Top Story

• Proposed measure requires E15 to undergo additional testing
  Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., introduced a bill that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from giving E15 waivers and direct it to partner with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct more tests on the biofuel. In addition, the bill would take away EPA's ability to offer new waivers until it submits the new evaluation of gasoline containing 15% ethanol to Congress. EthanolProducer.com (3/1)     

Industry Buzz

• Caterpillar prepares for union talks at Wis. plant
  Caterpillar will soon begin negotiating with the United Steelworkers about renewal of its labor contract, set to expire April 30, at a facility in South Milwaukee, Wis. The company also has started to train managerial and support staff for production, in case a work stoppage occurs. The Wall Street Journal (3/1)     

• How to create a bright, drought-tolerant landscape for summer
  To create a colorful, xeriscaped garden for the summer, select flowering plants that need less water and group them together based on their water needs, writes Judy Terry, a freelance garden writer. Use succulents instead of rocks to reduce water use, and minimize the amount of lawn. Plants that may need water could flourish when placed in areas with stormwater runoff, Terry notes. Iowa City Press-Citizen (3/2)     

• Saint Gobain plans to build new facility in central part of U.S.
  ConstructionDigital.com (3/1)     

Economic Indicators

• U.S. consumers upbeat amid mixed economic signals
  Despite conflicting factors bearing on U.S. consumers, their confidence has picked up, rising to a three-month high in February. The University of Michigan-Thomson Reuters consumer-sentiment index registered 77.6 last month, up from 73.8 in January. "Expected job gains have partially offset concerns about higher payroll taxes and the impending reduction in federal spending. Unfortunately, those expected job gains will be harder to actually accomplish given that the economy faces weakened consumer demand due to lower take-home pay as well as reduced federal spending and employment," said survey economist Richard Curtin. MarketWatch (3/1)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by OPEI SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Dixie Chopper, Stihl are among top 10 listed on website (GreenIndustryPros.com)

• Honda showcases robot lawn mower at Fla. resort (The Wall Street Journal)

• Fresh-cut grass can make you happier (KSL-TV (Salt Lake City))

• John Deere invests in research, sales force to achieve growth (CNNMoney/Fortune)

• John Deere plant in Iowa marks milestone in backhoe production (KWWL-TV (Waterloo, Iowa))

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Inside & Out

• How to perfect your elevator pitch
  A strong elevator pitch starts with an attention-grabbing opening, according to Bert Martinez of Bert Martinez Communications. Afterward, you should highlight the value that your company provides and adjust your pitch based on your audience, experts say. "Lead with the information that the recipient will care most about, and the rest will follow," advises Andrew Cross of Walker Sands Communications. BusinessNewsDaily.com (2/28)     

• Ask "why" to make sure your ideas make sense
  Too often, company owners flit from one idea to the next without pausing to consider their reasoning for doing what they are doing, writes Josh Patrick of Stage 2 Planning Partners. For this reason, you should ask yourself "why" before implementing a new initiative. "When we get to the core reason of why we are doing something, we often decide to change our approach," he notes. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/You're the Boss blog (2/28)     

Policy Update

• Congress works to avert March 27 government shutdown
  Congressional leaders said they were optimistic a deal could be reached to avert a government shutdown when its funding authorization expires March 27. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he was "hopeful that the House and Senate will be able to work through this." There were no signs lawmakers will make any efforts to modify or undo across-the-board spending cuts that took effect Friday. The Washington Post (3/3), Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)/Politics Now blog (3/3), Politico (Washington, D.C.) (3/4)     

• Senate group seeks to move forward on immigration reform measure
  The bipartisan Senate group tasked to create a comprehensive bill on immigration will soon release a timeline for its legislation, in response to subtle pressure from other senators who want to see a bill unveiled before the month ends. "I think the problem for immigration reform will be about future flow, access to future labor," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the group. "The reason you have 11 million illegal workers is that lot of employers can't find labor, so [we've] got to address that." The Hill (3/3)     

OPEI News

• OPEI Foundation and Discovery Education launch TurfMutt's "Paw it Forward" sweepstakes
  From Feb. 18 to March 11, you can enter the TurfMutt sweepstakes to win a $250 donation to your local animal shelter and help dogs (and cats and other critters) find a forever family. Two winners receive a $250 donation and an eco-friendly TurfMutt backpack with school supplies.

  To enter, visit TurfMutt's Facebook page.

  To enter, all you have to do is check out TurfMutt's new public service announcement, where TurfMutt is sharing the beauty, fun and discovery families can experience right in their own back yard.

  Those 16 years of age and older can enter.

      

SmartQuote

The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. Accept life, and you must accept regret." --Henri Frédéric Amiel, Swiss philosopher, poet and critic