Tom and George Betts each have two sons. All four— John, James, Phil, and David—have come into the company, each finding different areas of focus that contribute to the efficient operation and growth of what is now a third generation family business. James Betts (left center, holding the mic) and Phil Betts (to his immediate right as pictured) provided details on company operations and sod production strategies and answered questions from attendees during the tour of their fields.
Tuckahoe Turf Farms broke into the sports turf market years ago and has kept it growing. It’s now approximately 70 percent of their sales. Tey serve sports turf clients in the NFL, MLB, MLS, MiLB and major universities, as well as local and regional governmental, academic and privately-owned sports facilities. With NFL and MLB clients, Tuckahoe asks what they want and mimics their management practices. Tey work with an oversized “war board” to track the dates the sod is needed, typically working six to 12 months in advance.
A large aquifer runs under the land. Tuckahoe has five 16-inch wells on the farm, 100 to 180 feet deep, with an underground, connected, water system. Water is moved by 120 to 150 hp turbine pumps that run off diesel motors. Tey irrigate with laterals or long center pivots. It takes about five to six hours to water, putting down approximately one-quarter inch. Working from the gallons per minute rate, they estimate they put out between 6 and 7 inches of water per year. Record-keeping is required, with a water allocation report filed periodically.
Tey’ve modernized their fleet to harvest 48-inch, thick- cut, big roll sod in 30 to 50-foot lengths for sports fields. Depth of cut varies from 1.25 to 1.50 to 2-inches based on the client’s needs. Tuckahoe works with professional “strippers” that remove the client’s existing turfgrass to the matching depth. (Teir standard cut sod is harvested with one-quarter or one-half inch of soil.) Crews arrive at 9 pm and start harvesting at 10 pm. Night-harvested sod, shipped on refrigerated trucks at 40 degrees F, can go as far as Chicago.
TPI Turf News September/October 2017
29
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