INDUSTRY
Sod producer checkoff program Webinars gauge interest
Content provided by Turfgrass Producers International Members of the U.S sod production industry have asked Turfgrass Producers
International (TPI) to investigate the potential interest among sod producers in a sod checkoff program as well as its impacts. Over the next 12-18 months, TPI will host online webinars to seek input from producers and to share information on what a potential checkoff could look like for the sod industry.
The webinar ended with several insightful questions from our participants. If you missed it, you can watch the entire un-edited webinar here and ask questions on SodCheckoff.org.
Key takeaways from Webinar #1
4Background > USDA Research and Promotion programs
UAC MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020
Any sod industry checkoff would be designed, implemented and governed by sod producers, for sod producers. All U.S. sod producers will have a chance to provide input on establishing an industrywide checkoff and ultimately be asked to vote on it in a nationwide referendum for it to become law.
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Over 110 attendees registered for the first webinar on May 19, 2020, with the following agenda: > Sod Checkoff Introduction, Hank Kerfoot, President of Modern Turf > USDA Research and Promotions Program History and Overview, Dr. Casey Reynolds, TPI > Sod Industry Checkoff, Building the Case, Dr. Casey Reynolds, TPI > Dairy Industry Checkoff, Background, and Successes, Marilyn Hershey, AR-JOY Farms LLC > Sod Checkoff Development, Process, Referendum, and Compliance, Wayne Watkinson, Watkinson-Miller LLC Dr. Casey Reynolds and Wayne Watkinson did a wonderful job explaining what a USDA Research and Promotion Program (also known as a checkoff) is and could look like for the sod production industry. We heard first-hand experience from Marilyn Hershey on the success of the Dairy Industry Checkoff. Marilyn is a Pennsylvania dairy farmer and the chairperson of Dairy Management Incorporated (DMI), which is a key dairy industry checkoff program.
commonly referred to as “checkoffs” began in 1966 when Congress authorized them at the federal level. The term checkoff originated from producers having to check a box if they were interested in participating. Today, all USDA programs are mandatory, but the term remains. > Research and Promotion programs establish a legal framework for producers to pool resources and promote the industry as a whole. These programs help to: • Strengthen Existing Markets • Develop New Markets • Conduct Important Market and Scientific Research • Drive Demand for the Covered Commodity • Engage other industries to leverage promotional funds > Checkoffs are Industry programs, NOT federal government or USDA programs. They are created and governed by industry members (producers, farmers, etc.) > There has not been a checkoff program established yet for turfgrass sod producers. Everything to this point has been exploratory and this webinar was the first of its kind seeking industry input.
the turfgrass industry could benefit 4Why from a checkoff
> Lack of public understanding of our product and its value > Generational opinions on the value of lawns are changing > Regulatory threats to our market > Competitive threats to our market
