Author Archives: Casey Reynolds, PhD

About Casey Reynolds, PhD

Dr. Casey Reynolds is the Executive Director at Turfgrass Producers International

USDA Disaster Relief Programs for Specialty Crop Producers

he U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to offset crop yield and value losses.

“For over two years, farmers and ranchers across the country have been hard hit by an ongoing pandemic coupled with more frequent and catastrophic natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “As the agriculture industry deals with new challenges and stressors, we at USDA look for opportunities to inject financial support back into the rural economy through direct payments to producers who bear the brunt of circumstances beyond their control. These emergency relief payments will help offset the significant crop losses due to major weather events in 2020 and 2021 and help ensure farming operations are viable this crop year, into the next growing season and beyond.”

Click Read More below to learn more about this and other USDA programs.

EPA Releases Interim Review Decision on Oxadiazon

On April 28th, 2022 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Interim Review Decision on several pesticides as part of its periodic review of pesticide registrations. One active ingredient that is of key interest to sod producers is oxadiazon, a pre-emergence herbicide labeled for use on many weed species of annual grasses, primarily crabgrass and goosegrass.

TPI has been working with EPA on this registration review since at least August of 2021 when the Proposed Interim Registration Review Decision was posted to the EPA’s public document in the U.S. Federal Register. As a result, TPI and nine individual sod producers from the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas submitted comments for EPA’s consideration on oxadiazon’s importance in sod farms and the potential impacts of this registration review decision on those who use it.

Most of the proposed changes to the oxadiazon label revolve around rate reductions, limitations on liquid applications, post-application irrigation, and others. A summary of the EPA’s recommendations from the Interim Registration Review are as follows:

For Sod Farms

  • Oxadiazon will be classified as a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP)
  • A yearly maximum application rate of 6.0 lbs ai/acre/year for all use sites, reduced from a previous maximum of 8.0 lbs ai/acre.
  • A single maximum application rate of 3.0 lbs ai/acre, reduced from a previous maximum of 4.0 lbs ai/acre.
  • Up to two liquid applications per year of oxadiazon
  • A 60-day re-treatment interval is required between applications
  • A 10-foot vegetative buffer is required between treated areas and surface water
  • Thorough post-application irrigation is required as soon as possible on the same day of application

For other Turf Sites (golf courses, parks, athletic fields)

  • Oxadiazon will be classified as a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP)
  • A yearly maximum application rate of 6.0 lbs ai/acre/year for all use sites
  • A single maximum application rate of 3.0 lbs ai/acre, reduced from a previous maximum of 4.0 lbs ai/acre.
  • Limit of one liquid application per year at a max rate of 3 lbs ai/acre
  • Golf courses only – Restrict treatment of up to 30% of golf course managed turf with a required 10-ft vegetative surface water buffer
  • Golf courses only – Allow up to two granular applications at 4lbs ai/A in areas of heavy weed pressure only
  • Prohibit Mechanically Pressurized Handgun (MPHG) on all sites except golf course turf
  • Restrict liquid backpack applications in turf to spot treatments only (1,000 sq ft or less)

One particular comment worth noting is that continued registration on non-agricultural, non-golf turf sites (athletic fields, parks, institutional turf, etc.) will currently be allowed until a pending review of new required studies are complete regarding the transfer of residue under these new labeling requirements.

TPI will continue to work with EPA to provide public comment on these recommended changes in the Interim Review Decision for oxadiazon. A Federal Register Notice has announced the availability of the oxadiazon Interim Decision, and a final registration review decision for oxadiazon will only be made after EPA completes additional requirements.

As always, we seek and welcome input from sod producers on these and other regulatory affairs. Last but certainly not least, thanks to those sod producersand representatives of other industries who logged onto provide public comment on this important product. Thanks also to EPA staff for working with our industry on this and addressing many of our needs in this decision.

 

Zoysiagrass Production – Sod Farm Survey

Are you a producer of Zoysiagrass?  If so, we need your help! The goal of this survey is to understand production issues that sod farmers may experience with Zoysiagrass. Researchers from Texas A&M AgriLife, Kansas State University, and Purdue University want to understand sod producer concerns with Zoysiagrass management and gain an idea of the economic impact of those issues that may include abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) stresses. Your response to this survey will aid researchers in addressing and finding solutions to any issues with Zoysiagrass from the production to the transplant success to the end-user.

The deadline to submit responses is October 22, 2021

TPI Requests Farmer Comments on Impending Changes to Oxadiazon in Sod Farms

EPA Proposes changes to Oxadiazon label in Sod Farms and other sites

The EPA has posted a Proposed Interim Decision for oxadiazon and TPI is working on behalf of sod farms to provide much needed feedback on the impacts to our industry. With significant changes to the oxadiazon label proposed, EPA needs to hear your expert opinions on the proposed mitigations in order to maintain the utility of this tool for weed control in sod farms. We would greatly appreciate your feedback to our questions below and your willingness to submit comments to EPA by November 3rd. The industry is currently seeking an extension but have yet to confirm whether or not it will be granted.

