report was filed, so weather is critical for the next three weeks. Abundant yields will lead to increased carry-over in the industry.
Anticipated Pricing: Based on current crop conditions, the expectation of an average to above average yield, and a large volume of carryover in the industry, we anticipate that prices will soften.
SOD PRODUCTION SERVICES Provided by Chad Adcock, Vice President of Business Development
What’s so interesting is that now it’s not just happening in areas known to be environmentally minded. Te demand has funneled down to more mainstream locations like New Jersey, Indiana, and St. Louis, Missouri. In the Midwest, they’re taking out cool-season grasses and they're replacing them with Tahoma 31 and other warm-season grasses.
What’s driving this change is the drought tolerance and the water efficiency versus cool-season varieties like Kentucky bluegrass. A prime example is Denver and Aurora, Colorado, where water districts and other authorities are demonizing Kentucky bluegrass. Tey're definitely promoting warm-season varieties over Kentucky bluegrass in certain markets. Some municipalities are trying to make grass a dirty word. Warm-season varieties that are cold- tolerant enough to survive in these colder regions are giving sod producers the ability to stay in business and still create green spaces. It feels good to know we're helping save some sod farms because now they're able to offer something other than just buffalograss which doesn’t generally lift well as sod. Instead, these sod farms can grow, harvest, and sell a high-quality turfgrass like Tahoma 31, that meets water restrictions, stands up to cold, and creates lush lawns and durable sports facilities.
Production: We currently have 2,200 acres of Tahoma 31 in production at 32 farm locations across the United States. We will be at 3,000 acres by the end of the year at 36 locations.
Te Battlefield at Shangri-La in Monkey Island, Oklahoma, is grassed with Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass on all playable areas except the greens. Photo courtesy of Mike Klemme and Shangri-La Resort
Trends: Sod Production Services is the licensing agent for Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass. Te biggest trend I see in the marketplace is that Bermudagrass sales have grown exponentially because we are able, with the new cold- tolerant Bermudas like Tahoma 31, to move Bermudagrass into markets we never could before. So many people are transitioning to warm-season varieties and taking out cool- season grasses. It’s happening not just on home lawns but also on golf courses and sports fields in all of our markets across the United States.
Tis change is happening because the new warm-season grasses like Tahoma 31 can tolerate cooler climates. Tat, and they have the drought tolerance benefit that buyers want and so many municipalities require. We're seeing this all over the United States, but especially in places like Colorado and California where the residents and lawmakers are acutely aware of drought issues. A drought-tolerant warm-season grass like Tahoma 31 helps homeowners, golf courses, and sports fields in these regions use less water.
We have been very strategic in the number of farms we have licensed to grow Tahoma 31, and the markets we have selected for sod production. Tahoma 31 is a premium product that demands a premium price and by limiting production we help to support the brand’s premium status.
We have a significant chunk of the Transition Zone market but have pushed farther north into Colorado and other regions because the cold hardiness of Tahoma 31 allows it to survive further north than other Bermudas. We also grow in more traditional warm-season climates, as well.
As far as quality, all of our licensed sod farms are Certified and inspected for purity and quality. We have three foundation farms. Tey are located in Charles City, Virginia; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Palm Desert, California. Every one of our farms has Registered and Certified fields in the United States so that every one of our licensed farms can expand out of their Registered fields to sell as Certified. When we license a new farm, we ship them Foundation material so they can plant as Registered and expand their own acreage from their Registered plots.
Anticipated Pricing: We are able to maintain higher than average prices due to lower availability and fewer farms growing Tahoma 31. It is a premium brand that people are willing to pay more for. Tey ask for it by name. Tey are willing to seek it out and pay more to get it.
40 TPI Turf News July/August 2024
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