I'm not sure if many of you have realized this or not but the traditional Turf Farms we've grown to get used to here on the Eastern Shore have almost disappeared. While some have cut way back on Turf and are now growing soy beans and even corn, my neighbor is now starting to grow potatoes, of all things.
It becomes painfully obvious that new construction has pretty much come to almost a complete stop and the former builders demands on Turn Grass has caused most Farmers to make immediate changes to crops that will bring them some cash.
So the next time you're riding around, Rt. 54, Rt. 13 and so forth, take a look and you'll clearly see what used to be grass is now some other kind of crop. We'll know when the economy is coming back just as soon as we see these Turf Farmers growing grass again. Until then, it's nowhere near over Folks. The economy is in the toilet and thank God these Farmers have other choices for their land to keep them afloat.
18 comments:
Nice farm house, but not really in your neighborhood. Two or three miles south and in a different state.
Couldn't be more than 12 houses away from our home. When you live in the country, this is your neighbor. Are you suggesting that the home next door to mine in Maryland is not a neighbor?
Joe:
What about the Wilber turf farm -- behind the Sams-Walmart on Hampshire Drive, extended?
Wilbers have switched to grain also
Doesn't turf also really eat away at your top soil year to year? If so...they are wise to rotate in a crop that is not only more profitable, but also more friendly to the environment.
Watch how much better your drinking water will smell now.
Hey TOP SOIL, WATER Expert
A turf area 50' x 50' produces enough oxygen to meet the every day needs of a family of four and each acre of grass produces enough oxygen for 64 people a day.
Or to put it another way, consider the fact that on a block of eight average homes, the front lawns have the cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning!
One of the major causes of our growing water quality problem is runoff of contaminants from hard surfaces, such as roads and parking lots.
The biology of turfgrass makes lawns a near ideal medium for the biodegradation of all sorts of environmental contamination. Turfgrass purifies the water as it leaches through the root zone and down into our underground aquifers. Soil microbes help break down chemicals into harmless materials. This filtration system is so effective rain water filtered through a good healthy lawn is often as much as 10 times less acidic than water running off a hard surface.
The lower portion of harvested sod isn’t all soil, but a leafy portion attached to a thatch/root layer that normally measures ½ to ¾ inches thick containing only a bit of soil.
Grass roots are continually developing, dying off, decomposing and redeveloping. This new organic matter keeps soil microbes active and improves the soil's chemical and physical properties. Turfgrass sod production actually improves farmland soil by adding organic materials and nutrients. Dr. C. Richard Skogley’s research at the University of Rhode Island showed that when sod is harvested, most of the grass root system is left in the soil.Researchers found that sod fields contained an average difference of 1.9 percent more organic matter. Work by Skaradowski and Sullivan found that sod production fields increased in organic matter with time. Assuming that a 6-inch depth of soil on an acre weighs 1,000 tons, then this represents 19 tons per acre returned to soil. Based on a five-year study, it could be concluded that the turfgrass sod operation had added the equivalent of nearly four tons of organic matter to the soil each year.
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As much as I despise cutting grass,I dont know why people pay good money for it(LOL) I spend most of June wishing my grass would just turn brown and die already.
There's a huge sod farm near Allen.
Just cut it really short like most people around here do and it won't be long - it will be brown for you.
This too is not a good practice. People need to stop scalping their lawns and let the grass and soil breathe.
If you're too lazy to cut the grass then move somewhere else so you can have a smaller yard but you really should take the responsibility for caring for the earth you are steward for.
Dont matter sod farmer, there almost all gone,and no one but you cares.
Oh and what about all the wells that went dry down in somerset county because of the sod watering?
All you sod farmers employed was mexicans and albero said that most of them are legal. ha
There is still numerous sod farms around town.
Collins Wharf in Allen, Oakwood sod farm.
Quantico Creek still has thousands of acres with sod.
While business is definately hurting...there is still plenty of places in business.
The farm you pictured has only been planted in sod for about the past 6-7 years. I should know, I grew up between where you now live and this Farm. My parents are still in the neighborhood, so I go by there all the time. That farm was formerly owned by Henry Hastings, who was in the sand an gravel business. (where Eagle Express is now) It was planted in Soy beans, Alfalfa, Hay or Sweet Corn most years, what wasn't set aside as his runways for his personal Airplanes. After he passed and the farm was sold off, the land was used for sod farming. Potatoes have been grown around here for years too, there are HUGE fields between Pocomoke and Chincoteague... but you are right about one thing, farmers ARE cutting back on sod farming, with fewer houses being built, they are returning to the traditional crops they always grew before the housing boom. The turf farming wasn't traditional- it was opportunity knocking.
yes i agree, soybeans and corn were not making any money so they were replaced by sod farms!
Anon 3:27
I am not one of those people who overcut-believe me-my riding mower went kaput so I mow most of my yard,and pay someone to mow the adjacent lot.
I moved to a rural area because I love the peace and quiet,and were it not for neighbors I would just let the grass go even longer.
sod farms could easily become cattle farms, just add fence!!!
My boyfriend actually grew up in this house when it was owned by Henry & Libby Hastings. It's a gorgeous place. He couldnt believe they were growing potatoes now either.
I grew up in that neighborhood. When I lived there (before the mansion was built) it was known as "the hill" and we would go there every year and cut a cedar tree for Christmas. There was an apple tree on the back side of the hill and they were a treat for us! Those were the good ole' days!!!
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