Alabama Turf Times - Fall 2008 by leadingedgepubs

Table of Contents >>>

Fall 2008

10 14 18

6 7 8 8 9 22 22

Upcoming Event —

2008 Annual ATA Conference, October 28–30 Feature Topic —

Ongoing Drought News… An Update on Industry Progress Update from Auburn University —

An Upcoming Survey and a Recent Look at Bahamian Sod

From the President’s Pen ATA Annual Sponsors News from ATA Slate of 2009 Officers Industry News ATRF Update Calendar of Events Index of Advertisers

Cover photo courtesy of the Auburn University Office of Communications & Marketing

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2008

www.AlaTurfgrass.org

The Alabama Turfgrass Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Alabama Turf Times, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Alabama Turfgrass Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright © 2008 by the Alabama Turfgrass Association. Alabama Turf Times is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Alabama Turfgrass Association. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to Alabama Turfgrass Association, Post Office Box 70, Auburn, Al. Postage guaranteed. Third-class postage is paid at Auburn, AL. Printed in the U.S.A. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertion please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com

From the President’s Pen >>> Lee McLemore, CGCS

New Publisher AND AN Exciting Conference AHEAD! A

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fall 2 008

elcome to your new ATA Turf Times. I hope you like the changes from our old newsletter. To make this change, the ATA has partnered with Leading Edge Communications of Franklin, Tennessee. Leading Edge has a proven track record of publishing first-class magazines for the turfgrass industry, including Tennessee Turfgrass, North Carolina Turfgrass, the Virginia Turfgrass Journal and the Florida Turf Digest. Turf Times will still be a quarterly publication but with full-color, improved content and timely notices to better communicate with you, our members. While on the subject of improving member communication, be sure to check out the new ATA website at www.alaturfgrass.org. The website will now be a great way to access important information about ATA and the turfgrass industry in general. Another important feature will be the ease of registering for events. Our goal is to continue to make improvements to the website; therefore, your comments and suggestions are welcomed. The 2008 ATA Annual Conference is upon us. This year's conference promises to be a great event, especially with a superb lineup of speakers. I would like to highlight the early Wednesday morning session. This is a great opportunity to have a delicious breakfast while listening to the Auburn turfgrass researchers highlight some of their current research projects. Also, make plans to attend the Member Appreciation

Dinner on Wednesday evening at the Ag Heritage Park Pavilion. A steak dinner will be followed by an auction for many useful items for home or work. (I do consider Auburn vs. Alabama football tickets useful!) It has been an honor and pleasure to serve as president of ATA this year. Our board of directors makes it easy because they are a very active group who cares deeply about our association. Also, Tricia Roberts deserves a gold star! She is the cog that keeps everyone and everything moving in the right direction. When you see her at the conference in a few weeks, be sure to tell her thank you. The ATA is made up of members from all sectors of the turfgrass industry, including golf, sod, lawn and landscape, sports turf, park and recreation, institutions, education, extension, research, construction, irrigation, sales, marketing and manufacturing. We are fortunate in our area to have such quality people representing all of these different groups. When you attend one of the ATA events, make it a point to meet someone new — the common bond of turfgrass will help you make lifelong friends and acquaintances for years to come. May God bless you, and I hope to see you in Auburn at the Conference, October 28–30. Lee McLemore, CGCS 2008 ATA President

<<< ATA Annual Sponsors

Alabama Turf Times is the official publication of the: Alabama Turfgrass Association P.O. Box 70 Auburn, Alabama 36831 Tel: (334) 821-3000 Toll-free: (866) 246-4203 Fax: (334) 821-3800 Email: mailbox@alaturfgrass.org www.alaturfgrass.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 Tel: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com

2008 ATA

Annual Sponsors The companies listed here support the ATA and its members. Please keep them in mind when making your purchasing decisions.

Executive Director Tricia Roberts 2008 Executive Committee President Lee McLemore, CGCS The Country Club of Birmingham

GOLD Ewing Irrigation, Golf & Industrial Georgia Turf & Tractor Kilpatrick Turf Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation

SILVER Agrium Advanced Technologies DuPont Professional Products E-Z-Gro Textron John Deere Landscapes Syngenta T&O Products

BRONZE Bayer Environmental Science Harrell's, Inc. Humphries Turf Supply

Vice President Pat White SouthernTurf Care, Inc.

