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Citrus Bowl Should Go Green

From the Orlando Sentinel

My Word: June 29, 2010

Citrus Bowl Should Go Green

By David A. Dymond

As an Orlando resident, a local sod grower and a sports fan, I'm disappointed in the recent vote by the Orlando City Commission to spend a whopping $1.5 million to turn the Florida Citrus Bowl into a field of fake grass.

But it's not too late for the rest of the sports fans of Orlando to ask City Hall to use our tax dollars wisely and to stay green with natural grass.

The conditions at the Citrus Bowl during last year's bowl games were dismal. But this was an exception, not the rule, for a venue where natural grass has performed up to professional standards for decades.

Although the idea of renovating the Florida Citrus Bowl has been in the news, the citizens have not had the opportunity to understand the choice before the city, especially the cost involved and the jobs at stake as Orlando faces key budget decisions.

Before any taxpayer money is spent, several factors should be examined to ensure that the project is feasible, economically sound and, most important, will achieve the goal of making the Citrus Bowl a draw for state and national sporting events. They include:

• The true costs of natural-grass installation, maintenance and care versus the same costs for synthetic surfaces. Correctly maintained natural-grass fields can provide a quality playing surface at a fraction of the costs being discussed.
• 
  The latest research on sports-field injuries on artificial surfaces and player preference.
  The concerns, particularly in Florida, about extreme temperatures on artificial fields, which can be as high as 150 degrees or more and require significant amounts of irrigation for cooling the surface to make it safe to use.
• 
  The environmental aspects, including material content of artificial products, water and chemicals needed for cleaning, disinfecting and maintenance, and more important, the loss of the significant environmental benefits turfgrass provides. Natural turf produces oxygen, cools the atmosphere, absorbs carbon, and captures and filters rainwater and runoff. What is more "green" and fits better into the environmental green movement than responsibly managed natural turf?

Why do the Gators, Seminoles, Knights, Bulls, Canes, Bucs, Jags, Dolphins and Disney's Wide World of Sports complex all choose to play on natural grass? Why have several of these teams that have tried artificial surfaces switched back to natural grass? And what surface are the World Cup soccer championships being played on? That's right - natural grass.

If city commissioners want to make responsible budget and environmental decisions and continue to attract world-class sporting events to our city, it's critical that these discussions take place openly before a decision is made.

David A. Dymond of Orlando is a member of the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative board of directors.

Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel

Submit Your Comments online at OrlandoSentinel.com: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-myword-citrus-bowl-sod-062910-20100628,0,3593890.story

June 30 deadline to submit applications for USDA Rural Development energy programs

May 25, 2010

GAINESVILLE –Agricultural producers and small businesses interested in USDA Rural Development energy efficiency and renewable energy programs have until 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 30 to submit their applications to the state office for fiscal year 2010 funding.

USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grants and guarantees loans to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. The projects must be located in a rural area other than a city of greater than 50,000 population and its adjacent urbanized area. Agricultural producers include an individual or entity directly engaged in the production of agricultural products and obtains at least 50 percent of their gross income from the agriculture business. A rural small business is defined as an entity in accordance with the Small Business Administration and includes a private entity, partnerships, corporations, cooperatives and electric utility cooperatives supplying service to rural consumers.

Eligible projects include constructing and installing renewable energy systems such as wind turbines, solar, geothermal, biomass, anaerobic digesters, hydroelectric and ocean or hydrogen systems. Funding may also be used to purchase energy-efficient equipment, add insulation and improve heating and cooling systems.

For a renewable energy project exceeding $200,000, a feasibility study must first be conducted and submitted to USDA. Energy efficiency programs require an energy audit or assessment, depending on the total eligible project costs. Once the evaluation is complete and submitted to USDA, it is reviewed to determine if the project has merit. If approved, applicants will be notified by U.S. mail and instructed to complete an application for project funding for the next fiscal year.

Send applications to USDA Rural Development, 4440 NW 25th Place, Gainesville, FL 32606. Appli-cations received in the state office after 4:30 p.m. EST on June 30, 2010, regardless of the application’s postmark, will not be considered for funding in FY 2010. For information about the USDA Rural Development energy programs or how to apply, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/ia/rbcs_RE-EE_Section_9006.html.  To determine if a proposed project is in a rural area, visit http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov and click on Business Programs under Property Eligibility. Applicants with questions should call 352-338-3482.

