WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2012--The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released the new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM), updating a useful tool for gardeners and researchers for the first time since 1990 with greater accuracy and detail. The new map-jointly developed by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oregon State University's (OSU) PRISM Climate Group-is available online at www.planthardiness.ars.usda.gov. ARS is the chief intramural scientific research agency of USDA.

For the first time, the new map offers a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based interactive format and is specifically designed to be Internet-friendly. The map website also incorporates a "find your zone by ZIP code" function. Static images of national, regional and state maps have also been included to ensure the map is readily accessible to those who lack broadband Internet access.

"This is the most sophisticated Plant Hardiness Zone Map yet for the United States," said Dr. Catherine Woteki, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics. "The increases in accuracy and detail that this map represents will be extremely useful for gardeners and researchers."

Plant hardiness zone designations represent the average annual extreme minimum temperatures at a given location during a particular time period. They do not reflect the coldest it has ever been or ever will be at a specific location, but simply the average lowest winter temperature for the location over a specified time. Low temperature during the winter is a crucial factor in the survival of plants at specific locations.

The new version of the map includes 13 zones, with the addition for the first time of zones 12 (50-60 degrees F) and 13 (60-70 degrees F). Each zone is a 10-degree Fahrenheit band, further divided into A and B 5-degree Fahrenheit zones.

To help develop the new map, USDA and OSU requested that horticultural and climatic experts review the zones in their geographic area, and trial versions of the new map were revised, based on their expert input.

Compared to the 1990 version, zone boundaries in this edition of the map have shifted in many areas. The new map is generally one 5-degree Fahrenheit half-zone warmer than the previous map throughout much of the United States. This is mostly a result of using temperature data from a longer and more recent time period; the new map uses data measured at weather stations during the 30-year period 1976-2005. In contrast, the 1990 map was based on temperature data from only a 13-year period of 1974-1986.

Some of the changes in the zones, however, are a result of new, more sophisticated methods for mapping zones between weather stations. These include algorithms that considered for the first time such factors as changes in elevation, nearness to large bodies of water, and position on the terrain, such as valley bottoms and ridge tops. Also, the new map used temperature data from many more stations than did the 1990 map. These advances greatly improved the accuracy and detail of the map, especially in mountainous regions of the western United States. In some cases, advances resulted in changes to cooler, rather than warmer, zones.

While about 80 million American gardeners, as well as those who grow and breed plants, are the largest users of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, many others need this hardiness zone information. For example, the USDA Risk Management Agency uses the USDA plant hardiness zone designations to set some crop insurance standards. Scientists use the plant hardiness zones as a data layer in many research models such as modeling the spread of exotic weeds and insects.

Although a poster-sized version of this map will not be available for purchase from USDA, as in the past, anyone may download the map free of charge from the Internet onto their personal computer and print copies of the map as needed.

As USDA's chief scientific research agency, ARS is leading America towards a better future through agricultural research and information. ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to help answer agricultural questions that impact Americans every day. ARS work helps to:

• ensure high-quality, safe food, and other agricultural products;
• assess the nutritional needs of Americans;
• sustain a competitive agricultural economy;
• enhance the natural resource base and the environment; and
• provide economic opportunities for rural citizens, communities, and society as a whole.

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With the railroads strongly opposing, shippers of all stripes will descend on Washington next week to push for language in the House federal highway reauthorization bill allowing the states to permit rigs weighing up to 97,000 lbs with six axles and additional braking power on federal highways within their borders. The current limit is 80,000 lbs, forcing shippers to run less-than-truckload shipments or use state roads with higher weight limits. The shipper fly-in -- with members of several coalitions combining forces, will be held February 1, just a day before the House Infrastructure & Transportation Committee begins markup of the House package, expected to cost over $500 billion over six years. This week a letter from the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Cattlemen's Beef Assn., and the nation's largest livestock and poultry groups was sent to Committee Chair Dan Mica (R, FL) and ranking member Nick Rahall (D, WV) supporting the heavy truck language.

