By Ken McEntee Federal Hours of Service (HOS) restrictions on truck drivers are costing the mulch and soil industry more than $1 billion per year – averaging close to $5 million per company, the Mulch and Soil Council (MSC) estimated. Mulch and soil producers could save that amount if they are granted an Agricultural Commodity Exemption to HOS regulations, said …

By Ken McEntee Workplace injury reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can serve as gruesome reminders about how dangerous grinders and other mulching facility equipment can be when proper safety precautions aren’t utilized. In March 2018, an employee at a Missouri lumber company was killed while operating a hog grinder used to make mulch out of lumber …

By Robert C. LaGasse, Executive Director Most trade associations get started when a group of industry people band together to fight a common problem like unfair laws or regulations or even unethical and anti-competitive trade practices. Working together to solve a common business interest may take months or years, but when the problem is solved— then what? Without a new …

By Ken McEntee In the past, determining the volume of mulch or compost in a trailer was often a matter of guesswork. “Mulch is sold by yardage, but until recently there was no real method to certify yardage,” said Derek Schussele, account manager at Walz Scale, of East Peoria, Ill. “A lot of times an operation would have somebody sitting …

By Ken McEntee Following a weather-challenged 2018, mulch manufacturers in the Southern U.S. say 2019 has gotten off to a strong start. With better cooperation from the weather, most producers contacted by Soil & Mulch Producer News said they expect improved markets and increased production this year. “Orders are coming in good and early,” said Robert LaGasse, executive director of …