Central Florida Sod Farms Information

Geography

• The open land around places such as Ruskin, St. Cloud and Lake Placid, Fla., serves as home to much of the Central Florida sod industry. Large-scale farms of 2,000 or more acres still dominate the industry, according to the University of Florida study. Sod can now be grown in more varied landscapes.

History

• Before World War II, cattle pastures accounted for much of the sod in Florida until the urbanization and population growth of the state created more demand. Now, specific types of grass are planted, cultivated and harvested like any other agricultural crop. The grass has been improved to be bug-resistant, drought-resistant, more hardy and more attractive with less maintenance because of advances in genetics and the creation of new grass variants.

Types

• With more than 50 percent of the total production share in Florida, the most common type of grass grown in Central Florida is St. Augustine, according to a 2007 University of Florida agronomic and economic profile of the industry. The species is a fast-growing, low-maintenance grass native to coastal regions with hot, tropical climates, according to Turfgrass Producers International. Bahiagrass has grown in popularity, because of its usefulness as a roadside cover, as a low-maintenance, drought-resistant variant that effectively provides erosion control. Bermudagrass, a dark green, drought-resistant grass that needs a hot climate and direct sunlight, recently has become more popular in Central Florida, but is still far from the production share of St. Augustine.

Costs and Sales

• The costs involved in sod farming include those for land, whether leased or bought, specialized machinery and fertilizer. The grass is harvested as there is demand for it, rather than seasonally, and will regenerate without the need for additional seed. Because of this, sod farms require consistent labor to upkeep the grass and assist in its year-round production. The profitability of sod crops depends on the type of grass grown. While there is a greater profit margin in specialty grasses, there is more demand for standard variants such as St. Augustine grass.

Industry Growth

• In the 1980s, sod farming accounted for a $100 million in sales per year. The harvest value of sod in Florida reached $320 million in 2007 and produced 1,426 jobs within the state, according to the University of Florida industry study that year. Overall, the state of Florida is the No. 1 producer of sod in the country, with Texas a close rival. The drop in home sales during 2007 and 2008 economic downturn slowed the industry on a national level, since about half of the nation's sod goes into private residences, according to Turf Magazine.