PRESIDENT’S TURF The Concept of Control
2022 TPI Board of Trustees
Officers Jim Keeven
During the lingering cool, stormy days that put spring on hold here in the Midwest, I kept thinking about the whole concept of control, especially for a farmer. We want to control everything on our fields and in our businesses—but some things we just can’t control.
Tis year, that lack of control really hit home. Sod producers in the transition zone and further north have found grass seed shortages at a level greater than we’ve ever experienced before. Te prolonged drought, record heat, and drying winds devastated the crop in the Pacific Northwest. Te production farmers can’t control that and the companies that process the harvested seed can’t control it. Ten the supply chain issues, especially in labor and trucking, have made it extremely hard to get the grass seed that is available. Te farmers, processors, and distributors can’t control that either. Add in the supply chain impact on fertilizers, chemicals, parts, and equipment. Ten there’s the issue of rising inflation and the uncertain economy. Stressing about the things we can’t control doesn’t change them, but it sure changes us, and not in a good way.
What we can control is how we react to all those factors that we can’t control. Te one thing we have the most control over is our attitude. If we keep a good attitude and keep it with the people around us—our staff, our customers, our suppliers, our family, and friends—we will all feel better. As my Mom, Vivienne, always says, “If you can’t say something nice to someone don’t say anything at all.” Tat good attitude changes our perspectives and the environment around us. It not only reduces stress, but also allows us to focus on the things we can change to operate more efficiently and effectively.
A good attitude prompts us to take action where we can. We can’t control the government, but we can provide our input to the departments and agencies that do have control in specific areas, including the EPA. One big win for the turfgrass industry was the EPA’s Interim Review Decision on oxadiazon— we didn’t lose it. Te input provided by TPI’s Executive Director, Dr. Casey Reynolds, and our sod producer community played a huge role in that decision. See Casey’s article about it starting on page 72.
TPI also is working with the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) on developing better crop insurance for our sod producer members. We can’t control the weather, but we can try to control what happens when the weather attacks. As a part of that group, I can report that we’ve been digging into what is available now and what we’d like to work out. As I write this, we’ve had two zoom meetings with RMA, and they are listening. Tey’ve proposed a couple programs that will be on the agenda at the mid-June TPI Board meeting. Look for more information to come—and keep that good attitude going.
Warmest Regards,
President Jim Keeven SelecTurf Inc. – U.S.A. +1-573-634-3444
jim@selecturfsod.com
Vice President Bob McCurdy McCurdy Farms - U.S.A. +1-731-692-3515
mccurdysodfarms@gmail.com
Secretary-Treasurer Diane Mischel DeBuck’s Sod Farm, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-810-653-2201
office@debucksodfarm.com
Past President Steve Griffen Saratoga Sod Farm, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-518-664-5038
steve@saratogasod.com
Executive Director Casey Reynolds, PhD Turfgrass Producers International – U.S.A. +1-847-649-5555
creynolds@TurfGrassSod.org
Trustees Daniel Huggett Columbus Turf Nursery – U.S.A. +1-740-983-6580
danielh@columbus-turf.com
Albrecht Knigge Rasenland – GERMANY 495 101 915361
knigge@rasenland.de
Larry LeMay A-G Sod Farms, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-559-289-2302
llemay@agsod.com
Lindy Murff Murff Turf Farm, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-281-328-2812
lmurff@murffturf.com
Ron Schiedel Greenhorizons Group – CANADA +1-519-778-7500
ron@greenhorizonssod.com
Cliff Stewart STEC Equipment, Inc. +1-864-225-3666
cliff@stecequipment.com
Wade Wilbur Sod Shop – U.S.A. +1-913-814-0044
wade@sodshops.com
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TPI Turf News July/August 2022
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