Treasurer Mickey Pitts Beard Equipment Company

Past President James Horton Birmingham Botanical Gardens

2008 Board of Directors James Bartley Southern Lawns

Jay Brooks Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation

Scot Craig Troy University at Dothan

Steven Edwards City of Calera

David Hubbard Alabama Cooperative Extension System

HTS001

Dave Han, Ph.D. Auburn University

Ronnie Nixon Heritage Turf, Inc. Grand National Golf Course

Paul Patterson University of Alabama at Huntsville

Tom Wolf Coosa Valley Turf Farms

Jerry Simons City of Alabaster 7

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2008

Jeff Oelmann, CGCS

News from the ATA >>>

Alabama Turfgrass Association 2009 Slate of Officers and Board of Directors

oting on the positions listed here will be held at the ATA Business Meeting during the Annual Conference, on Wednesday, October 29, at 9:00 a.m. Please be sure to attend this important meeting so that you can vote on your ATA leaders for next year.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (1-year terms) President Pat White, Southern TurfCare Vice-President Jeff Oelmann, CGCS, Grand National Golf Course Treasurer Tom Wolf, Coosa Valley Turf Farms

Past President Lee McLemore, CGCS, The Country Club of Birmingham

Institution Paul Paterson, University of Alabama-Huntsville (2 years)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lawn Care James Bartley, Southern Lawns (1 year)

At-Large Steven Edwards, City of Calera (1 year) Amy Bailey, Humphries Turf Supply (1 year) Richard Murphy, Murphy Turf & Ornamental (2 years)

Park & Recreation Glenn Hedden, Town of Loxley (2 years) Sod John Chapman, Craft Turf Farms (1 year)

Golf Jeff Lee, CGCS, Valley Hill Country Club (2 years)

Ex Officio/Education Dr. Dave Han, Auburn University

Industry Jay Brooks, Jerry Pate Turf (1 year)

Advisors David Hubbard, Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Industry News >>>

Task Force Reports on MSMA Negotiations

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2 008

The

MAA Research Task Force (ww.maatf.com/ index.html) reports that it is having productive discussions with EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs on continuation of the registration of organic arsenical herbicides, especially MSMA. According to the task force, MSMA is expected to be available at least for the next several years. Current discussions are focused on issuing a time-limited registration, with a science review at the end of the period. This approach recognizes data indicating that inorganic arsenic is a threshold

carcinogen, which means that exposure to low doses of arsenic should be of no health concern. A change in EPA's science conclusion would eliminate concerns regarding the possible transformation of organic arsenic to inorganic in the soil and enable the agency to permit the continued availability of these herbicides. Discussions regarding EPA's initial suggested mitigation measures are expected to continue for the next several weeks or months. The task force is consulting with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and other

user groups with regard to the applicability of the proposed mitigation measures. “We applaud the task force, the EPA and user groups for working together to resolve issues related to the labeling and use of MSMA,” said GCSAA’s director of research, Clark Throssell, Ph.D. “By working together, these parties are helping golf course superintendents retain an important tool in providing customers the playing conditions they demand, while at the same time ensuring golf’s compatibility with the natural environment.”

<<< ATRF Update

The

Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation, a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to funding turfgrass research, is hosting a Grand Outdoor Adventure Raffle. Every ticket purchased has an equal opportunity to win a trip of a lifetime! The winner will have the chance to win the trip of his or her choice from the following options.

Fishing Trip for Two! At Mar Mac Lodge on Esnagi Lake in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. This trip includes four days of guided fishing (for northern pike, walleye, perch, whitefish, brook and lake trout), lodging, meals and transportation (flight and ground).

Fishing Trip for Two!

Dove Hunt for Two in Argentina! In Cordoba, Argentina. This trip includes three full days of hunting,

Deer Hunt for Two! In Laredo, Texas, on a private 18,000-acre ranch in Webb County. This trip includes two monster management bucks (one per hunter), transportation (flight and ground), meals and lodging for two nights and three days. This lodge is set up only for male hunters.

