FNGLA's online Resource Library includes topics on policy, regulations and operations standards
The following public resources were compiled by FNGLA to promote world-class business practices for Florida's nursery and landscape industry.
Resource Library
FNGLA Resource Library
Agricultural Exemptions
Agricultural Exemptions Guide
Exemptions for Fencing and Trailers Used in Agricultural Production
Building Code
Florida Building Code
Fire Code
Florida Fire Prevention Code
Nonresidential Farm Buildings
Nonresidential farm buildings; farm fences; farm sign
Right-To-Farm Act
Florida Right to Farm Act
Farm Signage
Signs for which permits are not required
Greenbelt Statutory Definition
Agricultural lands; classification and assessment; mandated eradication or quarantine program; natural disasters
Florida Farm Tax Exempt Agricultural Materials (TEAM) Card
Florida Senate Bill 1164
Business
Florida Agriculture License and Bond Law
Agricultural Dealer's Licenses FAQ
Employee Handbook Templates
Create A State-Specific Company Handbook
Fire Safety
This page provides valuable reference materials for the prevention of fire-related injuries in all workplaces.
Cell Phone Policy
Disaster Assistance
Hurricane Preparedness
This page is designed to help FNGLA members prepare for a hurricane or other emergency event. This page primarily focuses on preparing your family and your business for a hurricane . However, many of the strategies can also be used to minimize your losses in the case of other types of emergencies.
This page contains a collection of useful resources to assist you in pre- and post- emergency situations. One of the main components to emergency preparedness is planning. FNGLA cannot develop a plan specific to every member's business, however, this site is designed to assist FNGLA members in considering what types of planning should be completed and provides a one-stop resource for as much helpful information as possible.
FNGLA acknowledges the Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers for providing much of the following information.
Long Before the Storm...
-
Make sure the nursery infrastructure is in good maintenance. Clear ditches free of weeds and debris so maximum drainage can occur.
- Make sure your interior roads are in good repair to allow access to all areas of the nursery.
- Make sure all buildings are in good repair.
- Make sure all windows, doors, siding and roofing are secured according to building codes. Once wind gets under loose building materials, they will rip off. If you have portable sheds and trailers, tie them down securely. Evaluate whether you should remove covering of greenhouses and shade structures prior to a storm. Is it better to let the roofs and sides be torn off or allow for less resistance? Each grower must make his/her own decisions. Prior to a storm, inventory whether you have sufficient materials to minimally repair facilities.
- Make sure all equipment is serviced and adequate supplies are on hand. For days to weeks after a hurricane, normal deliveries may be disrupted. Make sure you have fuel and other supplies you may need. Consider having minimal building materials on hand to repair structures. Evaluate all your potential needs. Make sure you have a supply of potting soil, fungicides, etc.
- Make arrangements for power. Power lines may be disabled for days or weeks jeopardizing your irrigation systems. Develop a plan for irrigation, running office functions, running propagation areas, etc.
- Make sure you have crop insurance. Crop insurance is a requirement to participate in any federal disaster programs. You must sign up for the program well before a storm threatens, because there is a 30 day hold. View FNGLA Hurricane Preparedness Information.
- View this page and the links and other information provided and print out details you may need following a storm.
Immediately before the storm...
- Secure all loose items. Secure nursery containers, stakes, etc. Tie down anything possible. Loose items become missiles. If the storm can hurl a straw through a 2 x 4, think what it can do with nursery stakes. Secure all equipment in an area not likely to be damaged.
- Lay down plant material. Winds in excess of 100 mph will strip foliage from plant materials. Plants may be blown down anyway, so they may survive better if you lay them parallel to the expected wind direction. Water plants fully prior to a storm.
- Have emergency numbers. Make sure you have the numbers of your crop and property insurance agents, USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency, local police, fire and other emergency contacts.
- Inventory your plants and equipment. This will help in the event you need to file a claim or determine the damage you have. Also, it will allow recovery of some lost items. Consolidate the serial numbers on your equipment
- Establish a means to communicate with your employees. Your employees will need to know what you expect of them after the storm. Do you want them to come to work, to call you, or stay with their families? Communications may be disrupted for days. Make your plan before a storm strikes. Allow time for your employees to secure their homes prior to a storm.
- Allow plenty of time to get prepared. Do not run short of time and risk not getting everything done you need.
- Print FNGLA Hurricane Preparedness Information. Print this page and details from the download and links section below for post-storm reference. You may be without power, so be prepared.
