North Carolina Turfgrass - September / October 2023

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NCGIC Works for You!

July 26th, the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina was proud to help out and be a part of the 12th Annual NC Green Industry Council’s (NCGIC) Water Symposium held at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh.

The event was a great success with excellent topics and presenters, and we were so happy to see several TCNC members in attendance as well. This is an event that we hope even more members will attend next year. So, with that, I wanted to take this opportunity to make sure that as a TCNC member, you understand what an incredible resource the NCGIC is and why TCNC is committed to being a part of the NCGIC.

A portion of your membership dues provides membership (and a voice) to the NCGIC, so as a TCNC member, you are also part of the NCGIC.

The NCGIC has made a profound impact on our field and this profession. Over the last few years, it has specifically:

• Enabled the consistent recognition of our green industry professionals by the Department of Agriculture. During COVID 19, this recognition allowed many of our industry members to continue working as an essential business.

• Continued to focus on legislative laws that support the employment of quality, dependable, and diverse individuals.

• Served as a catalyst for the ability of irrigation specialists to install backflow systems.

• Partnered with NCDA and NCSU to conduct an Economic Impact Study (2005) that informed public policy and supported efforts by industry stakeholders to communicate the importance of the green industry for the North Carolina economy.

• Increased awareness and support of the irrigation profession through the establishment of certification.

So, if you are not yet taking full advantage of this part of your TCNC membership, I encourage you to do so. Please add next year’s NCGIC Water Symposium as a mustattend event. It will be sometime in the Spring/Summer, so keep an eye out for more information from us. We look forward to seeing you there.

Kevin Herrmann

TCNC President

North Carolina Turfgrass is the official publication of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina

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TCNC OFFICERS

PRESIDENT

Kevin Herrmann Fairway Green Inc. Raleigh, NC

VICE PRESIDENT

Wilson Sutton Emerald Golf Club New Bern, NC

PAST PRESIDENT

Gene Queen Nature's Select Winston-Salem, NC

TREASURER

Jonathan Richardson, NCCTP NCCTP Chairman Green Resource Dunn, NC DIRECTORS

Brian Beane Southern Turf Winston-Salem, NC

Ron Hall, Sr Cell – 919-775-8634

Ron Hall, Jr Cell - 919-775-9732

sales@divotssand.com www.DivotsSand.com

Greg Harris Leap Frog Land Care, Inc. Cary, NC

Shaun Kerr Gates Four Golf and Country Club Fayetteville, NC

Years ago, LSU decided to move to Celebration® Bermudagrass across its sports facilities. Over the years, the athletic grounds staff has installed Celebration on the soccer, softball, baseball, practice fields and the crown jewel, football’s Tiger Stadium. Across the maintenance spectrum for Celebration, the LSU grounds staff have been innovators. They continue to produce a championship product year in and year out.

“For us at LSU, all the athletic fields that we compete on are all Celebration. So the (football) stadium, softball, soccer, our practice facilities, Alex Box, our baseball stadium, they’re all Celebration as well. Celebration for us just works and it’s a good fit.”

– Trevor Austin – LSU Sports Turf Manager

TCNC Deluxe Members

Companies wishing to support TCNC with multiple members can join as Deluxe Members. Deluxe Memberships can be purchased in one of three tiers: 1–5 employees; 6–10 employees; or 11+ employees.

If you'd like to learn more about the Deluxe Membership, please contact the TCNC office at 984.301.6450 or info@turfgrasscouncilnc.org.

Thank You to Our DELUXE MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

City of Asheville Parks and Rec

Emerald Green

ETM (Eastern Turf Maintenance)

Fairway Green

Fayetteville Tech

Gates Four Golf & Country Club

Green Resource

Leapfrog Landcare

McConnell Golf Morehead City

NaturaLawn of America (Raleigh)

SiteOne

CROP AND SOIL SCIENCES

Matt Martin Extension Associate 910.409.5899 matthew_martin@ncsu.edu

Dr. Travis Gannon Assistant Professor 919.515.2647 travis_gannon@ncsu.edu

Emily Erickson Crop Science Lecturer 919.513.2034 emily_erickson@ncsu.edu

Sod Solutions

Southern Ag

Southern Garden

Southern Seeds, Inc.

SunRock

The Biltmore Company

Tillery Country Club

Town of Garner Triangle Chemical Company

Turf Mountain Sod, Inc.

UNC – CH

Wake Forest University

Weed Man

2022 – 23 Renewal as of 8/31/2023

Don't see your company's name?