Golf Trip for Four! At Pinehurst Golf Club in North Carolina. This trip includes four days of golf, including one day on the famous Pinehurst No. 2 Course, some meals, lodging at the historic Carolina Inn at the Village of Pinehurst and transportation (flight and ground).

OR $5,000 Cash! The ATRF recently decided to fund three projects that would have the biggest impact on the greatest number of turfgrass managers. The largest financial investment is the “Eptam (EPTC) 7 EC: Preplant Application for Warm-Season Sod Production” project, which will

research the effectiveness of Eptam as a soil fumigant across three Southeastern states: Alabama, Florida and Georgia. ATRF also agreed to fund the “Identification of Alternative Herbicides for MSMA Replacement,” which will help find a replacement for the cost-effective organic arsenicals that the EPA may eventually pull off the shelves. The third project that ATRF has agreed to fund is a joint effort with the Alabama Turfgrass Association to fund the “turfgrass” segment of the Green Industry Economic Impact Study (see story on page 18), which was last conducted in 2003. With a combined commitment of over $21,000 to fund these research projects, the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation is asking every turfgrass manager to support the ATRF's Grand Outdoor Adventure Raffle by purchasing a ticket. Tickets will go on sale at the ATA Conference and Tradeshow for a $100 tax-deductible donation. Tickets will be sold through April 20, 2009, where the winner will be drawn at the Poa Annua Classic Tournament. Tickets will be available for purchase from all ATRF board members, the ATRF office and at all ATA functions through April 20, 2009.

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 200 8

At Mirimichi Black Rapids Lodge in New Brunswick, Canada, on the Mirimichi River. This trip includes five nights with three days of guided fishing (for Atlantic salmon and brook trout), lodging, meals and transportation (flight and ground).

lodging, meals, gun-importation permit, hunting license, four cases of shells and transportation (flight and ground).

Upcoming Event >>>

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2008

Turfgrass Management Educational Seminars, Auburn University Turfgrass Research Field Day, Turf Product & Equipment Tradeshow, Sporting Clay Tournament, Golf Tournament hosted by AGCSA, Welcoming Reception â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NEW!, Membership Appreciation Dinner & Auction and CEUs & Pesticide Recertification Points

<<< Upcoming Event

Special Events for Fun & Fellowship OCTOBER 28 Turfgrass Field Day at Auburn University 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. At this event, you'll see first-hand the turfgrass research being conducted at the Auburn University Turfgrass Research Center, including: drought-tolerance and wateruse trials, a zoysiagrass variety test, herbicide-efficacy and tolerance studies, the effects of various fan and syringing timings on bentgrass green quality, and nitrogen source and rate studies on bermudagrass and zoysiagrass. Lunch will be served immediately after the tours. Registration fee: $20

Golf Tournament Hosted by AGCSA 12:30 p.m. The Alabama Golf Course Superintendents Association will host a golf tournament for all attendees on October 28 at the Saughatchee Country Club. The golf tournament will include lunch and prizes. Golfers will tee off at 12:30 p.m., to allow for travel time from the AU Field Day. Registration fee: $50

fields — led by AU's sports-turf manager, Eric Kleypas. Meet Eric at the front entrance of JordanHare Stadium at 2:00 p.m. for this exclusive tour. Park at the AU Hotel or at Ag Heritage Park, and walk to the corner of Donahue Drive and Roosevelt Drive (two blocks from either parking lot). There is no charge for this event, but you must register, as space is limited.

Welcoming Reception 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A new Conference event, an ATA Welcoming Reception for all attendees will be held at the Saughatchee Country Club. During the reception, which is being sponsored by Georgia Turf & Tractor and Beard Equipment Company, we will announce the winners of the golf tournaments and sporting clay tournament. After the reception, the evening is open. There is no cost for this event; however, you need to register for this event.