A measure intended to expedite environmental review of existing pesticides failed in Assembly Agriculture Committee. AB 1176 (Williams) would have required additional review for pesticides that may be Toxic air contaminants and had several provisions requiring the Department of Pesticide Regulation to expedite its review process.   The bill could have established a precedence and timeline that would have been difficult to meet with such rigorous scientific review. Because it failed in committee, the bill is "dead" for the session. However, it is unclear whether the author will reintroduce a similar bill this year.

House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R, OK) says there is still an opportunity to get a bill written this year, but he will need a convergence of economic and political factors that will let him push forward with a Farm Bill in 2012. Saying he needs to come up with a bill that cuts $23 billion over the life of the bill, Lucas says it's going to be tough to get all the ducks in line to get a bill done this year, though he said Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D, MI) has earned her stripes on farm policy development during the end-of-2010 deficit committee deliberations. He also said, however, he doesn't feel he's ready to push forward and needs to sit down with committee ranking member Rep. Collin Peterson (D, MN), as well as committee members who don't feel as though they had sufficient input to the super committee document.  

At the same time, various commodity sectors will have to agree on which of several approaches to rewriting direct payment programs to embrace. It does not appear the outlying titles will be problematic -- conservation program consolidation was relatively painless -- but the heavy lifting will come in rewriting the commodity and direct payment titles given there does not appear to be a consensus approach that satisfies groups by commodity and by region. The only agreement is that any new approach needs to be built off the federal crop insurance model as part of a mechanism to protect income. The challenge here is producer premium subsidies, a cost-cutting target for some members. Lucas said he'll talk to anyone about any proposal, including those being talked about by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and those floating around in the Senate, including Sen. Kent Conrad's (D, ND) "shallow loss" proposal.

For retailers, growing the business in 2012 often means knowing their customer in oddly intimate ways, including what they say off the cuff about brands on social media, what time of day they shop, even where they are geographically.

At the National Retail Federation's 101st Annual Convention & Expo in New York Tuesday, a session called "What Not to Miss: Trends to Capitalize On for 2012" took a look at emerging tactics that merchants may have missed out on.

The expert panelists, Nita Rollins, director of thought leadership for Resource Interactive, and Marian Salzman, CEO of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR and coiner of the terms metrosexual and singleton, took questions from the moderator, Jayne O'Donnell, retail reporter for USA Today, as well as a few from the audience.

Here's a look at what bubbled up:

Keep it short, stupid: The fact that people are checking their smartphones during dinners out and constantly texting is a sign that consumers' heads are in the clouds, and Salsman says "this is going to change how we interact with brands and brand intermediaries."

Specifically, says Salzman, retailers need to think about how to get their message across fast and pointedly, Twitter-style.

"If you can't sell it in 140 characters or less, it's off the market, and that included the branded hash-tag embedded in the text, she says.

Everywhere commerce: Plain old e-commerce has had to make way for t-commerce (TV and tabloid), v-commerce (video), f-commerce (Facebook), and m-commerce, meaning mobile in general, says Rollins.

"We urge all of our clients to directly monetize what [they] produce and think of every touch point," Rollins says, adding that the rise of mobile has led to "geo-shopping" sprees that have consumers embracing multiple brands and multiple coupons. Retailers can take advantage by offering coupons to shoppers using location-based apps.

Stores as 24/7 idea centers: As e-commerce increases, what happens to physical stores? Retailers who bristled at the Amazon app that gave in-store shoppers a discount for buying online won't like this forecast.

"We'll do lots of shopping, and we'll do it when we can be in our living rooms and find the best price," Salzman says. "We'll use stores as a way to curate ideas."

Physical stores are still "living on agrarian hours, and the rest of us are not farmers," she says. "We're moving into a 24/7 lifestyle."

She suggests that stores, especially in urban centers, would do well to stay open from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., a hot time for e-commerce that physical stores miss out on. She also sees stores popping up in places like schools, country clubs, and restaurants, where people are doing other activities, as the shopping experience gets more blurred.