Renew today at www.turfgrasscouncilnc.org

Dr. Susana Milla-Lewis Professor & University Faculty Scholar 919.280.3443 susana_milla-lewis@ncsu.edu

Dr. Grady Miller Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5656 grady_miller@ncsu.edu

Dr. Charles Peacock Professor and Director of Crop Science 919.906.1324 charles_peacock@ncsu.edu

Dr. Rob Richardson Associate Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5653 rob_richardson@ncsu.edu

Dr. Wei Shi Professor 919.513.4641 wei_shi@ncsu.edu

Dr. Fred Yelverton Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5639 fred_yelverton@ncsu.edu

ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY

Dr. Terri Billeisen Extension Associate 919.515.7464 tlhoctor@ncsu.edu

Dr. Rick Brandenburg Extension Leader 919.515.8876 rick_brandenburg@ncsu.edu

Lee Butler NC State Turf Diagnostics Lab 919.513.3878 ebutler@ncsu.edu

Dr. James Kerns Professor and Extension Specialist 919.513.4820 jpkerns@ncsu.edu

HORTICULTURE SCIENCE

Dr. Danesha Seth Carley Director, Southern IPM Center & Associate Professor 919.513.8189 danesha_carley@ncsu.edu

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2023 NCSU Turfgrass Field Day

TCNC Members, industry experts, educators, students, and vendors from across the state gathered on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at the Lake Wheeler Turfgrass Research Lab in Raleigh, NC. With more than two million acres of turfgrass grown in North Carolina, this annual event is a great way to learn about the latest research and connect with peers.

Participants had an opportunity to view and learn about NC State’s Turfgrass Program and the ongoing research trials. NC State’s faculty and staff and other professionals were on hand to answer questions and provide insight into trends within the industry. Topics discussed included:

• Cultural Practices

• New Cultivars

• Turfgrass Breeding Program

• Fungicide Trials

• Pesticide Fate

• Aerification Technologies

• Aquatic Weed Management

• Weed Control and more

Thanks to the ongoing partnership between the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina and North Carolina State University, TCNC Members were able to attend the event for a discounted fee of only $10.00. Members saved $60.00.

Additionally, attendees were able to obtain CEUs towards their NCDA & CS Pesticide Credits.

On behalf of everyone at TCNC, we would like to extend a special thanks to the entire team at NC State for coordinating a successful day!

It was great to see so many faces at this year’s NCSU Turfgrass Field Day!

GROWING TURFGRASS GRADUATES

TOOLS TO BOOST GREEN INDUSTRY RECRUITING

Ask any landscape professional about business; talent is usually the hot topic. Finding qualified and motivated candidates to work in this dynamic industry seems to be half the business battle.

Yet surprisingly, college turfgrass programs are decreasing or folding across the country. Golf Course Management Online estimates a 75% decrease in college turfgrass enrollment since the peak of the 2000s, with three universities pausing or discontinuing their programs completely.

Some turfgrass students may have migrated to community colleges, but high-skilled management positions demanding scientific understanding and decision-making often require greater depth of study. That need remains.

“The demand for turfgrass managers trained in turfgrass culture, pest/weed control, soil science, and irrigation management has grown in the last five years,” said Grady Miller, North Carolina State University turfgrass professor and extension specialist. “And while positions in the golf

and sports turf industries are popular for graduates, there are many other turfgrass industries that are looking to hire our graduates.”

So, as industry demand rises like summer weeds, who will do the work? Recruiting is an ongoing challenge, but many find the field isn’t even on students’ radar.

“I visited three high school classes in the last few months and asked if turfgrass is ever a career path suggested to the students,” Kurt Bland, president of Bland Landscaping, said. “Not one hand went up.”

North Carolina’s population grew 1.3% in 2022 (significantly more in some areas), making it the third fastest-growing state in the U.S., behind Florida and Texas. This business and resident influx is fueling demand for home and corporate landscape maintenance, athletic fields for team sports, as well as recreational golf and public green space.

But with a limited workforce, it’s a rising tide raising boats with short anchor lines.

Projected NC population growth by county for 2030. Image from NC State Extension Community Development.

Here’s What NC State is Doing

North Carolina State University is proud to be the nation’s second-largest turfgrass program offering degrees at all levels: two-year associate, four-year bachelor, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees.

INCREASING TURFGRASS STUDENTS AND ENSURING CAREER PLACEMENT

NC State’s bachelor of science focused on turfgrass is growing. Enrollment has risen from 19 in the fall of 2018 to 34 in the fall of 2023, a 79% increase. But even our graduates see that demand is outpacing supply.

”Recently, we had a graduating senior who received 31 job offers and never put out an application,” said David Crouse, director of undergraduate programs in NC State’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. “Needless to say, we are consistently placing 100% of our turfgrass graduates.”

With such strong demand, Crouse says his team is actively recruiting through every avenue, but their reach is limited.

“We attend major high school events, like the annual FFA convention, host students on campus through Spend a Day at State, and communicate with high school teachers and guidance counselors, but we can’t be everywhere. We definitely need help from our alumni and the entire turfgrass industry to spread the word about green career opportunities and the paths to get there.”