After the storm...
- Secure your structures and buildings. Make any necessary repairs to your structures so they are secure from the weather and intrusion.
- Take care of your plant material. Stand up all plant material as quickly as possible to prevent burning from laying in the sun. Re-stake material as quickly as possible. Irrigate to flush any salt residue. The closer to the coast you are, the more important this is. The force of hurricane winds can carry salt spray for miles. Replant any material needing it. Prune to correct any damage. Notify the proper authorities in the event of storm damage.
- Notify the local police or sheriff's department of any road obstructions or hazardous situations. Notify your electric company of any power outages so they can get your request in their repair sequences. Report water, sewer or gas line breaches to the appropriate authority. If in doubt, call the police or sheriff's department.
- If necessary, notify disaster assistance agencies of your needs. If you have crop insurance, you may qualify for disaster assistance or low cost loans. Contact the appropriate agency as soon as possible for instruction.
- Notify your customers of your situation. As quickly as possible, let your customers know how well you survived the storm and when you anticipate servicing their accounts.
- Inspect your property closely and pay particular attention to downed power lines, broken water lines, etc.
- DO NOT approach downed power lines.
- Call your power company and report downed lines or loss of power.
- Photograph and document damage before you start clean-up.
- Call or email your local FNGLA chapter contact and let them know of your status.
Some Information about hurricanes...
Hurricanes can be large, powerful and fickle storm systems which rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. Storm influences are often most severe on the northeast side of storms. Hurricanes have feeder bands of rain storms which sweep through the area. In the center of all hurricanes is an area of still, sunny weather called an eye. Don't be misled by the calmness of the eye; there is more to come. Wind forces of 80+ miles an hour probably may be sustained for hours. Before and especially after hurricanes, there is often unseasonably dry weather. Predictions more than a day off are subject to dramatic changes. Stay tuned to reliable weather sources for progress reports. Get prepared early.
These are some tips you should consider in dealing with a hurricane. This list is only a beginning. Make your own decisions as to the appropriate actions to take. DO NOT take a hurricane lightly as these storms kill and destroy lives and businesses.
Additional Resources
FSA Emergency Conservation Program
FSA Noninsured Crop Disaster Program
Small Business Administration Disaster Programs
UF/IFAS Hurricane Preparedness
FSA Disaster Assistance Programs
State Agricultural Response Team
IRS Tips to Protect Financial Security
USDA Hurricane Preparation and Recovery in Florida Commercial Nursery Guide
Environment
Florida Friendly™ Landscaping Principles
Operation Cleansweep
Operation Cleansweep provides farmers, nursery operators, golf course operators and pest control services a one-time safe and economical way to dispose of their cancelled, suspended and unusable pesticides.
Heat Stress
Heat-Related Illness
Heat-Related Illness Resources from SCCAHS
Heat-Stress Prevention
Beat the Heat Podcast
Persons who work outside are at risk for heat-related illnesses. Dr. Kelly Loringer discusses the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how they can be prevented.
National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS)
Heat.gov serves as the premier source of heat and health information for the nation to reduce the health, economic, and infrastructural impacts of extreme heat.
Heat Health Tools and Information
Tools & Information
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Resources
Invasive Plants
Florida Noxious Weed List
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
Federal Noxious Weed List
OSHA Hazard Communication Standards
The standard that gave workers the right to know, now gives them the right to understand.
Pesticide License
Pest Control Licensing and Certification
Insurance
Nursery Crop Insurance
Nursery Crop Insurance Fact Sheet
Nursery Commodity Insurance
Nursery Value Select Pilot Policy
Nursery Value Select
Nursery Value Select Pilot Fact Sheet
Nursery Value Select Pilot Counties
NVS Pilot Counties
As one of the nine NVS-pilot states, Florida has the lion’s share (40 percent) of the select counties where NVS will be offered. In those counties, NVS will be available alongside the existing nursery crop insurance policy so growers have a choice. USDA named the following 27 Florida counties to participate in the NVS pilot:
|
Alachua |
Hillsborough |
Miami-Dade |
Nursery Value Select Pilot FAQs
Whole Farm Revenue Protection
Workers Compensation
Exemptions for Fencing and Trailers Used in Agricultural Production / Exemptions Certificate
Affordable Healthcare Act
Labor Resources
E-Verify for Federal Contractors
Wage & Hour
Essential Protections for Essential Workers
Form I-9 and Employment Verification
H-2A Temporary Agriculture Worker Program (Nursery)
H-2B Temporary Non-Agriculture Worker Program
Fair Labor Standards Act for Agriculture
Migrant & Seasonal Agriculture Worker Protection Act
Federal Minimum Wage
Florida Minimum Wage
U.S. Citizen & Immigration Service
U.S. Department of Labor Workplace Posters
Workers Compensation
Opioid Abuse
Opioid Abuse Assistance Resources
Through FNGLA's partnership with the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety, this comprehensive digital resource was created to assist both employers and employees affected by or struggling with opioid addiction.
