Take stock of seeds

Despite a hot, dry spring for growers and low carryover stock for suppliers, grass seed prices are stable and they should stay that way, seed companies say. Distributors and suppliers are finally rid of the excess seed they carried during and after the recession, pushing prices higher than they were five years ago, but now they’re staying steady.

Ebb and flow.

The markets are good, meaning carryover stock is low when it comes to elite and sod quality varieties. “There’s not really anybody that’s overstocked,” says Russ Nicholson, senior agronomist with Pennington Seed.

Tall fescue and ryegrass prices are up slightly due to a shortage of stock last year at Pennington, Nicholson says, adding that seed companies would like to get more inventory.

Pure Seed, however, had carryover of tall fescue last year which reduced prices a little. But salesperson Russ Hayworth says a 20-25 percent lighter than average harvest this year should even prices out.

Nicholson recommends booking good quality seed sooner rather than later due to availability. Many suppliers completely sold out last spring as farmers diversified their crops. In eastern Oregon and Washington, and in the Willamette Valley, other agricultural crops like hazelnuts and blueberries are gaining popularity.

Hayworth, however, says he doesn’t believe the loss of acres will have an effect on grass seed prices. “There’s always acres for grass seed it seems like,” he says. “It took a dent in it, but nothing that we’re seeing affects pricing or quality or anything like that. It just opens up different options for growers.”

But Nicholson believes that has pushed the price of seed up. “The farmer is a businessman,” he says. “They will put in what they can make the most money on and consequently to get them to grow turfgrass has become more and more expensive.”

That has pushed the price of seed higher than it was five or six years ago, but the economic recovery has also depleted overstock left when the market crashed in 2008. When the recession hit, seed production was at an all-time high, Nicholson says, and there was nowhere to sell it.

In Oregon, there weren’t a lot of alternative crops at the time and since grain prices weren’t good, farmers wanted to plant grass. “They wanted to plant more acres and, as an industry, honestly, we didn’t have a lot of self-control so all of us out there thought we could increase our sales by 20 percent,” says Aaron Kuenzi, executive vice president of Mountain View Seeds. “Well, obviously, only one company can increase their sales by 20 percent.”

Since farmers are usually under three- or five-year contracts, the seed kept coming in and distributors’ warehouses were filling up. Some companies even paid farmers to take grass out and it took until about 2013 for the inventory to clear out.

Dealing with drought.

As the drought continues in California, lawns are losing popularity, freeing up some seed for other parts of the country where the market is strong.

But with reduced yields due to a very hot, dry spring and summer, Hayworth says the factors should offset each other and prices will stay the same.

“Perennial ryegrass inventory before the new crops is limited,” he says. “Then again, the good crop perennial is going to be on the lighter side so I think demand will stay strong and pricing will stay the same or maybe slightly higher than last year due to a shorter crop.”

High temperatures in early June stressed crops and stunted normal growth, Hayworth says.

He predicts lower yields this year due to undeveloped and small seeds, meaning more seeds per pound. In areas of California where irrigation is not allowed, yields are low, so Bermudagrass and Kentucky bluegrass have been hit the hardest, Kuenzi says.

“The expectation in the industry three months ago was that prices could soften but because of the drought and the dry weather right now, we’re saying you won’t see a lot of softening happening. You’ll just see stable prices,” he says.

“Depending on how bad this drought is and how long it continues, there’s a chance you could even see prices strengthen a little bit because seed’s not available.”

Looking forward.

Elite and sod-quality varieties are getting harder to come by, partly because it’s getting harder to achieve high quality, Hayworth says. The sod market has been strong in the last year and a half, which means sod producers are buying the best materials.

The trend of the future is drought-tolerant varieties, according to Hayworth. He’s seeing an increased interest in varieties approved by the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance.

Nicholson says there has been a lot of development in coated seeds to not only help with germination, but also establishment, nutrient management and more.

“I see more of that going into the professional market,” he says. “In the retail market, that seems to be becoming the norm.”

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Aerator/Dethatcher Roundup

Classen TA-17D

The pitch: Classen PowerSteer Aerators feature split-drive technology, allowing you to steer, turn and aerate an entire job without removing the tines from the ground.

• For non-stop aeration, it has “all-tine” propulsion, meaning every tine is used to propel the unit forward or in reverse.
• It has a 16.25-inch aerating width and is able to cover 19,333 sq.ft/hr.
  

For more information: Classenturfcare.com

Exmark 30-inch Stand-on Aerator

The pitch: The Exmark 30-inch Stand-on Aerator features a split-tine design to allow easy turning with tines engaged.

• 7.5-mph top speed
• Mass is centralized directly over the 48 coring tines for maximum core depth consistency, which is adjustable from 2 to 5 inches.
  

