Drought Resilience by Turf Merchants

There has been so much talk recently about areas of the country that are experiencing unprecedented droughts. This is a major problem, especially for industries that require large areas of turf to be maintained and watered. The solution is not to find more water, instead, making the most out of it and ensuring that the turf that we are maintaining can easily absorb water and also learn to survive when water is scarce.

The market is saturated with countless fertilizers that can maximize the amount of moisture crops and turf absorb, this technology has been in the works for many years now. However, in recent years the focus has changed drastically in making seeds and fertilizers not only efficient but environmentally friendly. Sure, we can get chemical and artificial fertilizers that will maximize the productivity of irrigation in crops and turf, but we haven't really studied the environmental impact that some of these newer technologies can create. This is where Turf Merchants really shines, they have honed in growth effectiveness via natural methods, carefully selecting seed growers and seed produce.

Thinking of the long term impact of these technologies and fertilizers is important especially in times like these were we are facing droughts which may take a significant amount of time to recover from.

Excerpt from their website:

"With fresh water supplies becoming severely limited around the world, the uses of water are being scrutinized more closely than ever before, especially the use of water for landscapes, athletic fields, home lawns and other non-agricultural uses. This means the development of turf grass cultivars with improved tolerance to limited or low quality water as one of the most important research objectives facing the turf grass industry. Turf Merchants, Inc. (TMI) is one of three major turf grass marketers, developers and producers who have joined resources to create the Turf Grass Water Conservation Alliance. (TWCA). This non-profit organization will establish a science-based method for qualifying cultivars for drought tolerance and other characteristics related to water conservation of grass seeds at low cost. A national system of Digital Imaging Analysis (DIA) combined with rain out shelters in Oregon, Arkansas and Virginia, will produce a protocol for minimum requirements to insure the integrity of the program from breeding through final packaging."

Make sure to check out our full list of suppliers on our website TurfAsset 

Advancing the Field of Turf Care

There is a recent article in the Crab Life Newsletter that really highlights what Agricultural Solutions is trying to achieve with their products.  When you think of the best golf courses around the country you think of quality, longevity, history and tradition.  We should be thinking about greens care in the same manner.  That's what this article is all about; aiming for longevity in turf care and not temporary harmful fixes.  Agricultural Solutions is dedicated to continuing scientific research to advance the field of turf care and we are proud to have them as a partner at Turf Asset!

What the Microbe is going on? What we know and what we don't In my travels with many of you, we have discussed the lack of knowledge society as a whole has when it comes to microbial activity.  Dr. Nathan Wolfe of Stanford University is a virologist and is looking for the next pathogen to cause a global pandemic.  He is more than honest about our ignorance about the microbial world.  In an article written for National Geographic, he states, “[I]t is only in the past few decades that we have come to realize how ubiquitous microbes are, flourishing from the tops of clouds to miles below the Earth’s surface. We’ve just begun to understand how vital they are to our health and to the health of the Earth. We pride ourselves on having explored nearly every corner of this planet, but behind our world is a shadow world of microbes—and they are often calling the shots.” While we are just beginning to scratch the surface of soil microbial knowledge, vital information is coming forward.  First, beneficial microbes are more powerful and resilient that we ever thought.  This means that despite the chemotherapy treatments we've given the soil, they are alive and ready to perform.  Second, they need sustenance to perform.  Third, they are the future of fertilizer and chemical sales.  In fact, fungicides coming to market soon are designed to inhibit microbe activity in the hope that fungus will be a common casualty.  That is misguided science.  You will be seeing more and more marketing focusing on feeding beneficial bacteria. What does this mean for turf and ultimately your sales forecast?  These facts put you on front lines of the coming knowledge war and the winner will be the one who arms himself with the right tools for their customers.  Not just 2 years ago "experts" told us that ISIS would never be a credible threat – now, we can't go one day without hearing about them.  Don't be misled, the microbial world is the next front for product research and development and you will need to know how to parse out the credible from the ridiculous.  Any of our staff would welcome the opportunity to share what knowledge we have and what we are looking at next.  We agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Wolfe, “[A]s we continue to explore the microbial world, our fear of the invisible beings around us, and in us, should be tempered with respect for what we are learning about them—and a rush of excitement for what remains to be discovered.” To read more about Agricultural Solutions visit their website at www.agsolus.com

Golf Course Industries Online Feature for Our Official Launch!

It's really great that the week of our official launch we are featured in Golf Course Industry Magazine online!  We are glad to accommodate the client who prefers online ordering with a close line to the distributor.

Turfasset.com is Open for Business

Turf Asset LLC has officially launched turfasset.com, the industry’s first web-based storefront for superintendents, lawn care operators and other professional turf managers. 

“The Turf Asset storefront facilitates profitable business partnerships between the manufacturers of forward-thinking products and progressive distributors. We’re thrilled to have already attracted an innovative line-up of manufacturer partners and excited to launch our storefront site,” said Ned Herod, president.

The storefront is designed to give customers who prefer online buying easy access to a variety of professional turf products. Our system keeps distribution engaged in the sale and isn’t intended to replace the traditional market, said Herod.

Current partners include Agricultural Solutions, Catalyst Sprayables, Morchem Enterprises, PropTera, Turf Merchants, United Fertilizer Technologies and the Protene Brand of Products. Additional partners are being added in coming weeks and months. 

Follow Turf Asset on Twitter @TurfAsset (www.twitter.com/turfasset) to track new partners and product offerings.


The original article can be found here.