Checklist for compliance

Compliance for the horticulture industry goes beyond payroll, HR and taxes. The following are government agencies and private organizations with ties to the regulation of disease, pests, the environment and other issues:

U.S. Department of Agriculture – This is the main website for the USDA, with information for the agriculture and horticulture industries, as well as for consumers. Wide range of topics include agriculture research and statistics, drought information, consumer initiatives (such as Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food) and biotechnology.

NASDA State Directory – Compiled by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, this website provides links to all 50 U.S. states’ Departments of Agriculture, as well as for U.S. territories.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Contains latest information about pesticides, hazardous and non-hazardous waste, water pollution and other environmental hazards.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – A service of the USDA, this link for APHIS provides information about common horticulture pests, including insects, weeds, diseases, mollusks and nematodes, as well as information about the Plant Protection and Quarantine program.

APSnet – Home of the non-profit American Phytopathological Society, dedicated to their mission to study and control plant disease. Features the organization’s education schedule, scientific research, and membership information.

National Agriculture Library – A function of the USDA, this website is a catch-all for information about the horticulture industry, including links to laws and regulations.

OFA – The leading horticulture educational association in the United States for all industry segments. Through its premiere educational conference, the OFA Short Course, the organization offers continuing education classes and pesticide recertification courses.

Source: OFA.org

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