11/22/2021 - By Scott Parker

What a wild ride 2021 has given us this year. The year started fast right out of the gates and is still going strong. We’ve dealt with the continued coronavirus, extreme winter storms in the south, major floods on the east coast, hurricanes, wildfires, supply chain issues, never ending fertilizer price increases, seed shortages, inflation, and the list goes on. From a turf managers perspective, it’s been quite a challenge as well. You’ve experienced all of this along with labor issues, increase in play, a longer season than normal, and the expectations from your members/clients/customers has only gone up. Our industry has experienced a year of success, which is great! But it’s been difficult for sure. And from what I’m hearing, 2022 is not slowing down!

EOP

Hopefully all of you took the opportunity, or will take the opportunity, to enjoy the benefits of our Early Order Programs (EOP). Our vendor partners produced a vast amount of inventory in 2021 so they could supply the industry with products for next season. That’s the one way you can be sure of having what you need and when you want it, while locking in a guaranteed price. Product availability and pricing seem to be the overarching theme for 2022 so far. We are fortunate at Harrell’s to have an experienced team of professionals working in inventory and procurement to help minimize those issues.

Harrell's Rep's to the rescue!

This is a great time of year to work with your local Harrell’s sales representative to build a robust plan for 2022. I’d think months in advance to plan for 2022's needs. You may want to consider using a long-term nitrogen release POLYON® application to strengthen all of your in-play turf areas. There’s no better fight against weeds, disease, and stress than a healthy stand of turf. It sounds like seed is going to be in high-demand and no guarantee of supply again next year, so I would plan further ahead if you’re looking at projects. If you’re short on labor, talk to your rep about our spreader truck service or, in certain regions, an Adams spreader to use. These are just a few of the many ways to plan ahead and save your organization money.

We always experience challenges and next year will be no different. The good news is that this industry always perseveres and works together to solve problems. I couldn’t think of a better industry or group of people to work with to navigate the times ahead. As always, all of us at Harrell’s sincerely appreciate all of your support and look forward to working with you next season and beyond!