Sporting Clay Tournament 1:00 p.m. The sporting clay tournament, which includes lunch and prizes at White Oak Plantation, has become a favorite among our marksmen. Please bring your own gun and ammunition for 100-rounds. Registration fee: $75

2:00 p.m. If you're not playing in a tournament, join us for a tour of the Auburn University sports fields — including Jordan-Hare Stadium, Plainsman Park and the practice

Turfgrass Product & Equipment Tradeshow 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The ATA Tradeshow will return to the Red Barn at Ag Heritage Park on October 29. During the tradeshow, lunch and seminars will be conducted under a tent adjacent to the barn (lunch sponsored by Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation). ATA

Membership Appreciation Dinner and Auction 6:00 p.m. ATA will host the Membership Appreciation Dinner and Auction, sponsored by Kilpatrick Turf, at the Ag Heritage Park Pavilion on the evening of October 29. The name of the dinner has changed, but the food, fun and fellowship will remain the same. Be sure to bring your checkbooks — the auction is sure to provide great deals on turfgrass products, trips, sports equipment, etc. We encourage everyone to please donate an item to the auction. Popular items include turfgrass products, trips, sporting equipment, lawn equipment, tickets to events and golf packages. Funds raised at the auction will benefit two endeavors at Auburn University: the Turfgrass Research Center (to help with the day-today operations of our state’s turfgrass research farm) and the Ag Heritage Park (to help preserve this historical agricultural park in the center of campus). Registration fee: $25

To Register for the Conference Please go to the ATA website — www.alaturfgrass.org — and download the registration form. Complete the form and mail it to the ATA office (P.O. Box 70, Auburn, AL 36831) or fax it to ATA at 334-821-3800.

Photo courtesy of the Auburn University Office of Communications & Marketing

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 200 8

Sports Field Tour at Auburn University

OCTOBER 29

will also have a cash drawing for everyone that visits all the tradeshow exhibitors. The tradeshow and lunch are included in conference registration fees. If you are interested in exhibiting, please contact the ATA office at 866-246-4203 for an exhibitor packet.

Upcoming Event >>>

CONFERENCE & TRADESHOW SCHEDULE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Auburn University Field Day & Lunch AU Turfgrass Research Center 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Registration & Vendor Move-In Ag Heritage Park-Red Barn

12:30 p.m. Golf Tournament Saughatchee Country Club 1 p.m. Sporting Clay Tournament White Oak Plantation 2 p.m. AU Sports Field Walking Tour Jordan Hare Stadium 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Welcoming Reception Saughatchee Country Club Dinner on your own

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. Auburn University Research Update Breakfast AU Hotel & Conference Center “MSMA Replacements,” Dr. Scott McElroy “Larra bicolor for Mole Cricket Control,” Dr. David Held “Eptam & Basamid for Methyl Bromide Replacement,” Dr. Harold Walker “Supply Chain Management for Sod Producers,” Dr. Dave Han “Zoysiagrass Trials,” Dr. Beth Guertal “Bentrass Cultivars,” Dr. Edzard van Santen

9 a.m. ATA Business Meeting 10:30 a.m. “Overview of Alabama's Water Resources”

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2 008

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Richard McNider, State of Alabama Climatologist (University of Alabama in Huntsville)

12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Tradeshow & Lunch Ag Heritage Park-Red Barn Tent Topics (seminars to be conducted in tent at Ag Heritage Park) 2 p.m. “Backlapping and Mower Maintenance,” Mr. Cory Philips, Jerry Pate Turf 3 p.m. “Fire Ant Control,” Dr. Fudd Graham, Auburn University 12

<<< Upcoming Event

Tradeshow & Lunch Continued 4 p.m. “Utilizing GPS in Turf Production,” Ms. Amy Winstead, ACES

5 p.m. Vendor Move-Out Ag Heritage Park 6 p.m. Membership Appreciation Dinner & Auction Ag Heritage Park Pavilion

Turfgrass Management

8 a.m.

8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Breakout Sessions AU Hotel & Conference Center (45 minute sessions with 15 minute breaks)

Postemergence Control Can We Manage Mole of Poa annua in Crickets without Overseeded Ryegrass Fipronil? with Amicarbazone Dr. David Held, Dr. Harold Walker, Auburn University Auburn University

9 a.m.

The Poop on Organic Fertilizers Dr. Beth Guertal, Auburn University

Developing Summer Disease Control Programs for Bentgrass with Modern Fungicides Dr. Bruce Martin, Clemson University

10 a.m.