New Study Shows Significant Economic Impact Of EPA Proposed Water Nutrient Standards

April 26, 2010

TALLAHASSEE – Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson says a just released study indicates the costs of meeting proposed numeric water nutrient standards are going to be significantly higher than federal estimates.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated the annual costs of implementing its standards for acceptable concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen in water bodies in Florida will be about 35 million dollars. However, a study conducted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, professors at the University of Florida Food and Resource Economics Department, and Soil and Water Engineering Technology, Inc. shows costs and lost revenues to farms will likely be over one billion dollars annually.

There will also be significant ripple effects on suppliers and employees, impacting Florida’s economy as a whole by more than 1 billion dollars. More than 14,000 jobs will be lost according to the study. The final costs will depend on how many agriculture acres are actually impacted and how the standards are implemented. EPA has estimated that about 6 million acres of agricultural and forest lands surrounding water bodies will be impacted but the study indicates the number is more than 13 and a half million impacted acres.

“It’s clear that at a minimum, we are looking at tens of millions of dollars in costs, lost revenue in agriculture and related industries, and higher unemployment if the EPA’s proposed rule is adopted,” Bronson said. “We believe EPA is grossly underestimating the number of farm acres that will be impacted and the indirect costs to related businesses.”

The study says EPA’s numbers are skewed because the agency has assumed that numeric water quality standards developed by the state Department of Environmental Protection are already in place and the infrastructure necessary to meet the standards has been paid for and is also in place. However, that is not the case. DEP put the development of numeric nutrient standards on hold when the EPA settled a lawsuit filed by environmental groups by agreeing to establish federal standards. “Given the economic climate in Florida, I think these impacts will be devastating not only to farmers but to all Floridians,” Bronson said. “Now is not the time to face the loss of millions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs.”

Bronson is urging residents and stakeholders to voice their concerns while the public comment period for the proposed rule is still open, up until April 28th. Written comments can be submitted several ways. All comments should be identified by Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0596.

Online:

1. Go to www.regulations.gov
2. Enter “EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0596” into the search field and click “Search”
3. Click the “Submit a Comment” link either on the Search Results screen or the actual document details
4. Then type or attach your comment, enter any required fields, and click the “Submit” button

Mail to:
Water Docket, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Attention: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0596
Mail code: 2822T
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460

Source:  FDACS

Press Release Contact(s):
Liz Compton
(850) 488-3022
comptol@doacs.state.fl.us

UF/IFAS Report: Florida Ag Takes Economic Hit in 2008, But Remains Strong

March 2 - GAINESVILLE — Florida agriculture survived the first part of the economic downturn fairly well but decreased demand for exports has been a concern, a University of Florida expert says in an annual report.

In the report that looks at 2008 economic data, agriculture and related industries contributed $76.5 billion to the state’s economy, said Alan Hodges, an extension scientist with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

“Every single sector of the economy has been affected in the recession, there’s just no getting away from that. And agriculture is no exception,” Hodges said. “However, it looks like agriculture has taken less of a hit than some other segments.”

Hodges has been involved in the annual report’s production since 2000.

Economic data compiled by the federal government lags about two years behind, and 2008 is the most recent year for which data available, he said. Economists peg December 2007 as the start of the country’s recession.

The report tracks more than 90 industry sectors – such as farming, ranching, pest control, fertilizer manufacturing, mining, food and beverage manufacturing, paper and lumber production, golf courses, recreational fishing and commercial hunting and trapping.

Agriculture’s $76.5 billion value-added impact from the 2008 report is down from the 2007 figure of $93 billion – but that’s similar to the economic hit suffered by other industries during the same time period, he said.

The value-added impact includes what economists call multiplier effects, which Hodges explains like this: A farmer buys things like seeds, fertilizer, machinery and equipment from suppliers. That spending creates revenue for suppliers and their employees, who spend their wages on things like food, housing and transportation.

The researchers rely on a model called IMPLAN that tracks a vast array of economic transactions between business sectors.

