General Information The Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service (MASS), in cooperation with the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation and the Michigan Department of Agriculture, conducted the first Michigan Turfgrass Survey during the winter of 2002. This survey was designed to measure the contribution made to the turfgrass industry by sod farms, golf courses, homeowners, lawn service companies, parks, schools, cemeteries, apartments, and highways. Almost 1.9 million acres of lawn and turf were maintained statewide in 2002. Expenditures for that maintenance, including variable inputs, equipment purchases, and labor and contracted services, exceeded $1.8 billion, a major contribution to the State's economy. Additionally, over 30,000 persons were employed year-round or seasonally for lawn care. Turfgrass survey summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : Costs : :----------------------------------- Sector : Area : Variable : Equipment : Labor and : : inputs : purchases :contracted : : : : services ------------------------------------------------------------------------ :1,000 acres -------- 1,000 dollars -------- : Private residences : 1,575.0 560,000 405,000 226,000 Parks : 69.0 6,700 4,400 33,300 Cemeteries : 22.2 2,550 1,630 21,645 Apartments : -- 15,000 -- 30,000 Golf courses : 95.8 62,100 20,900 126,200 Sod farms : 6.9 4,150 1,370 5,690 Highways 1/ : 60.7 300 0 555 Schools : 59.5 7,500 4,800 60,600 Lawn service companies : 640.0 88,800 31,700 140,000 : Total 2/ : 1,889.1 747,100 469,800 643,990 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Includes only areas maintained by Michigan Department of Transportation. 2/ Total acres does not include lawn service companies to avoid duplication. Acreage of principal varieties of grass for golf courses, parks, schools, and cemeteries ------------------------------------------------------------ Variety : Area ------------------------------------------------------------ : Acres Percent : Bluegrass/Fescue : 57,150 23.2 Kentucky Bluegrass : 34,050 13.8 Bentgrass : 16,630 6.7 Poa-Annua : 12,910 5.2 Poa/Bentgrass : 7,580 3.1 Ryegrass : 17,030 6.9 Fine Fescue : 6,110 2.5 Improved Turf Type Tall Fescue : 3,740 1.5 Natural : 14,260 5.8 Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue : 2,020 0.8 Other : 12,670 5.1 Unknown : 62,350 25.3 : Total : 246,500 100 ------------------------------------------------------------ Turf maintenance employees by sector ------------------------------------------------- :Year-round : Seasonal Sector : employees : employees ------------------------------------------------- : Number Number : Parks : 900 2,130 Cemeteries : 700 1,400 Golf courses : 1,700 8,150 Sod farms : 70 265 Schools : 1,700 1,650 Lawn service companies : 4,100 7,500 : Total : 9,170 21,095 ------------------------------------------------- Input costs for lawns by sector ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sector : Fertilizer :Pesticides 1/: Sod : Seed : Others : Total ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 dollars : Private residences : 115,900 44,300 18,000 37,000 344,800 560,000 Parks : 1,130 440 140 460 4,530 6,700 Cemeteries : 245 188 34 235 1,848 2,550 Apartments : 2,050 1,430 180 250 11,090 15,000 Golf courses : 13,500 18,300 1,000 1,400 27,900 62,100 Sod farms : 940 325 0 790 2,095 4,150 Highways 2/ : 10 255 0 5 30 300 Schools : 1,870 680 250 560 4,140 7,500 Lawn service companies : 22,100 11,300 4,500 4,200 46,700 88,800 : Total : 157,745 77,218 24,104 44,900 443,133 747,100 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. 2/ Includes only areas maintained by Michigan Department of Transportation. Top four primary lawn care information sources by sector ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : :Commercial : : Other : : :Garden : : Sector : Lawn :Peers 1/ : tech :Magazines: super- :University : County :center/:Technical:Product :serv. co.: : reps : :intendents:specialists:extension:nursery:journals : labels ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Percent reporting : Private residences: 23 34 -- -- -- -- -- 39 -- 25 Parks : 25 23 -- -- -- -- 28 23 -- -- Cemeteries : 28 26 -- -- -- -- 24 17 -- -- Golf courses : -- 34 59 -- 59 48 -- -- -- -- Schools : 45 37 28 23 -- -- -- -- -- -- Lawn serv. co. : -- 42 27 46 -- -- -- -- 27 -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Other homeowners for private residences. Private Residences Private residences: Total area, new lawn area, and cost of establishing -------------------------------------------- Item : Amount -------------------------------------------- : Sq. feet : Mean : 26,400 25 percent quantile : 5,000 Median : 12,900 75 percent quantile : 33,000 :------------- : Acres : Total lawn : 1,575,000 New lawn established : 62,300 :------------- : Dollars : Cost of establishing : 185,000,000 -------------------------------------------- Private residences: Sources of lawn care information ------------------------------------------------------ : Percent Source : reporting ------------------------------------------------------ Garden center/nursery : 39 Other homeowners : 34 Product labels : 25 Lawn service companies : 23 Magazines : 18 Newspapers : 17 TV/radio : 17 Internet : 8 Other : 5 County extension : 5 Commercial tech reps : 2 Private consultant : 2 University specialists : 1 Technical journals : 1 Local green industry : 1 Community college : 0 State green industry : 0 ------------------------------------------------------ Private residences: Major lawn care problems -------------------------------------------- : Percent Problem : reporting -------------------------------------------- Drought : 46 Weeds : 45 Insects/grubs : 30 Moles/voles : 29 Poor soil : 15 Excessive shade : 11 Disease : 6 Thatch : 6 Pet waste : 5 Other : 5 Traffic : 4 Equipment maintenance : 3 Poor drainage : 3 Erosion : 2 Nematodes : 1 -------------------------------------------- Private residences: Use of lawn care service and costs ------------------------------------------------------ Item : Amount ------------------------------------------------------ : Number : Homeowners using service : 580,000 :----------------------- : Dollars : Mean expenditure : 390 Median expenditure : 250 Total expenditures : 226,000,000 ------------------------------------------------------ Private residences: Services reported by homeowners using lawn care service -------------------------------------------- Service : Percent reporting -------------------------------------------- Fertilization : 63 Weed control : 61 Insect control : 44 Mowing/trim : 40 Disease control : 27 Edging : 25 Fall clean-up : 19 Spring clean-up : 15 Coring aeration : 13 Mulching : 9 Sprinkler service : 7 Soil testing : 5 Dethatching/power rake : 4 Sprinkler installation : 3 Renovation/overseed : 2 Installation (seed/sod) : 2 Other : 2 -------------------------------------------- Private residences: Lawn equipment purchase costs -------------------------------------------- Item : Amount -------------------------------------------- : Percent : Homeowners purchasing : 27.6 :------------------- : Dollars : Mean expenditure : 565 Median expenditure : 150 Total expenditures : 405,000,000 -------------------------------------------- Private residences: Input costs for lawns ------------------------------------------------ Item : Amount ------------------------------------------------ : Dollars : Equipment rentals : 4,500,000 Fertilizer : 115,900,000 Fuel : 60,800,000 Herbicides : 18,400,000 Insecticides/fungicides : 25,900,000 Lime : 5,800,000 Mowing equipment repairs : 64,200,000 Mowing equipment supplies : 45,400,000 Seed : 37,000,000 Sod : 18,000,000 Soil testing : 800,000 Topsoil : 17,000,000 Water : 142,500,000 Other : 3,800,000 : Total : 560,000,000 ------------------------------------------------ Parks Parks: General lawn and athletic field area by government type ------------------------------------------------ : : General : Athletic Type : Parks : lawn : fields ------------------------------------------------ : Number ------ Acres ----- : Municipal : 2,650 23,900 4,250 Township : 1,245 10,900 3,300 County : 302 13,200 400 State : 103 13,000 50 : Total : 4,300 61,000 8,000 ------------------------------------------------ Parks: Highest educational level of person most responsible for turf management --------------------------------------------------------- Level : Percent --------------------------------------------------------- Elementary : 2 High school : 68 2 Year college : 16 4 Year college : 13 Masters : 1 --------------------------------------------------------- Parks: Services performed 1/ ---------------------------------------- : Percent Service : reporting ---------------------------------------- Spring clean-up : 85 Mowing/trim : 98 Edging : 47 Fall clean-up : 77 Mulching : 28 Planting : 43 Disease control : 28 Fertilization : 54 Weed control : 54 Soil testing : 10 Coring aeration : 36 Renovation/overseed : 44 Dethatching/power rake : 9 Installation : 40 Sprinkler installation : 22 Sprinkler service : 37 Other : 2 ---------------------------------------- 1/ Weighted by parks. Parks: General lawn varieties ------------------------------------------------------ Variety : Amount ------------------------------------------------------ : Acres Percent : Unknown : 28,000 45.9 Bluegrass/Fescue : 12,500 20.5 Natural : 9,480 15.5 Ryegrass : 3,810 6.2 Kentucky Bluegrass : 3,480 5.7 Improved Turf Type Tall Fescue: 1,130 1.9 Fine Fescue : 680 1.1 Other : 630 1.0 Poa-Annua : 580 1.0 Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue : 490 0.8 Bentgrass : 190 0.3 Poa/Bentgrass : 30 0.1 : Total : 61,000 100 ------------------------------------------------------ Parks: Sources of lawn care information ---------------------------------------- : Percent Source : reporting ---------------------------------------- County extension : 28 Lawn service companies : 25 Peers : 23 Garden center : 23 Product labels : 14 Magazines : 12 University specialists : 11 Private consultant : 10 Commercial tech reps : 8 Technical journals : 6 Internet : 5 Other : 4 TV/radio : 1 Newspapers : 1 ---------------------------------------- Parks: General lawn