Recess rhetoric on the will-there, won't-there status of the 2013 Farm Bill eased off this week as members of Congress shifted deeper into the vacation portion of the August recess.  Concern is still focused on whether or not a reconciled, final Farm Bill can be accomplished before the September 30 end date of the current extension of the 2008 Farm Bill.  Most agree it's pretty obvious with only nine working days in September - and most of that time likely to be taken up dealing with spending issues - an extension of law is needed, and likely one that runs at least through the end of November.

The only new word on scheduling came out of North Dakota this week where House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R, VA) was touring the state's oil shale/oil sand operations.  He confirmed House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH) will name Farm Bill conferees in September, but only after the House passes its stand-alone nutrition program reform package.  Likely seeking to cut $40 billion over 10 years out of federal food stamps, the House-passed nutrition bill will not get Senate action, but will be the roadmap for House negotiations over nutrition program cuts during Farm Bill conference.    

While the town hall statements reported this week continue the finger pointing over the lack of a 2013 omnibus Farm Bill, there was an uptick in the number of House and Senate members going to bat in the media for a strong crop insurance program, one that suffers no more cuts than it's sustained over the last six years. 

Efforts to negotiate a reform package for Unemployment Insurance (UI) with the Administration and labor representatives have collapsed. The UI trust fund is currently insolvent and has been borrowing from the federal government over $10 billion dollars during this most recent economic downturn.  Assessments on employers repay the fund over time.  Stakeholders were meeting to explore various reform alternatives to allow the trust fund be paid back, employers were attempting to include reforms in the program to offset some of the increased costs being demanded.   In the end, the Administration refused to consider bonding the UI trust fund debt to the federal government, leaving an employer tax-only solution.  

For the coming year, FUTA tax credit reduction paid by employers will increase to $71 per employee.  On November 30, the federal government will assess California roughly $430 million in interest on the unpaid debt.  Last year, EDD paid that interest by borrowing from the Disability Insurance trust fund, and have indicated they will do that again this year.    

Green Chemistry Regulations Finalized

On August 28, the Office of Administrative Law approved the Department of Toxic Substances Control's landmark Safer Consumer Products regulations, which take effect Oct. 1, 2013.  The regulations require manufacturers to seek alternative safer chemical ingredients in widely used products. This is one of the first programs of its kind in the world. This concludes a regulatory process that started with legislation signed in 2008, and  signals the beginning of the next steps: Publishing an informational list of Candidate  Chemicals, preparing guidance for conducting Alternatives Analyses and, by April 1,  2014, a list of proposed Priority Products.

It is important to note that California's Green Chemistry law does not impact pesticides or any material regulated under FIFRA. Food is also expressly exempted.  However, it may impact other materials and chemical compounds used in the manufacture of these products.  

Charlotte Vetter South Dakota University Ball Internship at Syngenta/Goldsmith Seeds

ALEXANDRIA, VA - Aug. 26, 2013 - The deadline for online applications for the Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program and the Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program is Tuesday, Oct. 1.Internships are the best way for students to gain valuable hands-on experience to aid in their academic and professional goals, and the American Floral Endowment (AFE) has two floriculture and horticulture internship programs to help.

The Vic & Margaret Ball Intern Scholarship Program was made possible through a generous gift from Vic & Margaret Ball and provides students with an opportunity to gain experience in commercial production. This intern scholarship program offers paid internships for three, four or six months and provides scholarships of up to $6,000 upon completion.

The Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program honors the late Colonel and Mrs. Walter E. Mosmiller, Jr., and provides students pursuing a career in retail or wholesale operations with an opportunity to gain internship experience. The Mosmiller Intern Scholarship program offers paid internships in 10-14 week durations and provides scholarships of $2,000 upon completion.

Eligibility requirements:

• Student must be a U.S. citizen enrolled in a floriculture/environmental horticulture program at a two-year or four-year college or university in the U.S.
• Student must be maintaining a "C" or better GPA
• Student must complete internship prior to graduation

Applications for the Mosmiller Intern Scholarship Program can be submitted here.  

If you have additional questions about what AFE internships entail, check the Frequently Asked Questions. Students can also visit AFE's website to learn more about what is expected from them in both Ball and Mosmiller internships or to read past reports from students at work for firsthand accounts of AFE's internships.

DAVIS, CA - Aug. 29, 2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 57 of California's 58 counties as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by extreme drought in 2013. San Francisco is the only county not designated.

 "Just about everyone in California agriculture has been negatively affected by drought this year," said Val Dolcini, Farm Service Agency State Executive Director. "California's diverse farmers and ranchers of all sizes and backgrounds have experienced drought conditions and water shortages and may find help at FSA offices."

Agricultural operators in all counties designated as natural disaster areas may qualify for low interest emergency (EM) loans from USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA). The agency will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. The maximum amount for an EM loan is $500,000.