Agriculture’s value-added impact is down, and Hodges said he believes lower demand for the state’s agricultural exports is to blame. For example, citrus fruit is exported from Florida to Europe and Asia, and those exports were down by nearly 20 percent in 2008.

Still, agriculture and natural resource industries accounted in 2008 for about 8 percent of Florida’s gross state product.

Accounting for nearly 1.3 million full- and part-time jobs, or 14 percent of the state’s total employment in 2008, agriculture ranks second in jobs among the state’s economic sectors, though Hodges notes that UF’s report reclassified some jobs from the North American Industry Classification System’s designations.

Among industry groups, average annual growth in value-added impacts from 2001 through 2007 was highest for mining (19 percent) and crop, livestock, forestry and fishery production (10 percent), followed by food and kindred products distribution (5 percent) and forest product manufacturing (3 percent).

For more data, please see the full report: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe829

Source: Alan Hodges, 352-392-1845, ext. 312, awhodges@ufl.edu

Writer: Mickie Anderson, 352-273-3566, mickiea@ufl.edu

UF/IFAS Names Jack Payne as New Senior VP for Agriculture and Natural Resources

March 2 - GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Jack Payne has been selected as the University of Florida’s next senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, UF President Bernie Machen announced today.

Payne currently serves as the vice president for extension and outreach at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, a post he has held since 2006. He worked in a similar position at Utah State University prior to joining ISU. He begins his new role at UF on June 1.

“Jack Payne’s wealth of experience from both in and out of land-grant institutions gives him a keen vision to guide UF to meet the 21st Century challenges facing the state’s agriculture industry and to educate a new generation of students,” Machen said. “We look forward to his contributions as a member of the senior leadership team.”

Payne, 63, has spent much of his career helping solve agronomic problems for the benefit of farmers and wildlife while at several large land-grant institutions and with Ducks Unlimited, the world’s largest private wetlands conservation organization.

“It is an honor to become a part of UF, one of the country’s great land-grant universities,” Payne said. “UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is the heart of that land-grant ideal and it will be important to build upon its strengths and existing strong foundation and to continue to produce tangible and conspicuous benefits to its two most important stakeholders: our students and Florida residents.”

As senior vice president, Payne will lead IFAS, which includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the School of Natural Resources and Environment, the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, portions of the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, 13 research and education centers and the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, with offices in each of the state’s 67 counties.

Payne holds a master’s degree in aquatic ecology and a doctorate in wildlife ecology, both from Utah State University. He is a graduate of the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University and earned his bachelor’s degree at Temple University.

He has served on the faculty of four land-grant institutions: The Pennsylvania State University, Texas A&M University, Utah State University and Iowa State University. The Pennsylvania native spent most of his career in the agriculture-rich states of Texas, California, Washington, Iowa and Utah, working to meet the needs of ranchers and farmers.

“Everything I have done in my career, I believe, has prepared me for the great challenges and wonderful opportunities that await me at the University of Florida,” Payne said.

He serves as chairman of the board on agriculture for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and represents the land-grant system in the annual federal appropriation process. His work with the APLU has included developing the land-grant systems’ needs for the Farm Bill legislation. He also is a key representative on policy changes with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as they apply to land-grant universities.

Payne succeeds Larry Arrington, who was appointed interim senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources last year when Jimmy Cheek left to become chancellor of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Source:  UF/IFAS Press Release

EPA's Proposed Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Florida Waterways Will Impact Growth, Taxes and Slow State's Recovery

On January 15, the Environmental Protection Agency announced its proposal for new nutrient criteria standards in Florida waterways, in response to pressure from environmental groups who filed suit against the agency, claiming that the state was not being required to create and enforce stringent enough standards under the Clean Water Act.  and can have significant negative repercussions.  

Public hearings on the criteria will be held as follows:

Tuesday, February 16 - Tallahassee

Wednesday, February 17 - Orlando

Thursday, February 18 - West Palm Beach

More information will follow on the locations and times; how to register to attend and how to submit comments on the criteria.

