Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/108761
Special Feature administration will impact them.They are trying to gauge how the new tax rates will impact them and how the health care reform act will impact their businesses. Clients are still hesitant to move forward on new projects for that reason. Lahren: My company is fortunate to be in a growing economy in North Dakota.We have an oil industry growing on the Western part of the state and a strong agricultural economy in the Red River Valley on the eastern side of North Dakota.We continue to deal with more regulations from the federal level that could change things in the future. Our landscape design/build division works mostly with high-end residential customers, [and] when they get nervous we get nervous. It's tough to make business decisions when our current administration and congress keep kicking the can down the road — possible business growth and capital improvements get put on hold. Landscape and Irrigation: What do you think will be the industry's biggest story in 2013? Goldenberg: I think the biggest story will be the rebounding economy. It could have a springboard effect, which in turn would bring up consumer spending. Another big story will be H-2B relief ultimately allowing more workers for a rebounding economy. Jacobsen: I hope with an improving economy and real estate prices beginning to climb back up that consumers will start to see the value in their landscape and put money into their properties.This will be a positive sign for landscape professionals. PLANET recently formed a partnership with JP Horizons to help promote its Come Alive Outside initiative, which is a movement to inspire people in a variety of ways so that they may benefit from their local green spaces. Landscape companies can join this grassroots initiative and help people Come Alive Outside in their own communities by organizing and sponsoring community events, and by making local leaders aware of the benefits of encouraging their communities to use and enjoy the outdoors.This is a natural fit for the many landscape companies that already see the benefit of working alongside communities, parks and recreation groups, schools, etc. to help promote the green industry. Hamlin: The growing importance of technical training for landscape irrigation professionals will be a top focus for the Irrigation Association. In 2013, IA is launching a new irrigation technician program to ensure that professionals have the foundational skills necessary to succeed. Drought will remain a significant issue, and will impact the entire industry. From a business planning standpoint, drought and weather extremes will continue to challenge the industry and impact irrigation sales, particularly if these conditions spur more watering restrictions like we saw in 2012. McGrath: Like last year, environmental awareness is continuing to become more prominent.The EPA requires states and municipalities to reduce stormwater runoff and pollution with a selection of best management practices, including permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP). Additionally, ICPI succeeded in lobbying Congress to include the first-ever permeable pavements provisions. 10 Landscape and Irrigation February 2013 In doing so, a new law was created that established permeable pavements as a technology for use under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Transportation.With government programs being implemented such as MAP-21, continued pressure from the EPA on stormwater management regulations and a global "green movement," we expect to see more projects specified with products that minimize the impact on the environment, reduce pollution and the carbon footprint. Arlington: How to stay alive with even smaller margins.We're going into the second term with the same political structure and our margins will continue to shrink. Griggs: The three biggest stories will be 1. How much the health care reform act will cost small businesses; 2. How new immigration laws and resolution on H2B will impact labor availability; and 3. How lack of available water supply and continued drought will impact landscape work. All could be crippling to small businesses. Landscape and Irrigation: What areas of advancement in the industry are you most pleased with? And what areas need to improve? Goldenberg: I'm especially pleased with the advancements in technology that our industry has access to these days. Many of them were on display at the GIE+EXPO, which is held in conjunction with our annual Green Industry Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, each October. Small and large businesses are able to create consumer-oriented plans because of software improvements, improved routing software allows companies to be more efficient, and Google Earth now gives us the opportunity to see the big impact prior to even going on-site, etc.The list could go on. Improvements should focus on continued efforts to raise the bar of professionalism within the industry and enhance the perception of our industry with consumers.There are always areas to improve, such as greater communication, as well as opportunities to enhance jobs by using the advances in technology and equipment we have available to us. PLANET continues to provide value with the many member benefits that we offer, especially when it comes to our educational offerings, such as our expanded PLANET Universe, the green industry's portal for all information and resources pertaining to our industry, that's available to all, as well as our extensive offering of webinars. Jacobsen: To emphasize the need for raising the bar of professionalism within the industry and providing value-added benefits, PLANET continues to work closely with state associations, sharing resources and experiences to foster a stronger industry. During the past year, we've taken a step closer to forming a confederation of PLANET members, composed of state association members and PLANET members.This will be a big step for the national and state associations and its members. Hamlin: Our industry continues to be at the cutting edge of technology. From Smart controllers to products that increase the distribution uniformity of a system, innovation has mitigated the possiwww.landscapeirrigation.com