With the world population continuing to grow and fresh water becoming more precious, the issues over water rights is not going away.

We have seen only the beginning of the fight over the use of water within the Great Lake’s Basin. There is no doubt that there is more debate and more regulation to come. Others outside the basin will continue there attempts to remove water from the basin, they will also keep a close eye on the way the water is managed within the basin.

We as sod producers can not afford to stand on the side lines and watch as laws are past that effect our lively hood in such a profound manner. We can not hide from this fight or cower under the right to farm act, as the rights of our end users are taken away. We must ban together with the rest of the green industry to join in the debate.

We can be proactive, and viewed as part of the solution, or reactive, and part of the problem.

For the most part turf grass is looked upon as a large water waster, a sodded lawn an even larger waster. The benefits to the environment and the economic impact of the turf industry are mostly over looked. Do we as sod producers have the information we need to defend our product? Do we know the impact our product has on the environment? Do we know the impact we have on the economy? If asked to join in the debate over water rights will we have the information to be viewed as part of the solution? Are we prepared to defend our lively hood?

If we educate ourselves on these issues, work to educate others on the benefits of turf grass, support research on ways to reduce the water consumption of turf, and most of all use water wisely on our farms. We will be part of the solution.