problems 1/ ------------------------------------------------------ : Percent Problem : reporting ------------------------------------------------------ Drought : 57 Weeds : 40 Poor soil : 28 Traffic : 27 Poor drainage : 14 Insects/grubs : 13 Moles/voles : 10 Excessive shade : 9 Equipment maintenance : 8 Erosion : 4 Disease : 3 Other : 2 Thatch : 2 ------------------------------------------------------ 1/ Weighted by parks with general lawn. Parks: Athletic field varieties ------------------------------------------------------- Variety : Amount ------------------------------------------------------- : Acres Percent : Unknown : 2,250 28.1 Bluegrass/Fescue : 2,150 26.9 Ryegrass : 810 10.1 Kentucky Bluegrass : 680 8.5 Athletic mix : 540 6.8 Natural : 480 6.0 Other : 410 5.1 Improved Turf Type Tall Fescue : 180 2.3 Fine Fescue : 160 2.0 Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue : 120 1.5 Bentgrass : 110 1.4 Poa-Annua : 110 1.4 : Total : 8,000 100 ------------------------------------------------------- Parks: Sources of irrigation water ----------------------------------------- Source : Amount ----------------------------------------- : Percent : Municipal water : 58 Ponds/lakes : 12 Rivers/streams : 4 Wells : 26 ----------------------------------------- Parks: Employees, payroll, and contracted services for turf maintenance ----------------------------------------- Item : Amount ----------------------------------------- : Number : Year-round employees : 900 Seasonal employees : 2,130 :------------- : Dollars : Payroll : 30,700,000 Contracted services : 2,600,000 ----------------------------------------- Parks: Athletic field problems 1/ ------------------------------------ : Percent Problem : reporting ------------------------------------ Drought : 53 Traffic : 36 Weeds : 26 Poor soil : 21 Poor drainage : 12 Insects/grubs : 8 Moles/voles : 8 Equipment maintenance : 7 Thatch : 5 Disease : 4 Other : 2 Excessive shade : 2 Erosion : 1 ------------------------------------ 1/ Weighted by parks with athletic fields. Parks: Input costs for lawns ----------------------------------------- Item : Amount ----------------------------------------- : Dollars : Equipment purchases : 4,400,000 Equipment rentals : 1,740,000 Equipment repairs : 1,030,000 Fertilizer : 1,130,000 Fuel : 500,000 Herbicides : 230,000 Insecticides/fungicides : 210,000 Lime : 7,000 Mowing supplies : 920,000 Seed : 460,000 Sod : 140,000 Soil testing : 5,000 Topsoil : 250,000 Other : 78,000 : Total : 11,100,000 ----------------------------------------- Parks: Athletic field use by type -------------------------------------------------- : :Mean usage :Mean usage Type : Amount : per year : per month -------------------------------------------------- : Number Months Hours : Baseball : 1,480 4.8 185 Football : 1,140 5.4 170 Playgrounds : 140 2.9 125 Soccer : 1,310 6.0 165 Softball : 2,220 9.0 240 Other : 80 4.8 150 -------------------------------------------------- Cemeteries Cemeteries: General Information -------------------------------------------------------- Item : Maintained lawn -------------------------------------------------------- : Number Acres : Operations : 2,400 22,200 -------------------------------------------------------- Cemeteries: Highest educational level of person most responsible for turf management ---------------------------------------------- Level : Percent ---------------------------------------------- Elementary : 4 High school : 73 2 Year college : 15 4 Year college : 7 Masters : 1 ---------------------------------------------- Cemeteries: Lawn varieties -------------------------------------------------------- Variety : Acres : Percent -------------------------------------------------------- Unknown : 12,000 54.2 Bluegrass/Fescue : 3,300 14.9 Natural : 2,100 9.4 Kentucky Bluegrass : 1,290 5.8 Other : 1,190 5.3 Ryegrass : 910 4.1 Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue : 610 2.8 Fine Fescue : 570 2.6 Improved Turf Type Tall Fescue : 180 0.8 Bentgrass : 30 0.1 Poa-Annua : 20 0.1 Poa/Bentgrass : 0 0.0 : Total : 22,200 100 -------------------------------------------------------- Cemeteries: Sources of lawn care information ---------------------------------------------- : Percent Source : reporting ---------------------------------------------- Lawn service companies : 28 Peers : 26 County extension : 24 Garden center : 17 Magazines : 12 Product labels : 11 Private consultant : 8 Commercial tech reps : 6 Other : 4 Newspapers : 4 University specialists : 4 Technical journals : 3 Internet : 2 TV/radio : 1 ---------------------------------------------- Cemeteries: Services performed 1/ ------------------------------------- : Percent Service : reporting ------------------------------------- Mowing/trim : 92 Spring clean-up : 84 Fall clean-up : 69 Edging : 43 Installation (seed/sod) : 26 Weed control : 22 Fertilization : 18 Renovation/overseed : 13 Mulching : 8 Sprinkler service : 8 Insect control : 8 Disease control : 4 Dethatching/power rake : 3 Soil testing : 3 Sprinkler installation : 3 Other : 2 Coring aeration : 1 ------------------------------------- 