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. 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.
BARENBRUG USA Provided by David Johnson, Director of Production
Grass seed production faces numerous challenges this year: production costs continue to increase; fertilizer prices are higher; labor costs are higher; fuel costs are higher; and the cost to replace equipment is high. Growers have the additional stress of getting equipment when they need it, with new equipment difficult to find and months on backorder. Even parts are in short supply and some growers have started hoarding things like oil filters. All of these issues make the upcoming harvest season a little more stressful than usual, but our growers are resourceful and motivated—they will find a way to make it work!
Te long, cool spring in the Pacific Northwest this year is a welcome change from the hot, dry spring of 2021. Te cool weather has slowed things down across most species but yields in the Columbia Basin are looking better than last year and we are hoping for at least average yields.
President Will Nugent reports that BIMINI®
Despite the more optimistic outlook for 2022, seed will still be short across all species—fine fescue, tall fescue, ryegrass, etc. Prices are still high and will remain there. Since ryegrass and tall fescue are still in short supply, it is creating extra demand on Kentucky bluegrass and pushing prices higher. Kentucky bluegrass is a very specialized crop, and the increased demand from consumers is difficult to match in production. Most growers prefer to grow tall fescue and ryegrass because of the bigger seed, which is easier to clean, plus higher yields, and lower production costs.
, the Bermudagrass cultivar
introduced by Bethel Farms (and pictured in this photo), is building a strong market.
BETHEL FARMS Provided by Will Nugent, President
Observations and Expectations. We are thankful for continued success and are expecting to maintain great sales in the future. Our prediction is that post-pandemic sales will normalize as consumers shift spending habits from stay-at-home gardening and resume travel. As an industry we continue to see cost pressures like fuel, fertilizer, chemicals, and labor with no immediate signs of relief.
As Florida continues to grow, housing demand has kept the builder market strong. As a result, we continue to see demand for sod and sod related products from builders
26 TPI Turf News July/August 2022
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