Expanding Two-Year Graduate Numbers

NC State’s Agricultural Institute (AGI) offers a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in turfgrass management. Enrollment dipped in 2020 but recently has been holding steady at around 30 students and is rising.

To improve application and enrollment numbers, AGI’s team is prioritizing in-person recruitment, social media presence and campus visit opportunities. They also added a dedicated recruiter in 2022. Lee Ivy is the director of NC State’s AGI.

“We are working to significantly increase recruitment, particularly in rural counties. Our message to potential students (and parents) highlights the hands-on, practical nature of AGI training and the availability of valuable internships that lead to career opportunities with lateral and upward mobility potential.”

Revitalizing Our Turfgrass Faculty

To energize and diversify our teaching capabilities, we’ve added several new faculty including assistant professor Qiyu Zhou, who teaches in both our two and four-year undergraduate turfgrass programs.

NC State Ph.D. student Susmita Gaire (left) and turfgrass assistant professor Qiyu Zhou (right) at NC State’s Art Bruneau Golf Tournament.

Turfgrass students and advisor Brittany DesLauriers at the 2023 Turfgrass Field Day.

Zhou advises the undergraduate Turf Club and quiz bowl competition team and looks forward to revitalizing NC State’s High School Turfgrass Academy, which has been paused since the COVID pandemic.

“I hosted an event at a previous university where students picked a prospective major to work with graduate students to learn about the science and research in different fields. I’d like to build on that idea,” Zhou said. “I hope we can make more students interested in turf careers or to be aware of the science behind turfgrass management.”

Increasing Our Turfgrass Program Visibility

Since 2020, we’ve developed mobilefriendly ebooks about our degree programs, including turfgrass, to show students the career paths and opportunities in the green industry. These materials are shared with 4-H, Cooperative Extension offices, and high school counselors across the state.

We’ve also launched a deep-dive email series that introduces prospective students to our Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, our campus and the careers that await them.

Expanding Student Horizons

From academic seminars to alumni speakers, NC State turfgrass students tap a vast network of industry professionals. Many alumni or affiliated businesses offer students internship opportunities or a career connection after graduation.

To expose students to the diversity of career tracks, we share alumni spotlights in our ongoing career profile article series and regularly host industry speakers on campus.

Requiring Hands-On Experience

All two and four-year turfgrass students must complete an internship before graduation. These industry connections are often fertile ground for future opportunities.

Turfgrass lecturer Emily Erickson teaches AGI turfgrass classes and maintains a strong industry network for practical training and connections.

“We continually have alumni looking for student interns. Because our graduates work in every part of the turfgrass industry throughout the United States and abroad, students can find a fit with their interests. It’s fairly common for those connections to evolve into long-term opportunities.”

Together, We Can Do More

Despite great progress, there’s more to do. But we can’t be everywhere, and no one better knows the need for qualified job candidates than you in the industry. Here is how you can help.

SHARE YOUR CAREER PATH

• Visit classrooms and career days to positively represent industry opportunities

• Contribute to an NC State alumni career profile story

• Share industry demand stats and opportunities on your social media channels

• Become a CALS alumni ambassador

OFFER A TEST DRIVE

• Host field trip site visits for environmental science or other high school classes

• Offer internships and register them with our database for students

TURFGRASS CAREER DAY TOOLKIT

Sharpening Competitive Skills

NC State is home to two turfgrass-related groups: our HortPack landscape competition team and the Turfgrass Quiz Bowl team. These hands-on group activities allow students to hone their knowledge and create community among similarinterested students.

We know that it’s tough to do all the things, so we’ve compiled resources to make the recruiting job easier. Our new Turfgrass Career Day Toolkit gives you turnkey presentation materials, so you don’t have to recreate the wheel. Pick what works for you and your event.

• Presentation deck (use all the slides or choose a few and add your own)

• Industry recruiting videos (landscape and golf-specific)

HortPack turfgrass students compete in irrigation troubleshooting at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition.

Danny Losito, NC State alumnus and Director of Sports Fields and Grounds for the Carolina Panthers, speaks to a group of NC State turfgrass students on campus.

• A list of NC colleges offering turfgrass programs. We’re partial, of course, but understand that NC State is not the only option.

• Industry background reading written for students (9 Reasons A Turfgrass Major Might Be For You)

• Next steps for students to learn more or get started at NC State

“Recruiting is an essential component of our business,” Bland said. “We have three dedicated recruiters to share the bright opportunities of this industry and ensure our business longevity. Having turnkey recruiting materials, like these from NC State, strengthens our message.”

Together, we’re better. Let’s join efforts to spread the word about the growing opportunities in the green industry.

Want More Partnership?

Crop and Soil Sciences’ research impacts farmers, students, and NC citizens through innovations in food, feed, fuel, and fiber. Follow how our discoveries affect agriculture and environmental science by joining our weekly newsfeed.

