BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Toro Company and Tractor Supply Company have announced a new long-term strategic partnership.

Under the terms of the partnership, Tractor Supply will be The Toro Company’s exclusive partner in the farm and ranch channel for select models of Toro zero-turn mowers, walk mowers and portable power equipment in stores nationwide and online beginning in spring of 2020. This partnership helps expand Toro’s reach into the rural lifestyle retail market and further strengthens Tractor Supply’s product offering with a leading outdoor power equipment brand.

“At Tractor Supply, we strive to be a key destination for our customers, providing them with the tools and products they need to care for their home, land, pets and animals. As part of this commitment, we are continually looking to expand our product assortment by partnering with great companies like The Toro Company whose products resonate with our customers,” said Greg Sandfort, Tractor Supply CEO. “We look forward to this product launch and being able to better serve our customers with the Toro brand that has a strong reputation for innovation, performance and productivity.”

“We are very excited to partner with Tractor Supply Company and for the opportunity to further extend our reach and strong brand to meet the lifestyle needs of rural homeowners,” said Rick Olson, chairman and CEO of The Toro Company. “In partnering with a leading retailer like Tractor Supply, with a strong history and focus on serving the farm and ranch customers, this relationship complements our existing channel strategy and footprint and helps us reach a customer segment that has long been important to us.”

The product line will be available in Tractor Supply stores and online beginning next spring.

WILTON, Ct. – Jud Griggs, who has an established track record at some of the green industry’s most established companies, will join the Harvest Group to specialize in design/build consultation.

With a background that includes tenures at Lied’s, Lamberts, Smallwood and Scapes, Griggs joins the Harvest Group as a Head Harvester. Griggs joins founding Head Harvesters Bill Arman and Ed Laflamme and the rest of the Harvest Group, including Steve Cesare, Fred Haskett, Alison Hoffman, Chris Darnell and Cindy Code.

The Harvesters provide business offerings in the following areas: operations, human resources, sales and marketing, PR communications, mergers and acquisitions, quality control, social media, design/build sales and peer groups.

With a unique perspective on design/build sales and marketing and leadership training, Griggs will help companies establish key metrics, systems and procedures. He can be reached at jud@harvestlandscapeconsulting.com.  

Nufarm Americas has announced its recommitment of $150,000 to Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops program.

The nationwide program assists thousands of military families by providing basic lawn care and yard maintenance while a family member is deployed defending our country. The investment will help expand the impact of the initiative and enable more lawn and landscape professionals with the opportunity to give back to their community in a meaningful way.

The GreenCare for Troops initiative, which celebrated its 13^th year in 2019, has seen more than 11,000 military families and more than 6,000 green industry professionals register to receive or provide these much-needed services since the program was launched in 2006. GreenCare for Troops and its sister program, SnowCare for Troops, volunteers delivered lawn care, snow removal and landscape services exceeding $1 million in value to hundreds of military families across the United States this past year.

“Nufarm is proud to be a sponsor of GreenCare for Troops and the good that it encompasses. Military families face many challenges when their loved ones are deployed," said Sean Casey, Nufarm Americas vice president of the turf & ornamental division. "GreenCare for Troops works nationwide to connect them with complimentary lawn care services. It’s a great way for lawn and landscape professionals to give back and help military families relieve stress by coming home to a worry-free green yard. We encourage everyone to get involved by donating, volunteering or spreading the word."

The contribution will be used to enhance and expand the national program that is managed by non-profit Project EverGreen. This will include increased outreach for volunteer recruitment and communications to families, volunteers and the media, as well as adding promotional and logistical resources required to grow the GreenCare for Troops database and serve more military families.

Based on Nufarm’s support in 2019, the GreenCare for Troops program realized a double-digit increase in active volunteers, a 70 percent match rate among military families and an immediate volunteer match for three-quarters of all newly registered families.

“Nufarm’s ongoing overall support to this incredibly worthwhile program is making a significant difference in the lives of military families and professional lawn and landscape contractor volunteers across the country,” said Cindy Code, Project EverGreen's executive director. “This ardent support has helped this nationwide to build upon its success and, ultimately, bring safe and healthy yards and landscapes to families in need of relief and peace in a green setting.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements has promoted Erik Lindberg as the new lead technical advisor. 

Lindberg’s role as lead technical advisor is to help tree care and landscape companies by working with them to help create treatment plans for insects and pathogens like Emerald Ash Borer. He must also be a resource for technical-related questions surrounding all RTSA products. He'll speak at conferences, workshops and seminars about plant health care issues and solutions, plus identify solutions to problems within the ornamental landscape market surrounding PHC needs.

Erik has been with Rainbow for over two years. He began as a PHC technician and worked his way up to research and development, conducting numerous amounts of studies while working with leading extension office members. He holds a bachelor's degree in ecology and environmental biology from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, along with a Master's degree in biology with an emphasis on forest ecology from Texas Tech University. 

“I'm incredibly excited to take on this new role as Lead Technical Advisor and to have the opportunity to work personally with companies and government entities," Lindberg said. "I look forward to providing expertise in implementing the tested and proven PHC results that RTSA has worked so hard to accomplish, especially around emerald ash borer.”

Lindberg is available via phone 952-252-0545 or email (elindberg@treecarescience.com).