Industry News

Turfgrass industry meets with Secretary of Agriculture

Several members of the turfgrass industry recently met with Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns in Washington, D.C.

The meeting included Tom Delaney, Professional Landcare Network; Mike Kenna, Ph.D., USGA Green Section; Clark Throssell, Ph.D., GCSAA; Bob Shearman, Ph.D., University of Nebraska; Brian Horgan, Ph.D., University of Minnesota; David Williams, Ph.D., University of Kentucky; Ike Thomas, Turfgrass Producers International and Kevin Morris, National Turfgrass Federation, Inc. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the turfgrass industry and the National Turfgrass Research Initiative.

During the meeting, the representatives first informed the Secretary of the breadth and scope of the turfgrass industry and its importance to the U.S. economy. Secretary Johanns was also informed that at 50,000,000 acres, turfgrass is the third largest crop in the U.S. with the acreage growing exponentially. It has an economic value of $40 billion.

A wide variety of information about the benefits of turfgrass was also presented to the Secretary, including:

• The largest percentage of turfgrass--approximately 65 percent--is found in home lawns, with the next largest use category being roadsides, about 20 percent.
• The U.S. has 40,000 landscape contracting companies, 4,500 lawn care companies, 386,000 acres of turfgrass sod and 685,000 acres of turfgrass seed production.
• Golf course maintenance costs total $10 billion annually and sports turf maintenance is an $11 billion per year industry.
• Every 2.5 acres of golf course turf sequester about one ton of carbon from the air per year.
• Grass traps more than 12 million tons of dust and dirt annually.
• A 250 sq. ft. lawn produces enough oxygen for a family of four.
• Eight average size lawns have the cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning.

The group discussed the challenges that face the turfgrass industry. Among them are restrictions on water use, regulations and concerns over certain nutrients applied to turf, public demands for reduced pesticide and fertilizer use and the increasing wear and tear on athletic fields and parks.

Finally, they discussed the need for basic turfgrass research and the fact that all other major crops receive funding for basic research through the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. For turfgrass, however, the burden for long-term, basic research has been left to the universities and private industry.

The National Turfgrass Research Initiative was presented to the Secretary Johanns as a national strategy for basic turfgrass research within ARS. Johanns inquired about the current level of turfgrass research funding in ARS and the status of university and industry research.

For more information, contact Kevin Morris, president of the National Turfgrass Federation, (office 301-504-5125, fax 301-504-5167, kmorris@ntep.org). For more on the National Turfgrass Research Initiative, visit www.turfinitiative.org.

Breeder's Cup goes to Baltensperger and Princess 77

Princess 77 seeded hybrid bermudagrass and the man who helped to develop it, Dr. Arden Baltensperger, have received the Breeder's Cup Award from the Turfgrass Breeders Association.  Presented this year at the American Society of Agronomy meeting in Salt Lake City, the coveted honor is awarded annually to the plant breeder and variety that best exemplify novel research in the profession of turfgrass development.

Dr. Baltensperger also received the Southwest Turfgrass Association's first annual Arden Baltensperger Lifetime Achievement Award for the research that led to the development of Princess 77 – the world's first seeded hybrid bermudagrass, which was center stage at the last two Super Bowls.  Princess 77 is also featured on sporting fields and golf courses around the world.

Now a turfgrass consultant with Pennington Seed/Seeds West, Dr. Baltensperger holds Plant Variety Protection on more seeded bermudagrasses than any other research scientist--seven since 1988.  Dr. Baltensperger began as assistant professor at the University of Arizona from 1958 to 1963. He was then a professor at New Mexico State University until 1988 and served as head of the Department of Agronomy for 12 years.

The bermudagrasses he developed have been used in 22 states and 65 countries. He has received extensive recognition and numerous awards for his extraordinary work, including his appointments as honorary member of the Arizona and New Mexico Crop Improvement Associations.

Hustler Turf back in production after fire

Excel Industries, Inc., the Hesston, Kan. manufacturer of Hustler Turf Equipment, returned to full production on Jan. 2, 2006. A fire that struck the company's Plant 1 manufacturing facility Dec. 12, 2005, caused considerable damage especially to the main power-distribution center. All office power and services were restored within the first 36 hours of the fire.

Hustler traditionally takes a holiday shut down between Christmas and the New Years holidays. The result was only a net loss of four manufacturing days. The company expects to work some overtime to meet the demand for their Hustler line of zero-turning-radius lawnmowers.

Lee Peters, facilities manager said, “Employees, the city, vendors, and our contractors all went above and beyond the call of duty to get us back to work.”

Two companies partner GIS Solution Centers

Ecological Solutions, Inc. and Golf Greens "Fore" U have each become industry partners to one of six solution centers at the 2006 Golf Industry Show, Feb. 9-11 in Atlanta. The solution centers will have special educational offerings, interactive displays and demonstrations that focus on the latest technology and research in the industry.

Ecological Solutions, Inc. will partner with The Environment and the Game Solution Center, while the Playing the Game Solution Center will feature an indoor practice range presented by Golf Greens "Fore" U.

The Environment and the Game Solution Center, presented by The Environmental Institute for Golf and the Irrigation Association will provide education and solutions for environmental issues at golf facilities with a focus on stream bank restoration and wetlands management.

Ecological Solutions, Inc. will present a stream and wetlands display that begins with a degraded section of stream, offers bank restoration and stabilization techniques, and finishes with a restored stream segment.

The Playing the Game Solution Center will feature an indoor practice range by Golf Greens "Fore" U. Complete with hitting stations and putting greens, the indoor practice range will showcase a professionally designed and installed indoor playing facility featuring a variety of surfaces. Attendees will be able to learn how to incorporate play year-round at their facility.

Attendees will have a chance to try out the latest products from club and ball manufacturers Callaway, Srixon and Tommy Armour, or catch an exciting special appearance. It is a one-stop shop for all range-related needs, including club cleaning, ball dispensing, training aids, commercial signage and range pickers.

For a schedule of education presentations in all six solution centers or to register for the show, visit www.golfindustryshow.com. For more on the companies, visit www.ecologicalsolutions.net and www.golfgreensforeu.com.