot Partner to distribute Converted Organics' natural fertilizers to turf markets in western United States  MORE ARTICLES Green Industry News How well do you communicate with your Hispanic workers? Have you ever noticed that the phrases used by some of your Hispanic crew members are a little bit different than those of others? If so, it may be that they are speaking different dialects of Spanish. PBI/Gordon, Mitsui Chemicals Agro announce marketing partnership The agreement gives PBI/Gordon marketing rights to dinotefuran in the United States golf market, as well as certain rights in other professional turf and ornamental markets. CAST Lighting and Weathermatic announce partnership With the Weathermatic partnership, CAST Lighting will offer regional points of distribution to best serve the international lighting design community. ValleyCrest throws a party for its 60th anniversary More than 700 people celebrated the company that began in 1949 as ValleyCrest Landscape Nurseries in North Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley. IPPCA 'top guns' renovate Kentucky retirement home water feature The local ABC affiliate chronicles the work of the volunteers rebuilding and updating the facility's aging water feature. Teupen opens US headquarters The Germany-based manufacturer and service provider of height-access technology has opened Teupen USA in Charlotte, NC. DuPont Professional Products hires Neate for T&O sales Bringing established sales credentials in the turf industry, Adam Neate will focus on the regions of West Virginia, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North and South Dakota. Vikupitz named Netafim USA president, CEO Netafim Ltd., a worldwide manufacturer of drip irrigation systems, has promoted John Vikupitz as the new president and CEO of Netafim USA. Gill to keynote WaterSmart conference Dr. Jim Gill, inaugural chairman of Water Australia and past CEO of the Water Corp. of Western Australia, will be the keynote luncheon speaker at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition, Oct. 7-9, 2009, in Las Vegas.  MORE ARTICLES Irrigation: General Rain Bird Irrigation Training dates, locations Rain Bird's non-manufacturer specific classes are designed to help contractors create savings and conserve water through improved irrigation practices. Irrigation Direct sells irrigation products direct to contractors Irrigation industry leader Bill Hayes has launched Irrigation Direct ? a new company that will manufacture and supply high-end irrigation products directly to contractors through the Internet. WSJ lauds ET Water Systems ET Water Systems LLC, a 4-year-old irrigation systems supplier, was named a Wall Street Journal's (WSJ) Innovation Award winner in the Environment category for 2006. What price water? Speaker at Rain Bird's "Intelligent Use of Water Summitt III" urges efficiency to head off water crisis WaterSense goal - boost H20 efficiency New EPA-industry partnership kicks off this fall with landscape irrigation labeling, certification Historic drought causes Tampa to forbid use of lawn sprinklers About 140,000 Tampa water customers, including those who live in unincorporated Hillsborough County, will face stiff penalties for breaking the rules. CSU team investigates graywater use for landscape irrigation For the study, the Colorado State University team picked states where governments have taken interest in graywater systems or where regulatory processes have been established. CAW enacts voluntary water conservation measures for Southern California California American Water provides water and/or wastewater services to more than 600,000 people. Ewing workshops qualify for PLANET certification points Ewing education workshops to focus on best water management practices,including irrigation system auditing and maintenance  MORE ARTICLES Livescapes Tree: Highrise Live Oak Highrise Live Oak has upright branching with a central leader. Ornamental: Fairy Coral Red Fairy Coral Red, an Abutilon hybrid, is commonly known as a Flowering Maple because its leaves resemble maple tree leaves. Picking pond plants The right plants will maintain a well-balanced eco-system for a pond, which will keep the water clean and clear. Color: Gypsophila Gypsy and Garden Bride Gypsy and Garden Bride Gypsophila series offer two distinct looks. Graves joins Floral & Garden Expo as artistic director Albert Graves, president of Bloemen Décor, will take the annual Expo in a new direction, leading into 2010. UGA hosts industry open house for Trial Gardens The Trial Gardens at the University of Georgia (UGA) are nationally known for trialing annuals and perennials for the Southeast, and developing new plants for the horticulture industry. Color: Voltage Yellow Osteospermum Voltage Yellow Osteospermum from Ball Horticultural Co. has flexible stems and a mounding, spreading habitat that makes it well suited to containers and landscapes. Livescapes' new product roundup Presenting some of the hottest new products to help you through the busy spring season. Tree: Magnolia Felix Named after the late hybridizer Felix Jury, Magnolia Felix from Anthony Tesselaar Plants is an upright tree that grows in a pyramidal shape.  MORE ARTICLES Mowers Big names promote mowing game Manufacturers enlist celebrity endorsements for their mowers, but the bottom line is: contractors love their horsepower and they're addicted to speed. Key factors for profitable mowing Coming up with an accurate bid for mowing is not difficult if you know the level of profit you want to receive for your efforts and you build your bid accordingly. Technology boosts mower fuel economy Recent mower innovations can help reduce fuel consumption while increasing on-site speed and efficiency. Making the cut Nobody disputes the need for speed in today's competitive maintenance environment. But experts agree: the real measure of profitable commercial mowing is efficiency. On the Record: Mowers and chemicals Today's zero-turn mowers are shiny and fast. But these sexy machines aren't kid's play. They're big-time work machines, and operators have to realize this. Mower Safety: Zero-turn training success David