Daily News Archives
From January 12, 2005

New Trade Group Forms in Response to Increased Awareness of Lawn Pesticide Dangers
(Beyond Pesticides, January 12, 2005) Lawn and Landscape Magazine reported on January 6, 2005 on its website that the industry trade groups Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) and Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) have officially merged to form the Professional Landcare Network. The merger comes at a time when Canadian municipalities are banning cosmetic lawn care pesticides and awareness is growing in the U.S.

Environmentalists see this as a strategy by companies stuck on using outdated, toxic technologies to stay afloat in a market ready to transition to organic techniques. In a previous 2003 interview, Tom Delaney, then vice president of government affairs for PLCAA told Lawn and Landscape Magazine, “State and local activity is undermining customers’ appreciation for the very benefits of our members' lawn and landscape services. We have learned from the recent activity in Canada that we must put more resources into being proactive to control the issues that can hurt our members' businesses.”

Environmentalists believe the changing public perception and local ordinances regarding lawn care pesticides are an opportunity and not a threat. The future is in safe, effective, natural solutions, and the service providers that get involved now will be ahead of the curve. More and more the public is realizing that it does not have to trade healthy outdoor space for a green lawn.

The new, larger “Professional Landcare Network,” which represents more than 4,000 member companies, chose its winning name from a list of 76 possible names developed by a communications firm after much deliberation and feedback. Jason Cupp, a member of the Professional Landcare Network board of directors told Lawn and Landscape Magazine, “We are so excited about this name choice.”

A larger coalition of chemical companies, lawn care service providers and more are running an attack ad aimed at environmental and public health advocates for demanding least-toxic lawn care. See their "Gloves" ad and our "Get A Grip" response.