If you are a student interested in agronomy or crop production, investigate our undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Then join us for a guided email tour of our department and university.

Improving NC’s green economy through teaching and career connections is just part of how we are growing the future.

WEATHER APPS and WEATHER DECISIONS

LET’S MAKE THE MOST OF BOTH!

By Brad Jakubowski, Assistant Teaching Professor, Center for Turfgrass Science, Penn State University

Keeping an eye on the weather is something professional turfgrass managers have ingrained into our systems. Can I mow today? We check our phones for the most recent forecast. Should I spray today? We monitor dewpoints, humidity and temperatures. Will I pull the tarp prior to today’s game? We study the weather radar. There is a tremendous amount of weather information out there and nearly all of us have some form of a weather app on our phones, or a link to our favorite weather website, to help us make day-to-day management decisions. Let’s take a journey, to see what is out there and what information will help us make the best weather-based decisions possible.

Which app is the best?

Honestly, there is no one best app. It is important to find an app or a number of apps that provide you the most reliable and quickly available information. Basic Information that is important to have available with the least number of clicks would be: High and Low Temperatures (including overnight lows), Dewpoint, Relative Humidity, and Short-Term Weather forecasts. Intermediate information includes: Radar (Base and Composite Reflectivity), Satellite Imagery, and Severe Weather (especially lightning). Advanced information would be: Echo Tops, Vertically Integrated Liquid, Digital Storm Accumulation and Forecast Discussion.

Basic Information

When looking for basic information, it is best to have most or all important data on the first screen, or within one or two clicks from the first screen. That is often a good way to judge how well your app will benefit you over time. As an example, The National Weather Service includes much of the basic data ( Figure 1 ). At a glance, you can get a good idea of what is happening now and what will happen in the immediate future. High and low temperatures provide a quick mental image of how the day (and night) may influence your maintenance plans. Winds, dewpoint and relative humidity provide a quick insight on irrigation requirements, disease potential, and infield skin management requirements.

It is beneficial to see both relative humidity and dewpoint together. Viewing only either limits your view of the big picture. For example, a relative humidity of 95% with dewpoints near 70 degrees indicate that less time may be spent scouting for wilt and instead used scouting for diseases. The same relative humidity with dewpoints under 30 may indicate a majority of the day may be dedicated for scouting wilt or watering an infield skin.

The Hourly Forecast – The Turf Manager’s Secret Weapon!

The Hourly Forecast on Weather.gov (Figure 2) is the turf manager’s secret weapon. In one image, a turf manager can make plans for multiple issues and tasks. For Example, The Heat Index: potential high heat indexes aids in planning for employee safety; Temperature and Dewpoint: Matched high overnight dewpoints and temperatures means extended leaf wetness and high disease potential. They also indicate heavy dew until at least 8am, which may require a syringe cycle to limit mower clumping, or to make sure greens are whipped post-cut; Wind Speed and Direction (Surface Wind): predicted light southerly winds meaning even higher probability for disease potential and dew, as well as for good spraying conditions in the early morning, but gusts in the teens starting around 11am; Relative Humidity: indicates conditions will be wet early, but dry quickly throughout the day; Sky Cover: indicates it will be partly cloudy throughout the day providing some relief, while Precipitation Potential indicate a 50% chance of rain throughout the day.

Figure 2: The Hourly Forecast from www.weather. Figuregov2: The Hourly Forecast from www.weather.gov

Figure 1: Weather.gov basic data

Intermediate Information

When making game-time decisions such as tarp pulls, or field evacuations, due to severe weather, radar becomes an important tool. There are numerous good weather radar apps available. Many are free, some require an annual fee of $US 10 to 50. Many of the fee-based apps offer expanded functionality, precision and overall quality of information. Regardless of cost, radar app selection should prioritize the type of reflectivity the radar images are based upon. There are two types: Base Reflectivity and Composite Reflectivity. Each time a radar transmitter spins, it sends out a microwave ‘sweep’ at different elevations to get a complete picture of all atmosphere elevations. A Base Reflectivity image represents only a single sweep of the radar transmitter. This means that near the transmitter the radar ‘sees’ is low in the storms and as distance increases the beam rises and can overshoot the core of heavier precipitation. Many High-Resolution (Hi-Res) radar images feature only Base Reflectivity sweeps.

Composite Reflectivity stitches together all elevation scans, in order, to create an image that represents a more complete picture of an incoming storm. These are often lower-resolution images and may be more pixelated. Figures 3 and 4 are of the same storm with the former being a Base Reflectivity image and the latter a Composite Reflectivity image.

Figure 5 shows the different reflectivity options you may have within a radar app, and again illustrates not all radar imagery is the same. So, when trying to make critical game-time decisions, a radar image using Base Reflectivity may grossly underestimate the significance of an incoming storm. When selecting a radar app, be sure investigate the types of radar images it provides, and be prepared to spend a few dollars for radar that will prove worthwhile in the future.

