RUTGERS TO DOCUMENT THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF TURFGRASS TO THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMY

The benefits of turfgrass are many, including environmental benefits such as erosion

prevention, groundwater recharge, cleaner air, cooler temperatures, and a healthy

playing surface for recreational activities. In New Jersey, a very large industry has

evolved to produce and deliver turfgrass products and services. Furthermore, this

industry contributes to New Jersey’s economy in many ways. However, the economic

magnitude and linkages of the New Jersey Turfgrass Industry are not well understood.

Therefore, The NJ Agricultural Experiment Station and the Rutgers Center for Turfgrass

Science have endeavored to document the economic size and structure of the turfgrass

industry in the State.

BENEFITS OF THE SURVEY

-Documentation of turfgrass acreage in New Jersey.

-Documentation of the economic value of turf and related production, service

and maintenance expenditures.

-Determine the need for support of future turfgrass research and education

programs that provide science-based solutions to problems facing the turfgrass

industry

-Document the need for support of university and college turfgrass programs and

facilities.

-Identify how technology changes have impacted profitability within the turfgrass

industry.

-Measure the impact on growth and cost of business when affected by new

insects, diseases, weeds and regulations.

-Provide accurate data to assist legislators, researchers, businesses and

homeowners in making informed decisions.

WHAT?

A NEW turfgrass industry survey; the last survey was conducted in 2001.

WHO?

The survey will be conducted by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service in

collaboration with the Office of Research Analytics and the Center for Turfgrass Science

at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and the New Jersey

Agricultural Experiment Station.

WHEN?

Launch target: December 2019

WHY?

The purpose is to obtain up-to-date information on the nature, extent, and economic

value and impact of the turfgrass industry in New Jersey.

HOW?

Lists of all known operations in each segment of turfgrass industry were obtained and

combined. A sample was taken from the resulting list. Operations in this sample will be

contacted in December 2019 and January 2020 to complete a questionnaire. Data

collected will be statistically analyzed and expanded to properly represent all facets of

the turfgrass industry in New Jersey.

RESULTS WILL MEASURE KEY STATISTICS FOR EACH SEGMENT OF THE

TURFGRASS INDUSTRY

• Number of hired workers

• Value of unpaid family labor

• Equipment expenses

• Non-equipment expenses

• Paid labor expenses

• Maintained acreage of turf

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

PLEASE complete the turfgrass survey questionnaire either by mail or when contacted

by an interviewer.

REPORTS

Once the survey is tabulated, a publication will be prepared. Anyone receiving a

questionnaire may request, on the survey form, a copy of the publication upon its

completion. Others may contact the Center for Turfgrass Science at the Rutgers School

of Environmental and Biological Sciences for a copy of the survey when it is completed.