Green Report

H-2B Program Updates Featuring Jacob Monty, Monty & Ramirez LLP Live Podcast | Sponsored by Forward.US Homestead Room, 9:15 am - 9:40 am, January 5, 2026, DFW Hilton Lakes, Grapevine, TX The H-2B program continues to evolve—and staying informed is critical for employers who rely on seasonal labor. In this live podcast episode, immigration attorney Jacob Monty of Monty & Ramirez LLP breaks down the latest H-2B updates, including recent policy changes, regulatory developments, and what employers should be preparing for now and in the year ahead. Jacob shares practical insights, real-world implications for green industry businesses, and answers key questions facing employers navigating compliance, workforce planning, and advocacy efforts related to the H-2B program. Whether you’re a seasoned H-2B employer or exploring the program for the first time, this conversation delivers timely guidance you can put to use immediately. Sponsored by Forward.US, supporting smart immigration policy and a stronger workfo

Economic Forecast and Industry Supply Demands Featuring Dr. Charlie Hall, Texas A&M University | Live Podcast conducted at the TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum Sponsored by Landmark Nurseries, Inc. In this live podcast, Dr. Charlie Hall shares an economic outlook for the green industry, examining market trends, consumer demand, and supply chain pressures. Learn what lies ahead for growers, landscapers, and retailers—and how businesses can plan for shifting costs, labor challenges, and changing demand in the months ahead. Questions: What does the current economic outlook mean for the green industry this year? How are supply chain and input costs expected to impact growers and landscapers? What demand trends should green industry businesses be watching most closely? What steps can companies take now to stay resilient in an uncertain economy?

Top Tips for Talent Acquisition Featuring Justin Dorsey, SPHR, GPHR | Live Podcast held at the TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum Sponsored by John Deere Hiring and keeping great employees remains a top challenge. In this live podcast, Justin Dorsey of Texas HR Team shares practical tips for attracting, hiring, and retaining talent in today’s competitive labor market. Learn proven strategies to strengthen recruiting, improve hiring practices, and build a workforce that supports long-term business success. Questions What’s the biggest mistake companies make when trying to attract talent today? Which recruiting strategies are working best right now for skilled labor roles? How can employers better use technology and employer branding to promote open positions? What’s one immediate change businesses can make to improve hiring results?

D.E.E.D. to Success Featuring Dee Maddox, DMX Consulting | Live Podcast recorded at the Lone Star Hort Forum Sponsored by Leaf Landscape Supply In this live podcast, Dee Maddox shares the D.E.E.D. framework for building stronger, more effective teams. Learn practical strategies for developing employees, strengthening leadership, and creating a workplace culture that drives accountability, engagement, and long-term success in today’s workforce. Questions What does D.E.E.D. stand for, and why is it so effective for team success? How can leaders use the D.E.E.D. framework to improve accountability and performance? What common leadership behaviors hold teams back, and how does D.E.E.D. address them? What’s one practical step leaders can take today to start applying D.E.E.D.?

Featuring Ryan Watkins, Hort Mentor | Live Podcast held at the TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum Change and uncertainty are constant in today’s green industry. In this live podcast, Ryan Watkins of Hort Mentor shares insights on adapting to shifting markets, labor challenges, and evolving customer expectations. Learn how leaders can stay flexible, plan ahead, and turn uncertainty into opportunity for long-term success. Questions What are the biggest unknowns facing the green industry right now? How can businesses prepare for uncertainty? What leadership skills matter most when navigating change? How can companies turn uncertainty into an opportunity for growth?

Employers’ Biggest Legal Mistakes Featuring Dustin Paschal, Simon Paschal PLLC | Live Podcast held at the TNLA Lone Star Hort Forum Employment law missteps can be costly. In this live podcast, attorney Dustin Paschal breaks down the most common legal mistakes employers make and how to avoid them. From hiring and termination to policies and compliance, gain practical guidance to reduce risk and protect your business in today’s complex legal environment. Questions What are the most common legal mistakes employers are making right now? Where do businesses most often get into trouble with hiring or termination? How important are written policies in protecting employers from liability? What’s one legal step employers can take today to reduce risk? Can employers legally terminate an employee based on posts made on their personal social media accounts, and what factors should they consider before taking action?

The H-2B program is constantly changing, and staying informed is critical for employers who rely on seasonal labor. In this live podcast, immigration attorney Jacob Monty breaks down the latest H-2B policy and regulatory updates and what they mean for green industry employers. Get practical insights on compliance, workforce planning, and advocacy—whether you’re a longtime H-2B user or just getting started.

In this live podcast, Dr. Charlie Hall shares an economic outlook for the green industry, examining market trends, consumer demand, and supply chain pressures. Learn what lies ahead for growers, landscapers, and retailers—and how businesses can plan for shifting costs, labor challenges, and changing demand in the months ahead.

Hiring and keeping great employees remains a top challenge. In this live podcast, Justin Dorsey of Texas HR Team shares practical tips for attracting, hiring, and retaining talent in today’s competitive labor market. Learn proven strategies to strengthen recruiting, improve hiring practices, and build a workforce that supports long-term business success.

