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TNLA is thrilled to introduce our new "Working for You" Blog!
Stay updated on member events and news that impact the TNLA community. In addition, check out our Green Matters Weekly Newsletter for industry news |
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The two-spot cotton leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula) has recently been detected in Texas, traced to hibiscus shipments from out-of-state. This pest is already appearing in retail environments and poses a serious risk to ornamental plants and crops.  Why This Matters
What You Should Do We are asking all industry professionals to share this alert with retailers, growers, suppliers and landscapers in your network. Early identification and coordinated action are essential to prevent this pest from becoming established in Texas. Retailers:
TNLA is monitoring this situation closely and will share updates as they develop. Early identification and coordinated action are critical to preventing widespread establishment in Texas. For additional background, you may also review the Florida pest alert issued late last year. FREE Upcoming Webinar – Save the Date Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper: What Texas Needs to Know Friday, September 5, 2025 | 12:00 PM CST Presenter: Dr. Rafia Khan, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Dr. Khan will cover identification, early warning signs, and management practices for protecting plants and operations Register Here Questions? Curtis Smith, Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs [email protected] | (409) 673-6048 Thank you for helping us spread the word and protect Texas’ green industry.
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TNLA is partnering with Texas programs to strengthen our talent pipeline and connect members with tomorrow’s workforce. We’re calling for volunteers to represent TNLA on-site and sponsors who’d like visibility with students, faculty, and industry partners. (Sponsors may plug their companies—logo on materials, brief intro, and swag—per host guidelines.) Fort Bend ISD Career Fair — Quick “Swing-By” Opportunity |
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Texas Garden Retailer Awards — Applications Now Open (Deadline Oct 5)
Recognize your team, elevate your brand, and put your best work in front of the statewide industry. The Texas Garden Retailer Awards (TGRA) are officially open—and the entry is quick and straightforward.
Why enter
How to enter (takes about 20–30 minutes)
Brochure: Texas Garden Retailer Awards 2025 Brochure
Quick tips from the judges’ perspective
Why enter
- Credibility with customers and partners
- Recognition for your staff’s work
- Visibility you can leverage all year (web, social, in-store)
How to enter (takes about 20–30 minutes)
- Take 5–10 photos of your store/displays
- Complete the short entry form
- Submit online by Sunday, Oct 5
Brochure: Texas Garden Retailer Awards 2025 Brochure
Quick tips from the judges’ perspective
- Shoot on a bright day; include wide shots + close-ups of your best displays
- If you’ve got fall décor up, include it—seasonal touches help tell your story
Help Us Represent TNLA: Volunteer, Sponsor & Swing-By Opportunities
TNLA is partnering with Texas programs to strengthen our talent pipeline and connect members with tomorrow’s workforce. We’re calling for volunteers to represent TNLA on-site and sponsors who’d like visibility with students, faculty, and industry partners. (Sponsors may plug their companies—logo on materials, brief intro, and swag—per host guidelines.)
Oct 8-10 2025
Texas Tech Industry, Research & Innovation Summit (IRIS) — Lubbock
Dates: Oct 8–10, 2025 • Venue: Texas Tech International Cultural Center
Why attend: Three focused days where industry meets academia—recruit talent, judge research, mentor student teams, and build partnerships.
What’s happening
How you can help
Bonus: Stay for the excitement--Homecoming vs. Kansas on Oct 11.
Questions? Email Jeremiah Armstrong at [email protected] with subject “IRIS – Volunteer/Sponsor” and note your availability and company name.
Why attend: Three focused days where industry meets academia—recruit talent, judge research, mentor student teams, and build partnerships.
What’s happening
- Oct 8 – Davis College Career Fair (10:00 AM–2:00 PM)
Find internship and full-time candidates. Breakfast & lunch provided. - Oct 9 – Research Showcase
• 8:00 AM–1:00 PM: View faculty/grad presentations + keynote luncheon with researchers
• 1:00–5:00 PM: Graduate student poster session (industry judges welcome)
• ~5:00 PM: Poster awards & reception - Oct 10 – Industry & Innovation Day
Bring a real business challenge, mentor student teams, and hear pitches. Winning teams receive scholarships and potential commercialization support. Breakfast & lunch provided.
