PRESIDENT’S TURF What’s Your Risk Appetite?


2021 TPI Board of Trustees


Officers Steve Griffen


As agriculturalists, I can assume we are not risk averse people. Most of us grew up in the family business and have witnessed some tough losses. We deal with weather, breakdowns, health, and family issues on a daily basis. We didn’t make the huge commitment of time and resources to be in agriculture because it is easy or safe. Most of us do it because we love it. Tat’s probably why we need to analyze our business risk and take emotion out of the equation.


Business risk is defined as a company’s exposure to factors that may lower its profits or cause it to fail. Tis includes anything that threatens a company’s ability to achieve its financial goals. As farmers and business owners, we face multiple risks and challenges every day. Since not all risks are created equal, we must first identify our business risks. Once identified, we must then determine what our risk appetite is, where our thresholds are, and how we will mitigate and best manage these risks. It is that risk/reward balance that we are constantly looking to achieve.


In thinking about and identifying what types of risks my team and I face, it became readily apparent that risk surrounds us, both internally within our businesses and organizations, as well as externally in the marketplace and economy. Nearly everything we do has some sort of risk associated with it. Some are large and looming, while others may seem less significant, but left unchecked they could become a business threat. Te key is to develop and maintain a strong, calculated risk management process that includes:


Identifying risks, Analyzing risks, Responding to risk, and Monitoring risk and opportunities.


Larger version of the chart on page 11.


In this issue of Turf News, you will read and learn about a variety of risks that are confronting our industry, as well as different ways that people manage their risks. TPI is working with USDA to create a


sod specific crop insurance program that could help producers mitigate risk during natural disasters and weather-related crop losses. Te Sod Checkoff program, if approved by producers, would be a great risk management tool. Instead of being reactive, our industry would be able to lead the narrative on natural turfgrass. Together, we could be proactive in telling the great story and many benefits of our product, and back it up with peer reviewed research.


As we reflect on all the unexpected risks and unintended consequences that we all faced this past year, may we each look ahead with energy and optimism for a successful season.


Warm regards,


President Steve Griffen Saratoga Sod Farm, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-518-664-5038 steve@saratogasod.com


Vice President Jim Keeven SelecTurf, Inc – U.S.A. +1-573-634-3444 jim@selecturfsod.com


Secretary-Treasurer Bob McCurdy McCurdy Farms - U.S.A. +1-731-692-3515 mccurdysodfarms@gmail.com


Past President Hank Kerfoot Modern Turf – U.S.A. +1-803-713-8873 hank@modernturf.com


Executive Director Casey Reynolds, PhD Turfgrass Producers International – U.S.A. +1-847-649-5555 creynolds@TurfGrassSod.org


Trustees Dan Huggett Columbus Turf Nursery – U.S.A. +1-740-983-6580 danielh@columbus-turf.com


John Keleher Australian Lawn Concepts - Australia +61 61755430145 john@alcturf.com.au


Larry LeMay A-G Sod Farms, Inc. – U.S.A. +1-559-289-2302 llemay@agsod.com


Aaron McWhorter NG Turf – U.S.A. +1-770-832-8608 amc@ngturf.com


Diane Mischel DeBuck’s Sod Farm, Inc. +1-810-653-2201 office@debucksodfarm.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


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TPI Turf News May/June 2021


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