For more information: Exmark.com

Ryan Ren-O-Thin Power Rake

The pitch: Remove thatch buildup with the redesigned Ren-O-Thin Power Rake.

• •Features interchangeable, high-carbon steel reels for quick customization.
• An ergonomic, multi-position handle can also be adjusted for user comfort.
• Users can fine-tune depth from 1 inch above the ground to 7/8-inch below.
  

For more information: Ryanturf.com

Toro 30-inch Stand-On Aerator

The pitch: Toro 30-inch stand-on aerators combine heavy-duty commercial durability with features that make any aeration job easier.

• Has ground speeds of up to 7.5 miles per hour and the ability to adjust plug length on the fly.
• Also features an ergonomic foot pedal that raises and lowers tines easily.
• The floating operator platform isolates vibrations, reducing operator fatigue and ultimately increasing jobsite productivity.
  

For more information: toro.com

Turfco TurnAer XT5

The pitch: Turfco’s TurnAer XT5 steerable and reversible aerator now offers increased speed, a new weight system and a new gear ratio system, improving efficiency and hill performance.

• The weight system allows operators to adjust weight in the back of the aerator, improving control on hills, and the gear ratio system gives operators 14 percent more speed.The TurnAer XT5 also uses Turfco’s steerable aerator technology with a new variable-speed hydrostatic drive system.
• Operators can steer and reverse with tines in the ground eliminating need to stop, lift and turn with each pass.
  

For more information: turfcodirect.com

Husqvarna Group makes appointment

Anders Johanson has been appointed SVP Technology Office and CTO at Husqvarna Group and member of group management as of Oct. 1. He replaces Henric Anderson, who has been appointed president construction division.

Anders Johanson is partner and global practice leader technology and innovation management at Arthur D. Little. In parallel Anders holds a part time role as adjunct professor in industrial product development at KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, since January 2015.

Anders has a MSc. Chemical Engineering and a MBA from Chalmers University of Technology.

“The appointment of Anders Johanson underlines Husqvarna Group’s commitment to continue developing cutting-edge technologies combined with increased product development efficiency and strengthening synergies between the divisions in our group,” said Kai Wärn, president and CEO of Husqvarna Group.

Heavy duty

Heavy equipment is dangerous, expensive and completely necessary for large snow management jobs. Taking all of that into consideration can make pricing a challenge. Whether to lease or purchase, where to store it and how to price offsite snow removal can be big headaches.

Leasing and purchasing

Mike Callahan, owner of Callahan’s Lawn Care in Rochester, N.Y., has found a break point when it comes to leasing or buying. He bases his decisions on the job and cash flow. “Honestly, with the vendor we’re using right now, 99 percent of our stuff we lease because the guy is great,” he says.

His vendor, a contractor who does drainage and tile work and doesn’t use his heavy equipment during the winter, includes maintenance in the price and keeps backup equipment in stock. “He’s got a fulltime maintenance staff that goes and gasses things up, they great them, anything that’s an issue outside of a flat tire in the middle of the night,” he says. “Literally, you call the guy and he’s there in an hour. It’s insane.”

Scott Wilson, owner of Wilson Landscaping & Lawn in Swansea, Ill., looks at how often he’ll be using the piece of equipment. For a large piece, he opts for a lease on vehicles he isn’t going to use at least 50 percent of the time. “It also depends on if we need to buy a large purchase item to offset our profit and loss statements,” he says.

Offsite snow removal

When you have to remove snow from properties, you can price it by square foot or by man-hour. Wilson and Callahan both look at the equipment and man-hours necessary to do the job.

“People ask, why don’t you do it price per square foot? Well, we can’t,” he says. “Because if I did a wide open parking lot, price per square foot, it will take me less time than to do one that’s broken off with islands and all that.”

Callahan puts everything in the contract upfront and bills hourly, breaking the price down by loader, backhoe, skid steer and eight-wheel dump truck. His company subcontracts out a lot of his snow removal work since his company can’t use that equipment year-round.

Wilson has a high, medium and low priority classification, which also determine the price. Priority A is those customers that want a 1-inch trigger like schools, banks and retail centers while priority B is those that want a 2- or 3-inch trigger and priority C is above 3 inches.

“We take size into consideration,” he says. “It also depends on the difficulty of maneuvering tight areas. There are a lot of distractions in a parking lot like cart corrals, islands, tight corners, so it does depend on the size of the location. Small areas require smaller units like say our 1-ton trucks versus our ton and a half or 2-ton trucks, so it depends on what size piece of equipment you provide.”

He also takes location into consideration since all of his employees are on a set route.

Wilson Landscaping & Lawn also looks at whether a customer wants rock salt or calcium chloride since there is a large price difference.

Where to keep it

When deciding where to overnight heavy equipment, Wilson looks at the distance from the yard to the jobsite, the weather and the safety of the area.

