Update from Auburn University >>>
An
UPCOMING SURVEY and a Recent Look at
BAHAMIAN SOD By Dave Han, Ph.D., Auburn University
Alabama Turf Times >>> Fa l l 2 008
As
you might guess, my job as the state Extension specialist in turfgrass management takes me to many interesting locations. One of the many facets of the turfgrass industry that I help to support is sod production. If you didn't already know that Alabama is a nationwide leader in sod production, you do now! Alabama produces the third-most sod in the country annually (behind only Florida and Texas), according to the 2002 Census of Agriculture. There's no reason to expect our rank to change significantly when the results of the 2007 Census
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of Agriculture are released next spring. Although most of our sod is used within Alabama, we export a significant amount to neighboring states. The ATA, Auburn University and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System are committed to maintaining a healthy sod industry for the state of Alabama. You may remember that back in 2003, Dr. Deacue Fields in the Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department at Auburn conducted an analysis of the economic impact of the green industry, including all facets of the turfgrass industry. This impact provided our industry
with hard numbers illustrating the importance of the green industry to the state's economy. It's time to update the economic-impact study, and Dr. Fields will soon email, mail and call you, asking you to please fill out his short survey forms. We ask that you provide as much information as you can, so that the economicimpact data will be as complete as possible. All personal information is confidential; only totals will be released. This year's survey also includes special questions to sod producers and those that buy and lay sod (landscapers, lawn care services,