Colorado Arborists and Lawn Care Professionals
The following article was originally published in the May, 2016 newsletter for the Colorado Arborists and Lawn Care Professionals' (CALCP) association.
By Rick Roehm
Rick is a sales representative for Helena Chemical Company in Denver, CO. Rick has worked in the Green Industry for over 26 years and is one of Colorado's premier weed specialists. He is serving his second term as president of the CALCP. Rick has served on the board of CALCP for 17 years.
Hello Everyone…hope spring has been kind to all in some way so far. Who’s ready to let the Mark Sanchez era begin? Me neither. They’ll run him and others out there next fall in orange shirts but it won’t be the same. But this, and many more changes are coming. Somebody let Tre sing with a different band last summer. I’m told it went okay but wasn’t the same. We all adapted.
In our industry, change will be the norm. We’ll no longer look at an Ash as the first choice of tree to plant. Impatiens too, may have a limited time left as an annual flower choice. There will be replacements for both. We’ll need to focus as an industry and as a trade organization on how we’ll procure workers for our companies. CALCP will continue to lead this charge. Our new executive director, will be committed to this goal. Yes, that’s another change coming too. Some other changes I see coming include the use of technology to track our credits and pesticide applications. I’m seeing higher levels of scrutiny on labels, timing and rates of pesticide apps because of this. I’m also seeing conferences and trade organizations, like CALCP, having to attract and serve broader mar-kets. I think you’ll see more collaboration among trade organizations. This will allow more lobbying clout with law makers and higher regard from the general public.
From a pesticide standpoint, this is in my wheelhouse. You’ll see fewer new products but the ones you do see will be safer to you, me and the environment. There will be less active ingredients released into the environment (think lower use rates) and they will be more timing- and pest-specific. I think there will also be more places that don’t allow spraying and spreading. This probably isn’t a good thing from a business point of view, but this is a change I see coming. You’ll also see adjuvants that perform more than one function in the tank. This is a progression of technology. A better mousetrap is being produced. This will help your bottom line, and make for a happier public. I think you’ll also see less companies making and selling pesticides. They tend to be expensive but the ones that do will do it better. There will be less of a “one size fits every market” mentality.
I’m not an irrigation guy but I’m told that’s the industry in which there will be the most change. The systems will be more efficient and advanced to operate. They’ll require experts but will indeed save water (dollars) and will be legislatively mandated. I was told recently that a business should invest in those people and equipment more than anything else.
Perhaps little of these changes will come about but some will and I could probably write more but I’ve got to check the yellow pages and see if I can find a repair shop for my pager. I don’t think its been working for some time. Have a good spring.