How you can help
- Volunteers: Staff the TNLA presence (2–4 hr shift), judge posters (Oct 9), or mentor teams (Oct 10).
- Sponsors/Donors: Help underwrite facilities, meals, and student scholarships; receive recognition and the chance to showcase your company.
Bonus: Stay for the excitement--Homecoming vs. Kansas on Oct 11.
Questions? Email Jeremiah Armstrong at [email protected] with subject “IRIS – Volunteer/Sponsor” and note your availability and company name.
Oct 29, 2025
Texas A&M Horticultural Sciences Career Fair — College Station
Date/Time: Wed, Oct 29, 2025 • 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Horticulture & Forest Science Building, Texas A&M University
(Optional networking the evening before: Tue, Oct 28, 6:00–8:00 PM.)
Why attend: Meet motivated students across nursery, landscape, wine, produce, floriculture, and related sectors; promote your company and open roles.
How you can help
Location: Horticulture & Forest Science Building, Texas A&M University
(Optional networking the evening before: Tue, Oct 28, 6:00–8:00 PM.)
Why attend: Meet motivated students across nursery, landscape, wine, produce, floriculture, and related sectors; promote your company and open roles.
How you can help
- Volunteers: Represent TNLA, greet students, share industry pathways, and collect contact leads for member companies (2–4 hr shift).
- Sponsors: Support materials/outreach; receive logo placement on table signage/handouts and a brief booth intro (as permitted).
A high-profile battle over groundwater in East Texas is drawing attention from lawmakers, water districts, and industry leaders across the state — including many TNLA members in East Texas and the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Recently, WFAA published a detailed report on Dallas investor Kyle Bass’s plan to pump up to 15 billion gallons of water each year from rural East Texas. The project has sparked fierce local opposition and renewed debate over Texas’s century-old groundwater laws.
Legislative Response
In response, State Representative Cody Harris (R–Palestine), Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, has filed a package of bills aimed at modernizing Texas’s groundwater rules. While he has urged the Governor to add them to the current Special Session agenda, it remains uncertain whether they will be taken up before the next regular legislative session in 2027.
Two bills in particular have emerged as his top priorities:
A Broader Debate Over Texas Water Law
The publicity surrounding Bass’s proposal has reignited conversations about the “rule of capture” — the nearly 120-year-old doctrine that allows landowners to pump as much groundwater as they want from beneath their property, regardless of impacts to neighboring wells.
Lawmakers, local water districts, and stakeholders are now discussing what could be the most significant overhaul of groundwater governance in state history. Proposals under discussion include:
TNLA will continue monitoring these developments closely. Any changes to Texas groundwater law could have significant implications for our industry, and we will keep members informed as the legislative conversation unfolds. Questions? Please reach out to [email protected] or [email protected]
Recently, WFAA published a detailed report on Dallas investor Kyle Bass’s plan to pump up to 15 billion gallons of water each year from rural East Texas. The project has sparked fierce local opposition and renewed debate over Texas’s century-old groundwater laws.
Legislative Response
In response, State Representative Cody Harris (R–Palestine), Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, has filed a package of bills aimed at modernizing Texas’s groundwater rules. While he has urged the Governor to add them to the current Special Session agenda, it remains uncertain whether they will be taken up before the next regular legislative session in 2027.
Two bills in particular have emerged as his top priorities:
- HB 216 – Would limit how much groundwater a single permit holder can pump and transfer out of a groundwater conservation district. For new permits issued after the bill’s effective date, no single permit could authorize production and export of more than 5% of the district’s total modeled available groundwater, as determined by the Texas Water Development Board.
- HB 218 – Would require greater regional oversight for large-scale groundwater transfers. For wells capable of producing 25,000 gallons or more per day, the originating district would need to notify all other districts in its management area. At least two-thirds of those districts would need to approve the permit before it could be granted, with boards required to consider the impact on long-term water availability.