The power of the nooner: Flash-sales sites, many of which open the merchandise sales of limited goods at noon, have inspired a new type of online shopping devotee who does his or her best "work" during lunch hour. Nicknamed "the nooner," sexual innuendo fully intended, Rollins says that the flash sale is a recession-fueled trend that retailers wished had gone away but didn't.

While fashion sites abound, Salzman says the one area that's still relatively untapped when it comes to flash sales is food.

"We are becoming obsessed with the quality of the food we eat. The 'what's for dinner.' (A site could) offer what's fresh today," Salzman says.

Tailored by avatar: While online retail has taken "baby steps" toward providing a better apparel-sizing experience, "fit will be the final frontier," says Rollins. She sees personal avatar-based shopping for apparel, complete with a catwalk that demonstrates what clothes look like on, happening within the next two to three years. After a consumer's measurements are established and an online avatar created, "it won't take a rocket scientist to figure out your tastes, your style preferences, and what you want for the upcoming style season," she says.

Teresa Novellino writes for Portfolio.com    

The California Cut Flower Commission's  'Rose Parade Video' debuted  on uBloom:  

Rose Parade 2012: Certified CA Grown!

Congratulations to CCFC and all the California Flower Growers for this tremendous effort showcasing California flowers!

Following up on the President's State of the Union messages this week, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack did not rule out more retirements and greater retrenchment of existing USDA programs. In a call with reporters on how the President's State of the Union messages would affect rural communities, Vilsack would not rule out "greater restructuring" of USDA, including higher-than-expected retirements, and consolidation of programs above and beyond what was announced last week. USDA's "Blue Print for Stronger Service," which can be found on USDA's website (www.usda.gov), includes 69 recommendations for greater program and agency efficiencies in both the short and long terms. The Secretary also said the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is in for some restructuring, indicating announcements would be coming soon.

Preventing Common Injuries:

Common injuries and their causes: Fingers and hands are injured more than any other part of the body. Many times these injuries occur due to lack of an understanding of the hazards that exist or lack of Personal Protective Equipment.

Personal protective equipment (PPE): PPE is designed to guard against any risk present in the workplace. This can be things like molten metal, falling debris, electric shock, etc. Injuries occur when employees choose not to wear designated Personal Protective Equipment or use the wrong type of equipment.

Important pointers on how to avoid common injuries:

• In most cases, gloves have to be used to prevent hand injuries.
• For each job, complete a written Hazard Assessment to ensure that the proper kind of protection is always available for the various exposures.
• Before handling, inspect materials for slivers, jagged edges, burrs, and rough or slippery surfaces.
• Get a firm grip on the object.
• Clear a path of travel and a set point.
• In the case of repetitive motion tasks, be aware that gloves or other PPE can restrict movement which results in greater stress. This must be accounted for.
• Keep fingers away from pinch points when setting down materials.
• Care should always be taken when wearing gloves while working with or around rotating machinery.
• When handling lumber, pipes, or other long objects, keep hands away from the ends to prevent them from being pinched or from sharp edges.
• Wipe off greasy, wet, slippery, or dirty objects before trying to handle them.
• Keep hands free of oil and grease.
• If injuries do occur have them treated immediately. Cuts or scratches can become infected unless properly cared for.
• Report accidents immediately; following procedures for initial response and containment of the incident.

(Source:  InterWest Insurance Services) 

Another floral scam is circulating in the Bay Area and will most likely spread to your area soon.

Wilton Lee CCF, Vice President of the California State Floral Association, called the CSFA office to report on this newest scam.  The caller phones a florist asking for a very special arrangement for Valentine's Day.  The request is for roses - you are going to love this one - and please fold crisp $20 dollar bills into a butterfly shape and attach to each rose!   This is definitely a new spin on an old scam.

If you have received any similar orders, please email or call the CSFA office at 916-448-5266.

Best regards,

Ann Quinn

Executive Vice President

California State Floral Association

What companies are required to post the Form 300 beginning February 1?

