VTF Report
The Virginia SEED LAW S
everal years ago, I wrote an article that highlighted some of the discussions from the Turfgrass Summit held in Wintergreen in November 2013. The overriding consensus from the members of this summit was our need to be more unified as an industry. In 2017, the VTC and the VGCSA joined forces to put on the most successful research golf tournament to date. It raised more than $45,000 for Virginia’s turfgrass research. This is such a positive step and reflects what can be done when we are all unified in common goals. The other point that was highlighted at the Summit was our need to more closely monitor the Seed Law to ensure that all those who should be contributing to it are doing so. It is an honor-system venture with precious few checks and balances. In 2012, we were successful in securing a spot on the Virginia Agricultural Board, which reviews agricultural research and awards dollars from the research fund it monitors. Part of this pot is the money acquired from Virginia’s Seed Law that must be used for turfgrass research. We still need to look into the possibility of expanding the law to include fertilizer sales as North Carolina does. Our fund currently provides about $40,000 to $60,000 each year for turfgrass research. We believe it should be considerably more. At the right-hand side of this page is the section of the seed law as it pertains to the funding of turfgrass research. The Virginia Turfgrass Foundation has been charged with reviewing and recommending those projects we feel would most benefit the needs of Virginia’s turfgrass Industry.
Betty B. Parker VTF Manager
§ 3.2-4004. Seed Fund; established. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Seed Fund, hereafter referred to as the “Fund.” The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All fees and assessments paid pursuant to this article shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for carrying out the purpose of this article, except that the Commissioner shall deposit 50 percent of the inspection fee to the credit of the Virginia Agricultural Foundation Fund. The Virginia Agricultural Council shall administer all funds received from this section for the exclusive funding of lawn and turf research. Jack Hall served on this board for the past seven years and championed our efforts to ensure that we received our just portion. He has recently resigned from the board and will be missed for his incredible knowledge of turfgrass research as well as his ability to work congenially with all of us! We currently have two nominations for this position and will ensure that we have a new representative for the board’s March research review meeting. The founding members of the VTF believed there was a need to establish an endowment that would be used for the support of turfgrass research in Virginia. We still believe it! We are set up as a non-profit, tax exempt, scientific and educational organization 501©(3); therefore contributions are tax deductible. Our endowment fund now stands at $673,139.41!
8 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2017 www.vaturf.org