Satellite Imagery

There are numerous Satellite Imagery options as well. They provide visible cloud cover; infrared (the most common that we see), moisture content; and all-in-one maps that include a combination of radar, infrared, and weather station models to tell a complete weather story. Satellite images can give you a broader perspective of how the weather is behaving on a wider, more continental, scale. The images and loops illustrate air flow, cloud and moisture movement and overall dynamics of frontal systems. These large-scale images and video loops can help in longer-term planning. They can aid in project preparation and used as a tool to help protect fields when communicating with administrators that may be considering additional unexpected events during non-use days. It is useful to compare these images with regular weather maps to get a good working knowledge of fronts and changing weather systems.

Figure 5

Figure 4: Composite Reflectivity

Figure 3: Base Reflectivity

Severe Weather

Lightning is the most critical facet of severe weather for sport turf managers. In 2022, one in five people struck by lightning were engaged in an outdoor sporting activity. Having an app that can provide you lightning information instantly or within a click on your phone is important. The lightning information from the WeatherBug app for Figure 6 only required a short scroll down and a single click. An old AM radio is also good to have on-hand as a back up lightning detector. Significant increase in crackles and static transmitted across AM radio bands are dependable indicators of lightning activity in the area. Old School!

Advanced Information

As we work towards becoming more proficient with understanding weather and being able to make better weather-based decisions, we find more advanced tools to help us. Echo Tops or Cloud Height is another function to help us assess the intensity of an oncoming storm. An Echo Top measures the overall height of a storm, which is an indicator of the strength of storm updrafts. Stronger updrafts make convective wind gusts and large hail more likely.

When several storms are on radar, the Echo Tops tool can point out the more severe storms and the direction they are travelling (Figure 7). This can be valuable information to

report to the front office when asked about making a call on a game or whether the conditions will be safe to conduct a lastminute tarp pull. Another tool to assess the strength of a storm is Vertically Integrated Liquid (VIL). The VIL index measures how much water is being transported vertically throughout a storm cloud and is another indicator of a storm’s updraft strength. Taller updrafts tend to have higher values of VIL and are more likely to produce hail.

One more tool that can be used to help determine the total accumulation of a precipitation event is Digital Storm Accumulation. By allowing you to assess discrete accumulations over short periods of time, this tool may help you determine whether or not to pull a field cover for a particular rain event. Saving time and energy that could be used elsewhere and avoid unnecessary delays. This tool may also aid in determining the potential of a flash flood event in your area.

Summary

Technological advancements afford us incredibly convenient tools and information apps that support worker and clientele safety while improving our maintenance, irrigation, pest management, and playability decision-making. Take advantage of this opportunity by investigating these different apps and functions. Poll your colleagues, service providers, and blogs/forums to best experiment and discover what works best for you and your facility.

Figure 6

Figure 7

of the State Industry

A Perspective from Turfgrass Producers International

By Dr. Casey Reynolds Executive Director TPI

Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) has members who produce and sell turfgrass seed and sod in almost every U.S. state and over 30 countries. As I travel to visit with them, speak at conferences, write magazine articles, etc., I often get to speak with producers first-hand about what they’re experiencing in their local markets. This often includes the good and the bad, and oddly enough no matter where I go, the themes are usually similar. From a farm’s perspective, demand is up; costs are up; labor is short; and where did all the truck drivers go? From a market perspective, consumers and policy-makers increasingly just don’t understand natural grass lawns and their benefits, and in many areas of the country, they are quite literally trying to write them out of new construction, through local ordinances which ban or dis-incentivize the use of grass.

So where does this leave us? In the short run, housing is still quite hot and the demand for grass ebbs and flows with it. In the long run, will the next generation of consumers and home-buyers value or even want lawns, landscapes, natural grass athletic fields, and golf courses? The short answer to that question is that it’s up to us. But let’s revisit that a little later.

Data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development indicates that as of March 2023, purchases of new homes increased for a third consecutive month. Construction of new homes rose in February and sales of existing homes surged after a 12-month decline. The U.S. Census Bureau shows that New Housing Units are still strong, despite a recent drop-off from the post-covid boom (Figure 1). As such, turfgrass producers in most areas of the country including Alabama sod producers, are still reporting strong sales, high demand, and sometimes low inventory.

While this is good news for producers and others in the green industry who rely on lawns, landscapes, sports fields, and golf courses, it is no surprise to anyone that costs are also up. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has some useful tools on its website at https://www.bls.gov . If you’re a data junky, or just a little curious to see it on paper, you can find some helpful charts and graphs that track the costs of goods and services over many years. It should be no spoiler that food, energy, raw materials, transportation, and warehousing are all up when compared to pre-Covid levels. A little good news is that all 2023 Producer Prices Indexes are down when compared to 2021 and 2022.

