Highlights of the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative Field Day

April 27 was the “date”, and Lake Jem Farms was the “place” for the thirteenth annual Florida Sod Growers Cooperative Field Day. 

340 people attended the event, which included trade show, equipment demonstrations, antique tractor show and lunch program. Seminars were offered for the second year, at the Lake County Ag Center in Tavares, Florida, the day before the Field Day, and drew more than 70 attendees. Seminar topics included sod management practices, an update on turf herbicides, fumigants, an update on immigration reform, and info. on benefits of the USDA-NCRS Environmental Quality Incentive Program.

Highlights of the equipment demo’s included the Trebro AutoSlab and Brouwer-Kesmac harvester. Bethel Farms and Sod Solutions, Inc. displayed Sod ShieldTM turf pallet covers. Sod Shield is a new, innovative way to protect turf during shipment: it simultaneously shields the turf from weather elements and allows a farm or shipper to display their promotional message. (Visit sodshield.com.)

The Field Day reception was held the evening of April 26th at the Mission Hill Inn Resort in Howey in the Hills. The Resort was the host hotel for the event.

A DVD of Field Day activity, including equipment demonstrations, is available. Cost is $30. Contact the FSGC, (863) 675-2144, for details.

The Field Day was generously supported by a number of businesses:

PLATINUM SPONSORS:
Everglades Farm Equipment | Field Drainage | Fields Equipment Helena Chemical Company | MST Sod Equipment | Ring Power | Sod Solutions Sprigger’s Choice | TIMAC USA | Trebro Manufacturing § Trimax Mowing Systems

GOLD SPONSORS:
Florida Turfgrass Association | Gulf Kist Sod Progressive Turf Equipment

SILVER SPONSORS:
Agriliance | Dieter’s Sod Service | Farm Credit Associations of Florida HANCOR, Inc. | Haven Pallet | Hendrix & Dail Southeast Ag Equipment | Sun State Ford | Syngenta

BRONZE SPONSORS:
AgroTurf Farms | Becker Underwood | BLEC, USA Crop Production Services | FMC Corporation | Jones Turfgrass Farm SLS Equipment Company

Lake Jem Farms is a second generation family farm that produces St. Augustine, bermudagrass and zoysia turfgrasses. Lake Jem is located in Mt. Dora, in central Florida’s Lake region. For more information, call Lake Jem at (352) 383-7196.