Callahan, on the other hand, leaves everything onsite. Equipment in a high density area may move around to multiple properties but remains on the property. And if there is a piece being underutilized, his team will canvass the area, marketing to lots that will fit the truck so that it isn’t sitting idle.

PACE expands warehousing

To keep up with continued growth, outdoor power equipment distributor, PACE recently doubled its Lakeland, Fla. warehouse space to an expansive 41,628 total square feet. PACE also purchased an additional 44,000 square foot building on Keel Street near the PACE headquarters and main warehouse in Plymouth, Mich. The purchase and expansion brings PACE’s total warehouse space for the four locations (including West Bend and Sacramento) to 205,000 square feet.

Much of the expansion is made possible by PACE’s use of state-of-the-art technology. PACE is able to provide online ordering and same day shipping on parts and most equipment orders for enhanced dealer and end-user satisfaction. Dealers also benefit from PACE’s customer service from factory trained staff, plus 24-hr access to pricing and online ordering. “Ease of doing business is key. The easier we make things for our dealers, the better they can serve their customers. That’s great for everyone, and it’s great for business,” said PACE’s VP of Operations, Shawn Hill.

“It’s a challenging, dynamic business environment, but we have a dedicated, versatile staff. PACE team members welcome the challenges, and we are always developing and implementing new ideas to better serve our customers,” said Chris Saxton, president of PACE.

For more information, call 1-734-453-6258 or visit www.pacelink.com.

GIE+EXPO continues to expand

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – GIE+EXPO (the Green Industry & Equipment Expo) and Hardscape North America (HNA) will co-locate in Louisville again in 2015, and feature two new apps to help attendees navigate the shows.

The GO EXPO and GO HNA apps, sponsored by Gravely, will give attendees the ability to access the exhibitor list and floor plan, search by product, plan their schedules and contact exhibitors directly from the app.

All who download one of the apps and then log in will be entered into a drawing to win $5,000.

The two shows at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville take place Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 21-23, and will also feature:

• HNA will grow from six to eight conference sessions, including Jerry Gaeta leading “Estimating Projects with Confidence,” Monroe Porter discussing the topic of “Building a More Profitable Business with Numbers and Efficiency,” and Charles Van der Kooi providing advice on “How to Evaluate, Motivate and Reward Your People.”
• Attendees will have the opportunity to attend Latino Link, a series of seminars presented by the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance (NHLA). The series targets three GIE+EXPO audiences: a breakfast session for dealers, three seminars for owners and managers of landscape businesses and two Spanish-language sessions for members of the Hispanic workforce.

Register today for full access Pre-registration for a three-day pass to the tradeshow is only $15 per person until Sept. 10. Beginning Sept. 11, the fee will increase to $30. The tradeshow admission for those who wait to register on site will be $60. To register online, go to www.gie-expo.com. Additional details about the show are available on the website or by contacting Sellers Expositions at 800-558-8767 or info@gie-expo.com. GIE+EXPO, www.gie-expo.com, is sponsored by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS). HNA is produced by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) and endorsed by the Brick Industry Association and National Concrete Masonry Association.

• 750 exhibitors showcasing the latest innovations in 700,000 square feet – indoors and out. The 19-acre Outdoor Demonstration Area will be open Thursday and Friday during the show.
• A Dealer Day preview for dealers, distributors, retailers and media on Wednesday. The tradeshow will be open Thursday and Friday to all in the industry.
• The Dealer Resource Pavilion will combine education for dealership owners and managers, training and certification for technicians, a dealer-only lounge and Internet café, information on managing a profitable parts and service department and networking among dealers.
• Additional educational opportunities for dealers include a three-session Dealer Summit offering tips on using social media to grow your business, manufacturer forecasting and dealers sharing best-practice advice.
• LANDSCAPES 2015 (formerly Green Industry Conference), organized by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), and the Professional Grounds Management Society’s (PGMS) popular School of Grounds Management offer educational sessions and peer networking. These educational events for green industry professionals and professional grounds managers begin Oct. 22.
• GIE+EXPO Workshops feature 10 sessions for landscapers, including tracks on hardscapes and snow and ice management.
• By attending one of the two hardscape-related GIE+EXPO workshops on Thursday, attendees will gain admission to six hours of hardscape installation demonstrations in the HNA Outdoor Arena tent. The HNA demonstrations can also be accessed with a $25 registration upgrade.
• The New Products Showcase featuring exhibitors’ latest innovations.
• Three free concerts featuring Grand Funk Railroad with From Paris on Wednesday, Kellie Pickler with The Crashers on Thursday and The Rigbys with Lyndsey Henken on Friday.
• Giveaways, including a $5,000-drawing sponsored by STIHL during the Dealer Day reception on Wednesday and a $10,000 Fabulous Friday Giveaway sponsored by Belgard Hardscapes. One winner will be drawn at 4 p.m., and the winner must be present to win. To be eligible, register for GIE+EXPO. An entry form will be mailed along with badges and will include instructions for returning it on site.

