National Turfgrass Research Initiative

It is impossible to say enough good things about turfgrass. It cools the environment, cleanses the air, protects soil from
erosion, filters water, reduces sports injuries, contributes to the value of residential and commercial properties and supports industries that include golf, lawn care, seed and sod production, parks, athletics and more.

More than 50 million acres in the U.S. are covered by turfgrass – a $40 billion annual business that is growing rapidly. Meeting future needs will require research to improve turfgrasses and the way they are managed. Surprisingly, essentially no federal support has been directed for turfgrass research, even though it is recognized as a segment of U.S. agriculture.

New turfgrass research would benefit the air, water, soils, fish, wildlife and our lifestyle needs. An effort is underway to win $5.4 million in federal funding in Fiscal Year 2005/06 to fund 12 turfgrass research positions. This is the first phase of a $32.4 million request for dedicated turfgrass research by the National Turfgrass Research Initiative (NTRI). Created as a cooperative effort of the turfgrass industry and USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), NTRI has identified six areas in which turfgrass research is needed. With federal funding, USDA-ARS will coordinate research by government agencies, universities and private organizations. The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP), the United States Golf Association, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the Turfgrass Producers International, the Professional Lawn Care Association of America and the Irrigation Association all support NTRI.

Individuals may contact their federal legislators to voice support for NTRI’s funding request. For more information, contact Kevin Morris, executive director of NTEP at kmorris@ntep.org, or visit www.turfinitiative.org or www.turfresearch.org.