Like many industries, turfgrass seed and sod producers routinely look for efficiencies to reduce these costs and often find them in new equipment, automation, digitalization, GPS/ Remote Sensing technologies, new techniques or practices, and so on. It would be difficult to list them all here, but out of necessity comes innovation and there is always a better way to do things. There are certainly plenty of those opportunities out there just as there are in other segments of the green industry.

Now, let’s change course from a production perspective to a market perspective, which is just as likely to impact the state of our industry. With that in mind, what is the current and future consumer perception of lawns and other green spaces? I suspect many of you have seen recent headlines such as “Kill Your Lawn Before It Kills You”, “American Lawns: Ending the Toxic Yard” and so on. If we need further proof of that, simply Google the phrase “Lawns are” and you can see the top search terms that people are entering into common Google queries. The top hits include Lawns are “bad, stupid, wasteful, colonialism, useless, ecological disaster,” and so on.

While it is easy to sometimes write these off as op-eds, there is definitely consumer research that shows we as an industry should take these seriously. Eighty-two percent of consumers are familiar with sustainability, up from 55% in 2007. Additionally, between 51 and 95% of consumers will pay more for products aligned with their values on sustainability. Counter that with the fact that less than half of consumers are aware of the environmental benefits of lawns and other green spaces.

FIGURE 1

It also differs by generation where consumers between 18 and 34 years old are less aware of the benefits than consumers 35 years old and older. It also doesn’t help that the next generation of home buyers are right now playing middle, high school, and college sports on an increasingly large number of plastic, synthetic turf athletic fields.

So, what does this mean for the future of green space? It means that we as the green industry in general, need to take our story of the benefits of lawns and other green spaces and shout it from the rooftops. We absolutely need to be educating the current and next generation of consumers on the ecosystem services that lawns and other green spaces bring to the urban-suburban

interface. Just as one example, a 2018 research paper indicated that for one urban/suburban city venue, 89% of the carbon that was captured or sequestered, along with 88% of the water quality regulated and 81% of the runoff regulated for that entire city was being done by managed grasses. Follow-up question, do your customers, neighbors, city council members, and others know it? I most often find they don’t. If that is the case, please refer them to www.TheLawnInstitute.org where they can find many of the benefits of lawns. Share the information with everyone. Voters need to know the true story as well as those making purchasing decisions and politicians setting public policy in communities all over the United States.

In the last 12 – 18 months alone, I have had to respond to turfgrass bans or restrictions all over the country, and yes, they include northern states and southern states, eastern states and western states, and red states and blue states. That seems so ironic because one thing that the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions highlighted was that once people stayed at home, they often realized they wanted to spend more time outdoors enjoying their lawns and landscape. This is the primary reason our industry weathered that storm so well. Interestingly, prior to the pandemic, Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) funded consumer research on the perceptions of lawns and found that once you explain the many benefits of turfgrass to people, they understand it and are willing to continue investing in natural grass lawns.

So, how do we do this in a meaningful way? One industry initiative right now that you may have heard about is a proposed USDA Research and Promotion Program, aka “checkoff,” for sod production. There are currently 22 USDA Research and Promotion Programs (aka checkoffs). They have a long, proven history of funding research and promotion of agricultural products having been around since the 1960s. Since then, the current 22 checkoffs combined routinely raise 1 billion dollars each year to fund research and promotion of their products. Many, if not all, checkoff programs arise out of an industry’s need to push back against market threats or shifting consumer trends, as well as to fund research on improving products or techniques. The soybean checkoff this year alone identified up to $400 million in unrealized market potential and then funded research to address it.

Current estimates put a potential U.S. Sod Checkoff program at raising around $14 million annually to fund local and national research, as well as the promotion of lawns

and other green spaces. Who knows what potential value it could be to our industry, but there is little doubt that everyone in the green industry, not just sod producers, could benefit by having a checkoff program promoting natural grass. Many of the associations representing our industries have gone on record saying they support the sod checkoff initiative. The National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Sports Field Managers Association, the US Golf Association Green Section, the American Farm Bureau, and others have stated that they understand the need for national and local research and promotion efforts to protect and promote green space. If you want to learn more about the proposed sod checkoff, visit www.SodCheckoff.org to stay up to date on the latest information.

Now, as we talk above about the current and future status of our industry, I’d just like to add a quick editorial perspective. One sod producer recently wrote about rising inflation, increasing fuel costs, and an unpredictable stock market in TPI’s Turf News magazine. When I say “recently,” that article was published in 1999. We had another sod producer write about ever-increasing water restrictions and the artificial turf market. That was in 2004. The point being, the challenges and opportunities we have today aren’t often that drastically different from those we faced years ago. Going forward, we should all be proud of how our industry responded to the changing dynamics of the past. Also, you should have comfort in knowing that Alabama Turfgrass Association members live and work in a great industry, and with vision, proper planning, and last but not least, proper investment in our industry’s future, we can make sure it thrives for many years to come.

