TURF INDUSTRY NEWS


Positive Outlook in Lawn & Landscape’s Grow the Market Survey Lawn & Landscape magazine has published the results of their “Grow the Market” survey investigating why homeowners spend money on the services offered by landscape contractors. Teir introductory page reports, “Trough our Grow the Market survey, we find out what the consumer thinks of your services in general and dig specifically into maintenance, lawn care and hardscaping/ installation. We last published this study in 2016, so we’ll compare how things have changed in the five years since the last report.” It’s clear from the numbers, consumers still value their lawn and landscape as much as they did five years ago—which is a lot. Compared to 2016, the ability to enjoy outside space and a sense of personal pride were the top two motivations to improve landscaping. But the number of people who scored it as influential to extremely influential increased by 12 percent for both compared to 2016. Homeowners are also factoring it into their discretionary spending more. About 60 percent said, compared to spending on vacation, entertainment, etc., that landscaping was important to extremely important. Tat number was closer to 50 percent in 2016. To view the full report, check out the link that follows. https://giecdn.blob.core.windows.net/fileuploads/ document/2021/04/07/26_grow%20the%20market_april.pdf


STMA Publishes BMPs for the Sports Field Manager Te Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) has announced the publication of a comprehensive compilation of environmental best practices for STMA members and non- members. Te book, Best Management Practices for the Sports Field Manager: A Professional Guide for Sports Field Management, is over 100 pages and is designed to provide sports field managers with the tools and resources to document solid environmental practices for legislators, regulators, employers, and community constituents. Although members have been following excellent practices, this program validates those and positions the Sports Field Manager as a strong steward of the environment, which will aid in educating decision makers. More information can be found at the following link: https:// www.stma.org/knowledge_center/bmps/.


NALP Announces Officers and Directors for 2021/2022 Te National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) has announced its Officers and Board of Directors for 2021- 2022; term beginning October 1, 2021. Bob Grover, President, Pacific Landscape Management, will serve as the President of the association. Mike Bogan, LIC, LandCare, LLC, is the President-Elect. Brandon Sheppard, Weed Man, will serve as Secretary/Treasurer. Shayne Newman, LIC, YardScapes Landscape Professionals, moves into the Immediate Past President slot. Claire Goldman, R&R Landscaping, and John Guth, Green Lawn Fertilizing, LLC, were selected as new members of the Board of Directors. Returning Directors include: Bruce Allentuck, Allentuck Landscaping Co.; Pam Dooley, Plants


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Creative Landscapes; Maurice Dowell, LIC, Dowco Enterprises Inc.; Lisa Fiore, Landscapehub, Inc.; Paul Fraynd, LIC, Sun Valley Landscaping; Ivan Giraldo, Clean Scapes; Phil Key, Ruppert Landscape; Roscoe Klausing, LIC, Klausing Group, Inc.; William MacMurdo, Bayer; Frank Mariani, LIC, Mariani Landscape; Joe Munie, Munie Greencare Professionals Inc.; Tim Portland, LIC, Yellowstone Landscape; and Chris Senske, Senske Services.


ODA Reaches Agreement on Grass Seed Mislabeling Case Te Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), Dynamic Seed Source, LLC (Dynamic), and Dynamic’s owner, Trevor Abbott, have settled allegations that Dynamic and Abbott violated the Oregon Seed Law. An ODA investigation found Abbott and Dynamic Seed Source LLC mislabeled at least 161 seed lots as Kentucky 31, resulting in 207 violations. In Oregon, a single lot of grass seed can equal up to 55,000 pounds of seeds. ODA issued Notices of Civil Penalty to Abbott and Dynamic Seed Source LLC in June 2019, and amended those notices in June 2020, January 2021, and February 2021. Trevor Abbott and Dynamic Seed Source LLC contested each of the notices. ODA also issued a Notice of Proposed License Revocation or, alternatively, License Suspension, and Imposition of Probation and Final Order by Default to Dynamic in May 2020, which Dynamic contested. Both parties reached an agreement with ODA on May 6, 2021, avoiding additional litigation. “ODA launched an industry-wide investigation in response to concerns submitted to us by the Oregon grass seed industry,” said Director Alexis Taylor, ODA. “We take every complaint seriously and thank the seed industry for its support and cooperation. Together with our agricultural partners, ODA is committed to keeping our industry reputable, strong, forward-thinking, and in compliance with state, federal, and international requirements.” As part of the agreements, Abbott and Dynamic Seed Source LLC neither admit nor deny any wrongdoing and agree that ODA may find that Abbott and Dynamic committed the 207 violations alleged in the Notices of Civil Penalty. Dynamic and Abbott also each agree to pay $150,000 in civil penalties. Dynamic’s wholesale seed dealer’s license will be suspended for one-year, effective June 30, 2021. Upon any reissuance of a wholesale dealer’s license, Dynamic Seed Source LLC, will be under three years of probation. Probation would include the following conditions, among others: 1) Twice yearly records audits (i.e., required to submit to the department all records related to seed sales for review). 2) Participation in at least one workshop or training on Oregon Seed Laws. 3) At least one in- person examination of records annually. ODA’s investigation of mislabeling seed in Oregon continues. Oregon is the largest producer of cool-season forage and turfgrass seed in the United States, producing nearly 591 million pounds in 2017. Te Willamette Valley is the prominent place of production, and Linn County is affectionately referred to as the “Grass Seed Capital of the World.” Grass seed is the fifth largest agricultural commodity in Oregon, worth more than $517 million and driving more than $1 billion in economic activity.


TPI Turf News July/August 2021


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