Alerts & News
· As of January 15, 2008, the cap on H2B immigration visas for migrant and seasonal workers was reached. This means if Congress does not vote for an extension of this program, we on the East End of Long Island will suffer from a severe labor shortage this Spring and Summer. You may wish to contact our Congressman Tim Bishop with your thoughts at http://TimBishop.house.gov . Once on his website, type in Keywords “H2B Visas” to see his statement on this matter.
· The H2B Guest Worker Program is not our only problem with labor. Due to the high cost of living, much of our native work force has moved away from the area. As with all supply and demand situations, this will cause the costs of labor to escalate.
· As predicted, the new Spitzer regime has made it more difficult to operate our landscaping businesses in the State of New York. Some of these unneeded actions have made it even more difficult to find skilled and qualified employees in the pest control business. Over-regulation is expensive for everyone.
· Suffolk County has passed a bill which will prohibit Late Fall Lawn Fertilization for residential clients. No Lawn Fertilization after November 1st, starting in 2009. The County Legislature went with what feels good instead of sound science. What else is new?
Legislative Update
John Iurka-Legislative Liaison
* IMPORTANT INFORMATION *
6 NYCRR 325.2 (d) states “During pesticide use, the certified applicator, certified technician or commercial pesticide apprentice must have in their custody a copy of the label for each pesticide being used”.
The NYSDEC is interpreting this to mean that “it is the applicator’s responsibility to keep the pesticide product label immediately available as they move about the site of application.
This means that the person doing the applications must have the label on his/her person during all application. Having the label on the truck will not be acceptable.
The new administration in Albany is sending strong signals that change in regulations regarding pesticides is a priority. We will be keeping a close eye on what is happening there. The buzzword we are hearing is
“LEAST TOXIC”
I think we should all look at our businesses and think about the need to “Green” them as much as possible.
· Up until now we have provided labels to each client. We also have labels in the truck. Labels are also attached to the spray tanks. This has all been mandated. Apparently this is not enough. We must now attach them to the fertilizer spreader and carry it on our person. Our government is doing all it can to make our business as inefficient as they are. These largely unneeded actions only make services cost more. When and where does it stop?