The New Shade-Tolerant Bermudagrass: Update & Release Schedule Dr. Wayna Hanna, University of Georgia

Pesticides: What You Need to Know Dr. Paul Guillebeau, University of Georgia

11 a.m.

Heat-Tolerant Bluegrass Varieties Dr. Dave Han, Auburn University

Top 10 Weeds & Effective Management Practices Dr. Scott McElroy, Auburn University

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 7 a.m. ATRF Business Meeting AU Hotel & Conference Center

Pest Management

Landscape Management

Business Management

Heat-Tolerant Bluegrass Varieties Dr. Dave Han, Auburn University

Using Your Influence for a Favorable Position on Water Issues Mr. Mark Esoda, CGCS, Atlanta Country Club

Backyard Wildlife: The Using the Hort-Scape Good, Bad & Ugly on Software to Figure Cost Keeping Critters Out Estimations for Bidding on Landscapeof Your Landscape Installation Projects Dr. Jim Armstrong, Dr. Gary Wade, Auburn University University of Georgia Using the Hort-Mgmt. Do You See What I Software to Figure Cost See? Diagnosing Plant Estimations for LandDisease & Control scape-Maintenance Projects Dr. Jim Jacobi, AL Coop. Dr. Gary Wade, Extension System University of Georgia Centipedegrass — the “Slacker” Grass for Your Lawn? Dr. Beth Guertal, Auburn University

What's Happening with the Immigration Issue? Ms. Sabra Barnett, Arant, Bradley, Rose, White, LLC

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2008

Feature Topic >>>

By James E. Horton Jr., Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Past ATA President

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2008

reported in the last issue of Alabama Turf Times, the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Water Policy and Management met July 28 in Montgomery. Nine of the fourteen members of this committee were present to hear five presentations on how water affects the Alabama economy and its citizens. Each presentation covered a different perspective and was very informative. Speaking for Business and Industry, George Clark from Manufacture Alabama said that 15,000 jobs were tied directly to water, with another 75,000 affected indirectly. Certain manufacturers have permits to use water from rivers and reservoirs, but if water levels are down, business slows or stops, resulting in unemployment and lost business opportunities. Mac Underwood, general manager for the Birmingham Water Works (the nation's 25th largest water supplier), spoke for the Water Utility. He stated that his system is the only major water system in the state that is not

located on a major waterway. Systems such as his rely on reservoirs, with very few the size of Birmingham's using ground water to supply large volume demands. ADEM is against mixing ground water with surface water. Normally, he pointed out, ground water is pure enough not to require as much filtering and, for the most part, only needs chemical treatment before sending to consumers. But if ground water is mixed with surface water that has been through the complete treatment process, it causes a reaction within the water pipes, resulting in cloudy water quality. Mr. Underwood said that his water system has adequate treatment capacity through 2030, but that somewhere between 2020 and 2040, they will need more water sources. He said that the Birmingham Water Works had sought additional reservoir and river sources in recent years but with no luck. Willard Bowers, vice president of Environmental Affairs for Alabama

Power Company (APCO), made a presentation for Energy. He said that APCO, TVA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers all manage water in this state but that APCO is the largest water manager and water user, adding that most of the water it uses is returned to the system. In a normal year, APCO will produce 6% to 8% of its electrical power from hydroelectric dams; however, during the drought of 2007, it was down to only 2%. Mr. Bowers mentioned that electricity produced from hydroelectric sources is the cleanest and cheapest power they produce. Bowers noted that APCO's reservoirs play more than just a role with electrical power; they also have ecological, water quality, recreational, flood control, drinking water, water safety, and transportation purposes. APCO is in daily contact with the Army Corps of Engineers to monitor water levels and downstream flow requirements. Cities like Birmingham and Montgomery depend on APCO for water releases. In other areas, agri-

