machines and power surge protectors. Unplug Ethernet cables from computers or docking stations. Power off printers or any other accessories. Use dry bags or wrap electronics in plastic to ensure some short-term protection.


As TPI President Steve Griffen noted in his President’s Turf message, “What’s Your Risk Appetite?” on page 2 of this issue, natural grass sod producers operate in a “Risk Universe.” Each operation needs to identify and manage that Risk Universe effectively to protect their investments.


you photographed or videotaped this information, created written documentation, and insured both are stored both physically and in a digital format?


If the answer to any of the questions above is no, now is the time to act. A well-developed Emergency Plan is a risk management resource that can enable your company to keep functioning during and after a crisis occurs.


Strategies to Protect


Your Business Systems and Data Many natural grass sod producers have been using information technology (IT) systems in their business operations for years. Other companies have adopted IT systems in response to the restrictions of Covid-19. In either situation, most businesses now rely on IT to function efficiently.


StorageCraft, a data protection and storage company, has developed a checklist to help protect business systems and data from hurricanes. Tat checklist is applicable to most weather emergencies. Te complete article is available on their blog at the link that follows. https://blog.storagecraft. com/hurricane-checklist-data-protection/


Tey recommend the following steps. Inventory and evaluate IT hardware and software assets and data. Te inventory should include make, model, operating systems, network devices, serial numbers, and licenses owned. Store the information off-site and/or through a cloud-based system.


If possible, have your IT staff members take these safety measures to protect your electronics from the storm. Move electronics to a safe room. Move electronics off the ground, to protect from flooding. Shut down computers and unplug


TPI Turf News May/June 2021


Invest in an off-site data backup system. Some backup and recovery companies offer backup storage in data centers located in mainland areas, where hurricanes or tornadoes rarely occur, and that are not set in known fault line areas, to safeguard from earthquakes. Cloud technology has made online backup possible, which allows remote access to your data and files. It can protect against a whole range of weather- related disasters, and even


systems being taken over by ransomware attacks.


Because new technology has made it easier to test the recovery of systems with virtual machines, StorageCraft recommends testing your backups regularly to make sure your businesses can get up and running quickly after an emergency.


Explore Risk Management Options


Agricultural financial advisors urge growers to re-evaluate their risk management plan annually because the crop mix and crop percentages within that crop mix generally change from year to year. Even if your production is focused entirely on natural grass sod, you typically adjust the varieties you produce, and the amount of land dedicated to each variety, to meet the demands of your specific market. Your records of actual production from year to year will provide the history of those changes that will help in developing your annual and ongoing risk management plan.


Also use your analysis to identify any potential options to help alleviate the risk areas in your operations and reduce your financial exposure. See the article on page 12 of this issue, “Covering Ground with Natural Grass Sod and Crop Insurance,” for an update on crop insurance options offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency.


And, as RMA’s Acting Administrator, Richard Flournoy, wrote in that article, efforts are underway to provide natural grass sod producers more risk management options.


Effectively managing risk is essential in protecting your investments.


Suz Trusty is co-editor of Turf News. 11


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