Holmes, a Marion County, FL extension service director suggests ways to get your zero-turn mower operators to participate in effective safety training. It's all about the Zs Zero-turn mowers are still red hot. That's the general consensus among the major players in the commercial mower market. And they don't see demand slackening any time soon. But recent economic and demographic changes have led them to believe there may be a shift in the demand for certain types of zero-turns over others, while more economical choices like walk-behinds might make a small comeback. Shipments of commercial riding mowers grew 39% in model year 2004 The OPEI says zero-turn mowers boosted sales of riding mowers Man killed in lawn mower accident Zero-turn overturns on embankment  MORE ARTICLES Podcasts On the Record Podcast: The power of a peer network Green Industry consultant Jeffrey Scott talks about how a peer network can help you navigate through tough economic times. LMdirect Podcast: Always be closing (ABC) Jody Shilan discusses the common mistakes contractors make before, during and after their sales presentations that often prevent them from closing the deal. LMdirect Podcast: Surviving in a down economy Green Industry speaker, consultant and all-around expert Tom Oyler shares strategies on how to survive (and maybe thrive) in a down economy. LMdirect Podcast: Brand new day Phil Harwood, founder, president and CEO of Promotion Marketing, discusses the importance of bringing a unique brand value to your operation. LMdirect Podcast: Grub busters Dr. Chuck Silcox, global turf and ornamental product development manager for DuPont Professional Products, gives professional landscapers some tips on grub control LMdirect: Podcast with Jeffrey Scott In this podcast with Landscape Management, Green Industry consultant Jeffrey Scott discusses "Time Bandits: How to stop employees, coworkers and clients from stealing your time and sucking away your profits. LMdirect: Podcast with Paul Sessions Paul Sessions, Director of the Center for Family Business at the University of New Haven, discusses the importance of "safe containers" for dealing with those difficult business issues. LMdirect: Podcast with Mark Schlossberg Mark Schlossberg, president of Pro-Lawn-Plus and past president of the Maryland Turfgrass Council, talks about the importance of turfgrass and the efforts he's leading to promote the public and environmental benefits it provides. LMdirect: Podcast with Steve Sandalis Steve Sandalis, owner of Mystic Water Gardens, talks with Landscape Management about the trends and opportunities in the water feature market.  MORE ARTICLES Tools of the Trade Innovations Better Outdoor Products' Quickie 32, Arysta LifeScience ARENA, Wright compact Stander, Bobcat T320 compact track loader Innovations Kioti HST Tractor, Bobcat tree fork attachment, Wright Stander RH, AvailSuite software for the Green Industry Innovations Cub Cadet 4x4 Utility Vehicle, Kubota RTV900 Utility Vehicle, Bobcat Co.'s 2300 4x4 Utility Vehicle, John Deere Gator XUV 4x4 Utility Vehicle Drafix releases PRO Landscape Version 12 New version offers photorealitic depictions of project designs without the complications of a CAD program West Coast Turf offers Sea Spray as both sod and seed Salt-tolerant seashore paspalum hybrid thrives under reclaimed wastewater, sea water and rainy, cloudy or foggy environments PBI Gordon adds generic imidicloprid product line ImidiPro Systemic Insecticide protects turf and ornamentals from grubs and other insects Turbo TeeJet adds innovations to its spray tip product line Turbo TeeJet Duo, Turbo Teejet Induction and 025 capacity Turbo Teejet flat spray tips provide coverage and drift control for fungicide, herbicide and insecticide applications Becker Underwood launches new surfactants and a new spray adjuvant Capacity, Affinity help turf managers deal with dry spots and compacted soils; Impact improves efficacy of pesticide applications Profile Products introduces green topdressings line Profile Field Fairway Emerald and Profile Greens Grade can help camouflage worn areas and improve turf quality  MORE ARTICLES Weed Control Chicago-area burbs restrict phosphorus fertilizers Laws restricting the use of phosphorus in lawn care and landscapes to protect streams and lakes have been spreading in recent years, first in Minnesota, then in regions of Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan. Beetles take bite out of aggressive weed Featured on “the most noxious weeds” list in 33 states, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is especially a problem in the Midwest where it clogs wetlands and waterways. Climate change fueling more aggressive weeds In a study conducted by Dr. Lewis Ziska of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, weeds grown under urban conditions of warmer temperatures and more carbon dioxide grew to four times the height of those in a country plot 40 miles outside the city. MSMA herbicide cancellation by EPA pending According to the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), the EPA has informed MSMA registrants that it intends to proceed with the cancellation (for MSMA and the other organic arsenical herbicides). Bayer’s Ronstar herbicide OK’d for residential landscapes Ronstar herbicide now may be used on residential landscapes for preemergent control of annual broadleaf and annual grassy weeds. Here comes penoxsulam Clad in his white lab coat and protective glasses, Dow AgroSciences scientist David Simpson stood in front of the trade press and spoke about the challenges his company endures in bringing a new chemistry to market. UMass Extension publishes 2006-2007 Professional Guide for IPM in Turf Publication covers latest technicques for integrated management of lawns, athletic fields and golf courses Cornell publishes 2006 Pest Management Guidelines for Commercial Turfgrass New and expanded edition has a moisture-resistant cover and spiral binding On the Record: Local issues The furor over the use of lawn care chemicals continues to spread over Canada like a rash.  MORE ARTICLES

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