<<< Feature Topic

His talk was filled with statistics such as nationally Alabama is ranked #2 in forest land, #2 in catfish, #3 in poultry and #3 in peanuts and that 21% of the state's workforce is tied to agriculture. Alabama receives 55" of annual rainfall, with 15% of the surface water in the continental U.S. flowing through its borders. Mr. Kilgore made the point, however, that Alabama irrigates only 100,000 acres (compared to 1.2 million acres in Georgia), representing only 3% of Alabama's surface water utilized (compared to 33% in Oklahoma/Texas). He said that we underutilize our water resources and that, with Alabama losing more than 240 farms per month on average over the last 58 years, farmers are missing an economic opportunity by not irrigating. During 2000, 2001 and 2007, Kilgore said that outdoor watering bans penalized agriculture, while other industries with indoor water use remained unrestricted. These bans cost Alabama's $1.9-billion greenhouse, nursery and sod industry millions. He said that conservation should be encouraged year-round in all industries and homes and that a water management plan must consider existing laws and regulations at all levels of government while addressing the diverse needs of the state. Kilgore's last statement was that the U.S. Congress appropriated $300 million in a farm bill over five years in cost-share assistance for the building of on-farm reservoirs (40-acre minimum). He suggested that an investment by Alabama in an irrigation initiative would help our farmers compete for these federal dollars. As you can see, the water issue is very complicated, and for that reason, the members of the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee formed five subcommittees to study different areas in greater detail. The fives subcommittees are as follows:

Technical Advisory Subcommittee This committee will include various state agencies and regulatory-based organizations.

Conservation, Efficiency, Water Quality and Drought Management Subcommittee Chair: Rep. A.J. McCampbell Members: Sen. Harri Anne Smith Rep. Thomas Jackson

Water-Management Mechanisms, Strategies and Policies Subcommittee Chair: Rep. Jeff McLaughlin Members: Sen. Ted Little Rep. Richard Laird

Agriculture, Transportation, Industry and Recreation Subcommittee Chair: Senator Wendell Mitchell Vice-chair: Rep. Chad Fincher Members: Sen. Quinton Ross Rep. Frank McDaniel

Water-Resource Assessments, Studies, Data Collection and Storage Subcommittee Chair: Senator Arthur Orr Members: Senator Parker Griffith Several of these subcommittees have met for the first time. ATA and other green-industry members sit on these subcommittees, and they plan to be your voice as the members of the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Water Policy and Management prepare to make changes regarding water management in Alabama. If you want to help with any of these subcommittees, please contact me at James.Horton@birminghamal.gov

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2008

cultural irrigation is dependent on APCO's reservoir system for water, and it regulates water removed. He mentioned that the Army Corp of Engineers is currently rewriting their manuals. Jerry Sailors of the CoosaAlabama River Improvement Association talked on Navigation. He said that the port of Mobile is the 10th largest in the U.S. and that Alabama has 5 commercially navigable rivers totaling 1,400 miles, the second most in the U.S. These federally funded waterways have unused capacity. Interestingly, a navigable river must be only 9 feet deep and between 100 and 300 feet wide. The use of barges, Sailors said, is safer and more fuel efficient, and they haul more and cost less, than rail or truck methods of transportation. He mentioned that 15% of U.S. goods were moved by waterways at only 3% of the cost. Each barge can carry as much as 1,750 tons â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as much as 16 railcars of 70 tractor-trailers. Where barges were used, road congestion decreased and maintenance and railroad rates went down. Mr. Sailors said that channel maintenance, lack of awareness, infrastructure and environmental issues are major obstacles for waterway navigation. For instance, regarding channel maintenance, a half-foot of water-level reduction can cause a 100-ton loss of capacity for just one barge. He asked that the Joint Committee recognize the importance of water transportation to the economy of the state and to fully incorporate navigation into the state's water plan and policies, while promoting the state's support of in-land waterways. The last speaker of the day was Mike Kilgore, executive director of the Alabama Farmers Federation. Beginning his presentation on Agriculture, he said that water was essential to agriculture's life. He mentioned that agriculture is Alabama's #1 industry, with $5.29 billion in annual farm-level sales.

