SPRING 2012 – THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

  Each year brings new challenges, but for the past few years, agriculture and the economy in general, have become more intertwined and reactive to each other – and this is likely to become the norm.  Of the many reasons for this, global population is the most significant.  In fewer than the last 50 years, world population has more than doubled!  7 billion people now require food and many are now, for perhaps the first time, able to afford some changes is their basic diets.

For the past several years, American agriculture, and the American people have faced some unforeseen, and perhaps unprecedented, challenges.  Russian agriculture suffered a drought so severe that they were forced to ban the export of their grain commodities.  This was followed by drought conditions in China’s largest wheat producing areas.  As if these shortages weren’t bad enough, this created a feeding frenzy among commodity traders.

On a brighter note, droughts come and go.  We have heard that Russian agriculture was rebounding.  Whatever the case, it may take a few years to return to normal.

LAWN SEED    The housing “bust” and the resulting temporary overproduction of grasses, coupled with the demand for food crops, have changed the face of agriculture in the Pacific Northwest.  Untold thousands of former lawn grass acres are now being utilized for wheat and other food crops.

It was fortunate for many of Oregon’s grass growers, that while  demand from their US customers was way down, many report they had excellent export sales.  They are hoping for and expecting the same this year.

While prices have edged higher, they remain quite reasonable!   Supplies of many of our better performing varieties are almost sold out already.  Our company makes an early commitment each year for the highly rated varieties that we use throughout our product line.

This insures our customers that we won’t have to later “water down” our mixes with poorer performing types or those of an unacceptable quality.  (For seeding jobs where a quality turf is not required, we suggest the ODOT Lawn Mix that we produce.  Our product will contain the required grasses, but will be free of noxious weeds and have a very low weed content.)

FIELD SEED      Higher prices.  For this year, a simple short supply scenario.

FERTILIZERS     With more mouths to feed, the demand will be there.  The big problem is, fertilizer ingredients are in the tight hands of a few companies and their stocks have been red hot on Wall Street.

   OUR “GREENEST” LAWN MIX

     The TWCA is an unbiased, independent foundation who’s No. 1 goal is Water Conservation focusing on live plant material.  TWCA approval means that plants have successfully met a stringent set of criteria and have been documented and have proven water conservation benefits.  AQUAWISE Brand is a product of Turf  Merchants Inc.(TMI), one of three major turfgrass marketers, developers and producers who have joined resources to create the Turf Grass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA).

TWCA has developed a science-based method for qualifying cultivars for drought tolerance and other characteristics related to water conservation.   A national system of Digital Imaging Analysis, combined with rain-out shelters in Oregon, Arkansas and Virginia, will produce a protocol for minimum requirements to insure the integrity of the program – from breeding through final packaging.

Varieties are first established under optimum conditions, allowing the full expression of above ground and below ground growth.  Studies are then conducted in approved structures that restrict natural rainfall during the long term drought stress period.  Plots are maintained for a single growing season prior to initiating drought stress and the monitored for their ability to maintain green cover.

The criteria is very strict for acceptance into TWCA and a variety most finish in the top statistical category to even be accepted.

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 Think Spring, It will be here soon!

Spring is rapidly approaching and we are having a mild winter. If this weather pattern continues, the soil may warm to germination temperatures sooner than expected. This could result in early spring germination of troublesome annual weeds.

When germination temperatures come early, it could lead to another bad year for crabgrass. It is time to start preparing for this spring. Call today to order your fertilizer and lock in pricing in the event of any possible increases.

• 18-0-4 Fertilizer with Dimension
• Dimension 0.25 DG Pro bed control
• Snapshot bed control
• Treflan 5.0 bed control
• Prodeuce non-selective weed control/pre-emergent
• Pendulum weed pre-emergent
• Pronto season long control