A Broader Debate Over Texas Water Law
The publicity surrounding Bass’s proposal has reignited conversations about the “rule of capture” — the nearly 120-year-old doctrine that allows landowners to pump as much groundwater as they want from beneath their property, regardless of impacts to neighboring wells.
Lawmakers, local water districts, and stakeholders are now discussing what could be the most significant overhaul of groundwater governance in state history. Proposals under discussion include:
- Expanding state oversight
- Strengthening local conservation districts
- Potential major reforms to the rule of capture altogether
TNLA will continue monitoring these developments closely. Any changes to Texas groundwater law could have significant implications for our industry, and we will keep members informed as the legislative conversation unfolds. Questions? Please reach out to [email protected] or [email protected]
Bell County now marks the furthest south the invasive pest has been confirmed in the U.S.
The presence of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) has been newly confirmed in Jack, Navarro, Somervell, Bell, and Rockwall counties, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Notably, Bell County’s detection marks the southernmost known presence of EAB in the United States—a major milestone in the pest’s expansion and a growing threat to Texas ash tree populations.
🪲 What is Emerald Ash Borer?
The emerald ash borer is a destructive, exotic beetle that infests and kills ash trees by burrowing beneath the bark and cutting off the flow of water and nutrients. Once infested, ash trees typically die within 2–3 years.
EAB was first confirmed in Texas in 2016 and has now been detected in 31 counties statewide. The latest confirmations in 2024 represent a notable southward jump, increasing the risk for nurseries, landscapes, and natural ash populations across Central Texas.
Counties Affected
The presence of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) has been newly confirmed in Jack, Navarro, Somervell, Bell, and Rockwall counties, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Notably, Bell County’s detection marks the southernmost known presence of EAB in the United States—a major milestone in the pest’s expansion and a growing threat to Texas ash tree populations.
🪲 What is Emerald Ash Borer?
The emerald ash borer is a destructive, exotic beetle that infests and kills ash trees by burrowing beneath the bark and cutting off the flow of water and nutrients. Once infested, ash trees typically die within 2–3 years.
EAB was first confirmed in Texas in 2016 and has now been detected in 31 counties statewide. The latest confirmations in 2024 represent a notable southward jump, increasing the risk for nurseries, landscapes, and natural ash populations across Central Texas.
Counties Affected
The USDA Interactive Map displays confirmed detections across the U.S., including the growing number in Texas.
What’s Being Done to Tackle It
The Texas A&M Forest Service is leading surveillance and outreach efforts to slow the spread of EAB. Confirmed counties are subject to state quarantines that restrict the movement of ash wood products to prevent further dispersal. Ongoing education and early detection efforts are critical tools in protecting remaining ash populations.
Key Considerations for TNLA Members
Next Steps from TNLA
TNLA is monitoring the EAB expansion and will continue to work with federal, state, and local officials to ensure members remain informed and compliant. If you have questions about how EAB may impact your nursery or landscape operation, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]
What’s Being Done to Tackle It
The Texas A&M Forest Service is leading surveillance and outreach efforts to slow the spread of EAB. Confirmed counties are subject to state quarantines that restrict the movement of ash wood products to prevent further dispersal. Ongoing education and early detection efforts are critical tools in protecting remaining ash populations.
Key Considerations for TNLA Members
- If you grow or handle ash trees, especially in newly affected or adjacent counties, consult the TDA’s quarantine guidelines.
- Expect increased regulatory scrutiny around movement of nursery stock, wood products, and green waste.
- Landscape companies and urban foresters should monitor ash trees for dieback symptoms and woodpecker activity.
- Dead branches near the top of a tree
- Leafy shoots sprouting from the trunk.
- Bark splits exposing s-shaped larval galleries.
- Extensive woodpecker activity
- D‐shaped exit holes
- Visit the Texas A&M Forest Service’s Emerald Ash Borer Hub for the latest maps, detection protocols, and resources.
