American Sod Producers Association January, 1976 Hastings, Nebraska MIDWINTER CONFERENCE TO FEATURE VARIETY OF TOPICS The annual Midwinter Conference of the American Sod Producers Association will be held in Clearwater, Florida at the Sheraton-Sand Key Hotel on February 5th and 6th. A variety of topics will be discussed at the Conference. Mr. Tom Mascaro of Safe-T-Lawn, Miami, Florida will start the Conference by discussing “Dew is Not Dew,” a slide presentation on the mysteries of dew. Dr. Henry Indyk of Rutgers University, New Jersey will chair a panel of experts discussing “New Products & Concepts for our Weed Control Problems”. A panel led by Mr. Doyle Jacklin of Vaughan-Jack- lin Seed Co., Spokane, Washington will then discuss “The Seed Industry & The Sod Grower”. Thursday afternoon, Mr. Bill Harding, Legal Counsel for ASPA, will give a report on current tax and legal matters that ASPA has been monitoring. Dr. Al Turgeon, University of Illinois, will discuss “Bluegrass Varietal Evaluation” and Dr. A.E. Dudeck, University of Florida, will conclude the educational sessions for the day by discussing “Warm Season Turf Grass Evaluation & Development”. Friday morning sessions will begin with Dr. Turgeon discussing “New Techniques in Vegetative Establishment,” Mr. Brian Bouchard of Kingston Turf, Rhode Island will discuss “New Installation Techniques” and Dr. Gene Nutter of Lake City Community College, Lake City, Florida will lead a panel on “Getting Your Money’s Worth Out of Your Equipment”. Mr. Charles Lain of Pine Island Turf, New Jersey will speak on “Promoting for Profits” which will feature the introduction of the new ASPA brochure. After lunch, a field tour will be made to Pursley Grass Co., Palmetto, Florida. A cocktail hour and banquet on Thursday evening will highlight the social events. Treadway Inn in Newport, Rhode Island will be Site of 1976 Summer Convention and Field Days The dates for the 1976 Summer Convention and Field Days to be held at the Treadway Inn in Newport, Rhode Island have been changed to July 22 and 23rd. Chairman for the event will be Chris Beasley of Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Canton, Massachusetts. Hosting of the Conven­ tion will be ably taken care of by the New England Sod Producers Association. You will be receiving more information along with reservation cards for the Tread­ way Inn shortly. Caribbean Cruise to Follow Midwinter Conference The Caribbean Cruise scheduled for the week following the Midwinter Conference in Clearwater, Florida has been sold-out The cruise ship will be sailing from Miami on Saturday February 7th and returning on Saturday, February 14th During the fun-filled week, the ship will visit Freeport Bahamas, then to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico! Everyone is looking forward to a very gala week. Board of Trustees Meet in Chicago The Board of Trustees of the American Sod Producers Association met at the Regency Hyatt at O’Hare Airport in Chicago on October 3, 1975. The programs for both the Midwinter Conference to be held in Clearwater, Florida and the Summer Convention to be held at Newport, Rhode Island were discussed. Much discussion was given to the use of the legal counsel by ASPA members. It was unanimously agreed that the first incoming phone call to ASPA legal counsel and furnishing of information already in the ASPA “reservoir” will be provided at no expense to the member. If additional research is needed, after explanation of ASPA policy by legal counsel, the member will be expected to pay for the additional costs. If the matter is of industry-wide concern, the president, after consultation with key officers will direct the policy. Charles Lain reported on the development of the promotional brochure of ASPA. Final approval was given and the brochures will be ready to be released at the Midwinter Meeting. Other items discussed were the Association finances, printed quarterly publication of the Association, the proposed logo and membership. The Board will meet again at the February Midwinter meeting. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF NEW OSHA ROLL-OVER PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE STANDARD Employee-operated agricultural tractors (2 or 4 wheel drive type vehicles or track vehicles of more than 20 engine horsepower designed to furnish the power to pull, carry, propel, or drive implements that are designed for agriculture, with the exception of self-propelled implements) manufactured after October 25,1976 and used in agricultural operations must be equipped with a roll-over protective structure and with a seatbelt which meet the testing and performance requirements of the new standard. The new standard has no retrofit requirements. Employers are not only required to insure that the employee uses the seatbelt, but also to insure that the employee tightens the seatbelt sufficiently to confine the employee to the protected area provided by the roll-over protective structure. In addition, effective June 1, 1975, employees operating an agricultural tractor must be informed of the following operating practices and of any other practices dictated by the work environment. Such information must be provided at the time of the initial assignment and at least annually thereafter: 1. Securely fasten your seatbelt if the tractor has a roll-over protective structure. 