While steps can be taken to manage the unexpected, turf experts stress the importance of maintaining a good relationship with a supplier or someone who can get the superintendent what they need to deal with a problem.
It’s important to maintain a good working relationship with suppliers to assure quick fulfillment of orders when fungicides are needed, says SUNY Cobleskill turfgrass professor Dr. Alex Ellram.
“In large metropolitan areas where there are often many suppliers competing for your business, the onus is on them to keep a good working relationship with you,” he adds. “If you are more rural and have fewer suppliers competing for your business, you may need to work more at maintaining relationships with them.”
An experienced and knowledgeable distributor can offer their experience as well as their product line, says Jim Kerns, a plant pathologist at North Carolina State University.
“A good distributor will save as many if not more jobs as an academic in my opinion,” he says. “Turf is a wonderful industry because we are all on the same team. Many distributors attend education meetings and take excellent notes, so they also have a decent understanding of what we suggest when a disease develop. Plus, many of them were former golf course superintendents and can provide some excellent advice.”
