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.