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SPONSORED CONTENT Hear Why Propane Mowers   are Crew-Approved Keep your crew members working efficiently with mowers that keep the air cleaner, and save major time on refueling. The reduced emissions of propane mean mowing in a cloud of exhaust is a thing of the past. And with on-site refueling, your crews get their work done faster—which makes everyone happy. Learn More. CURRENT ISSUE >Why local politics matter >Labor Tip: Dialing up digital to staff up TOP HEADLINES Fiore shares background, vision for LandscapeHub We talked one-on-one with Lisa Fiore, co-founder and CEO of LandscapeHub, to learn more about her experience in the landscape industry and why she believes this online marketplace can bring value to the industry. >>More Aspen Grove debuts as a national alliance of 10 landscape firms A holding company for 10 commercial landscaping firms—formerly known as Five Seasons Property Management—has rebranded as Aspen Grove Landscape Group. Here's what you need to know about the $180 million holding company. >>More Texas landscape company must pay $400K to settle workers’ comp fraud case A Pflugerville, Texas-based landscape company pleaded guilty to misrepresenting its payroll so it could pay less for workers’ compensation coverage. Get the full story on this case. >>More >Companies in the News: Stihl breaks ground in Virginia; Doosan Bobcat center receives LEED certification; LandCare holds annual leadership conference; and PBI-Gordon prepares to move     SPONSORED CONTENT 9 Secrets to Reducing Your Operating Expenses When you rely on your trucks as an essential part of your business, the costs of running them add up fast. What you may not know is there are hidden costs that could be hurting your bottom line. Download this eBook to find out what those costs are and what can help reduce them. Get the eBook now. TURF+ ORNAMENTAL Spyker rolls out new spreaders The ERGO-PRO series is offered in 50-, 80- and 100-pound spreader capacities and comes with Spyker’s lifetime warranty all-metal gears and its impact-tested welded frame. >>More Barenbrug USA, Columbia Seeds join forces The partnership will combine Columbia Seeds’ Value Direct Link production and distribution model with Barenbrug’s investment in research, product development and marketing, along with its turfgrass technologies. Find out what this means for existing customers. >>More Graham Spray Equipment to include A/R diaphragm pumps Graham will be using Annovi Reverberi’s AR-30, AR-40 and AR-50 pumps in the spray units it configures for users. >>More     SPONSORED CONTENT Prepare your springtime game plan Spring signals the start of the active growing season for cool-season turf. Stay ahead of diseases by leveraging defensive practices, understanding five common diseases and arming yourself with two winning fungicides. Get the plan. MOWING+ MAINTENANCE BROUGHT TO YOU BY KUBOTA Gempler’s unveils Grass Shield Grass Shield—a colorless silicone coating—can be sprayed, brushed or swabbed onto mower decks or blades to prevent freshly cut grass from sticking. >>More DESIGN/BUILD+ INSTALLATION ASV releases new RT-40 Posi-Track loader Containing 12 contact points, the RT-40 provides a low ground pressure of 3.5 psi, giving contractors greater control and better pushing capabilities. Check out some of the other machine features, including a few designed to improve this model's serviceability. >>More Express Blower introduces Tier 4 Final Configuration for its self-contained machines Express Blower, a manufacturer of large pneumatic blower equipment, received certification on its self-contained machines, as required by the EPA Tier 4 Final, European Union Stage IV and California Air Resources Board emissions standards. >>More Black Diamond Coatings reveals its Paver PreTreat Designed to block the pavers’ pores, Paver PreTreat can be used on new concrete pavers, as well as older pavers that need maintenance. >>More IRRIGATION+ WATER MANAGEMENT Hunter Industries unveils the Pro-C Hydrawise The Pro-C Hydrawise controller features Predictive Watering—which adjusts irrigation schedules based on local, real-time temperature, rainfall probability, wind and humidity—and a built-in milliamp sensor for troubleshooting wiring issues. >>More ON THE RECORD Insights from LM's editors and landscape industry leaders The H-2B program gets potential one-year increase The landscape industry seems to be stuck in a situation akin to Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day." Each year we successfully get relief from the H-2B visa cap, only to go back and do it all over when the fiscal year ends. In this month's blog post, Gregg Robertson reflects on this conundrum, the current state of the H-2B issue and more. >>More