SOD PRODUCERS’ REPORTS ISSUED FOR NORTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA Compiled by Suz Trusty Two states—Georgia and North Carolina—have again issued Sod Producers’ Reports examining sod inventory and pricing within their state. Information is gathered by survey from the sod producers and the information analyzed and compiled to generate a comprehensive overview of that state’s natural grass sod market. In North Carolina, the report is conducted by North Carolina State University, coordinated by Dr. Grady Miller, professor and extension turfgrass specialist for NCSU. In Georgia, the report is conducted by the Georgia Urban Ag Council, coordinated by Dr. Clint Waltz, professor and extension turfgrass specialist for the University of Georgia. An overview of these reports follows along with links to the complete reports. Turf News and TPI thank Dr. Waltz and Dr. Miller for providing this valuable service to sod producers and the turfgrass industry.
2021 Sod Producers' Report for North Carolina In March 2021, North Carolina State University conducted the seventh annual survey to examine inventory and pricing of North Carolina sod. The link that follows provides access to the complete report. https://content.ces. ncsu.edu/sod-producers-report-for-north-carolina
North Carolina Report Overview •
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Supply of bermudagrass sod is similar to 2020, with most suppliers saying they have adequate supplies for their expected demand in 2021. There still may be some shortages. Supply of zoysiagrass and St. Augustinegrass are expected to be worse in 2021 compared to 2020, with more than 60 percent of surveyed producers expecting shortages in zoysiagrass and more than 40 percent expecting shortages in St. Augustinegrass. This was the fourth consecutive year that about one-third of the producers predicted they could have shortages of centipedegrass sod. No shortages for tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass sod were predicted for 2021. Only three North Carolina growers reported growing pure stands of Kentucky bluegrass whereas 11 grow tall fescue interseeded with Kentucky bluegrass. There are expected price changes for all the turfgrass species in 2021 except for bermudagrass (no change). Zoysiagrass and tall fescue had price reductions of 6 percent and 11 percent, respectively. Of the actual prices reported for early 2021, Kentucky bluegrass had
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the greatest increases (24 percent). Centipedegrass and St. Augustinegrass had a 7 percent increase compared to 2020. There was a 21 percent reduction in growers reporting that they grew proprietary grasses and a 25 percent reduction in certified sod growers. Production acreage was projected to increase in 2021. The primary market for North Carolina sod producers continues to be landscape contractors. There was a 31 percent increase in sales directly to homeowners with a slight decrease in sales to the landscape contractor sector of consumers compared to previous years. The golf course sector replaced sports/ athletic fields as number three in sales. There was a 24 percent reduction in the average number of full-time employees per producer. Total sod sales were reported to be 52 percent lower than the previous year.
North Carolina Sod Producers Survey Details Twenty-five producers representing the following farm sizes completed the anonymous online survey: • less than 200 acres (13 participants) • 201 to 500 acres (six participants) • 501 to 800 acres (two participants) • more than 800 acres (four participants) North Carolina Sod Producers Association (NCSPA) records suggest the number of completed surveys represents about 60 percent of the sod farms in North Carolina. The number of farms for the respective farm sizes suggests that this survey represents an overwhelming majority of the sod production acreage in the state.
Georgia 2021 Sod Producers’ Report The Georgia Urban Ag Council conducted their twentysixth survey of sod producers. The purpose of the survey was to determine the status of inventory levels and projected price changes for spring 2021. That report was issued on January 27, 2021. For the complete report, visit the link that follows. https://files.constantcontact.com/1bf98167001/b08ca376-e7f84fc7-808b-84f9a5c1dca0.pdf
Georgia Report Survey details Due to an insufficient sampling size of the industry, there was not a 2020 sod survey. This year’s results will be compared to 2019 responses. In 2021, 20 producers participated in the survey, representing farm sizes which were: TPI Turf News July/August 2021
