LANDSCAPING SERVICES
UK TURF INDUSTRY AT‘ DEFINING MOMENT’ AS DROUGHT AND RISING COSTS PUT FUTURE SUPPLY AT RISK
TURFGRASS GROWERS ASSOCIATION WARNS RISING PRODUCTION RISKS THREATEN LONG-TERM SUPPLY OF TURF
The UK turf industry is facing a defining moment as extreme weather, rising production costs and increasing climate-related risks place unprecedented pressure on growers, the Turfgrass Growers Association( TGA) has warned.
Figures released by the Government on 10 August show that 71.3 % of England is experiencing drought conditions, following an exceptionally hot and dry summer and the driest July on record for England. For turf growers, the prolonged lack of rainfall and extreme temperatures have meant sharply higher irrigation costs, crop damage, increased waste and lengthy recovery programmes. In one reported case, irrigation costs have risen by around 40 %, while drought-related damage could result in waste levels reaching around twice their normal level, even after extensive restoration work. These are significant costs in a sector where margins are already under intense pressure.
The TGA warns that these pressures do not end when rainfall returns, with consequences for turf availability, lead times and the economics of production creating the prospect of reduced availability and shorter supply across the turf market.
Richard Owens, chair of the Turfgrass Growers Association, said:“ With more than two-thirds of England now officially in drought, the scale of the challenge facing turf growers has never been clearer. This is not an isolated problem affecting one part of the country or one difficult growing season. The economics of turf production have changed, with growers facing substantially higher costs and greater production risk than in previous years. Individual businesses will need to assess those pressures within their own operations and make their own commercial decisions accordingly.”
“ For landscapers and contractors, a healthy domestic turf-growing sector is essential. If growers are unable to maintain economically viable
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