2. Where possible, avoid operating the tractor near ditches, embankments, and holes. 3. Reduce speed when turning, crossing slopes, and on rough, slick, or muddy surfaces. 4. Stay off slopes too steep for safe operation. 5. Watch where you are going, especially at row ends, on roads, and around trees. 6. Do not permit others to ride. 7. Operate the tractor smoothly — no jerky turns, starts, or stops. 8. Hitch only to the drawbar and hitch points recommended by the tractor manufacturers. 9. When the tractor is stopped, set brakes securely and use park lock if available. Colorado Producers Retain Farm Plates on Vehicles ASPA Legal Counsel Bill Harding has received word from Attorneys representing Rocky Mountain Sod Growers Associa­ tion and Richlawn Farms that the Colorado Department of Revenue ruling which would have prevented sod farms from using farm plates on their vehicles has been rescinded. The ASPA legal department provided considerable informa­ tion which was utilized by the Colorado group to substantiate their claim and the success which was achieved in Colorado with the Colorado Department of Revenue can be used as a precedent in other areas. ASPA Again Sponsors Booth The American Sod Producers Association will again sponsor a booth at the Associated Landscape Contractors of America annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, January 27th. The President of ASPA, Norm LeGrande of Lincoln will be making and manning the booth. OSHA Standards Discussed A recent two-day meeting in Washington in early May found the National Advisory Committee on Agriculture to OSHA discussing several things of varying importance. First, both fixed and portable ladders were included in the discussion. Since fixed ladders exist on some field machinery, ASPA Legal Counsel will be following this. A sub-group on electrical hazards concluded on March 25 that no recommendations should be made since it was felt that no standards on electrical hazards are needed in the field of agriculture (hurrah). The Assistant Secretary of Labor, however, requested this same sub-group to reconvene and look again into the area so it is easy to see where pressures originate. The Noise Sub-Committee and the OSHA office of Standards proposed earlier that a 90 dVa 8-hour agriculture noise exposure limit be written into the regulations with a 5 dVa doubling rate. These recommendations are similar to general industry noise standards and the matter is still under study. Farm Labor Contractors Regulations Proposed The U.S. Department of Labor has published proposed rules that would revise the registration requirements for farm labor contractors. They are accepting comments on the proposed regulations until January 22, 1976 and will issue the final form after that. Briefly, the regulations have been proposed for revision due to amendments in the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act inserted by Congress on December 7, 1974. The term “agricultural employee” in the proposed regulations includes employment in any service or activity defined as agriculture under the Fair Labor Standards Act or the Internal Revenue Service Act or which relates to the handling, planting, or processing of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state. The term “farm labor contractor” is defined in the proposed regulations as any person who for a fee, either for himself or on behalf of another person recruits, solicits, hires, furnishes, or transports migrant workers for agricultural employment. Excluded are members of the contractor’s immediate family or the contractor if he engages in such activity solely within a 25 mile intrastate radius of his permanent place of residence and does not engage in such activity for more than 13 weeks per year. In the event someone is covered as a farm labor contractor under the proposed regulations, certain registration require­ ments are set forth in the regulations along with requirements of motor vehicle liability insurance, proof of financial responsi­ bility in lieu of insurance, and specific qualifications