1/ Weighted by cemeteries. Cemeteries: Major lawn care problems 1/ ---------------------------------------------- : Percent Problem : reporting ---------------------------------------------- Drought : 54 Weeds : 44 Poor soil : 35 Moles/voles : 24 Excessive shade : 21 Insects/grubs : 11 Equipment maintenance : 8 Poor drainage : 5 Other : 4 Erosion : 3 Traffic : 3 Thatch : 2 Disease : 1 ---------------------------------------------- 1/ Weighted by cemeteries. Cemeteries: Employees, payroll, and contracted services for turf maintenance --------------------------------------------- Item : Amount --------------------------------------------- : Number : Year-round employees : 700 Seasonal employees : 1,400 :-------------- : Dollars : Payroll : 18,300,000 Contracted services : 3,345,000 --------------------------------------------- Cemeteries: Input costs for lawns --------------------------------------------- Item : Amount --------------------------------------------- : Dollars : Equipment purchases : 1,630,000 Equipment rentals : 210,000 Equipment repairs : 390,000 Fertilizer : 245,000 Fuel : 330,000 Herbicides : 140,000 Insecticides/fungicides : 48,000 Lime : 8,500 Mowing equipment supplies : 410,000 Seed : 235,000 Sod : 34,000 Soil testing : 1,500 Topsoil : 155,000 Water : 305,000 Other : 38,000 : Total : 4,180,000 --------------------------------------------- Apartments Apartments: Services performed ---------------------------------------------------- : Percent Service : reporting ---------------------------------------------------- Mowing/trim : 91 Spring clean-up : 83 Weed control : 78 Fall clean-up : 77 Fertilization : 77 Edging : 74 Disease control : 51 Planting : 48 Sprinkler service : 43 Mulching : 35 Renovation/overseed : 22 Installation (seed/sod) : 22 Coring aeration : 12 Dethatching/power rake : 9 Sprinkler installation : 7 Soil testing : 2 Other : 2 ---------------------------------------------------- Apartments: Input costs for lawns ---------------------------------------------------- Item : Amount ---------------------------------------------------- : Dollars : Fertilizer : 2,050,000 Fuel : 600,000 Herbicides : 830,000 Insecticides/fungicides : 600,000 Lawn care service : 20,000,000 Mowing equipment repairs : 1,250,000 Mowing equipment supplies : 2,100,000 Payroll : 10,000,000 Seed : 250,000 Sod : 180,000 Topsoil : 320,000 Water : 5,700,000 Other : 1,120,000 : Total : 45,000,000 ---------------------------------------------------- Golf Courses Golf courses: Facilities, rounds played, and acreage by size of course ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : : Acreage : : :----------------------------------------------------------- Size : Facilities : 9-hole rounds : Total : Turf : Irrigated : : played : : : turf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : --------- Number --------- -------------------- Acres ------------------- : Nine hole : 150 1,800,000 11,500 6,600 3,000 Eighteen hole : 590 20,000,000 104,500 63,400 33,800 Multiple course : 125 7,000,000 39,300 25,800 13,300 : Total : 865 28,800,000 155,300 95,800 50,100 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Golf courses: Facilities, rounds played, and acreage by type of course ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : : : Acreage : : :----------------------------------------------------------- Type : Facilities : 9-hole rounds : Total : Turf : Irrigated : : played : : : turf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : --------- Number --------- -------------------- Acres ------------------- : Private : 160 5,800,000 29,500 20,100 10,900 Semi-private, resort: 100 3,400,000 22,300 11,600 5,600 Public : 545 16,300,000 94,600 58,100 30,400 Municipal : 60 3,300,000 8,900 6,000 3,200 : Total : 865 28,800,000 155,300 95,800 50,100 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Golf courses: Age distribution -------------------------------- Years operating : Percent -------------------------------- 1-10 : 24 11-20 : 10 21-30 : 12 31-40 : 20 41-60 : 8 61-80 : 17 81 or more : 9 -------------------------------- Golf courses: Turf varieties --------------------------------------------------------- Variety : Amount --------------------------------------------------------- : Acres Percent : Bluegrass/Fescue : 23,000 24.0 Kentucky Bluegrass : 21,300 22.2 Bentgrass : 15,300 16.0 Poa-Annua : 11,700 12.2 Poa/Bentgrass : 7,500 7.8 Ryegrass : 5,200 5.4 Fine Fescue : 2,900 3.0 Ryegrass/Bluegrass : 1,600 1.7 Improved Turf Type Tall Fescue : 1,200 1.3 Natural : 1,000 1.0 Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue : 200 0.2 Other : 1,700 1.8 Unknown : 3,200 3.3 : Total : 95,800 100 --------------------------------------------------------- Golf courses: Principal turf varieties by section of course ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Section :-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Variety : Greens : Tees : Fairways : Roughs : Other 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent : Bentgrass : 59 32 20 1 1 Kentucky Bluegrass : 1 16 21 26 20 Bluegrass/Fescue : 0 12 17 45 21 