Green Industry Risk Management Comprehensive Education Dr. Marco A. Palma Assistant Professor and Extension Economist Texas AgriLife Extension Service Texas A&M University System National Extension Risk Management Education Conference. April 12-13, St. Louis, MO

Outline  Who is the target audience?  Green Industry Background  Educational materials  Project Outcomes  Follow up

Who is the target audience?  Green Industry producers  Nursery and greenhouse growers  Landscaping design and maintenance  Retail nurseries and garden centers

Green Industry Background

Firm Size Distribution by Annual Sales

Region Number Survey Respondents Business Population Validated Population Expanded Sales (million$) Expanded Employment (permanent & temporary jobs) Appalachian 332 3,509 2,025 1, ,273 Great Plains ,966 Midwest 481 5,148 2,888 3, ,142 Mountain 115 1, ,181 Northeast 644 8,060 4,610 4, ,194 Pacific 434 6,582 3,224 8, ,564 Southcentral 216 2,648 1,216 2, ,943 Southeast ,708 5,174 5, ,677 Total All Regions 3,041 38,014 19,803 27, ,941 Summary of U.S. Nursery Industry Population, Expanded Sales and Employment, By Region, 2008 Validated business population excludes inactive and disqualified firms in telephone survey. Expanded estimates compiled by state and firm size strata.

Sales by State in Million $

Plant Types Produced/Sold

Sales Transaction Methods Used

Market Channels Used

Other Sales Practices Followed

Texas Size and Trends

Economic Impacts

Educational Materials  Immigration and Labor handbook  Green Industry Risk Management Guide  Webinars  Presentations  Available in Risk Management Library

Educational Materials  Planned for 150 live participants  Actual number 365  Follow up – planned 350  Actual 550  Distributed over 800 copies of materials

Educational Materials  Partnership with industry groups are key  Overwhelming response to webinar participation  Economic crisis  Cost effectiveness of delivery  Promotion of webinars to all TNLA members –

Educational Materials

A brief History and Overview of US Immigration Government Agencies Principally responsible for Immigration Immigration Reform and Control Act 1986 Social Security No Match Letters The Green Card process Non-Immigrant Visas H2A Program Immigration and Labor HB

Migrant and Seasonal Ag Worker protection Act Migrant Labor Housing Facility Act Farm labor Camps Standards for Sanitation at temporary places of employment Employment of Minors- Federal & Texas Work Opportunity Tax Credit Fair Labor Standards Act Texas Minimum Wage Law Immigration and Labor HB

Texas Payday Law Federal Income Tax Withholding Social Security Unemployment Compensation Texas Workers Compensation Law Advanced Earned Income Credit Worker Protection Standards Act Agricultural Hazard Communication Act of TX Occupational Safety and Health Act Immigration and Labor HB

Motor Carrier Regulations –Federal & Texas Equal employment Legislation Responsible Agencies Sections Name Address Phone Numbers Website addresses Immigration and Labor HB

Risk Management Guide  Size and Structure of the Green Industry  Overview of Risk Management Principles  Production Risks and Responses  Risk Management through Crop Insurance  Marketing Risks and Responses  Financial Risks and Responses

Risk Management Guide  Human Resource Risks and Responses  Legal and Environmental Risks and Responses  Funding: National Crop Insurance Services, USDA Risk Management Agency

Webinar 1  “High Performance Management to Survive Turbulent Times”  Action Points to Survive the Downturn – Dr. Charlie Hall, Texas A&M University  Differentiating By Being Sustainable – Dr. Don Wilkerson, Texas A&M University  Marketing Green – Dr. Jenifer Dennis, Purdue University

Webinar 2  “Water Quality, Conservation, and Management”  What's in Your Water? Water Quality and Treatment for Pathogens and Algae - Dr. Paul Fisher, University of Florida  Knowing Exactly When to Apply Irrigation Water - Dr. Peter Ling, Ohio State University  Water Management that Makes Cents! - Dr. Don Wilkerson, Texas A&M University

Project Outcomes – webinar 1  Increase in Knowledge, differentiation - 19%  Increase knowledge sustainability 7%  75% will adopt the practices  $133,000 in economic profits/savings ($1,000 was largest category)  Additional 467 views of the recording

Project Outcomes – webinar 2  Increase in Knowledge – 41%  82% will adopt the practices  $839,000 in economic profits/savings  Additional 83 views of the recording

Project Outcomes  $972,000 in economic profits/savings with 365 participants  Additional 550 views  $1,465,000 in additional economic impacts total of $2.4 million in economic benefit.  For total of $2.4 million in economic benefit. Award Size: $40,238  $59.6 dollars in return for every $1 invested

Dr. Marco Palma Assistant Professor and Extension Economist Texas AgriLife Extension Service Texas A&M University System Questions