NATIONAL GOLF DAY ON THE HILL By Kevin Morris and Casey Reynolds, PhD
On May 10, 2023, over 200 golf course superintendents, Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) professionals, and golf course owners descended on U.S. Capitol Hill for National Golf Day on the Hill. National Turfgrass Federation (NTF) executive director Kevin Morris, and TPI policy consultant Jonathan Moore, joined the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) as the group held over 240 individual meetings with members of Congress.
NTF believes the National Turfgrass Research Initiative (NTRI) would open opportunities for more turfgrass research that addresses critical needs.
Along with GCSAA’s issues, NTF’s two proposals for the next farm bill were also discussed. Tose proposals include seeking new potential research avenues under the current farm bill's High Priority Research & Extension section. NTF got turfgrass language in the 2018 bill (Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018) which defines its research priorities under the National Turfgrass Research Initiative. Traditionally, AFRI awards have been allocated almost exclusively to traditional row crop/food and fiber agriculture. NTF believes the National Turfgrass Research Initiative (NTRI) would open opportunities for more turfgrass research that addresses critical needs. Among those would include environmental protection, consumer health and athlete safety, solutions for sustainable turfgrass cultivars and management systems, and increased innovative techniques to address these and future issues.NTRI’s proposed annual authorized funding level would not exceed $20,000,000 per fiscal year, and matching funds and performance reviews would be part of this proposal as directed by Congress.
Te second initiative is a Turfgrass Economic Value Statistics Study. Following several attempts with other outlets, NTF now looks to the next farm bill as a possible vehicle to make this $2 million study a reality. It would be national in scope and conducted once every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). NTF proposes a Turfgrass Economic Value and Utilization survey be conducted every five years by USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS). Comprehensive data would be collected to provide detailed analysis of total acreage (residential, commercial, recreational,
Kevin Morris, executive director of NTF, addresses Sung Chung, staff member of U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), as a group meets with her during National Golf Day on the Hill. Photo by Jonathan Moore
governmental, and other areas); also, commercial and retail- related employment, equipment sales, and other economic items. National and regional economic impacts would also be covered. NTF believes a broader measurement of this diverse industry would be very beneficial for consumers, and would show lawmakers the national, regional, and local contributions of this vital sector of agriculture. With sufficient funding, NASS has indicated they could adequately manage this survey. NTF believes having NASS on board not only provides statistical research expertise, but its non-partisan data showing turfgrasses’ economic impact would also enhance the industry's credibility with federal and state lawmakers.
For enactment of these two proposals, NTF is focused on the following members: leadership on both House and Senate Agriculture Committees (Reps. Glenn Tompson, R-PA and Rep. David Scott, D-GA; and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-MI and Sen. John Boozman, R-AR). Additional members we believe are important are, in the House: Reps. Frank Lucas (R-OK), Jim Baird (R-IN), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), and Andy Harris (R-MD); and in the Senate: Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Deb Fischer (R- NE), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and both of Iowa’s Republican Members—the aptly named Charles Grassley—and Joni Ernst.
If you have any connections with these representatives or their offices and would like to be involved, please reach out directly at
CReynolds@TurfGrassSod.org or (847) 737-1846.
Kevin Morris is executive director of the National Turfgrass Federation (NTF) and executive director of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). Casey Reynolds, PhD, is executive director of Turfgrass Producers International (TPI).
16 TPI Turf News July/August 20st 2023
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