A trend we are seeing is reduced land availability due to competition from other crops. In Oregon, hazelnut orchards are consuming 10,000 acres annually of prime turfgrass seed production ground.


Crop quantity at this point is weather driven and depends on the amount and timing of rain between mid-May and July 1. We expect quality to be average--though today’s average would have been considered exceptional ten years ago. Te market is demanding very high quality.


We anticipate that pricing on tall fescue will be higher. Fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and creeping bentgrass will be stable. Perennial ryegrass may be a bit lower.


SiteOne Landscape Supply Provided by Debra Barnes


Weather in the Pacific Northwest has been ideal for a quality and healthy crop. Tat being said, the 2018 crop is looking to be on track for average yields. We have had sun and rain in good supply that allowed for timely crop protectant applications. As of mid-May, the crop is expected to be harvested on time, starting in early July.


Acres of tall fescue and annual ryegrass continue to increase, while perennial ryegrass acres continue to slowly decline. We expect this trend to continue into 2019 with the increase of pressure from hazelnut production and other competing low maintenance crops.


Prices will continue to remain strong on almost all species. Te past three years of lower grass seed yields have led to less carryover inventories for all species except perennial ryegrass and bentgrass. Despite the strong dollar, international sales have continued to increase causing further reductions of already low domestic inventories.


Shipping for the fall 2018 markets will have challenges! Te booming US economy has created slowdowns and congestion in major hubs like Chicago. Transit times on rail from the west coast to the east will likely take three to four weeks instead of the normal two to three weeks. Best advice—plan ahead!


Sod Production Services Provided by Chad Adcock, Director of Business Development


Te Mid-Atlantic States experienced record cold this past winter that caused tremendous loss of bermudagrass. Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas and Tennessee experienced one of the coldest winters on record. Tere was record loss of bermudagrass, especially on sports turf and golf courses in those states. Bermudagrass turf loss occurred all across the northern transition zone. Tat was followed in most of those regions by an exceptionally cold spring. We’re seeing that reflected in a high demand for


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cold tolerant bermudagrass right now, especially for high use sports fields and for golf courses.


It’s interesting that experiencing the harsh winters and related turfgrass loss is something that sticks with you. Turf managers felt the pain of losing their bermudagrass, so we anticipate cold-hardiness to be a trait both turfgrass producers and end users will be seeking for many years into the future.


Over the winter, Sod Production Services licensed Tahoma 31 (OKC 1131) Bermudagrass, the new cold- tolerant variety from Oklahoma State University, to sod producers in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Tose fields began planting as soon as the weather would allow. In Virginia, for example, planting has been a little delayed due to a cold wet spring. Tey would have liked to have had the fields planted by late April, but that was delayed into May. We do have a few turfgrass producers who were able to get their fields in sooner and are better set up for the early supply, one in Tulsa and one in South Carolina. We anticipate most of the production fields will be doing well and ready to ship by late summer, and that quality will be very good to excellent.


We anticipate that prices will be on the high side, based on the strong demand for all cold tolerant bermudagrasses. Sod producers and their customers are clamoring for a cold-tolerant bermudagrass. We will have a limited supply of Tahoma 31 by late summer, which will drive up the price. Higher inventories by next spring will help stabilize the pricing.


Sod Solutions, Inc. Provided by Tobey Wagner


Weather has a significant impact on agriculture. 2018 has already been record-setting weather-wise in the United States with extreme cold snaps in the northern, central and eastern regions during the early part of the year. Te cold winter and cool spring, combined with strong demand, have resulted in grass shortages in many markets.


Tis Innovation Zoysia vegetative stock is starting out in a Sod Solutions’ greenhouse. Photo courtesy of Sod Solutions


TPI Turf News July/August 2018


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