CROP AND MARKET PREDICTIONS Compiled by Suz Trusty


Each year, Turf News invites suppliers to provide their input on the turfgrass seed and/or vegetative stock crop and market outlook based on: Teir assessment of the impact of weather conditions on crops to date and on the anticipated impact of weather conditions predicted in their area; Trends they are seeing in their market; Te production they are anticipating in terms of quality and quantity; And their assessment of anticipated pricing for those crops as: stable, higher or lower.


Industry comments for the seed and vegetative stock crop outlook were provided from mid-May to the end of May. At that point, in the Northwest U.S. production fields, plant development was running approximately three weeks later than normal. Please note that weather conditions can impact final yields, and that seed harvests in July and August may differ from the forecasts shared here. In addition, there are multiple factors, other than weather conditions, that impact the crop and the overall market within the sod industry. Turf News welcomed input from your seed and vegetative stock sources on these factors as well. Tough no one can accurately predict the future, these industry perspectives provide insights into the outlook for these valuable crops.


Turf News thanks all those who provided the information for this article. Tat input is arranged in alphabetical order, by the respondent’s company name.


BETHEL FARMS Provided by Will Nugent, President


We have exciting wins, especially with our proprietary Bermudagrass, BIMINI®


. It continues to expand and earn


its place in the market. In 2023, BIMINI production has expanded to over 1,000 acres in 20 locations. Most recently, BIMINI was recognized by Oklahoma State University in its latest trial publication for being #1 in traffic tolerance and tensile strength. We are humbled by the support we have received and grateful for the partners we have in the BIMINI network.


We continue to grow our customer base to create a sustainable business throughout changing climates. As the economy and customer spending habits change, we have a diverse customer base to serve. We strategically invest in employee development and systems to equip our team for expanding business opportunities. Tis year Bethel took on a full system upgrade. Our daily processes have been refined and we have experienced major benefits. As with any change, we have also endured struggles throughout the implementation. We know continued investment in systems and new technologies is imperative to staying successful in the future.


President Will Nugent reports that BIMINI®, the Bermudagrass cultivar introduced by Bethel Farms (shown in this drone shot) is building a strong market, including in the golf course industry.


Each year is unique with its own wins and opportunities. For the past few years, our business has benefitted from new construction and strong demand in the sports turf market. We see demand staying strong; but with rising interest rates, we are cautiously optimistic and will remain responsible.


Tis past year, Bethel and the surrounding community were greatly impacted by Hurricane Ian. We are proud of how quickly our team came together to provide for each other and get our business back on track.


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We are grateful for the continued insights coming from our work with universities and organizations. Our trials with the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, and Oklahoma State University point to improvements in the zoysia, paspalum, and Bahia markets.


Every business can be vulnerable to government regulations and other limitations. Due to water regulations and restrictions, we see an increase in Bahiagrass on the horizon, especially in the Florida region. Labor challenges have continued to impact businesses across the country. Our focus is on retaining and recruiting employees who share our core values. We are dedicated to investing in the development of these employees and are proud to recognize them as #TeBethelBest.


TPI Turf News July/August 2023


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