Counties that are contiguous to the primary disaster counties declared also qualify for USDA natural disaster assistance. California county drought disaster declarations from the USDA Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack began early this year in February.  With the addition of 25 primary disaster counties declared this month, all but one county in California are now primary or contiguous disaster assistance-eligible counties.

Farmers and ranchers in designated counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for the EM loan to help cover part of their actual losses. To verify the deadline for application in your area, contact your county's Farm Service Agency Office.  You can visit www.usda.gov/ca to get the location of all FSA offices in any state.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has conservation-related disaster assistance to protect soil, water and habitat ( www.nrcs.usda.gov).  Small, non-farming businesses in USDA disaster-designated counties may be eligible for disaster assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) (www.sba.gov/disaster).  For a comprehensive online source for all federal disaster assistance, visit www.disasterassistance.gov .

The Farm Service Agency's Emergency Conservation Program may also help restore conversation-related farm property and facilities. And the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program is available for producers who have enrolled in this annual protection program prior to the deadline earlier this year. For further information, contact your local USDA Service Center regarding all program eligibility requirements and application procedures. Additional information is also available online at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

by Jenny Tabarracci AIFD, CFD

The City College of San Francisco's SAIFD (Student American Institute of Floral Designers) Menzies Chapter won first place overall for the Student Design Competition at the AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers) National Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 27th, 2013.  

This popular and exciting event at Symposium is a breath of fresh air, and a chance to see new talent.  It's truly a thrill for the students to observe and interact with professional designers/attendees from all over the world as their designs are on display after the competition.  Attendees can choose their favorite student designer and vote for them in the People's Choice category.  There is a special night/dinner dedicated to all award recipients.   AIFD Symposium to many students is an unforgettable life learning experience that has built a platform for their future.

City College of San Francisco's team won nine of the fifteen awards and are now the AIFD Student Chapter Champions for the second consecutive year. Seneca College from Ontario Canada placed second overall and Joliet Junior College from Joliet, Illinois place third overall.  There were fourteen SAIFD College Chapters throughout the United States and Canada that participated in the competition with 48 students in the competition.  The design categories were Wedding, Sympathy, Arrangement for an art opening and Body Flowers.  The students had 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete the designs.

City College of San Francisco team member Ineke Moss won four individual awards including first place overall.  Oxana Sanukova won first place Arrangement and third place Sympathy.  Nicole Kastle won second place Sympathy and Ariel Ermatinger won second place in Body Flowers.  The intriguing designs executed by team members Imelda Iraeta, Maria Pettyjohn and Sungmun Ryu contributed to the Overall School Award with the highest average score.

The team's success is due to outstanding commitment, extreme passion, and diverse backgrounds.  There were five consecutive weeks of practice sessions before the competition.  This was a tremendous commitment and dedication of time for the students and instructors.  It takes a certain type of student to compete and make this commitment. The pure passion and talent for floral design is a key ingredient that instructors look for and are able to recognize in their students as they enter and go through the Environment Horticulture/Retail Floristry program at City College of San Francisco.  Instructors encourage, mentor and lead the path for this developmental process.  Instructors in the Retail Floristry Division at City College of San Francisco are AIFD members and have an extensive background in student competition.

City College of San Francisco is known for its diversity and this is also an important factor for the team's success.  The blending of many cultures into one team produces individual uniqueness and a dynamic creative force.  We have students from all over the world.  This year we had students from Germany, Russia, Korea, El Salvador, Philippines and California on the team.

The Environmental Horticulture/Retail Floristry program and outside organizations such as the San Francisco Garden Club assist with scholarship funding for the student incurred competition expenses.  Kitayama Brothers Inc., one of the largest growers in the USA with over one million square feet of greenhouse and over 20 acres of outside production in Watsonville, California, invites students to participate in their annual open house competition.  This provides an excellent opportunity for the students to practice their newly learned skills before the AIFD National Symposium.

Students are advised and trained by instructors:  Jenny Tabarracci AIFD, CFD, Steven Brown Department Chair AIFD, CFD, Holly Money-Collins AIFD, CFD and Soho Sakai, AIFD, CFD.

The Environmental Horticulture/Retail Floristry Department is a hidden gem that has existed since the 1930's.  The department program offers a complete curriculum that maintains strong links with horticulture, flower shop/studio owners, growers, wholesalers and manufacturers. More information about the college and program can be found at www.ccsf.edu         

It's not too late to add classes at City College of San Francisco. If you want to register or encourage friends to, we still have room in RF80A on Tuesday and Thursday Mornings and on Saturdays. Other classes are available too! Check the online schedule@ccsf.edu. I'll be glad to give add codes over the phone 415-239-3140 or via email, sbrown@ccsf.edu.

FTD University is proud to announce the next session of FTD Boot Camp will be held October 7-9, 2013. The three-day intensive workshop, designed for shop owners and managers, is packed with priceless business, design and quality tips and ideas to help sharpen skills and boost their knowledge to drive local business.

