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TNLA is thrilled to introduce our new "Working for You" Blog!
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Excess rainfall during spring and summer can significantly increase pest pressure in nurseries, greenhouses, and landscapes. Warm temperatures combined with high humidity and prolonged moisture create favorable conditions for rapid pest development, survival, and spread. Soft-bodied insects such as aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and mites often become more active during wet weather periods. Excess moisture promotes lush plant growth and tender foliage, which are highly attractive to many pests. Standing water and saturated growing media can also encourage European pepper moth, fungus gnats and shore flies, particularly in greenhouse production systems. Wet conditions can make pest management more challenging. Rain may reduce the effectiveness of contact insecticides by washing away spray residues, often requiring repeated applications. Prolonged wet weather can also limit access to production areas, making routine scouting and timely pesticide applications difficult. High humidity and dense plant canopies further complicate early pest detection. Many pests, including thrips and mites, remain hidden within flowers, buds, or on the undersides of leaves, allowing populations to build unnoticed. In addition, storm events and strong winds may contribute to the movement and spread of invasive pests into new production areas. Excess rainfall may also disrupt beneficial insect activity. Natural enemies such as predators and parasitoids are often less active during prolonged storms and humid conditions, reducing natural pest suppression and allowing pest populations to increase rapidly once environmental conditions improve. Implementing proactive integrated pest management (IPM) practices is essential during periods of excessive rainfall. Regular scouting and monitoring with sticky traps can help detect pest populations early. Improving drainage, increasing air circulation, maintaining proper sanitation, avoiding overwatering, and removing heavily infested plant material can reduce favorable conditions for pests. Rotating insecticides with different modes of action and conserving beneficial insects are also important strategies for long-term pest management and resistance prevention. As weather patterns continue to become increasingly unpredictable, adopting management practices and maintaining consistent monitoring programs will remain  Rafia Khan, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Overton, TX
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On May 15, 2026, TNLA met with San Antonio Water System (SAWS) to discuss a new pilot initiative called the WaterSaver Pro Program for large residential properties. This program is designed to recognize landscape and irrigation practices that demonstrate long-term water savings, efficient irrigation use, and landscape resilience. Program Overview: According to SAWS, WaterSaver establishes both minimum and enhanced “Pro” standards for the design, installation, and retrofit of irrigation and landscape systems on residential properties with irrigated areas greater than or equal to 10,000 square feet. This program is intended for: landscape designers, irrigation professionals, builders, landscape installation contractors. SAWS emphasized that the major theme throughout the program is intentionality; designing landscapes and irrigation systems with long-term efficiency, water conservation, and site functionality in mind. Benefits of WaterSaver Pro Participation Projects achieving the WaterSaver Pro designation may qualify for:
WaterSaver Pro Point Categories SAWS outlined four major scoring components:
Additional items discussed during the meeting included:
Pilot Program Participation TNLA discussed the importance of identifying potential pilot participants, particularly:
SAWS indicated they are still refining some program details, including: approved smart controller models, pilot program timelines, communication and submittal procedures At this time, SAWS recommended that participants communicate progress through spreadsheets and submitted irrigation/landscape plans as projects are finalized. Next StepsTNLA is currently gathering interest from members who may want to participate in the pilot program or provide industry feedback as SAWS continues developing the WaterSaver Pro standards. If you are interested in participating in the pilot program or learning more, please contact TNLA. We will coordinate with SAWS regarding next steps and future discussions. Below are the materials SAWS provided outlining:
Contact TNLA’s Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Team
The green industry has always been relationship-driven. Even with emails, online ordering, and virtual meetings, there’s still value in shaking someone’s hand, walking the tradeshow floor together, and having conversations face-to-face. That’s one reason EXPO continues to matter year after year. Not just because of products or education, but because it creates space for the kinds of conversations that happen differently in person.  Real Industry PerspectiveMore Than The Tradeshow FloorSome of the most valuable moments at EXPO happen:
That kind of connection still matters. Bottom LineIn a relationship-driven industry, face-to-face interaction still plays an important role. Sometimes one conversation, one introduction, or one shared perspective can stay with you long after EXPO ends. That’s why so many people continue making EXPO part of their year.
The companies staying competitive right now aren’t standing still. They’re investing in:
What Teams Bring Back From EXPO  Real Industry Perspective
Bottom Line The companies adapting fastest are usually the ones:
Questions?For Exhibitor questions, please contact [email protected] or call 512-579-3864.