and eligibility for insurance carriers. BUYING AND INSTALLING CERTIFIED SOD W.H. Mitchell, Extension Agronomist University of Delaware A beautiful lawn provides the perfect background for a home. In can be functional as well as attractive and if well cared for, it will last for decades. The initial cost can be spread over many years so the annual expense is surprisingly low. New production and harvesting practices have made it possible for commercial sod growers to supply your lawn and garden centers with high quality sod while at the same time holding the line on prices. This is reflected in the attractive offers that are now being made by retail suppliers. Like a house built on sand, your beautiful sod can be destroyed in hours by improper care at the outset. Its roots have been severed in the harvesting process and this makes it totally dependent on your tender, loving care for at least the first 3 weeks of its new life. Before making an investment in sod there are a number of things you should consider. The most important is, how do you know you are buying good quality sod? Once purchased, how should it be cared for, especially during those first critical days? These and other questions will be covered in the following paragraphs. Hopefully, this information will lead to pleasant and satisfying experiences with turfgrass sod. WHAT IS CULTIVATED-CERTIFIED SOD? Grass which is grown by turfgrass specialists for the purpose of lifting as Turfgrass sod is referred to as cultivated sod. Certified sod can ONLY be cultivated sod that is produced from certified grass seed. WHY IS CERTIFIED-CULTIVATED SOD THE BEST BUY? Certified sod is marked with a blue tag which signifies that it was grown from certified seed of adapted turfgrasses and the sod fields have been inspected and found to meet published standards for certified sod. WHAT IS MEANT BY PASTURE SOD? Sod is sometimes lifted from pastures, hay fields, abandoned cemeteries, and areas soon to be used for construction. It can pose the problem of weeds which are in a dormant state showing up a few months later. ISN’T SODDING MORE EXPENSIVE THAN LAWN SEEDING? Given optimum conditions for both seeding and sodding it would be less costly to seed. If conditions don’t favor seeding, then reseeding costs, poor stands and other less tangible losses can make sod the best buy. On sloping land where erosion is a problem, when lawns must be established at times unfavorable for seeding and where an attractive, functional lawn in needed right away, there is no good substitute for sod. HOW SHOULD THE SOIL BE PREPARED FOR SOD­ DING? The soil should be prepared as it would be for a grass seeding. ARE LIME AND FERTILIZER NECESSARY FOR SOD­ DING? Yes! A light application of lime and fertilizer will often make the difference between success and failure in sodding. WHAT IS THE BEST THICKNESS FOR SOD? There is no single cutting depth that is “best”. This will vary depending on age and type of sod. First priority must be given to sod strength. A 3/4” sod depth is perhaps the most frequently used. IS IT NECESSARY TO ROLL THE SOD AFTER IN­ STALLATION? It’s important to establish good contact between the new sod piece and the underlying soil. HOW IMPORTANT IS WATERING? Watering is so important that you shouldn’t purchase sod until you have your watering or irrigation system in place and ready to operate. DO WEED, INSECT AND DISEASE PROBLEMS EVER OCCUR IN CERTIFIED SOD? Yes! Weed seeds can lie dormant in the soil for many years and when favorable conditions develop such as high acidity, low fertility, excessive moisture, compaction or light intensity at the soil surface, they can germinate. WHAT GRASS VARIETIES OR MIXTURES ARE BEST FOR SOD? The same grasses which make a good seeded lawn will of course be best for a sodded lawn. THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING SOD: Buying is simplified when dealing with certified sod. Public agencies have already established the genetic purity of the grass and its relative freedom from weeds, insects and diseases. You should examine all types of sod for weeds, off-type grasses, diseased areas and presence of damaging insects. Ask if the sod has been treated with Chlorodane for insect control or with a systemic fungicide for disease control. If the sod has heated in a roll or on a pallet and has a greenish-yellow appearance, don’t accept it. Sod that is very dry and has a bluish-green cast should be examined critically. A 3-4’ strip of sod should hold together when suspended. If it doesn’t it will be difficult to handle when installing. IF PROBLEMS DEVELOP AFTER THE SOD IS IN­ STALLED AND ESTABLISHED, WHO IS RESPONISBLE? The buyer. Garlic and nutsedge can germinate at depths of 4-5” and