Agricultural Business Profiles Turfgrass Production on Organic Soils

• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.197.471; http://www.gov.nl.ca/agric/soil_land/pdf/turfproduction.pdf

This Agricultural Business Profile was designed to incorporate existing documentation specifically relating to turfgrass production on peatland soils. The intent of this paper is to provide the reader with an awareness of the industry in order to further investigate turfgrass production as a viable business venture. The reader should be cautioned that this article is not a substitute for a business plan, but rather an information source for interested producers to use as a starting point. While every effort has been made by the author to ensure the accuracy of the information collected, it should be noted that some information may become dated over time. Prices quoted are reflective of current 2002 market prices and are subject to change. In Newfoundland and Labrador, peatlands comprise approximately 1.3 million hectares in areas where the peat exceeds 30 ha. Peat bogs are complex natural ecosystems which require severe changes to the bogs in order to bring them to sufficient production levels. In recent years, beginning in the mid-eighties, turfgrass production on organic soils has emerged as a viable option to complement existing farming operations or as an alternative for new entrants into the agrifoods industry. The sod industry is labour intensive requiring high levels of inputs in order to ensure