INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

In an effort to keep the pulse of the industry , SportsField Management recently reached out to industry professionals for their insights regarding current industry trends . In Part 1 , we covered overall challenges being faced in the industry . For Part 2 of our coverage , we delve more deeply into the topic of extended-release fertilizers and how they can help sports field managers with some of the current challenges . The following is expert insight regarding fertilizer trends , the benefits of using controlled-release fertilizer , and other related issues such as labor , and freight / distribution :

Between irrigation repairs , scheduling , mowing , painting , custodial , overseeding and planning , a sports field manager ’ s plate is pretty full . Add in fertility , and that plate can be overflowing as changing weather , scheduling challenges , and labor shortages crop up . Many sports field managers across the country are adopting fertility programs that contain polymer-coated urea that delivers nitrogen over extended periods of time . This technology allows for fewer fertility applications and saves managers application labor , freight , storage and nutrient loss , while delivering equal or better results to keep fields safe and playable while looking and performing at their best .

Labor is one of the largest issues facing the green industry today . “ Finding employees is still a significant issue ,” according to the 2020 Green Industry Benchmark Report , and throughout the pandemic , the challenge of finding reliable help has been amplified . Labor is not a new problem ; it is an ongoing problem .

With the higher cycling-rate , high tissue sufficiency levels , and potential for loss to the soil and air , N and K are the most often needed and applied nutrients to turfgrass ( Mills and Jones , 1996 ). Polymer-coated urea technology allows sports field managers to make fertility applications that provide 2 , 3 , 4 and 6 months or more of nutrition . With nitrogen protected from loss , sports field managers can focus on fine-tuning their levels of secondary and micronutrients in the areas where they are less than sufficient .

Not only does utilizing controlled-release urea provide labor savings when applying fertilizer , it also saves customers in freight expenses . Sports field managers have the option to apply as little as one application for season-long fertility . As fertility applications are reduced , so does the need to freight and store fertilizer during the growing season .

– Chris Bluemke and Nate Mezera , EC Grow

Sports field managers are faced with escalating challenges today as the industry begins to recover from the limited activity on field surfaces experienced during the pandemic .

The “ new normal ” confronting the sports field manager not only involves trying to restaff , but to contend with increased costs of materials that exceed the former budget allowances .

Today , the cost of fertilizer is significantly higher than it was 18 months ago , and there is no indication of a reversal in the escalation of costs .

The factors driving these increases are related to what is being referred to as “ supply chain issues .” These issues include raw material availability , increased production costs , labor shortages and transportation costs .

This would be a good time for the sports field manger to visit with his or her fertilizer salesperson and discuss the merits of incorporating controlled release fertilizers ( CRF ) into the field management program to save costs .

CRF , SRN ( slow-release nitrogen ), WIN ( water insoluble nitrogen ) and “ stabilized nitrogen ” are commonly advertised as a percentage of the fertilizer NP & K , which suggest the length of time the fertilizer will last . The components in the specific fertilizer that provide the basis for the use of the SRN can be found on the fertilizer label and most specifications , and is called the Guaranteed Analysis .

Guaranteed Analysis example

42 SportsField Management | November 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com