emerge through your new sod. This is in no way the responsibility of the supplier. IS A WRITTEN AGREEMENT NECESSARY WHEN BUYING SOD? No! To avoid misunderstandings it is well to negotiate some kind of written agreement. Off-Season Care Tips for Drop-type Spreaders Ever since the first one was introduced by Scotts in 1946, the drop-type turf products spreader has been responsible for the accurate application of tons of material. Their biggest single drawback, however, is that when allowed to stand with fertilizer, mere air moisture can produce almost instant corrosion. As a result, they require cleanup after each use and good preventive maintenance to stay in top operating condition. It is a well-advised practice to clean, dry and lightly oil the essential moving parts of a spreader - axles, shut-off plate, etc. - before off-season storage. However, it is difficult to protect the agitator and the portion of the hopper that is concealed by the agitator. This problem can be solved by putting several inches of oil-covered sand in the hopper - just enough to cover the agitator. Several turns of the drive wheel will insure complete sand/agitator contact and the spreader will be properly protected over the winter. In the spring, the sand can be disposed of (although not on grass) or saved for reuse. American Sod Producers Association Association Building 9th and Minnesota Hastings, Nebraska 68901 ASPA Welcomes New Members! Listed below are the new members of ASPA since September of 1975. Please add them to your rosters. CALIFORNIA Nunes Manufacturing, 2006 Loquot Avenue, Patterson, California 95363 (Class B) CANADA Dokken Landscaping Ltd., 412 Aldine Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada IOWA Fancy Grass Sod Ranch, R. 1, Grimes, Iowa 50111 KANSAS Sun-Mastr Corp., P.O. Box 31, Olathe, Kansas 66061 TEXAS Lely Southwest, Inc., P.O. Box 1026, Temple, Texas 76501 PENNSYLVANIA Green Lane Farm, Cedar Lane, Box 25, Penns Park, Pennsylvania 18943 VIRGINIA L.B. Presgrave, 3067 W. Ox Road, Herndon, Virginia 22070 There’s Canada Bluegrass in that Kentucky Sod... so? A long-running controversy has been finally settled. For many years, traces of Canada bluegrass in Kentucky bluegrass seed stock was enough to give any sod grower the chills. Meanwhile others argued that small amounts wouldn’t affect sod strength. The correct answer is just out. Turf researchers at Michigan State University have demon­ strated that relatively large amounts of Canada bluegrass growing in a healthy Kentucky bluegrass turf could not even be discovered by trained experts on hand and knee. Below 5% they found that Canada bluegrass is not identifiable and has no effect on Kentucky bluegrass sod strength. That’s certainly good news! DR. JAMES BEARD DEPT. OF SOILS & CROP SCIENCE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 77843 State “Key Men” Help Association Grow Each state has a “key man” whose duties include making direct contact with prospective members in their state; contacting members who may be delinquent in dues; relaying information regarding market trends, the economy, sod producers activity and events in their state to the ASPA office and encouraging attendance at ASPA meetings. Listed below are the current “key men”: ALABAMA - M.S. Huggins, Pell City, Alabama ARIZONA - Ernest Willinger, Phoenix, Arizona ARKANSAS - George Reynolds, Merrilton, Arkansas CALIFORNIA - Toby Grether, Camarillo, California COLORADO - Glenn Markham, Berthoud, Colorado CONNECTICUT - George F. Stewart, Suffield, Connecticut FLORIDA - E.M. Selkregg, Jr., Naples, Florida GEORGIA - Billy B. Sunwell, Hamilton, Georgia IDAHO - Hans Bergonus, Boise, Idaho ILLINOIS - Dale Habenicht, Markham, Illinois INDIANA - Ray Johnson, Hanna, Indiana IOWA - Don White, Des Moines, Iowa KANSAS - Melvin Briggs, Stilwell, Kansas KENTUCKY - Leland Bland, Bagdad, Kentucky LOUISIANA - James Simpson, Covington, Louisiana MARYLAND - Parker Shirling, Centreville, Maryland MICHIGAN - George Beck, Palms, Michigan MINNESOTA - Glenn Rehbein, Circle Pines, Minnesota Larry Schultz, Rochester, Minnesota MISSOURI - Ed Keevan, O’Fallon, Missouri MONTANA - Tom Selstad, Great Falls, Montana NEBRASKA - Norm LeGrande, Lincoln, Nebraska NEVADA & OREGON - Paul Uhruh, Minden, Nevada NEW JERSEY & NEW YORK - Bob Rapp, Farmingdale, N.J. NORTH CAROLINA & VIRGINIA - Sheldon Betterly, Nokesville, Virginia OHIO - Cecil Collins, Canfield, Ohio OKLAHOMA - John Wolfe, Inola, Oklahoma OREGON - Richard Jenks, Hubbard, Oregon PENNSYLVANIA - Robert Hummer, Manhein, Pennsylvania RHODE ISLAND - Brian L. Bonchard, W. Kingston, Rhode Island TEXAS - Theodore Mund, Needville, Texas UTAH - David Pennington, Riverton, Utah WASHINGTON - Roy L. Goss, Sumner, Washington