If your company had 10 or fewer employees at all times during the last calendar year, your company does not need to keep Cal/OSHA injury and illness records. This exemption also applies if your company's Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code is included in Table 1 of Appendix A, Section 14300.2, Article 2 of the regulations adopted by California's Division of Labor Statistics and Research, and enforced by Cal/OSHA. However, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics may ask you to participate in a random survey to provide records as detailed in the provisions of Section 14300.41 or Section 14300.42.

Form 300: Not Posted

The Form 300 is used to record, or log, all injuries and illnesses, except those that have been determined to be first aid only. Typically, the Form 300 is not posted because there may be employee privacy issues involved.

As an employer, you are not to include the employee's name for specific injuries or illnesses listed in Section 14300.29(b)(7), such as needle sticks, HIV infection, hepatitis, sexual assault and others. In addition, an employee suffering from an injury or illness not listed as a privacy issue may request that his/her name not be entered on the log.

Post Form 300A

Another form, the 300A, must be completed and posted beginning February 1. This form contains a summary of the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred during the previous year. Employers are required to post only the summary (Form 300A)-not the Form 300 (Log)-from February 1 to April 30.

The summary must list the total number of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred in the previous year and were logged on the Form 300 (Log). Employment information about the annual average number of employees and total hours worked during the calendar year also is required to assist in calculating incidence rates. Companies with no recordable injuries or illnesses in the previous year must post the summary with zeros on the "total" line. A company executive must certify all establishment summaries.

The form is to be displayed in a common area where notices to employees usually are posted. Employers must make a copy of the summary available to employees who move from worksite to worksite, such as construction workers, and employees who do not report to any fixed establishment on a regular basis.

More Information/Forms

Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. The role of OSHA is to assure the safety and health of U.S. workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.

A free Log 300 wizard is available at

calchamberstore.com/log300wizard to help a business determine whether it is subject to recordkeeping requirements.

For more information on Form 300 filing and posting requirements, or copies of the OSHA Forms 300, 300A and 301 visit  hrcalifornia.com. 

 (Source:  California Chamber of Commerce Alert)  

As of April 30, 2012, most private sector employers will be required to post a notice advising employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. The notice should be posted in a conspicuous place, where other notifications of workplace rights and employer rules and policies are posted. Employers also should publish a link to the notice on an internal or external website if other personnel policies or workplace notices are posted there. For further information about the posting, including a detailed discussion of which employers are covered by the NLRA, and what to do if a substantial share of the workplace speaks a language other than English, please visit https://www.nlrb.gov/poster

PLEASE NOTE: The poster is required to be 11 x 17 inches, in color or in black-and-white. When printing to full size, be sure to set your printer output to 11 x 17. Or you may print the two 8.5 x 11 pages and tape them together.

English version

• Employee Rights Under the NLRA poster, two-page 8.5 x 11 version (pdf)  
• Employee Rights Under the NLRA poster, 11 x 17 version (pdf) 

Spanish version

• Spanish language poster - two-page, 8.5 x 11 version (pdf) 
• Spanish language poster - 11 x 17 version (pdf)  

CALIFORNIA STATE FLORAL ASSOCIATION TOGETHER WITH ROP CAMARILLO   

Present a Floral Design Workshop

March 31, 2012

Floral Architectonics: the Art of Incorporating Architectural Elements into Dynamic Floral Designs

Instruction by Tony Alvarez AIFD, CCF & Debbie Alvarez AIFD, CCF

Place: ROP Camarillo, 465 Horizon Circle, Camarillo, CA 93010

Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

In this class we will explore a number of architectural elements developed since man first began building shelters right up to the modern age of towering steel structures and modern conceptual theories in architecture. We will integrate these architectural elements in our design constructions using assorted building materials, plant materials, flowers and branches as well as decorative wire and glassware.  

Come spend a day with friends and learn new ways to add interest, value, drama and innovation to everyday designs!

Class fee: $125.00

Click here for full details