Become a NC Certified Turfgrass Professional!

North Carolina Certified Turfgrass Professional (NCCTP) program is a comprehensive program developed to enhance the technical competency of turfgrass professionals, while elevating their professional image, that of your business and of the turfgrass management industry. Administered by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina, the NCCTP designation confirms your expertise in turfgrass management to prospective customers and your peers.

Reasons to Begin Earning Your NCCTP Designation Today

The NCCTP program increases and enhances your turfgrass industry knowledge, career, and business development through a course of study of in-depth coverage of the science of turfgrass management.

The NCCTP designation offers immediate confidence and credibility of turfgrass management practices to customers and prospective employers.

Promote and market yourself as a North Carolina Certified Turfgrass Professional.

• Use the NCCTP logo on your business materials.

• Use NCCTP pins, uniform patches, and vehicle decals.

• Your TCNC Member Directory listing is distinguished with the NCCTP logo.

We Are Partnered With The NC State Turfgrass Professional Short Course

The NC State Turfgrass Professional Short Course, a comprehensive turfgrass education program, is offered at select NC State Extension offices and at NC State University. This Short Course offers a full curriculum of the science of turfgrass management as well as Continuing Education Credits for NCDACS Pesticide and NCLCLB Landscape Contractors’ license holders, and it will help you prepare for the NCCTP exam.

This Short Course is recommended but not required to take the NCCTP exam.

Enrollment Requirements:

Hold a current TCNC membership. If not currently a member, go to www.turfgrasscouncilnc.org and click ‘JOIN NOW’ to join online or download an application. Have a minimum of one full year of work experience in the turfgrass industry.

Agree to the Certified Turfgrass Professional Code of Ethics as detailed on the application form.

Submit:

• A current and valid NC Pesticide Applicators license

• A completed NCCTP application (current TCNC members may apply online).

• NCCTP Program Application: $150

• Self-Study Materials: $50

• Exam Fee: $50

Curriculum and Exam:

Curriculum covers nine core areas: Turfgrass Characteristics; Establishing Turfgrass; Soils & Nutrient Management; Cultural Practices; Pests & Integrated Pest Management; Pesticides & Plant Growth Regulators; Landscape Safety & Pesticide Use; Calculations & Calibration; Turfgrass Business & Economics.

Candidates have six months from the date of their enrollment acceptance to complete the NCCTP exam. Candidates have six hours to complete the exam and must score 80% or more on each section to receive the NCCTP designation.

Exams can be taken at the TCNC office in Raleigh during normal business hours, or arrangements can be made at your local NC State Extension location.

Exams will not be graded if any application information is missing or if TCNC membership status cannot be confirmed. Please allow two to three weeks for exam grading and reports.

Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates will receive communication with their results and either next step options or their graduation packet.

Maintenance Requirements:

Maintain a current TCNC membership as a means of demonstrating ongoing support for the industry. Submit an annual $50 renewal fee, which supports the NCCTP program and related promotional activities. Designation year is the same as the TCNC membership year, from July 1st to June 30th.

Hold a current NC Pesticide Applicator’s License. Subscribe to, actively support and uphold the TCNC Certification Code of Ethics.

The NC Certified Turfgrass Professional designation (NCCTP), the NCCTP logo and related programs materials are the trademarked property of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina and cannot be used without TCNC’s written permission.

For additional information, contact TCNC at 984.301.5460.

NCCTP Certification Program ENROLLMENT APPLICATION

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS

Please read the items below and check each one that is true for you.

MEMBERSHIP: I am now, or I am applying here to be, a member in good standing of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina.

PESTICIDE LICENSE: I hold a current North Carolina Pesticide Ground Applicator License with subclass L, turf, and ornamental (or equivalent from another state).

EXPERIENCE: I have completed a minimum of one full year of turfgrass industry professional work experience.

EXAM: Upon acceptance into the program, I plan to complete my study and take the required exam within six months.

DUTY: I have initialed the following page of this application to show that I strongly support and willingly subscribe to the Certified Turfgrass Professional Code of Ethics, and I pledge to uphold the credibility and integrity of the program.

CONTINUING EDUCATION: I agree to successfully complete additional future curriculum materials or sections that may be required as a result of new technology or regulation.

Describe your turfgrass industry professional work experience; one full year is required to apply.

NCCTP Application Fee: $150, Study Materials: $50, Exam Fee: $50, TCNC Dues (call for amount, based on date)

Check Number__________________ (payable to TCNC)

TOTAL $

Credit Card: AMEX Visa MC Discover Billing Zip Code

Credit Card # Exp. Date Sec Code

Name on Card Signature

By signing this application, I verify that all the information is true and correct, I acknowledge and assume full responsibility for the charges on this application, and I agree to honor and abide by the terms of this non-refundable payment.