FTD Boot Camp, facilitated by FTD Education Consultant Ann Jordan AIFD, is held in a small classroom setting to provide opportunity for open discussion and idea generation. The education course offers participants a wealth of information about how to drive local business to their shops, fine-tune design techniques and market their businesses.

Shop owners and managers with any skill level in business or design are encouraged to attend FTD Boot Camp and refresh their knowledge. "Having been in the floral business for over 20 years, I was slightly skeptical of attending another training seminar, but FTD Boot Camp turned out to be anything but," exclaimed FTD Boot Camp Graduate Robbie Gibson, owner of Belmar Flower Shop located in Louisville, KY. "Ann was a wonderful instructor and had everyone trading ideas and experiences the first day."

FTD Boot Camp sessions feature topics including:

�         American Floral Trends Forecast

�         Profitability and cost of goods sold

�         Email and social media marketing

�         Floral designs for younger generations

�         Wedding designs

�         Many more

Since its inception in 2012, FTD Boot Camp has grown in popularity due to a need in the floral industry for comprehensive education. "FTD Boot Camp is a good way to reboot your way of thinking and help focus on being a well-run, profitable business," stated FTD Boot Camp graduate Murray Van Egmond, owner of Edgewood Florist, Montreal-Ouest, QC, Canada. "Upon my return home, I was enthusiastic about implementing some of the ideas we learned and discussed."

Florists interested in benefitting from this robust business and design course are encouraged to visit www.FTDi.com/FTDUniversity to review the full agenda and register. Space is limited!

FTD Boot Camp

Date:     October 7 - 9, 2013

Location:  FTD Headquarters - Downers Grove, IL

Cost:      $599/person

Includes:    All education sessions, flowers and materials; three nights of hotel room and tax; breakfast, lunch and a networking dinner on the Monday night of the session.

To learn more about FTD Boot Camp and other courses offered at FTD University, visit www.FTDi.com/FTDUniversity.

Gallup & Stribling Orchids - 3450 Via Real, Carpinteria, CA

Saturday, October 12^th

California Certified Florist (CCF) Testing

Education Workshops

Evening Student Design Competition

Sunday, October 13^th

Top Ten Design Competition

Trade Show

Afternoon Design Show Sponsored by FTD Featuring

Deborah De La Flor, AIFD, PFCI

Click on links for all important documents below...   

• PROGRAM
• 2013 DESIGN WORKSHOPS
• REGISTRATION FORM
• SILENT AUCTION
• TOP TEN COMPETITION
• STUDENT COMPETITION

Get More Details/Register:

Call CSFA:  916-448-5266

Email:  ann@agamsi.com

CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED FLORIST (CCF)

EXAM PREPARATION CLASSES SCHEDULED

The California State Floral Association (CSFA) &  

The California Certified Florist (CCF) Program

Present:

CCF Prep Classes

Sunday, September 22nd

Two Locations:

A To Wholesale Floral Supply Inc.  

1511 E. McFadden Avenue,

Santa Ana, CA  92705

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

For More Information call the CSFA office at 916-448-5266 or go to the CCF website at:  www.californiacertifiedflorist.org 

The latest issue of Floral Management Magazine is now available. Your printed version will arrive in the mail any day now, but you can read the issue from the convenience of your computer right now!    

Please click the magazine cover or click here and log in to be able to access your "Members only" digital copy.  

http://floralmanagement.safnow.org 

(AUGUST 29, 2013) KOKOMO, IN - Syndicate Sales, Inc. today introduced Profit by Design™, an innovative, multi-function resource for retail florists and designers. The first release in the Profit by Design™ series is Flower Recipes. Created with the retailer's success in mind, Syndicate's objective with Flower Recipes is to contribute a functional business tool alongside a host of inspiring design ideas. Flower Recipes are intended to aid every level of retail business, from bookkeeping to design to quick reference to sales.

Profit by Design's™ Flower Recipes include unique features such as:

�         Dynamic, customized pricing

�         Free artwork and robust content for use online or in print

�         Vivid design descriptions to enhance customer service

"We're thrilled to provide this interactive tool to retail florists and designers throughout the industry. Using Syndicate's Flower Recipes, it is our goal to empower retailers to take their business to the next level," said Laura D. Shinall, President of Syndicate Sales, Inc. "Flower Recipes will allow retail teams to provide superb levels service and professional creativity -all while keeping profitability in mind."

Available at no cost online to registered Syndicate Stars� users, each Flower Recipe includes imagery, full description, and a list of ingredients. Flower Recipes incorporate an interactive pricing feature, too, so that business owners can quickly identify how to positively impact their bottom line. Syndicate's software engineers have developed this easy-to-use technology, ensuring each Flower Recipe's pricing tool is fully customizable to suit the retailers' needs and financial goals.

Syndicate's Profit by Design™ Flower Recipes are online now at syndicatesales.com/flowerrecipes. To register, learn more about Syndicate, and to explore the growing database of Flower Recipes, visit syndicatesales.com.