Opioids in the Workplace - FAQs
Resource which includes questions relating to how to handle workplace instances involving opioids.
Pests & Diseases
Lethal Bronzing Fact Sheet
Research
FNGLA's Research Initiatives
FNGLA's goal is to provide sustainable funding to benefit the nursery and landscape industry. The association does this primarily through endowments within two Foundations
University of Florida Foundation
Worth over $1.8 million, all interest earned annually from FNGLA's Endowed Research Fund at the UF Foundation goes to support research projects conducted by the University of Florida.
This fund specifically benefits UF's SHARE program (Special Help for Agricultural Research & Education), through UF/IFAS. The SHARE program includes research and education programs which develop new technological advances for the industry.
National Horticulture Foundation
A $4.2 million foundation which believes in the future of the nursery and landscape industry, the National Horticulture Foundation (NHF) plays an integral part in building future leaders and addressing industry challenges through supporting needed research.
Each year, NHF’s scholarship program continues to establish pathways for qualified students in need of financial support. For more information about NHF’s scholarship program, visit NHF's website.
To date, NHF has given more than $500,000 to the industry to support research projects in the areas of production, marketing, utilization and distribution.
Whether to understand how to improve plant quality and longevity during transportation, or how to increase purchasing motivation of consumers to increase demand, NHF is committed to positive outcomes and a greater return on investment for the green industry.
FNGLA also supports the following initiatives:
Search for Research Projects:
Standards & Best Practices
Best Management Practices for Florida Nurseries
Green Industry Best Management Practices
Florida Grades & Standards for Nursery Plants
FNGLA Certifications
Taxes
Greenbelt (Ag Lands Assessment)
Sales & Use Taxes
Florida Farm Tax Exempt Agricultural Materials (TEAM) Card
Workplace Safety
Agriculture Worker Protection - EPA Worker Protection Standards (WPS)
WPS Inspection Self-Audit Checklist
Quick Overview
Comparison of the Revised 2017 Protections to the Previous Protections
Pesticide Worker and Handler Safety Training
Agriculture Worker Safety
Florida Pesticide Licensing
Fertilizer Licensing
OSHA Hazard Communication Standards and Compliance
OSHA Hazard Communication Safety Data Sheets
OSHA Laws & Regulations
Eye-Flush Requirements under Worker Protection Standards
Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet
EPA-Approved WPS Train-the-Trainer Course
Preventing Heat-Related Illness or Death of Outdoor Workers
OSHA Overview: Working in Indoor and Outdoor Heat Environments
Transportation & Shipping
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
FDOT Commercial Motor Vehicle Manual
This manual is a guide for commercial motor vehicle drivers who transport goods and passengers in Florida. This guide lists size and load limits, safety rules and permits required by the State of Florida.
FCMCSA Motor Carrier’s Guide to Improving Highway Safety
This guide offers drivers and employers quick references related to compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
FCMSA Resources for Drivers
This resource section offers drivers compliance information related to safety, registration and licensing.
Electronic Logging Device & Hours of Service: Agricultural Exemption
Water
EQIP Cost Share Funding
FDACS Office of Ag Water Policy
Landscape Irrigation Standards
Landscape Irrigation Model Ordinance
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Florida WaterStar Irrigation Resources
Landscape Irrigation and Florida-Friendly Landscape Design Standards, 2024
WaterSense microirrigation guides
Numeric Nutrient Criteria
FNGLA supports the development and adoption of nutrient standards which are science-based; technically and economically feasible; and, provide practical solutions for the protection of Florida's water bodies. Download the Paper (PDF)
Water Management Districts
Covid-19
Business & Workplace Guidance
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Nursery Farmworker Safety & Business Guidance
Leave & Employer Compliance/FAQs
Federal Tax Relief & Loans