​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.

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 their support, Hotchkiss Insurance Agency.​​

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/.

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.

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. 

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.

​​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.  
We then follow up with James Theiss, TNLA Director of Education and Certification, about his experience at the NLAE conference, and labor. 

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The Green Report's Third Episode Features a Legislator Highlight: State Representative Mary Gonzalez 
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. Find these events in our calendar!

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.
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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.

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. ​