Below is the Press Release issued by the EPA regarding the action:

CONTACT:

Enesta Jones

jones.enesta@epa.gov

202-564-7873

202-564-4355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 15, 2010

EPA Proposes Standards to Protect Florida’s Waters

Action would decrease amount of phosphorus and nitrogen pollution

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing water quality standards

to protect people’s health, aquatic life and the long term recreational uses of Florida’s waters, which are a critical part of the state’s economy. In 2009, EPA entered into a consent decree with the Florida Wildlife Federation to propose limits to this pollution. The proposed action, released for public comment and developed in collaboration with the state, would set a series of numeric limits on the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen, also known as “nutrients,” that would be allowed in Florida’s lakes, rivers, streams, springs and canals.

Nutrient pollution can damage drinking water sources; increase exposure to harmful algal blooms, which are made of toxic microbes that can cause damage to the nervous system or even death; and form byproducts in drinking water from disinfection chemicals, some of which have been linked with serious human illnesses like bladder cancer. Phosphorus and nitrogen pollution come from stormwater runoff, municipal wastewater treatment, fertilization of crops and livestock manure. Nitrogen also forms from the burning of fossil fuels, like gasoline.

“Florida has led the way with rigorous scientific analysis and data collection needed to address nutrient pollution. By relying on the best science, we can set standards that protect people’s health and preserve waterbodies used for drinking, swimming, fishing and tourism,” said Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “New water quality standards, developed in collaboration with the state, will help protect and restore inland waters that are a critical part of Florida's history, culture and economic prosperity.”

Nutrient problems can happen locally or much further downstream, leading to degraded lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries, and to hypoxic “dead” zones where aquatic life can no longer survive. High amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus in surface water result in harmful algal blooms, dead fish, reduced mating grounds and nursery habitats for fish.

A 2008 Florida Department of Environmental Protection report assessing water quality for Florida revealed that approximately 1,000 miles of rivers and streams, 350,000 acres of lakes and 900 square miles of estuaries are not meeting the state's water quality standards because of excess nutrients. These represent approximately 16 percent of Florida’s assessed river and stream miles, 36 percent of assessed lake acres and 25 percent of assessed estuary square miles. The actual number of miles and acres of waters impaired for nutrients is likely higher, as there are waters that have not yet been assessed.

The proposed action announced today also introduces and seeks comment on a new regulatory process for setting standards in a manner that drives water quality improvements in already impaired waters. The proposed new regulatory provision, called restoration standards, would be specific to nutrients in the state of Florida.

In August 2009, EPA entered into a consent decree with Florida Wildlife Federation, committing to propose numeric nutrient standards for lakes and flowing waters in Florida by January 2010, and for Florida's estuarine and coastal waters by January 2011. These dates are consistent with those outlined in EPA’s January 14, 2009 determination under the Clean Water Act that numeric nutrient standards are needed in Florida. EPA also agreed to establish final standards by October 2010 for lakes and flowing waters and by October 2011 for estuarine and coastal waters.

EPA will accept public comments on the proposed standards for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. EPA will also hold three public hearings on the proposed rule in Florida to obtain input and comments on the direction of EPA’s rulemaking. These hearings are scheduled for February 16, 17 and 18, 2010 in Tallahassee, Orlando, and West Palm Beach, respectively.

More on the proposed rule and public hearings:

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/florida/

EPA Releases Final Water Sense New Home Landscape Specs

(January 5, 2010) - The Environmental Protection Agency has released what they've indicated are the "final" construction specifications for new homes which would qualify under its WaterSense program. 

Some changes of note made to the landscape portion (4.1) of Section 4 – the outdoor component - include:

• (4.1) The landscape criteria apply to the "front yard."
• (4.1.1) The "water budget" is now Option 1 and the 40% turf limit is Option 2.
• (4.1.2) Slopes of 4:1 or more (horizontal/vertical) are to be ‘vegetated’.  Therefore, turf can be planted on these slopes.

Below is the Press Release issued by the EPA regarding the program, which includes links to the specifications on the WaterSense website.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to announce the release of its WaterSense Single-Family New Home Specification, creating the first national, voluntary specification for water-efficient new homes.

 “Home builders can now partner with EPA and earn the WaterSense label for their newly built homes, helping to create livable communities and quality homes that are easy to maintain,” said Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water.

