He selected Keith Vinson to fill that role. Vinson has 19 years of experience in the turfgrass and golf course industries, having previously worked for notable turf farms such as Greg Norman Turf and Woerner Turf. He studied Turfgrass and Landscape Technology at Lake City College. Another key member of the SMR turfgrass team is Cason Britt, who supervises harvesting.
Bradshaw says, “From top to bottom, our staff is comprised of experienced agricultural and agribusiness personnel. SMR's financial strength and staying power result in employee longevity which allows us to focus on top quality products and customer service.”
This aerial view captures a very small section of the SMR Farms property.
Turfgrass Production SMR Farms currently has approximately 800 acres in improved turfgrass production. “We seek the best turfgrass varieties we can grow to match the needs of the multiple markets we serve. Part of that involves cooperative research with Dr. Kenworthy and Dr. Unruh of the University of Florida. Field Day attendees will see the Zoysia grasses we’re evaluating as part of their program. Drs. Kenworthy and Unruh also set up and planted the TPI Seed Test Plots, all cool-season grasses, and those will be ready for viewing, too.”
For the residential market, SMR Farms grows Floratam (a full sun St. Augustine), Seville (a semi-dwarf St. Augustine with shade-tolerance) and Empire (a dark-green, fine- bladed Zoysia with good drought tolerance). For the parks, athletic field and golf course markets, they grow Tifway 419 (a workhorse Bermudagrass cultivar) and Celebration (a dark-green, wear-tolerant Bermudagrass cultivar). Argentine Bahia (a tough, drought-tolerant grass) is targeted for roadway and construction sites—and for accents and surrounds, such as medians, lake edges and perimeters.
SMR offers sprigs and both slab and big roll sod. “We maintain fumigated and certified acreages of Tifway 419, Celebration and Latitude 36 Bermuda grasses. We also provide installation services,” adds Bradshaw. “If SMR handles a sprig installation, we prefer using a sod-to-sprig machine in large areas for a more uniform installation. Smaller areas and high- profile sites such as tee complexes are hand-planted.”
SMR also supplies washed turf sprigs. For clients with international turf projects, they’ve added high-pressure sprig washing that, combined with the necessary phytosanitary processes, helps ensure smooth offshore deliveries.
TPI Turf News January/February 2017
SMR Farms has long been a leader in environmental stewardship and water management. Whether it’s preservation of sensitive habitat, extensive use of alternative water sources or implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP), they make natural resource management a part of every land-management decision.
“Everybody here is water conscious,” says Bradshaw. “Each of our different production centers is set up to deliver the water to the product efficiently, conserving that valuable resource whether it’s from a potable or non-potable source.”
SMR Farms was one of the first to put their sod production on a seepage system. Underground perforated tiles were installed beneath the fields on a subsurface, natural soil barrier. Te soil profile above this is sandy and porous, allowing for water movement both vertically and laterally. Te water table is maintained at about 22 inches below the soil surface. Te capillary action of the grass roots draws the water into the plant.
Bradshaw says, “Once the system is in place, it becomes like a bathtub. Board barriers can be added or pulled depending on the situation. We can add boards to raise the water table even more when the grass plants need additional water to compensate for high evapotranspiration (ET) levels. Or we can lower the water table, by pulling boards, to help draw excess moisture down into the tiles and away from the surface after a rain.”
Bradshaw assisted with the development of the Premier Sports Complex and reports the same tile seepage system is installed beneath it. “Te system can handle a four-inch rain event and have the field surfaces ready for play in four to six hours,” says Bradshaw. “It’s the irrigation source when there’s no rain and a supplemental water resource when natural rainfall is sparse.”
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