Dave Dymond, President, Florida Sod Growers Cooperative

 

The Florida turfgrass industry is being impacted by many of the same pressures affecting turfgrass producers and professionals across the United States. And, in Florida, perhaps we are being affected even more so than other states. Drought, water use, chemical restrictions, competition and resultant price pressures are current and very real issues challenging our state.

 

For the last several years, producers have enjoyed an unprecedented “heyday” in which it seemed that most of us have been able to grow, and profitably sell, increasingly greater amounts of turfgrass. Now, however, we are entering a more challenging phase, in part due to the factors mentioned above. We will need to be more proactive, more creative, and more diligent for our industry to continue to thrive in Florida.

 

The Florida Sod Growers Cooperative (FSGC) is actively pursuing strategies that will assist its membership and the statewide industry to thrive in coming years. One of the tools that we will employ this year is the joint release of an advantageous warm-season proprietary turfgrass. FSGC has recently signed a joint agreement for the release of Celebration^TM Bermudagrass with a private turfgrass development company. This venture is designed to provide a competitive product to our membership. The agreement is a current outgrowth of the FSGC Mission, which, in part, calls for the Coop to assist sod growers in Florida by seeking out new products and new grass varieties, and to share solutions to common sod problems.

 

This agreement with Sod Solutions, Inc., confirmed and announced in May, is the first of its kind for the FSGC. It is designed to support the FSGC's organizational goals and provide for the release of Celebration to licensed sod producers throughout Florida. While the agreement provides that the Coop will share the benefits from licensing fees and royalty programs, the Coop will also have a responsibility to participate in marketing and oversight of quality control. FSGC membership will be afforded exclusive opportunity to produce this improved turfgrass in Florida.

 

The FSGC selected Celebration because it addresses current industry, environmental and marketplace trends; and because it is well suited to the region’s climate and will appeal to homeowners, municipalities and recreation entities. Through discussions with Sod Solutions, we understand that this proprietary turfgrass is one that is a drought tolerant turfgrass, and that it requires less maintenance than many other Bermudagrasses. Celebration can be mowed with a standard rotary mower and has a degree of shade tolerance. We expect it to recover well from damage and wear. Through the introduction of Celebration, we believe that we will be supplying a distinctive turfgrass to a marketplace that is demanding this type of product. Celebration expands the practicable choices available to everyone who wants a finer, softer-textured grass that requires less maintenance.

 

Celebration was developed by Rod Riley, a world-renowned Australian turfgrass breeder. Celebration is known as Riley’s Super Sport in Australia, where it has been commercially successful for more than six years. Sod Solutions, Inc., an FSGC associate member and international turfgrass development company based in Mt. Pleasant, SC, is the exclusive U.S. patent holder and licensor for Celebration. Although the grass will be available in other states, only FSGC members will be eligible for licensing in Florida. Licensing will be open through August 31, 2002; and will be closed at a future date to avoid market over saturation.

 

To ensure a high quality, genetically pure product, certification through the Southern Seed Certification Agency will be required of all producers. Through this unique joint release agreement, the FSGC looks forward to providing product and marketing momentum to its membership, and to the Florida turfgrass industry.

 

For more information about the FSGC, visit www.floridalawn.com.