9/29/2020 - By John Keeler

As a Turfgrass Manager, part of your job is to survey the turf, looking for things that might be out of place. You look for uniformity in your turf, and you learn to adjust for inconsistencies; in the simplest of terms, you’re the Quality Control Officer (QCO) for the turf you take care of. As the QCO, you want the absolute best for your turf, but you also have to be considerate of your budget. Unfortunately, balancing the two can be pretty tricky, and it can be easy to pay more attention to price than quality ingredients. But let me ask you, what if property owners changed managers every year? Do you think the turf quality would be consistent from year to year? Or what if property owners started hiring managers based on the cheapest salary rather than by selecting the most qualified candidate? Would they still get consistency in turf quality? Probably not.

So, where am I going with this? As the QCO, you need to always be working towards consistency, and in order to do that, you have to prioritize high-quality products over price tags. Buying the higher-quality products may cost more up front, but it will save you time, money, and headache in the long run by providing a healthier, more consistent turf. It’s just like deciding on your own food intake—it can be easy to find a $5 footlong more appetizing than a $13 kale salad (both for your taste buds and your wallet), but your long-term health will definitely appreciate the greens more.

Nowadays, when it comes to buying chemicals, there are three classifications: “Branded”—these are your Primo MAXX®, Banner MAXX®, and Chipco 26 GT’s of the world; “Manufacturers Generics”—these consist of Podium, Dorado, and Chipco 26019; and “true generics”—everything else. These true generics may be inexpensive, but they DO NOT get the A.I. from the manufacturers. They don’t get the years of testing. They don’t get the inert, which has spreader stickers, adjuvants, and the ability to handle all types of water and water temperatures. True generics bid the Active Ingredients out every year. They look for the cheapest source to increase their profits and provide you with the cheapest product, eliminating any hope of consistency. With branded companies, their products might cost a little more, but they take the time to make sure the product you choose performs to near perfection, and they stand behind everything they sell. They make sure you get the consistency you need. In the end, Branded and Manufacturers Generics will save you time and are fiscally responsible.

Early order season starts in a few days, and it’s the perfect opportunity for you to get the best products from the best companies at unbeatable values. At Harrell’s we see this as an opportunity to make your agronomic program stronger than ever, and we stand behind every product we sell, manufacture, and apply. Let us be your EOP Partner for Success. Reach out to your local Harrell’s sales representative today to learn more about this year’s program details. They can help you determine how to get the most out of your EOP order based on your agronomic needs.