For Registration questions, please call 512-280-5182 ext 3876 or email [email protected]. When growers and landscape professionals think about insects, the first thought is often pests and the damage they cause. However, not all insects are harmful. Many beneficial insects play an important role in naturally suppressing pest populations in greenhouses, nurseries, and landscapes. These “good bugs” are valuable partners in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs and can help reduce reliance on chemical insecticides. Beneficial insects are a key component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. They help suppress pests naturally and can improve long-term pest management success when properly conserved or introduced into production systems. Two important groups of beneficial insects are predators and parasitoids. Predators actively consume pests throughout their life cycle. Common examples include lady beetles, green lacewings, minute pirate bugs, predatory mites, and hover fly larvae. These natural enemies feed on aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, scales, thrips, and other soft-bodied pests commonly encountered in Texas greenhouses and landscapes. Parasitoids are specialized insects, usually tiny wasps, that develop inside or on a host insect and eventually kill it. Several parasitoid species are commercially available and widely used in greenhouse biological control programs, especially for whitefly and aphid management. Parasitoids are specialized insects, usually tiny wasps, that develop inside or on a host insect and eventually kill it. Several parasitoid species are commercially available and widely used in greenhouse biological control programs, especially for whitefly and aphid management. Greenhouse environments often provide ideal conditions for biological control because temperature, humidity, and pest populations can be monitored more closely. In landscapes and nurseries, conserving naturally occurring beneficial insects can also provide significant pest suppression over time. Unfortunately, beneficial populations are frequently disrupted by unnecessary or repeated applications of broad-spectrum insecticides. One of the biggest challenges in pest management is recognizing when beneficial insects are already helping control a pest problem. In some situations, professionals may apply insecticides before evaluating predator or parasitoid activity. This can eliminate natural enemies and create secondary pest outbreaks or pest resurgence. In addition, repeated use of the same insecticide groups can contribute to pesticide resistance, making future pest management more difficult. Scouting remains one of the most important tools in preserving beneficial insects. Correct identification of both pests and beneficials allows professionals to make informed treatment decisions. When insecticide applications are necessary, selecting reduced-risk or selective products can help preserve natural enemy populations while still managing key pests. Habitat also plays a role in supporting beneficial insects. Flowering plants, reduced dust, proper irrigation management, and minimizing unnecessary pesticide exposure can all encourage beneficial activity in landscapes and production systems. Biological control is not always a complete replacement for insecticides, but it is an effective management tool when incorporated into a broader IPM strategy. As greenhouse and landscape industries continue to face challenges from invasive pests, environmental concerns, and pesticide resistance, beneficial insects should not be viewed as forgotten tools. Instead, they should be recognized as valuable partners in sustainable pest management programs. Photo credit: Rafia Khan, Ph. D. Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Overton, TX. Last week, TNLA traveled to Washington, D.C. alongside members of Texas’ green industry for the annual H-2B Fly-In. During the trip, TNLA members met directly with Congressional offices to discuss workforce challenges impacting green industry businesses across Texas. The conversations focused heavily on the seasonal H-2B VISA program. For many green industry businesses, these workers help keep projects on schedule during peak seasons while also supporting year-round American jobs within their companies. Why This Matters to Texas’ Green Industry Texas’ green industry continues to face significant workforce shortages, particularly during high-demand periods in the spring and summer. During our meetings in Washington, TNLA members had the opportunity to speak directly with Congressional staff about how these workforce challenges affect their businesses on a day-to-day basis. Members shared personal stories about trying to keep crews staffed during peak project seasons, balancing growing customer demand, and managing the uncertainty that comes with not knowing whether seasonal workers will arrive on time. Some discussed the pressure of meeting timelines for government and commercial contracts, while others explained how workforce shortages impact long-term business planning and growth. Several members also highlighted that dependable seasonal labor helps create opportunities for year-round American employees by allowing businesses to expand operations, invest in training, and move workers into higher-skilled positions over time.  One of the most impactful aspects of the trip was ensuring policymakers heard directly from employers experiencing these challenges firsthand. What Was Discussed in Washington A major focus of this year’s advocacy effort was support for the proposed “Certified Seasonal Employer” language currently being discussed in federal appropriations negotiations. The Certified Seasonal Employer proposal is designed to reward businesses that have consistently followed the rules and responsibly used the H-2B program over multiple years. Under the proposal, employers that have received H-2B labor certifications for the past five years would be allowed to maintain access to the highest number of seasonal workers they were previously certified for without those workers counting against the annual H-2B cap. One way to think about it is this: businesses that have proven year after year they are compliant, dependable, and operating legally would no longer have to “re-enter the lottery” every season just to maintain the same workforce levels they have historically relied upon. Currently, the H-2B program has an annual visa cap of 66,000 per fiscal year that has not been updated in decades despite major economic growth and increased workforce demand. The proposed language would reward long-time, compliant employers (certified for the last five years) instead of forcing them to compete under the same uncertainty each season. These workers would not be included in the cap. Where the Language StandsThe Certified Seasonal Employer language is currently being discussed as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations process in Congress. Rather than moving as a standalone immigration bill, the proposal is being pursued through the federal appropriations process because Congress frequently uses annual funding legislation to address operational H-2B issues and cap relief measures. In this case, industry groups are advocating for the language to be included in the baseline DHS Appropriations bill because DHS oversees key parts of the H-2B program, including visa allocation and administration. The proposal has already gained significant attention in Washington. According to industry briefings shared during the fly-in, the White House previously supported inclusion of the Certified Seasonal Employer language during earlier federal funding negotiations, and advocates are continuing to push for its inclusion in the final FY27 DHS funding package. This means the current focus is on educating Congressional offices, appropriations staff, and committee leadership about why workforce certainty is critical for seasonal employers and why long-time, compliant businesses should receive more predictability within the H-2B process. For TNLA members, the issue is not simply about increasing workforce numbers; it is about creating a more stable and predictable system that allows responsible employers to better plan projects, retain year-round employees, and continue supporting Texas’ growing economy. What Success Looks Like For TNLA members, success would mean:
TNLA appreciates the members who traveled to Washington to ensure the voice of Texas’ green industry was represented on Capitol Hill. Contact TNLA’s Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Team |
AuthorKim Cabrera, TNLA Marketing Manager Archives
July 2026
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