Summary of EPA Identified Issues with Oxadiazon and Proposed Mitigations 

Proposed pattern and rate reductions for all liquid and granular formulations

  • Use on turfgrass will be limited to golf course fairways and sod farms only
  • Yearly maximum use rate to be reduced from 8 lb ail/A to 6 lb ai/A
  • The single maximum application rate reduced from 4 lb ai/A to 3 lb ai/A
  • Applications are limited to 2 per year – spring and fall
  • Liquid applications will be limited to 1 per year
  • There must be a 120-day retreatment interval between applications
  • Applications to sports fields is prohibited, included at planting/new construction

Key Impacts on Sod Farmers

“Flexibility in use and timing is one of the key items we need to address with EPA”, says Dr. Casey Reynolds of TPI. Sod farms don’t always follow the typical timing of golf courses, athletic fields, and other sites. Many of those sites will apply oxadiazon at the same time each spring to prevent summer annual weeds, but in sod farms it is often applied after harvest and at new plantings throughout the year. Another item that needs to be addressed is new construction and sprigging of athletic fields. If sod farmers who also install natural grass sprigs or sod on newly constructed athletic fields lose oxadiazon in these scenarios, then it will almost certainly have a significant impact on those projects.

“We have not lost sight of the fact that we will retain oxadiazon as a key tool for weed control in sod production and need to share that with the EPA as well”, says Dr. Reynolds. “We have been working with other key industry partners and the EPA on this important topic and will continue to work on this on behalf of all sod farmers.”

Instructions for Providing Comments to EPA 

We would greatly appreciate direct submission of comments by sod farmers to EPA on refining the use patterns and rates for sod farms. The public comment docket is located at Oxadiazon Public Comment Docket or at the “Comment Here” link below. Once you have entered into the portal, click the blue box in the top left corner titled “Comment”

All comments must include Docket# EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0782.

Please reach out to Dr. Casey Reynolds at CReynolds@TurfgrassSod.org or 847-737-1846 for more information or for assistance with providing public comment.

Fall Armyworms Marching Across Much of U.S.

Sod farmers, athletic field managers, and landscapers in the southern United States are used to seeing their fair share of Fall armyworms, but this year seems different. According to several entomologists at various universities, the outbreak and damage this year is much more widespread than usual. Fall armyworms have made it much farther north this year into Ohio, Michigan, the northeast U.S., and as their name suggest the damage is done quickly. Be sure to be on the lookout for brown grass with defoliated leaf blades, and if possible treat quickly to avoid the worst damage. Warm-season grasses typically recover due to their stoloniferous and rhizomatous growth habits, but cool-season grasses can often be more susceptible to irreversible injury. Click the link below to learn more about this cumbersome pest, how to identify injury, and how to treat it.

USDA Adds Grass Seed to CFAP2 Relief Program and Sets Oct 12 Deadline

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. CFAP 2, which assists producers who faced market disruptions in 2020 due to COVID-19, is part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has set an Oct. 12 deadline for all eligible producers to apply for or modify applications for CFAP 2.

TPI Seeking Member Updates to New Edition of Sod As Agriculture Document

Turfgrass sod producers, here is your chance to help protect important local, national, and international agricultural exemptions for sod. TPI is currently updating the current edition of the book “Sod As Agriculture”. This resource includes state and federal regulations which document sod’s status as agriculture. It is often important to sod farms locally when various agencies or jurisdictions question whether or not sod should receive often important agricultural exemptions. If you are aware of any local, state, or national codes and regulations that grant our industry any particular exemptions please pass them along, and we will include them in the newest edition of Sod As Agriculture. This TPI member-only resource will be printed and mailed to members in early 2022.

Please call or email Dr. Casey Reynolds at 847-737-1846 or CReynolds@TurfgrassSod.org with any exemptions you wish to be included in this new member benefit.

H-2B Returning Worker Exception Act

Reps. Cuellar (S-TX), Joyce (R-OH) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers just introduced the “H-2B Returning Worker Exception Act,” which would create a permanent H-2B returning worker cap exemption and include some program efficiency and integrity measures. AmericanHort and the H-2B Workforce Coalition have been working with the bill sponsors to create a common sense permanent solution to the H-2B cap issue.

Click Read More below to learn more.

USDA to Begin Processing Payments for Turfgrass Producers under CFAP2

The USDA announced on March 24th that they will be re-opening and expanding pandemic assistance programs to provide Covid-19 relief to producers. This announcement included 4 parts with the following focus:

  1. Investing $6 billion to expand help and assistance to more producers
  2. Adding $500 million of new funds to existing programs
  3. Carrying out payments under CFAP 1, CFAP 2, and CFAP AA
  4. Re-opening the CFAP 2 sign-up period to improve access and outreach to underserved producers

This announcement also provides further clarity on when farmers who applied for CFAP 2 assistance by the February 26th deadline will begin to receive payments. The USDA will be finalizing routine decisions and minor formula adjustments on current and past applications and begin processing payments for certain applications that were filed as part of CFAP assistance, including those filed by turfgrass sod farmers. They will also re-open CFAP 2 for a new sign-up period for at least 60 days beginning April 5th, 2021.

As always, TPI will work with the Farm Service Agency to provide and updates and clarity to turfgrass sod farmers and we are always here to help if you have questions. You can also contact your local FSA office, visit www.farmers.gov, or click Read More below for additional information.