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Sod producer checkoff program Webinars gauge interest
Sod producer checkoff program
Webinars gauge interest
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 commonly referred to as “checkoffs” began in 1966 when Congress authorized them Any sod industry checkoff would be designed, at the federal level. The term checkoff implemented and governed by sod producers, for originated from producers having to check a sod producers. All U.S. sod producers will have a box if they were interested in participating. chance to provide input on establishing an industry- Today, all USDA programs are mandatory, wide checkoff and ultimately be asked to vote on it but the term remains. in a nationwide referendum for it to become law. > Research and Promotion programs establish a legal framework for producers to pool 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 > > 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 Dr. Casey Reynolds and Wayne Watkinson exploratory and this webinar was the first of did a wonderful job explaining what a USDA its kind seeking industry input. Research and Promotion Program (also known as a checkoff) is and could look like for the 4Why the turfgrass industry could benefit from a checkoff sod production industry. We heard first-hand > Lack of public understanding of our experience from Marilyn Hershey on the success product and its value of the Dairy Industry Checkoff. Marilyn is a > Generational opinions on the value of lawns Pennsylvania dairy farmer and the chairperson are changing of Dairy Management Incorporated (DMI), > Regulatory threats to our market which is a key dairy industry checkoff program. > Competitive threats to our market
• We have a good story that needs to be told
4What is a checkoff program? > Congress authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to implement programs for agricultural products > Checkoffs use federal authority to ensure fairness and compliance. > Checkoffs are Industry Programs with an active “Board of Producers.” The Board has the following responsibilities: • Sets the budget • Creates the programs • Oversees the programs > If approved, compliance is mandatory Process for developing a checkoff > The industry drafts rules for a Checkoff 4 program > The industry works with the U.S. Dept of Agriculture (USDA) to finalize the proposal > The final proposal is published for public comment
> A referendum is held within the industry to approve the program Next steps for creating a program > The industry appoints a program 4 development committee that drafts the rules of the program. > The Development Committee will be comprised of large and small producers, a wide geographic representation of producers, TPI, and non-TPI members, etc. > The industry then shares the draft program with the USDA and works with them to develop a final rule and publish a referendum for voting.
While TPI is leading the beginning stages of this effort, this will be an industry program, not a TPI program. We are here to help facilitate conversations between producers and the USDA. If you have any questions or would like to be included in the next steps, please email TPI at Info@TurfgrassSod.org.
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