LaunchPad AI Technology – Revolutionizing the Green Industry LaunchPad is building next-gen AI software for the green industry. Launchpad Map is available now and allows onsite or remote measurements of any property using either aerial imagery when offsite or augmented reality LiDar measurements with your phone or tablet onsite. By simply walking the property, you can get an instant accurate measurement and map of the area for the amount of sod needed along with elevation data. Search for “LaunchPad Map” on the iOS app store to download and try it out or visit
launchpad.bot/map. New AI software for customer service, web chat, sales, estimation, and operations management is coming this summer and fall. For more information or to schedule a demo, visit
LaunchPad.bot.
What’s Ahead for 2025? – Preparing for Change and Growth: Despite the checkoff result, TPI is poised to refocus on targeted marketing, education, strategic research, and advocacy to align future initiatives with grower priorities.
Te emphasis on promoting the broader benefits of natural turfgrass through a focused message of “Natural Turfgrass is Good” national campaign remains, in my opinion, a top priority. Tis campaign would target homeowners, developers, policymakers, and specifiers aiming to correct misconceptions and elevate the visibility of turfgrass as a sustainable, low-input, and environmentally beneficial solution. Sod Solutions is committed to assisting TPI in standing behind this message.
Sod Solutions remains committed to innovation and growth, leveraging AI-driven insights, targeted messaging, and continued investment in technologies that support our growers and the broader industry.
On a fun note, I have included a recent photo of Lee Ann and me in Brazil at an Itograss farm checking out Celebration®
Bermudagrass. Soon after that, we also visited
Antarctica. Te Antarctica trip completed my goal of visiting all seven continents! I didn't travel much when I was young, but my worldview continues to expand through TPI events and experiences!
For additional information regarding the varieties, licensing opportunities, and technologies for all of Sod Solutions’ varieties and interests, please visit:
SodProducers.com,
SodSolutions.com,
SodSolutionsPro.com,
TurfLogistics.com, and
LaunchPad.bot.
Turf Merchants, Inc. (TMI) shared this striking photo of Heathland Fine Fescue covering the rolling hills of a seed production field in Oregon. Heathland is TWCA qualified.
Willamette Valley: Last fall in the Willamette Valley we were dry all the way into mid-October meaning that dryland production did not have ample moisture to put on new growth before the winter months. We did have a mild winter which in turn allowed for some slow regrowth of stands. Tis is especially important for fine fescues and tall fescues, which have higher vernalization requirements than perennial ryegrass. Te timing of regrowth does pose the potential worry of lack of vernalization of fertile tillers.
January through mid-April, we were extremely mild in the Willamette Valley with near-perfect grass-growing conditions. Perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue stands all look strong growth-wise. Quality looks average to above average, due in large part to challenged stands being removed from production last fall as there is little to no market for off-quality. Growers have been much more inclined to hay, or mow out, portions of fields or entire fields that are ‘surprise blowups’ going into spring and summer. Bentgrass production is looking fair to above average in general. Fall and winter herbicides worked well with the mild weather, and spring growth has been strong.
We are starting to get very dry in the Willamette Valley as of April. We received our first measurable rainfall since the first week of April on Mother’s Day (May 11), but between April to the middle of May we are around 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) short of normal precipitation in this time frame, and while the rain we got is timely, it does not make up for how dry we have been. Late April through mid-May is poor timing to be short on moisture as our crops are in the boot stage to early heading and are pulling a lot of moisture and nutrients during this growth phase.
52 TPI Turf News July/August 2025
TURF MERCHANTS, INC. (TMI)
Crop Outlook: Provided by Tanner Holland, Field Agronomist, and Nancy Aerni, TMI Vice President
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