“These homes will save homeowners as much as $200 a year on utility bills compared to their current homes.” These homes will feature WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures, ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances (if installed), water-efficient landscaping, and hot water delivery systems that deliver hot water faster, so homeowners don’t waste water—or energy—waiting at the tap. 

By investing in WaterSense labeled homes, American home buyers can reduce their water usage by more than 10,000 gallons per year—enough to fill a backyard swimming pool—and save enough energy annually to power a television for four years. 

Designed to complement existing green building programs, WaterSense labeled new homes will be 20 percent more efficient than typical new homes, and must be independently inspected and certified by an EPA licensed certification provider to meet the WaterSense criteria for water efficiency and performance.

The roles and responsibilities of all applicable parties are defined in more detail in the final specification. EPA wants to thank the hundreds of partners and stakeholders that helped develop the specification. And now WaterSense looks forward to working with our program partners to spread the word about this exciting new opportunity! Please help us welcome into the WaterSense partnership builders and other organizations that want to bring WaterSense labeled new homes to their communities. 

To view a message from Pete Silva, Assistant Administrator for Water, about the WaterSense new homes specification, visit the WaterSense web site.

Lake County Adopts Landscape Ordinance

December 1 - The Lake County Board of County Commissioners has approved a landscape ordinance which will impact new development and, to some degree, existing landscapes within the county.  The new rules emerged after more than a year of workshops, drafts and revisions which early on included bans on specific turf types and a strict limitation on irrigation systems. 

Builders say the new code will raise home prices, cost jobs

By Stephen Hudak

ORLANDO SENTINEL

TAVARES – Over objections from struggling home-builders, Lake County commissioners approved a controversial landscaping ordinance which, critics of the new law say, will boost the cost of a single-family home.

Those added costs will further depress the slumping home-construction market, said George Hansford, owner and founder of Prominent Construction and president of the Home Builders Association of Lake County.

"What we need to be doing is creating jobs not hindering them," he said.

But Hansford and other home-builders, who cited the county's 12.3% unemployment rate, failed to persuade the commission to scrub the new ordinance or exempt single-family homes as the board voted, 4-1, to adopt the 50-page document.

Commissioner Jennifer Hill cast the lone "nay vote," calling the law "onerous" and confusing.

The new ordinance was drafted with the aim of reducing water consumption by requiring drought-tolerant turfgrass and so-called "Florida friendly" landscaping in new commercial, industrial and residential developments.

It requires builders to plant thicker-caliper trees and increase landscaping buffers in new subdivisions.

Keith Truenow, president of Lake Jem Farms in Mount Dora, thanked commissioners for listening to sod growers during the year-long debate over the ordinance, which adopts the University of Florida's "Florida Friendly" plant list as the county's science-based guide.

The new ordinance does not ban St. Augustine grass, though the popular lawn turf and other grass species that are considered "non-drought tolerant" cannot cover more than 60 percent of a new residential lawn.

An earlier draft of the ordinance proposed both a St. Augustine ban and a limit on conventional overhead irrigation. Neither controversial provision was included in the final draft approved by the commission Tuesday.

Those changes disappointed former supporters of the ordinance who had viewed the restrictions as a step toward ending wasteful watering practices blamed for stricter rules imposed by water management districts.

In an email to the board, Shirley Schue of Sorrento, who had supported both the ban and the irrigation limit, said she doubted the compromised ordinance will "move the needle in any noticeable way toward conservation."

But commissioners also were lobbied by home-builders to reject even the compromised draft.

Hansford said the continuing misery of unemployed construction workers is spreading throughout the county, affecting everyone from dry cleaners to car dealers, from restaurant workers to Christmas retailers.

Chryston Duke, who works in sales for Ro-mac Lumber & Supply in Leesburg, sent the board an e-mail demanding that local government "keep…off my property!"

"Who cares about what kind of grass I grow or how many 'pretty trees' are in my yard anyway," she wrote while describing the proposed ordinance as unnecessary and ridiculous when so many citizens are jobless. "Leave it to Mother Nature to bring us a few hurricanes or a bad winter and it will all be wiped out anyway."