Improved Turf Type Tall Fescue : 0 0 0 2 3 Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue : 0 0 0 1 0 Fine Fescue : 0 0 1 2 10 Poa-Annua : 7 7 10 3 4 Poa/Bentgrass : 31 22 17 1 2 Ryegrass : 0 4 2 4 12 Ryegrass/Bluegrass : 0 3 3 5 7 Poa-Annua/Bluegrass : 0 1 2 2 0 Natural : 0 0 0 3 9 Other : 2 3 7 5 11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Not applicable for 71 percent of respondents Golf Courses: Services performed -------------------------------------------------------- Service : Percent : reporting -------------------------------------------------------- Fertilization : 99 Irrigation : 99 Disease control : 97 Coring aeration : 96 Weed control : 92 Insect control : 88 Dethatching/power rake : 84 Clipping/leaf removal : 82 Renovation/overseed : 78 Installation (seed/sod) : 54 Soil testing (private) : 43 Tissue testing : 12 Soil testing (state) : 9 Other : 5 -------------------------------------------------------- Golf courses: Major turf care problems ------------------------------------------------ Problem : Percent : reporting ------------------------------------------------ Drought : 66 Disease : 55 Insects/grubs : 28 Traffic : 26 Equipment maintenance : 22 Poor drainage : 20 Labor costs : 18 Water availability : 12 Weeds : 12 Thatch : 9 Excessive shade : 8 Other : 6 Poor soil : 6 Erosion : 1 ------------------------------------------------ Golf courses: Sources of turf care information -------------------------------------------------------- Source : Percent : reporting -------------------------------------------------------- Commercial tech reps : 59 Other superintendents : 59 University specialists : 48 Peers : 34 Magazines : 29 Technical journals : 22 Internet : 13 County extension : 11 U.S. Golf Association agronomist : 6 Private consultant : 6 Other : 3 Lawn service companies : 3 Garden center/nursery : 1 -------------------------------------------------------- Golf courses: Significant future problems ------------------------------------------------ Problem : Percent : reporting ------------------------------------------------ Input costs : 48 Government regulations : 39 Labor availability : 36 Water availability : 30 Loss of chemical registrations : 28 Other : 6 ------------------------------------------------ Golf courses: Position of person most responsible for turf management ---------------------------------------------- Position : Percent : reporting ---------------------------------------------- Certified superintendent : 20 Superintendent : 64 Owner : 7 General manager : 5 Grounds supervisor : 4 ---------------------------------------------- Golf courses: Employees and payroll ---------------------------------------------------- Item : Amount ---------------------------------------------------- : Number : Year-round employees : 1,700 Seasonal employees : 8,150 :------------- : Dollars : Payroll : 124,000,000 ---------------------------------------------------- Golf courses: Highest educational level of person most responsible for turf management ---------------------------------------------- Level : Percent ---------------------------------------------- Elementary : 1 High school : 21 2 Year college : 43 4 Year college : 34 Masters : 1 ---------------------------------------------- Golf courses: Contracted services ---------------------------------------------------- Item : Amount ---------------------------------------------------- : Dollars : Turf maintenance : 1,240,000 Fertilizer & pesticide application : 575,000 Soil testing : 105,000 Other : 280,000 : Total : 2,200,000 ---------------------------------------------------- Golf courses: Sources and cost of purchased irrigation water ---------------------------------------------- Source : Amount ---------------------------------------------- : Percent : Municpal water : 3 Ponds/lakes : 34 Rivers/streams : 14 Wells : 48 Other : 1 : :------------- : Dollars : Purchased irrigation water : 750,000 ---------------------------------------------- Golf courses: Equipment costs and value ---------------------------------------------------- Item : Amount ---------------------------------------------------- : Dollars : Leasing/renting : 3,900,000 Purchases : 20,900,000 Repair/maintenance : 12,600,000 Supplies : 8,700,000 : Market value : 196,000,000 ---------------------------------------------------- Golf courses: Input costs for turf ---------------------------------------- Item : Amount ---------------------------------------- : Dollars : Fertilizer : 13,500,000 Herbicides : 2,300,000 Insecticides/fungicides : 16,000,000 Lime : 100,000 Mulch : 450,000 Seed : 1,400,000 Sod : 1,000,000 Topsoil : 950,000 Other : 1,200,000 : Total : 36,900,000 ---------------------------------------- Golf courses: Turf acres, new acres established, labor costs, and turf input cost, by type of course ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type : Turf : New turf : Payroll :Turf input : Equipment :Total costs : : : : costs : purchases : per acre ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ------ Acres ----- ------------------ Dollars ----------------- : Private, semi-private, resort : 31,700 650 56,000,000 17,500,000 10,700,000 2,655 Public, municipal : 64,100 700 68,000,000 19,400,000 10,200,000 1,520 : Total : 95,800 1,350 124,000,000 36,900,000 20,900,000 1,900 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sod Farms Sod Farms: General information ------------------------------------------ Item : Amount ------------------------------------------ : Number : Operations : 45 :----------- : Acres : Production capacity : 8,900 New turf seeded : 6,900 Area irrigated : 6,400 :----------- : Sq. yards : Amount sold :24,450,000 Amount sold out-of-state : 300,000 :----------- :Dollars per : sq. yard : Average price : 0.96 Average price 5 years ago : 0.82 ------------------------------------------ Sod farms: Sources of information -------------------------------------------- : Percent Source : reporting -------------------------------------------- Other growers : 45 Commercial tech reps : 45 University specialists : 39 Magazines : 33 County extension : 30 Product labels : 18 Private consultant : 15 Technical journals : 15 Industry associations : 15 Internet : 12 -------------------------------------------- Sod farms: Sales by type of customer ---------------------------------------------------- Customer : Amount ---------------------------------------------------- : Sq. yards Percent : Golf courses : 360,000 1.5 Homeowners : 4,540,000 18.6 Lawn service companies : 1,150,000 4.7 Public/government agencies : 220,000 0.9 Retailers : 2,500,000 10.2 Schools and parks : 350,000 1.4 Wholesalers :15,100,000 61.8 Other : 230,000 0.9 : Total :24,450,000 100 ---------------------------------------------------- Sod farms: Major sod production problems -------------------------------------------- : Percent Problem : reporting -------------------------------------------- Drought : 91 Water availability : 30 Insects/grubs : 24 Equipment maintenance : 18 Weeds : 18 Labor costs : 18 Moles/voles : 15 Other input costs : 9 Poor drainage : 9 Disease : 9 Labor availability : 6 Erosion : 3 Nematodes : 3 -------------------------------------------- Sod farms: Sales by variety ---------------------------------------------------- Variety : Amount ---------------------------------------------------- : Sq. yards Percent : Kentucky Bluegrass :24,150,000 98.8 Other : 100,000 0.4 Ryegrass : 100,000 0.4 Bluegrass/Fescue : 70,000 0.3 Bentgrass : 30,000 0.1 : Total :24,450,000 100 ---------------------------------------------------- Sod farms: Significant future problems -------------------------------------------- : Percent Problem : reporting -------------------------------------------- Loss of chemical registrations : 48 Labor availability : 45 Water availability : 36 Input costs : 33 Government regulations : 21 Demand for product : 15 Land loss to development : 9 -------------------------------------------- Sod farms: Equipment costs and value ---------------------------------------------------- Item : Amount ---------------------------------------------------- : Dollars : Leasing/renting : 120,000 Purchases : 1,370,000 Repair/maintenance : 1,060,000 Supplies : 900,000 : Market value : 21,000,000 ---------------------------------------------------- Sod farms: Input costs for production ---------------------------------------- Item : Amount ---------------------------------------- : Dollars : Fertilizer : 940,000 Herbicides : 280,000 Insecticides/fungicides : 45,000 Irrigation water purchases : 5,000 Lime : 10,000 Seed : 790,000 : Total :2,070,000 ---------------------------------------- Sod farms: Contracted and paid services ---------------------------------------------------- Service : Amount ---------------------------------------------------- : Dollars : Fertilizer and pesticide application : 60,000 Sod maintenance : 180,000 Soil testing : 10,000 Other : 40,000 : Total : 290,000 ---------------------------------------------------- Sod farms: Sources of irrigation water ---------------------------------------- Source : Amount ---------------------------------------- : Percent : Municipal water : 2 Ponds/lakes : 14 Rivers/streams : 6 Wells : 73 Other : 5 ---------------------------------------- Sod farms: Employees and payroll ---------------------------------------------------- Item : Amount ---------------------------------------------------- : Number : Year-round employees : 70 Seasonal employees : 265 :------------- : Dollars : Payroll : 5,400,000 ---------------------------------------------------- Highways Highways: Area maintained by Michigan Department of Transportation ---------------------------------------------- Item : Area ---------------------------------------------- : Acres : Rest areas : 670 Right-of-ways : 60,000 : Total : 60,670 ---------------------------------------------- Highways: Input costs for lawns 1/ ---------------------------------------------- Item : Amount ---------------------------------------------- : Dollars : Fertilizer : 10,000 Herbicides : 250,000 Insecticides/fungicides : 5,000 Lawn care service : 555,000 Mowing equipment repairs : 10,000 Mowing equipment supplies : 10,000 Seed : 5,000 