Update from Auburn University >>>

UPCOMING SURVEY and a Recent Look at

BAHAMIAN SOD By Dave Han, Ph.D., Auburn University

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2 008

you might guess, my job as the state Extension specialist in turfgrass management takes me to many interesting locations. One of the many facets of the turfgrass industry that I help to support is sod production. If you didn't already know that Alabama is a nationwide leader in sod production, you do now! Alabama produces the third-most sod in the country annually (behind only Florida and Texas), according to the 2002 Census of Agriculture. There's no reason to expect our rank to change significantly when the results of the 2007 Census

of Agriculture are released next spring. Although most of our sod is used within Alabama, we export a significant amount to neighboring states. The ATA, Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System are committed to maintaining a healthy sod industry for the state of Alabama. You may remember that back in 2003, Dr. Deacue Fields in the Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department at Auburn conducted an analysis of the economic impact of the green industry, including all facets of the turfgrass industry. This impact provided our industry

with hard numbers illustrating the importance of the green industry to the state's economy. It's time to update the economic-impact study, and Dr. Fields will soon email, mail and call you, asking you to please fill out his short survey forms. We ask that you provide as much information as you can, so that the economicimpact data will be as complete as possible. All personal information is confidential; only totals will be released. This year's survey also includes special questions to sod producers and those that buy and lay sod (landscapers, lawn care services,

<<< Update from Auburn University

Left: Part of the 10-acre St. Augustinegrass sod farm on Abaco Island in the Bahamas. The field was planted in 2006 with Floratam sprigs imported from Florida. The Abaco Farmers Cooperative has harvested four times from this field since, selling the sod locally on Abaco. Transportation costs account for more than one-half the price of sod imported from Florida, making locally grown sod competitive even with farm sizes this small.

Above: Some of the equipment at the Abaco cooperative sod farm. All of the equiment on the farm was bought in the United States and shipped to Abaco from Florida. Repairs and parts can be more than twice as expensive as they would be in the U.S.

Above: One big advantage of growing sod in the Bahamas is that the beach is never far away. The Abaco farm is about 1/4 mile from this beautiful cove. In the picture with me are members of the Abaco Agricultural Cooperative and representatives from the Bahamas Agricultural Producers Association, the Bahamas Extension Service and the InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.

My recent trip to see sod being grown in the Bahamas I recently had an opportunity to visit a unique sod farm â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the only

currently operating sod farm in the Bahamas! If you knew before June that the Bahamas has a sod farm, then you were better informed than I was. Thanks to the Bahamas Agricultural Producers Association and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, I visited Abaco Island and the sod production there for a couple of days in June. Abaco is just east of Grand Bahama Island and about a 35-minute flight north from Nassau. One of the larger islands in the Bahamas chain, it is the site of one of the biggest farmers cooperatives in the country. Much of the island is rural, and it is one of the few islands in the Bahamas with significant

agricultural production. Although traditionally the cooperative has focused on growing produce (such as melons, onions, tomatoes, plantains and other crops) for local consumption, about three years ago, it started experimenting with sod production. The market for sod in the Bahamas is a little different from that in Alabama. Most of the sod used there â&#x20AC;&#x201D; whether for golf courses, lawns in subdivisions and vacation homes, or at resorts â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is imported from Florida. The added transportation costs of shipping it from Palm Beach brings the retail price of sod up to around $300 (the Bahamian dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar on a one-to-one basis) per pallet for

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2008

etc.) to help provide a base of information for another project we are working on. This project aims to help improve supply-chain efficiency, making it easier for producers and buyers of sod to get together and ensure that there is the right amount of sod on the market for demand. ATA has generously offered support to these two projects in the form of contact lists, administrative help and offers to host results on the new ATA website. We appreciate the support from the turf industry!

Above: Close-up of harvested strips growing in. The soil on Abaco is very similar to parts of south Florida. St. Augustinegrass there does not go dormant due to the mild climate, which is greatly influenced by proximity to the warm ocean.

Update from Auburn University >>> continued from page 19

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2 008

St. Augustinegrass. So for locally grown sod to be competitive, it must meet that $300per-pallet price. It may sound easy, and at that price, some Alabama sod farmers might be trying to sign up to sell sod to the Bahamas right now. But there are difficulties, some common to all sod producers every-where and some unique to the Bahamas.