Next Steps from TNLA
TNLA is monitoring the EAB expansion and will continue to work with federal, state, and local officials to ensure members remain informed and compliant. If you have questions about how EAB may impact your nursery or landscape operation, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]
Texas Congressional Update: Redistricting & Green Industry Champions
The proposed overhaul of Texas’ congressional map—pushed by President Donald Trump—is designed to give the GOP five additional seats in next year’s midterm elections. While the newly drafted lines would likely deliver some Republican pickups, an analysis of the redistricting plan suggests that a full five-seat gain is far from guaranteed.
These changes, based on 2020 census data, could help solidify Republican control in up to 30 of Texas’ 38 congressional districts—a significant shift with long-term implications for the green industry’s federal priorities.
🔄 Key Districts to Watch
Two South Texas districts remain highly competitive—and one carries particular importance for TNLA:
👉 Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28, Laredo)
👉 Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34, McAllen)
Both represent districts that leaned Republican in the last presidential election, yet they successfully held onto their seats. The new map makes each district slightly more conservative—a calculated gamble banking on continued GOP gains among Hispanic voters.
For TNLA, Congressman Cuellar is a critical ally. He has been one of the most consistent and vocal champions of the H-2A and H-2B guest worker programs, which are essential to the nursery and landscape industry. His leadership has helped secure program stability, visa processing improvements, and continued momentum toward year-round labor solutions.
🗳️ As redistricting reshapes the political landscape, TNLA is watching closely—not just for shifts in party control, but for how these changes could impact federal advocacy for the green industry.
🔵 Other Competitive Districts
Several Democratic-held urban and suburban districts could also become heavily Republican—under the proposed map. These include:
• TX-9 – Rep. Al Green (Houston)
• TX-32 – Rep. Julie Johnson (Dallas suburbs)
• TX-35 – Rep. Greg Casar (San Antonio to Austin)
If adopted, these changes could turn currently blue districts into strong-performing Republican seats, further reshaping the state’s congressional delegation.
🧠 Why This Matters to TNLA Members
Programs like H-2A and H-2B are the backbone of a reliable workforce for TNLA members. Continued engagement with trusted allies like Rep. Cuellar ensures our industry’s needs are front and center in Washington.
Your voice—and your vote—matter. They help protect essential workforce programs and ensure support for pro-industry champions in the 2026 election cycle.
Stay tuned for more updates as TNLA continues to monitor congressional developments and advocate on your behalf.
These changes, based on 2020 census data, could help solidify Republican control in up to 30 of Texas’ 38 congressional districts—a significant shift with long-term implications for the green industry’s federal priorities.
🔄 Key Districts to Watch
Two South Texas districts remain highly competitive—and one carries particular importance for TNLA:
👉 Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28, Laredo)
👉 Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34, McAllen)
Both represent districts that leaned Republican in the last presidential election, yet they successfully held onto their seats. The new map makes each district slightly more conservative—a calculated gamble banking on continued GOP gains among Hispanic voters.
For TNLA, Congressman Cuellar is a critical ally. He has been one of the most consistent and vocal champions of the H-2A and H-2B guest worker programs, which are essential to the nursery and landscape industry. His leadership has helped secure program stability, visa processing improvements, and continued momentum toward year-round labor solutions.
🗳️ As redistricting reshapes the political landscape, TNLA is watching closely—not just for shifts in party control, but for how these changes could impact federal advocacy for the green industry.
🔵 Other Competitive Districts
Several Democratic-held urban and suburban districts could also become heavily Republican—under the proposed map. These include:
• TX-9 – Rep. Al Green (Houston)
• TX-32 – Rep. Julie Johnson (Dallas suburbs)
• TX-35 – Rep. Greg Casar (San Antonio to Austin)
If adopted, these changes could turn currently blue districts into strong-performing Republican seats, further reshaping the state’s congressional delegation.
🧠 Why This Matters to TNLA Members
Programs like H-2A and H-2B are the backbone of a reliable workforce for TNLA members. Continued engagement with trusted allies like Rep. Cuellar ensures our industry’s needs are front and center in Washington.
Your voice—and your vote—matter. They help protect essential workforce programs and ensure support for pro-industry champions in the 2026 election cycle.
Stay tuned for more updates as TNLA continues to monitor congressional developments and advocate on your behalf.
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