SOD CHECKOFF UPDATES FROM THE ROAD By Casey Reynolds, PhD
In the last 18-24 months, I’ve been asked by TPI members, various state sod associations, and others to come speak about the upcoming checkoff referendum at in-person meetings in California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. I have also done virtual checkoff sessions to state sod associations in Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, and Minnesota, as well as helped producers lead checkoff discussion sessions in Oregon and Rhode Island. I’ve also done checkoff sessions at the Crop Science Society meeting to answer questions and raise awareness among university researchers, as well as having many virtual meetings with our peer associations in the landscaping, sports field, golf, and equipment industries.
So why all of the travel? To communicate, answer questions, and to get feedback from sod producers and others in the industry. One of the most important components of implementing any checkoff program is industry feedback. In talking with checkoff directors at the other 22 USDA Research and Promotion programs (aka checkoffs), they all spent significant time in promoting their programs ahead of the vote, getting input from industry stakeholders, and making sure that they did everything they could to widely publicize the program.
Also, why not? Checkoffs are not designed to be programs that can be implemented overnight. Tere are many checks and balances at USDA to make sure that checkoffs are properly written before coming up for an industry-wide vote and of course that takes time.
For example, our initial submission of the proposed checkoff was in 2020 and was 39 pages long. It included an industry analysis and justification, market threats and opportunities, proposed budget, initial language, and more.
Tat was just the first step and while the proposed checkoff makes its way through the various channels, it allows plenty of time for industry discussion and potential modification.
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It’s hard to believe how time flies, especially during and after Covid-19, but we are in our third year of checkoff discussions. While that sinks in, don’t be alarmed because it is par for the course. I often mention this in meetings and other discussions to re-assure everyone that based on other checkoffs that have been passed, this is not unusual.
One of the primary objectives of this process being a rather lengthy one is that it allows industries an opportunity to absorb the idea of a proposed checkoff, reflect upon it, make changes to it, discuss it with their peers, and ultimately make an informed decision on it prior to the referendum.
Much of the discussion at meetings over the last 18-24 months has revolved around key details of the proposed program such as board formation, nomination and selection, voting, costs, compliance, and what type of research and promotion could or should be funded with checkoff dollars. People certainly want to know how this program would work if passed.
In addition, there have also been some productive discussions around potential changes. One of the potential changes to the proposed checkoff program that often comes up at sod producer meetings is the idea of having a set percentage of dollars automatically earmarked for funding research and promotion in the state from which it comes. After much discussion with the industry, that idea is coming into focus and is in the process of being formally added to the proposed checkoff language. As it stands now, up to 50 percent of the funds generated in a state would be used to fund research or promotion in that state. Tis allows for states to allocate a certain percentage of their checkoff funds to local research/promotion.
And, just like the checkoff, sod producers would be in charge of the funds. Much like other checkoffs, these funds would be administered through state producer boards, which is referred to in the checkoff language as Qualified Organizations. Qualified Organization means any organization that has the primary purpose of representing
TPI Turf News March/April 2023
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