Other critics assailed the new ordinance as "anti-business," suggesting it also would increase the costs of building a restaurant, developing a commercial site and investing in a major addition to an existing home or business.

Commissioner Elaine Renick, however, called the ordinance a "turning point" for the county, suggesting it will result in long-term water savings for taxpayers and that it may well result in job growth in other industries.

"There are other jobs other than home-building," she said.

Stephen Hudak can be reached at shudak@orlandosentinel.com or 352-742-5930.

More coverage of the Lake County ordinance:

County commission approves stricter landscaping guidelines - Leesburg Daily Commercial

New landscape restrictions coming to Lake County - CFNews13 (video interview)

 Keith Truenow Receives 2009 Ag Institute of Florida AG-Vocate Award

Keith Truenow, owner/president of Lake Jem Farms in Mount Dora, was recently named winner of the third annual Agriculture Institute of Florida’s AG-Vocate Award.

The award recognizes an individual who has effectively communicated with opinion leaders and the general public to increase the recognition of and appreciation for the important contributions that agriculture makes to Florida’s economy and environment.

AG-Vocate judges selected Truenow for his proactive work over the past year on a landscape ordinance in Lake County which had the potential to dramatically affect both sod farmers and other sectors of the landscape industry. During the year-long development process, Truenow approached county officials to offer information about turfgrass varieties, irrigation and the industry to staff members developing the ordinance. He also invited commissioners and staff members to his farm for a first-hand opportunity to learn more about how turf is produced and its role in the landscape.

Truenow’s outreach to local media was also cited as a key reason for the recognition. As the ordinance evolved and proceeded through workshops and reviews, Truenow reached out to local and Orlando-area media through editorial board meetings and telephone and television interviews to answer questions and provide background and feedback for articles. He also authored an opinion column that was published in the Orlando Sentinel and the Florida Farm Bureau’s Florida Agriculture magazine.

Throughout the process, Truenow emphasized the necessity of incorporating sound scientific information into the process as well as the need to consider the economic impact that proposed changes would have for businesses and homeowners.

Truenow admits that working with media and regulators is far from comfortable.

“Most of us don’t like talking to reporters or attending meetings with local governments, because it’s not what we do best,” he said in accepting the award at the Ag Institute’s 2009 annual meeting. “But it’s what we have to do. We have to reach out; we have to communicate, because our livelihoods are at stake.”

Truenow is a native of Tavares and a past president of the Lake County Farm Bureau. He was selected as the 2002 recipient of the Florida Farm Bureau’s Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher (now the Achievement Award). He produces both row crops and sod on the last remaining sod farm in Lake County.

Candidates for the AG-Vocate Award must have an affiliation with Florida’s agricultural industry as a farmer, producer, grower or an affiliated allied industry. All candidates must reside in Florida and represent a Florida-based industry and interests.

Since 1970, the Agriculture Institute of Florida has been dedicated to promoting the value of Florida agriculture and empowering producers to work effectively with the media and the public. AIF is a volunteer organization of communications professionals from private companies, agricultural associations and individual farms throughout the state. For more about AIF, visit us at www.aginstitute.org.

Widening Their Turf: Sod Growers Tout Water Conservation

By MAC CARRAWAY, President, SMR Farms, Bradenton

Special to the Tampa Tribune

Sunday, July 26, 2009

For Florida's sod growers, this is one of the most challenging periods our industry has ever seen.

Farmers across the state, already greatly affected by the economic downturn, are confronting a new threat: local ordinances and state laws that see limiting turf grass as the quickest answer to Florida's long-term water supply concerns.

There are ways to protect Florida's resources and preserve one of the state's leading economic engines. But what's needed is more education and a commitment to conservation, not new rules, however well-intentioned they may be.

The turf experts at the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative, representing 130 farms and businesses across the state, have been educating homeowners, businesses and elected officials through the association's new Lawns Make Our World Greener campaign and our www.floridalawn.com Web site.

Agriculture, as an industry, has invested a great deal of effort into development of best-management practices to prevent wasted water. For us, turf grass is not just a lawn. It's our livelihood. The Florida sod industry contributes more than $1 billion annually to the state's economy and provides more than 5,500 jobs.