The most pervasive problem is a lack of economy of scale, coupled with a higher cost for almost everything in the Bahamas. For example, diesel fuel was selling for $6.05 per gallon in June, and gasoline was just over $5 per gallon. All equipment must be imported. When a piece of equipment breaks, spare parts often must be imported or the equip-

ment sent to the U.S. for repair. Also, specialty chemicals can be expensive to get, as often they are imported in small quantities. These added expenses more than offset cheaper labor costs. Most problematic is the fact that there is not a well-developed market for sod in the Bahamas. Although some builders and developers use imported sod (as do golf courses and the average homeowner and landscaper), they do not buy large quantities of sod. Compounding all this is the fact that almost none of the members of the Abaco Agricultural Cooperative is a full-time farmer. Indeed, the president is a pastor, and two of the members most interested in sod production are the chief administrator of the town of Marsh Harbour (capital of Abaco) and the Bahamian equivalent of the local extension agent. None has much formal training in sod production, though all are very familiar with the basics of farming, having raised vegetables and plantains for years. Despite the disadvantages, the Abaco Cooperative has managed to sell some sod from its small, 10-acre farm and is looking to expand production as it is able. I was there to provide some specialized training in the agronomy of growing turfgrass (including the latest weed and pest-control research) and also to share what I have learned from our Alabama sod farmers and my colleagues at Auburn about building a market for sod in an area that is not used to using much sod. Half of the marketing battle for the cooperative is simply making the community aware that there is local sod available. We also hope to help the cooperative secure funding so it can expand production to the point where economies of scale begin to help the cooperative from a financial standpoint. If the sod production on Abaco is a success, it will provide the cooperative with a source of year-round income (St. Augustinegrass doesn't go dormant there) to supplement its other production. It can also serve as a case study for our students here at Auburn on how a turfgrass industry starts literally from scratch, as there are still only 10 acres of sod being grown for sale in the entire nation. If any of you are interested in establishing links with the Abaco cooperative, please feel free to contact me, and I will put you in touch.

Calendar of Events >>>

October 28–30, 2008

February 2–7, 2009

February 18, 2009

2008 ATA Annual Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow Auburn Univ. Hotel & Conf. Center Auburn, AL

GCSAA Education Conference & Golf Industry Show New Orleans, LA

ATA Road Show Seminar Jaycees Community Building Huntsville, AL

February 4, 2009

March 30, 2009

ATA Road Show Seminar Troy University at Dothan Dothan, AL

Mole Cricket Classic Lakewood Golf Course Pt. Clear, AL

February 11, 2009

April 20, 2009

ATA Road Show Seminar The Grand Hotel Fairhope, AL

Poa Annua Classic FarmLinks Golf Course Sylacauga, AL

February 9–14, 2009

October 20–22, 2009

TPI Midwinter Conference (Turfgrass Producers Intl.) Point Clear, AL

2009 ATA Annual Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow Auburn Univ. Hotel & Conf. Center Auburn, AL

January 13–17, 2009 20th Annual STMA Conference & Exposition (Sports Turf Managers Assn.) San José, CA

January 21, 2009 ATA Road Show Seminar AL Dept. of Ag., Richard Beard Bldg. Montgomery, AL

January 28, 2009 ATA Road Show Seminar Birmingham Botanical Gardens Birmingham, AL

January 29–31, 2009 Gulf States Horticulture Show Mobile, AL

February 14, 2009 Alabama Sod Field Day (Immediately after the TPI Midwinter Conference) Woerner Turf Farms Bon Secour, AL

Index of Advertisers >>>

Bel-Air Turf www.belairturf.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Dupont Professional Products products.dupont.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Ewing Irrigation www.ewing1.com . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover Hendrix & Dail www.hendrixanddail.com . . . . . . . . . . 22 Humphries Farm Turf Supply . . . . . . 7 Huntsville Tractor & Equipment www.huntsvilletractor.com . . . . . . . . . . 3 Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation www.jerrypate.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Kesmac Inc. www.kesmac.com . . . . Inside Back Cover

Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2008

Peerless Manufacturing Company www.peerlessmfg.cc . . . Inside Front Cover Pennington Seed, Inc. www.penningtonseed.com . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sod Solutions www.sodsolutions.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Sur-Line Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 The Kilpatrick Company . . . . . . . . . . 13 Trebro Manufacturing www.trebro.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17