Topsoil : 2,000 : Total : 847,000 ---------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes only areas maintained by Michigan Dept. of Transportation Schools Schools: General lawn and athletic field area by level ---------------------------------------------------- : General : Athletic Level : lawn : fields ---------------------------------------------------- : Acres : College and university : 10,700 1,200 Primary and secondary : 35,300 12,300 : Total : 46,000 13,500 ---------------------------------------------------- Schools: Highest educational level of person most responsible for turf management ------------------------------------------- Level : Percent ------------------------------------------- Elementary : 2 High school : 56 2 Year college : 17 4 Year college : 21 Masters : 3 Doctorate : 1 ------------------------------------------- Schools: Services performed -------------------------------------------- : Percent Service : reporting -------------------------------------------- Spring clean-up : 74 Mowing/trim : 92 Edging : 68 Fall clean-up : 71 Mulching : 29 Soil testing : 16 Fertilization : 76 Weed control : 70 Insect control : 39 Disease control : 24 Dethatching/power rake : 16 Coring aeration : 40 Renovation/overseed : 46 Installation : 33 Sprinkler installation : 20 Sprinkler service : 45 -------------------------------------------- Schools: General lawn varieties ----------------------------------------------- Variety : Amount ----------------------------------------------- : Acres Percent : Unknown :14,000 30.4 Bluegrass/Fescue :13,100 28.5 Kentucky Bluegrass : 5,000 10.9 Ryegrass : 4,900 10.7 Other : 4,000 8.7 Fine Fescue : 1,600 3.5 Natural : 1,100 2.4 Bentgrass : 900 2.0 Improved Turf Type Tall Fescue : 800 1.7 Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue : 300 0.7 Poa-Annua : 250 0.5 Poa/Bentgrass : 50 0.1 : Total :46,000 100 ----------------------------------------------- Schools: Sources of lawn care information -------------------------------------------- : Percent Source : reporting -------------------------------------------- Lawn service companies : 45 Peers : 37 Commercial tech reps : 28 Magazines : 23 University specialists : 21 Private consultant : 20 County extension : 19 Garden center : 16 Product labels : 15 Technical journals : 9 Internet : 8 Other : 7 Newspaper : 5 -------------------------------------------- Schools: General lawn problems 1/ ------------------------------------ : Percent Problem : reporting ------------------------------------ Drought : 66 Weeds : 54 Traffic : 42 Poor soil : 31 Moles/voles : 17 Insects/grubs : 15 Poor Drainage : 14 Equipment maintenance : 9 Excessive shade : 4 Thatch : 3 Erosion : 3 Disease : 2 Other : 2 ------------------------------------ 1/ Weighted by acres. Schools: Athletic field varieties --------------------------------------------------------- Variety : Amount --------------------------------------------------------- : Acres Percent : Bluegrass/Fescue : 3,100 23.0 Unknown : 2,900 21.5 Kentucky Bluegrass : 2,300 17.0 Athletic mix : 1,800 13.3 Ryegrass : 1,400 10.4 Other : 800 5.9 Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue : 300 2.2 Poa-Annua : 250 1.9 Improved Turf Type Tall Fescue : 250 1.9 Fine Fescue : 200 1.5 Bentgrass : 100 0.7 Natural : 100 0.7 : Total : 13,500 100 --------------------------------------------------------- Schools: Irrigation ----------------------------------------- Item : Amount ----------------------------------------- : Acres : Area irrigated : 10,900 :------------- : Dollars : Purchased irrigation water : 1,000,000 ----------------------------------------- Schools: Sources of irrigation water ----------------------------------------- Source : Amount ----------------------------------------- : Percent : Municipal water : 58 Ponds/lakes : 2 Rivers/streams : 3 Wells : 37 ----------------------------------------- Schools: Athletic field problems 1/ ----------------------------------------- : Percent Problem : reporting ----------------------------------------- Traffic : 55 Drought : 54 Weeds : 48 Poor drainage : 25 Poor soil : 24 Moles/voles : 14 Insects/grubs : 11 Equipment maintenance : 9 Thatch : 7 Disease : 6 Other : 5 Erosion : 2 Excessive shade : 1 ----------------------------------------- 1/ Weighted by acres. Schools: Employees, payroll, and contracted services for turf maintenance ----------------------------------------- Item : Amount ----------------------------------------- : Number : Year-round employees : 1,700 Seasonal employees : 1,650 :------------- : Dollars : Payroll : 54,700,000 Contracted services : 5,900,000 ----------------------------------------- Schools: Athletic field use by type -------------------------------------------------- : :Mean usage :Mean usage Type : Amount : per year : per month -------------------------------------------------- : Number Months Hours : Baseball : 1,530 4.8 75 Softball : 1,400 4.7 75 Football : 1,220 4.2 95 Soccer : 1,490 5.5 85 Playgrounds : 3,130 10.4 105 Other : 250 5.3 85 -------------------------------------------------- Schools: Input costs for lawns ----------------------------------------- Item : Amount ----------------------------------------- : Dollars : Equipment purchases : 4,800,000 Equipment rentals : 190,000 Equipment repairs : 1,000,000 Fertilizer : 1,870,000 Fuel : 620,000 Herbicides : 500,000 Insecticides/fungicides : 180,000 Lime : 21,000 Mowing equipment supplies : 700,000 Seed : 560,000 Sod : 250,000 Soil testing : 19,000 Topsoil : 520,000 Other : 70,000 : Total : 11,300,000 ----------------------------------------- Lawn Service Companies Lawn service companies: Number of firms by type 1/ ---------------------------------------------- Type : Amount ---------------------------------------------- : Number : Landscape contractor : 210 Landscape management : 220 Lawn care : 775 Mowing maintenance : 460 Sprinkler installation and service: 20 Other 1/ : 190 : Total : 1,875 ---------------------------------------------- 1/ The majority of this category fit more than one of the five types listed. Lawn service companies: Lawn varieties maintained ---------------------------------------------------------- Variety : Acres : Percent ---------------------------------------------------------- Kentucky Bluegrass : 243,000 38.0 Bluegrass/Fescue : 214,500 33.5 Unknown : 69,900 10.9 Ryegrass : 43,500 6.8 Fine Fescue : 19,400 3.0 Other Mix : 16,800 2.6 Bentgrass : 16,500 2.6 Improved Turf Type Tall Fescue : 12,400 1.9 Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue : 1,900 0.3 Poa-Annua : 1,100 0.2 Other : 600 0.1 Poa/Bentgrass : 400 0.1 : Total : 640,000 100 ---------------------------------------------------------- Lawn service companies: Services performed ---------------------------------------------- : Percent Service : of acres ---------------------------------------------- Mowing/trim : 63 Fertilization : 61 Weed control : 58 Fall clean-up : 41 Spring clean-up : 40 Edging : 39 Insect control : 18 Mulching : 16 Coring aeration : 12 Sprinker service : 11 Disease control : 10 Installation (seed/sod) : 5 Renovation/overseed : 5 Dethatching/power rake : 4 Sprinkler installation : 3 Mole/rodent control : 3 Soil testing : 2 ---------------------------------------------- Lawn service companies: Highest educational level completed --------------------------------------------- Level : Owner :Division : Crew : : manager : leader --------------------------------------------- : Percent : Elementary : 2 0 2 High School : 42 52 67 2 Year College : 27 25 20 4 Year College : 25 21 11 Masters : 4 2 0 --------------------------------------------- Lawn service companies: Acres maintained by type of client ---------------------------------------------------- Client : Amount ---------------------------------------------------- : Acres Percent : Private homes : 295,000 46.1 Office buildings : 115,000 18.0 Condominiums : 40,200 6.3 Apartments : 34,500 5.4 Schools/churches : 23,200 3.6 Parks : 12,400 1.9 Cemeteries : 3,800 0.6 Airports : 1,800 0.3 Golf courses : 1,600 0.3 Others 1/ : 112,500 17.6 : Total : 640,000 100 ---------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes highway and utility right-of-ways, factories, and commercial areas. Lawn service companies: Employees and payroll ----------------------------------------- Item : Amount ----------------------------------------- : Number : Year-round employees : 4,100 Seasonal employees : 7,500 :------------- : Dollars : Payroll : 140,000,000 ----------------------------------------- Lawn service companies: Sources of lawn care information -------------------------------------------- : Percent Source : reporting -------------------------------------------- Magazines : 46 Peers : 42 Commercial tech reps : 27 Technical journals : 27 County extension : 25 Garden center/nursery : 24 University specialists : 19 Other : 17 State green industry : 9 Local green industry : 8 Private consultant : 8 Newspapers : 7 Community college : 2 TV/radio : 2 -------------------------------------------- Lawn service companies: Input costs for lawns ----------------------------------------- Item : Amount ----------------------------------------- : Dollars : Fertilizer : 22,100,000 Herbicides : 7,600,000 Insecticides/fungicides : 3,700,000 Lime : 250,000 Mulch : 5,000,000 Seed : 4,200,000 Sod : 4,500,000 Topsoil : 4,800,000 Other : 250,000 : Total : 52,400,000 ----------------------------------------- Lawn service companies: Major lawn care problems -------------------------------------------- : Percent Problem : reporting -------------------------------------------- Drought : 74 Insects/grubs : 32 Weeds : 30 Labor costs : 25 Equipment maintenance : 21 Water availability : 17 Moles/voles : 16 Disease : 12 Poor drainage : 9 Other : 6 Traffic : 5 Excessive shade : 5 Thatch : 3 Erosion : 2 Nematodes : 1 -------------------------------------------- Lawn service companies: Equipment costs and value ----------------------------------------- Item : Amount ----------------------------------------- : Dollars : Leasing/renting : 2,300,000 Purchases : 31,700,000 Repair/maintenance : 16,200,000 Supplies : 17,900,000 : Market value : 139,700,000 -----------------------------------------