Farmers, by definition, are water managers. We've had to be proactive in protecting nature to continue what, for many like my SMR Farms, is a family tradition of farming.

To stay in business, we put into practice expertise that comes from decades of innovation. Every day, Florida's sod growers practice water conservation - in the fields and in neighborhoods where installers are helping homeowners learn how to care for their lawns responsibly.

Environmental stewardship brings innovation

One innovation that has gained the attention of state managers and the investment of new communities is the use of reclaimed water.

Sod farmers were among the first to put reclaimed water to the test. We started more than two decades ago at SMR Farms to cultivate sod with reclaimed water and now use it across the farm and at our tree nursery.

Reclaimed water has become a natural for turf - a way to save money and groundwater during the production of the many varieties we grow.

If there's a silver bullet in the arsenal of water-management weapons, it will be the beneficial use of reclaimed water. It's a proven resource that will enable communities to enjoy the benefits of lawns and landscapes while eliminating effluent disposal in our waterways and offsetting the use of groundwater, thus extending the drinking water supply far into the future.

Beyond reclaimed water, innovation in sod farming and landscape management has taken off in the last decade at a fast pace. We are constantly investing in research to grow new varieties that require less water and less fertilizer and that are more resistant to disease and pests.

One of the latest advances is a new St. Augustine grass called Captiva. It has the added feature of being chinch bug-resistant and grows more slowly, requiring less mowing.

As a business, these efforts help deliver sod that can be managed efficiently with minimal costs while providing customers with a lawn that suits their lifestyle needs.

Turf often overwatered

As an industry, we are working collaboratively with regulatory agencies to find sustainable solutions. I've been fortunate to be part of the dialogue as an appointee to the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Manasota Basin board, and I serve as the vice chairman of Swiftmud's agricultural advisory committee.

Taking innovations from the farm to the home, sod growers are working to teach Floridians how they can make a significant impact in conserving water. We're also working to set the record straight on some of the myths about sod. One myth is that sod, and St. Augustine in particular, needs vast amounts of water to survive. That's not what we experience in the field. To the contrary, as the turf experts at the University of Florida state in their research: "The scientific evidence seems to point to human behavior with regard to over-irrigation, not particular plants in the landscape, as the reason for much wasted irrigation water."

As well, new research continues to provide scientific understanding of the water needs of turf grass. One groundbreaking Texas study on the effects of drought on several varieties of sod has reached this conclusion: Turf grass can survive drought conditions and still recover. This includes the widely used St. Augustine, which requires about the same amount of irrigation as most other types of turf.

Another myth is that Florida-friendly landscaping principles mean "no turf." In fact, a healthy lawn, whether it's Bahia, Zoysia, Bermuda or St. Augustine, can be a vital part of a Florida-friendly landscape, preventing erosion, producing oxygen and reducing carbon in the atmosphere. And nothing beats turf grass for capturing and filtering rainwater as it returns to Florida's aquifers.

Less is best

Knowing all this, we encourage consumers to conserve year-round. In the winter, when plants and grass need much less water, homeowners skipping a week of irrigation can achieve a 50 percent savings per month. In other seasons, we advise customers to skip an irrigation cycle and turn off their automatic systems during rainy periods.

If you apply these practices, there can be enormous savings; some studies indicate as much as 30 percent or more. These are easy steps that produce huge savings, which should offset the temptation to arbitrarily reduce turf in the urban landscape.

In addition to these basic and immediate conservation practices, irrigation technology is yielding more cost-effective opportunities to save water, such as soil-moisture sensors and smarter irrigation controllers.

Implementing such improvements, as was done with low-flow toilets and showers, will take some time. But these efforts combine to reinforce and educate this critical message: By maintaining and using irrigation systems responsibly, homeowners can have healthier, better-looking lawns and conserve enormous amounts of water.

And in the meantime, Florida's sod farms, a cornerstone of the state's $9 billion green industry, will continue to do their part as stewards of the state's resources and key contributors to the economy.

Will WaterSense Make Good Sense?

Letter to the Editor

Tallahassee Democrat, July 13, 2009

James W. Maulden, McCall Sod Farm

The federal Environmental Protection Agency is proposing guidelines that will impact what homeowners can choose in designing their yards.  It's part of the "Outdoor Water-Efficiency Criteria" of the WaterSense program, which aims to add a landscaping component that limits how much grass can be planted.

