EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S TURF Growing Forward
Casey Reynolds, PhD
Te last 18 months or so have been like no other in recent history. Te impacts and long-lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic will likely be with us for at least the foreseeable future.
As I think back to our 2021 Virtual Series theme “Growing Forward,” it really is more than just a saying. Looking ahead onto the 2021 horizon, there are many ways that we at TPI really are growing forward. We are forging new relationships with industry partners, working diligently to add new member benefits, and of course continuing our work on the Sod Checkoff initiative.
In the last year, we have had two big successes in getting sod deemed to be agriculture for transportation exemptions and Covid-19 relief, and we don’t plan to stop there.
We are working with the U.S. Farm Service Agency to create new crop insurance options specifically for sod producers that we hope will be beneficial for many years to come. We are working with private health insurance providers to explore health insurance for TPI member farms. We are working with our policy consultant to make sure sod farms are accurately represented in the next U.S. Farm Bill and future agricultural census surveys.
We are reaching out to sod industry associations in the United States and other countries to explore how we can promote our industry internationally through Te Lawn Institute.
We also are building the case for why and how our industry could benefit dramatically through the Sod Checkoff initiative that will be coming up for a vote no earlier than spring of 2022. Tere is little doubt that the checkoff program, if passed, could move our industry forward like no other. Tere are many great success
stories of the impacts of checkoff programs on their value and ability to expand markets, create demand, change consumer attitudes, and more. Be sure to keep an eye out on
SodCheckoff.org for more information as this initiative moves closer to a vote, and as always please reach out to us with any questions or support.
Last, but certainly not least, California’s governor recently announced that they will be fully re-opening for business on June 15, 2021. Tis is great news for our 2022 International Education Conference & Field Day scheduled for February 14-17 in San Diego, California. We have already begun planning for this event with the Conference Education Committee and the host hotel staff to plan this great opportunity to again gather as a group to see old friends and families at TPI 2022.
Please stay tuned to our Industry Harvest newsletter, Turf News, and email blasts for more 2022 Conference information soon. We can’t wait to see you!
Cheers,
There are many great success stories of the impacts of
checkoff programs on their value and ability to expand markets,
create demand, change consumer attitudes, and more.
Please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! @TPITurfTalk @TheLawnInstitute 4
@TurfgrassProducersInternational @TheLawnInstitute
@TheLawnInstitute TPI Turf News May/June 2021
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