You Know You're an Arborist When...

There’s no question that arborists are a unique bunch. Though tree care professionals come in all shapes and sizes, many share endearing quirks that only other arborists can understand.

We recently asked our Facebook fans and Twitter followers to share what it means to be an arborist, and we certainly received quite a few hilarious, clever responses! Check out our favorites below:

 

"You Know You're an Arborist When ____________"

 

read more

Aquatrols expands Australia presence

Aquatrols is announcing a new distribution partnership with Bayer Environmental Science that will significantly expand the company’s presence in Australia. The deal will provide greater solutions, innovations, and support for turf managers across Australia, according Matthew Bywater, international accounts manager for Aquatrols in the Pacific Rim.

“As our science and product range has developed beyond simply controlling dry patch and into greater rootzone management, so has the need to further support and research our products on a localized basis. Working with Bayer will allow us to address the specific needs of Australia’s turf managers,” said Bywater.

Peter Kirby, turf market manager for Bayer Environmental Science in Australia, expressed similar optimism about the deal.

“We pride ourselves on supplying Australia’s turf managers with the products and services they need to produce optimum playing conditions. Over the past 60 years, Aquatrols has shown a strong commitment to research and development and a genuine concern for their customers. We are pleased to partner with them to provide Australia’s turf managers with products that are backed up by sound science and research,” Kirby said.

All Aquatrols products will be available through Bayer’s Australian distribution network beginning Sept. 22.

Fall forecast

Summer is on the way out and as fall approaches, it’s time to start thinking about preparing lawns for a strong spring comeback. Turfgrass researchers don’t expect especially high pressure from weeds or diseases, but the hot and dry summer in many parts of the country has left lawns weak.

“I don’t think there’s going to be any unique or major disease pressure other than the fact that if our lawn care operators aren’t diligent in trying to get those areas to recover, anyplace that a plant is weak is an opportunity, if moisture returns, for a pathogen to be opportunistic,” says Jim Kerns, turfgrass pathologist at North Carolina State University.

He says warm season grasses will bounce back once they get some rain, but cool season grasses are more at risk when the weather gets colder.

Jim Brosnan, associate professor of turf and ornamental weed science at the University of Tennessee, says the usual annual broadleaf and grassy weeds will be making an appearance this year. Last year, the wet September and October led to early germination of fall weeds, so many pre-emergent programs didn’t work as well as they did in past years. And it’s important to watch the winter weather to anticipate spring weed pressure.

“Last year, we had early germination, particularly of annual bluegrass, and then we went into winter and it got legendarily cold, as it has for two winters in a row now, and that really stunted the growth of everything. We had a lot of rain after that cold period and from that got a surge of winter annual broadleaf pressure and grassy weed pressure in late March, early April,” Brosnan says.

Kerns says germination will depend on whether your area receives a lot of precipitation or stays dry. He recommends aerating around Labor Day. “It can always help with recovery to get a good healthy stand of grass back, especially in cool season grass,” he says.

Kerns says cool season grasses should recover from winter weeds pretty well and operators should be able to get away with spot sprays or some broadcast applications for broadleaf weeds. For warm season grasses, many operators will need to wait to apply anything until the grasses go truly dormant in northern areas.

In order to do an effective pre-emergent application, Brosnan suggests scouting lawns in August. In his area, pre-emergent programs start around Labor Day, but that was too late last year. Cool weather grasses like tall fescue will be thriving this time of year, so it’s the ideal time to put down an herbicide. Just make sure the weather isn’t too hot and stressing the turf.

Scouting will make post-emergent applications more effective since smaller weeds are easier to control. “If you can come in and control seedling weeds that have just maybe newly germinated, that’s a much easier path than say coming into a lawn in March and trying to take out a mature common chickweed plant with flowers on it,” Brosnan says. “That’s just two different things.”

It’s key to treat winter annual weeds before they set seed back into the soil because once weeds have set seed, they have given themselves a foothold to come back the next year. “If we can control a weed before seed sets into the soil, we’ve at least done our part in reducing the weed seed percentage in the seed bank,” Brosnan says.

Brosnan also recommends switching up your control methods to avoid herbicide resistance, with annual bluegrass in particular, as he has seen an increase in treatment resistance.

This has been occurring on golf courses and sports turf, and while he hasn’t seen any cases in lawns yet, it is a threat. Continuing the same applications year after year reduces the tools in the tool box for weed control and can lead to complex and costly problems, he says. “There’s no point where diversification is bad.”

If you are applying an herbicide in the fall, make sure that you aren’t overseeding at the same time.