As a sod producer and a business owner, I am concerned about the devastating impact these caps could have on our farms, which contribute hundreds of millions to the state economy and employ more than 5,000 Floridians.

Our association, the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative, is deeply committed to the wise use of water.  Our Lawns Make Our World Greener (www.floridalawn.com) program was launched to teach homeowners how to use less water and still maintain healthy turf in their Florida-friendly landscapes.

We would like to support the EPA's voluntary WaterSense program.  However, we feel there is still work needed and questions left unanswered.

Does it take into account new research that shows grass needs much less water than homeowners typically apply?  Are severe limits on landscapes needed before current rules and education targeting overwatering are given a chance?

We're concerned that setting a blanket cap on the percentage of grass allowed in a landscape is arbitrary, is not based on science and sends a resoundingly negative - and undeserved - message about turf that will impact an industry already suffering under the current economy. 

 We urge Floridians and our representatives in Washington to challenge the EPA to weight these questions fully.  Together, we can find a sustainable solution.

 "Lawns Make Our World Greener" Online and On the Airwaves!

The FSGC's statewide outreach, "Lawns Make Our World Greener" hit the air waves last week with three spots that highlight the environmental benefits of turfgrass and promote conservation of water resources.  The spots will air on the Florida News Network, Florida Roundtable, and Better Lawns & Gardens with Tom MacCubbin. 

"Lawns Make Our World Greener" was also featured on Better Lawns & Gardens on Saturday, May 30.  Click on the link below to listen to Tom's interview with FSGC executive director Betsy McGill about the initiative and the FSGC's commitment to conservation and healthy lawns.

Water Only When You Need It

Your Lawn is Working Hard for You

Grass is a Great Part of Your Florida-Friendly Landscape

Better Lawns and Gardens, May 30

Our Voice:  Conservation the Key When Watering

From The Daily Commercial

Friday, March 27 - Leesburg, Florida

Having a green lawn makes every homeowner feel proud. But you don't have to always run the sprinkler to achieve this sense of accomplishment.

People pour a lot of water on their lawns, trying to keep them green and lush year-round. In LakeCounty's 11 municipalities that have water service, that could be up to 25.1 million gallons of groundwater per day.

But is that much water usage really necessary? Not exactly, said one local sod grower.

We tend to over-water our grass, said Keith Truenow of the Florida Sod Growers Cooperative. The Mount Dora sod grower has said over-watered lawns have to work harder to stay healthy. They don't develop the deep root systems that help yards handle drought stress, and they're more susceptible to pests and disease.

In times of plentiful rain, this wasn't such a big deal. But we are in the middle of a dry spell, and everyone is paying more attention to where our water is going.

New watering restrictions are in effect: Lake County residents can water twice a week, Sumter County residents once a week. The days are based on addresses. And the water guidelines will change when we move our clocks back an hour in November.

The easiest way to cut back on water use is through smart irrigation practices. Michael D. Dukes of the University of Florida's Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering, said smart irrigation, which schedules irrigation based on climatic measurements or soil moisture, can cut water use 30 to 50 percent during dry periods and still maintain good turf quality.

Here's some advice from the Florida Sod Growers:

• Consider alternative ground covers in areas where grass doesn't want to grow.
• Mow smart. Don't cut more than one-third the height. Leave clippings on the lawn to help trap moisture and release nutrients into the soil.
• Water before sunrise to minimize evaporation.
• Set rotary sprinklers to run 40-50 minutes and fixed-spray heads about 15-20 minutes, twice a week.
• Reset your irrigation timers monthly to be in sync with the season.
• Use soil-moisture sensors hooked up to irrigation systems. They bypass unnecessary irrigation when the weather is rainy or when plants use less water in the winter.

Landscapes can use as much as half the potable municipal water supply and a majority of reclaimed water, often because irrigation systems are inefficient or used incorrectly.

So do your part. Water less. And remember that you don't have to consistently run the sprinkler to have a green-looking lawn.

Friday, March 27, 2009 - www.dailycommercial.com/032709frieditsod