!\F, W HAMPSHIRE NEWS 



Associations Come Together 

 to Form Horticultural Indus- 

 try Council 



Representatives from several horti- 

 cultural trade associations came to- 

 gether on March 10 at the Univ. ot 

 New Hampshire to explore the for- 

 mation of a Horticultural Industries 

 Council. Cathy Neal, an Extension 

 specialist who facilitated the meeting 

 along with Rick Simpson, President 

 of the New Hampshire Plant Grow- 

 ers Association, sees the council as 

 a vehicle for promoting communica- 

 tion and facilitating action on issues 

 of common concern. The discussion 

 touched upon many common chal- 

 lenges and opportunities such as leg- 

 islative and regulatory action, mem- 

 bership recruitment and member 

 benefits, support for education and 

 extension, and visibility and promo- 

 tion of the horticultural industry. 

 "Every trade group contacted was 

 very excited about the opportunities 

 such a council presents, to share re- 

 sources, to enhance and promote the 

 industry, and to respond with one 

 voice when legislative or other issues 

 surface that affect the industry." said 



Neal. The council will meet again 

 in November. 



Environmental horticulture is the 

 largest and fastest-growing sector 

 of agriculture in New Hampshire, 

 with over 900 firms in the indus- 

 try and an estimated gross value of 

 $438 million annually. This figure 

 includes production firms such as 

 nurseries and greenhouses, retail op- 

 erations such as garden centers and 

 florists, and landscape and tree ser- 

 vices. Vegetable and fruit production 

 adds another $26 million to the 

 horticultural industry's value. 



New Dean Appointed At 

 UNH COLSA 



Effective April 1, 2004, William 

 "Bill" Trumble was named Dean of 

 UNH College of Life Sciences and 

 Agriculture. Bill's strong leadership 

 skills and innovative ideas will be 

 tapped to spearhead a comprehensive 

 review of COLSA and chart a course 

 for the future. Trumble's charge is 

 to formulate a plan that maintains 

 academic excellence within the cur- 

 rent budget restraints. The input of 

 the UNH COLSA faculty, depart- 



The initial meeting of the Horticuhtiral Industries Council was attended by 

 (top row, left to right): Karen Johnson and Mick Sheffield, NH Landscape 

 Association; George Pellettieri, Granite State Landscape Architects; Rick Simpson, 

 NH Plant Growers Association; Stan Swier, Paul Fisher, Geoffrey Njue and 

 Cathy Neal, UNH Cooperative Extension; (bottom row, left to right): Larry 

 Fay, NH Arborists Association; Erick Leadbeater, NH Fruit Growers Association 

 and NH Horticultural Society; Valerie Dawes, NH State Florists Association; 

 John Roberts, UNH Cooperative Extension. Not present: Rob Johnson, NH 

 harm Bureau Federation; Phil Ferdinando, NH Vegetable and Berry Growers 

 Association; Alan Hineman, NH Golf Course Superintendents Association; Bruce 

 Clement, UNH Cooperative Extension, (photo: George Hamilton) 



ment chairs, and staff will be sought 

 in future planning efforts. 



UNH Extension Positions 



Cathy Neal reported recently to the 

 NHPGA Board of Directors that a 

 candidate has been appointed to the 

 position of AG Program Leader for 

 UNH Extension. This position be- 

 came vacant April 16, 2004 when 

 Bruce Clement left the post. Neal 

 said, "It's a very positive step to see 

 this position filled." 



According to Neal, The Mer- 

 rimack County Extension Advisory 

 Council has been proactive and se- 

 cured funding to hire an Extension 

 Educator to fill the position vacated 

 by David Seavey. 



New Rules for Directional 

 Signs 



The NH Department of Transporta- 

 tion announced new rules governing 

 tourist directional signs. According 

 to this new policy, seasonal busi- 

 nesses are now required to cover the 

 directional signs with a blank cover 

 panel that is manufactured in ac- 

 cordance with this policy. Business 

 owners will be given a year to come 

 into compliance with this new law 

 effective September 2003. Accord- 

 ing to NHDOT, a business is con- 

 sidered seasonal if it is closed for a 

 period of more than 15 consecutive 

 days per year. It is the responsibil- 

 ity of the business owner to inform 

 NHDOT at least 14 days in ad- 

 vance of the dates upon which the 

 sign panel is to be covered or un- 

 covered. 



According to NHDOT policy, 

 "Closed Cover panels are to be fab- 

 ricated from aluminum base ma- 

 terial with a minimum of 0/08 

 inches (2.0mm) in thickness and 

 free of burrs. The panel shall have 

 a "blue"reflective sheeting over the 

 entire panel face and flush to the 

 edges." Questions regarding this is- 

 sue should be directed to Walter J. 

 Keuenhoff, Jr. 271-8124 , Bureau of 

 Traffic, 220 Sheep Davis Rd. P.O. 

 Box 483 Concord, NH 03302-0483 



SPRING IMU 



