Executive Director’s Message
Summer is here and there is no doubt about it. Demand for turfgrass continues to remain strong based on the number of trucks I see going through Wharton. After a period of short supplies, it appears that fields are growing back and are available for cutting.
One of the problems of this business is that it is hard to tell when the turfgrass supply is short, adequate or surplus. You only know it is short when you run out and try to find some from your competitors to fill an order.
The TPT Board of Directors is trying to address this problem. With the help of Dr. Larry Falconer, Extension Economist in Corpus Christi, we will soon begin regular price and inventory surveys. We hope that you will participate because the more that answer the surveys, the more accurate it will be.
Dr. Falconer is nearing the completion of the economic impact survey he conducted last year. You may recall from his presentation at the annual conference that the total value of the turfgrass produced in Texas is over $200 million at the farm level.
As part of the study, Dr. Falconer worked with several producers to develop budgets for sod production. Several members have stated that they would like to be able to use the spreadsheets he developed to customize the budgets to their farms or maybe to a specific field or variety.
The Board has funded three workshops to be conducted by Dr. Falconer this year. Participants will be given hands-on computer training to be able to use the budgets. Trainings are planned in the Houston, Dallas and San Antonio areas. We will provide more details when they become available.
Are you planning to attend the TPI Summer Convention and Field Day in Memphis, Tennessee July 18-21? We plan to be there. Arthur Milberger of Bay City will be sworn in as President of the TPI board. Steve Brown will also be going on the board as a director. Texas will be well represented. It is important that our members step up to the plate when called on to serve and to represent the industry.
I was invited to testify before the Texas House Natural Resources Committee a few weeks ago. I had never done that before and was more than a little nervous. The San Antonio and El Paso water systems were also invited to speak. In general, it came off better than I expected. The Committee members seemed very supportive of our industry. At the conclusion of my presentation, Chairman Puente made the following statement: “This talk you are hearing about limiting turfgrass and banning species—that is not coming from us.”
I encourage you to be proactive when it comes to defending our industry. Let me know if I can help you. Another way you can help is to participate in a grower meeting when it is held in your area. Doug O’Connor and Randy Price put together the first North Texas meeting in May. TPT President Mike McBee and I attended. There were 26 growers from that area in attendance and they plan to meet on a monthly basis.
Working together, we can accomplish more.