CODE OF ETHICS

Please read and initial each section below that you support and commit to uphold.

DUTY TO THE PUBLIC

Conduct service first and foremost with regards to the safety, health, and welfare of the general public. Provide service, recommendations, and information based upon honest experience, and scientifically accurate and factual knowledge.

DUTY TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Operate in such a manner to protect and preserve our environment. Use and monitor all equipment, products, and materials in a manner consistent with the label and safe for the environment.

DUTY TO THE LAWS OF OUR LAND

Abide by all laws and regulations affecting the turf industry and support the enforcement of these laws.

DUTY TO OUR FELLOW PROFESSIONALS

Refrain from the use of false, misleading, or deceptive marketing and advertising practices. Practice and insist upon sound business management practices. Maintain the highest standard of personal conduct to reflect credit and add stature to the turf industry. Recognize the importance of strong relationships within the industry. Abstain from untruthful debasement, or encroachment upon, the professional reputation or practice of another turfgrass professional.

DUTY TO THE ASSOCIATION

I AGREE

Participate in association activities and events to help further the profession. Abstain from any unfair exploitation of my association, industry, or profession.

By signing this Code of Ethics, I agree to follow the duties and intentions outlined above, and I commit to supporting and upholding these ethics with consistency and integrity.

Printed Name

Signature Date

Please Return Entire NCCTP Application To TCNC Via: email: info@turfgrasscouncilnc.org or mail: TCNC PO Box 641 Wake Forest, NC 27588

Cultivating an Environment of Growth

By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM

Everyone wants better employees and today, that usually requires growing them internally. By starting with a high-potential worker and developing them intentionally, companies are able to build a near-ideal employee ready to tackle their specific issues. But employee development only occurs in the right environment.

Employee growth is not unlike plant growth in that the result is dependent primarily on environmental factors rather than genetic make-up. Unfortunately, managers rarely audit their environment for employee growth potential and even fewer have clear ideas about the factors that would make a strong growth environment. Here are the seven environmental factors that should be considered when cultivating a culture of development:

Advanced Expertise – Growth can only occur when someone is ahead of the employee to be developed because someone must be setting the pace for production and sharing knowledge. This doesn’t mean the smartest person in the room has to quit, but rather that they need a coach or mentor outside of the company to guide them.

Continually Challenged – Advancing to the next level never happens by accident, so an environment where everyone is challenged to reach higher levels of performance creates the tension needed to advance intentionally.

Future-Oriented

A team which is focused on past mistakes doesn’t have the right outlook to grow their team. Growth is always the result of forward thinking where a better reality is a goal and positive intent around its achievement is embraced.

Affirming Atmosphere – Development takes a lot of extra work beyond simply the status quo so teams that encourage each other to the next level of their skills are the ones that usually stick it out to see the results. It is the consistency of effort over long periods of time that is enabled through encouragement and brings true results.

Mission Driven – When team members understand what their company does to enhance the lives of their customers and how their role contributes to making a difference, they are more likely to wake up excited and be driven to be the best version of themselves. This energy is essential to growth.

Failure is Embraced – When we learn new skills and put them into practice, failing is a large part of the learning journey. In fact, learned experience is the quickest way to actually know anything. But a negative reaction to mistakes will deplete growth momentum, so wise teams expect and embrace them when they occur.

Mutual Advancement – People always work best when they're working together, so teams where every member is growing are far more likely to see positive results. The best environments for growth have individualized and continuous development happening for every person and the culture is one of learning.

If your team needs more help growing itself to the next level, or your want help building a better growth environment, check out the industry-specific resources available at www.GrowTheBench.com. TCNC members are invited to connect with Neal at neal@growthebench.com.

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Developed by the turfgrass experts at Oklahoma State University, Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass pushes the geographic boundaries of bermudagrass into the northernmost reaches of the Transition Zone. Highly cold tolerant, the name “Tahoma” comes from the Native American word that means “frozen water.”

Use Tahoma 31 to design golf courses that are beautiful, sustainable, easier to maintain and play great.

COLD

Plant Tahoma 31 further north for a strong base in the winter that fights wilt in the sumner.

COLOR

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PLAYABILITY

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QUALITY

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DROUGHT

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SHADE

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CAROLINA TURF FARMS PO Box 850, Raeford, NC 28376 910-875-6141

ncsodman@carolinaturffarms.com carolinaturffarms.com

The Turfgrass Council of North Carolina (TCNC) 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, North Carolina Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or TCNC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright © 2023 by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina. North Carolina Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of TCNC. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: North Carolina Turfgrass allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to TCNC. 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 insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, 615.790.3718, Fax 615.794.4524.

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