In this live podcast, Dee Maddox shares the D.E.E.D. framework for building stronger, more effective teams. Learn practical strategies for developing employees, strengthening leadership, and creating a workplace culture that drives accountability, engagement, and long-term success in today’s workforce.

Change and uncertainty are constant in today’s green industry. In this live podcast, Ryan Watkins of Hort Mentor shares insights on adapting to shifting markets, labor challenges, and evolving customer expectations. Learn how leaders can stay flexible, plan ahead, and turn uncertainty into opportunity for long-term success.

Employment law missteps can be costly. In this live podcast, attorney Dustin Paschal breaks down the most common legal mistakes employers make and how to avoid them. From hiring and termination to policies and compliance, gain practical guidance to reduce risk and protect your business in today’s complex legal environment.

Sponsored by Hotchkiss Insurance Agency In this episode, Hall of Fame speaker Terry Brock breaks down how AI is already transforming nurseries, greenhouses, and landscape operations—and how you can use it to grow profits in 2026. Forget buzzwords and sci-fi hype. This session delivers real-world examples and live demos showing how horticulture businesses are using AI to improve forecasting, reduce waste, spot trends early, and strengthen customer relationships. You’ll explore practical AI tools—including but not limited to ChatGPT—and walk away with a realistic action plan for what to test, what to ignore, and how to get your team using AI effectively, even if you’re not a tech expert. If you want AI to work for your business (not overwhelm it), this episode is your roadmap.

Sponsored by Hotchkiss Insurance Agency In this TNLA webinar, industry experts share the latest research and innovations in thrips management and biological control. Learn how to identify thrips, strengthen integrated pest management programs, and apply practical, sustainable solutions for greenhouse and controlled-environment operations. Panelists include, Katerina Velasco-Graham, M.Agr., M.S., Subin Neupane, Ph.D., and Pedro Toledo, Ph.D.

Sponsored by Hotchkiss Insurance Agency In this episode, learn how to attract and convert high-end landscaping clients without wasting time on unqualified leads. Discover why traditional marketing falls short with affluent buyers, how to position your company as the obvious premium choice, and ways to prequalify prospects, improve pricing transparency, and close bigger, more profitable projects.

Sponsored by Hotchkiss Insurance Agency In this episode, Dr. Rafia Khan provides a critical update on the invasive two-spot cotton leafhopper recently detected in Texas. Learn how to correctly identify this emerging pest, recognize early signs of infestation, and implement effective management strategies to protect plants, nurseries, and landscape operations. This episode is essential listening for growers and green industry professionals navigating this new and evolving threat.

Sponsored by Hotchkiss Insurance Agency | Presented by TNLA + LeanScaper | Hosted by Tommy Cole Running a business shouldn’t mean sacrificing your time or personal life. In this episode, Tommy Cole reframes productivity as a systems problem—not a hustle problem—and shares practical ways founders can redesign how they work. Listeners learn how to escape the busyness trap, audit where their time is really going, and rebuild their schedules around values, priorities, and purpose. The session explores the F.L.O.W. productivity model, the power of eliminating, automating, and delegating effectively, and how AI can serve as a personal time coach to keep systems running smoothly. Designed for business owners and leaders feeling stretched thin or out of alignment, this episode offers a clear, structured path to reclaiming time, gaining clarity, and leading with leverage—not burnout.

In this episode, Curtis Smith (TNLA Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs) sits down with Arnulfo Hinojosa, COO of FEWA, to break down the latest changes to the H-2A program following the U.S. Department of Labor’s new Interim Final Rule. In just 30 minutes, we cover what employers in the nursery, greenhouse, and landscape sectors need to know heading into the 2026 filing season — including new wage calculations, advertising requirements, incidental tasks, staggered start dates, interview waivers, and the broader legal landscape surrounding H-2A. Topics include: • What’s now in effect under the Interim Final Rule • How OEWS wage data, skill levels, and the Adverse Compensation Adjustment will impact pay • Best practices for advertising wages and retaining returning workers • Clarifying incidental tasks and job-order scope • How staggered start dates and interview waivers work under the new system • What lawsuits and regulatory shifts mean for employers • Practical next steps for green-industry oper

Water took center stage in Texas this year. In this episode of The Green Report Podcast, we sit with Jeremy Mazur, Director of Infrastructure and Natural Resources Policy for 2036, to unpack the constitutional amendment on water, the groundwater fight from the regular and special sessions (including Rep. Cody Harris’s efforts), and what it all signals for next session—with a focus on real-world impacts for TNLA members.

This episode of the Green Report takes you inside the fast-paced world of the Texas Legislature with TNLA’s Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, Curtis Smith. From a record-setting water infrastructure win to stopping dangerous licensing and pesticide bills, Curtis breaks down how TNLA successfully defended the green industry at the Capitol. Plus, hear how TNLA members made a direct impact through advocacy and grassroots outreach—and what’s next for protecting your business. For more information on TNLA and Advocacy, visit www.TNLAonline.org.