hitch
05-30-2008, 07:46 PM
Everyone pretty much knows about the Nutrient pollution issue...how Phosphate and Nitrogen from fertilizers are destroying our Florida marshes and associated habit...
Today was a quick trip to Tampa, and a very important day it was! We have stirred the hornet's nest again with the fertilizer people, and maybe even made some progress, although it's too early to celebrate yet.
This was a consensus workshop for the Tampa Bay area lawn fertilizer ordinances being drafted. I had no idea going in how important this meeting would be. About a dozen reps from the opposition side where there...fertilizer lobbyists, True Green, Chem-Lawn, Massey...
All the top players from University of Florida-IFAS were there in person as well. Dr. Sartain was there. He's the one I've been quoting in my emails, and his sidekick, Dr. Trenholm was there.
I had about a half dozen chances to speak freely, at length. I read Dr. Sartain's quotes from his published papers to the crowd, and I presented the peer reviewed Crop Science paper on Phosphorus leaching. I rebutted a misleading commentary on "how great the Urban Turf Rule is" by Dr. Trenholm. And I challenged both of these scientists to produce peer reviewed evidentiary science on this ridiculous notion they've bandied about; suggesting that more fertilizer actually helps prevent leaching and runoff. They don't have science on this and they know it, so I called them on it.
We ended with straw polls on various features of the ordinances the locals will be drafting for the greater Tampa Bay area which includes several counties. We voted on things like summer black out periods which I think they intend to include. Then they went through items there was consensus on from previous meetings. I pretty much agreed with all of it.
Then here came the good part! They asked the crowd if there were any other features they should consider including in the ordinances for the Tampa Bay area. Several very good ideas were added and quickly agreed to by everyone.
Then I stood up...it was one of those "it doesn't hurt to speak up" moments...
I suggested adding to these ordinances:
"No Phosphate in Lawn fertilizer application year round unless a prior soil test shows a need"
To our amazement everyone agreed to it, including the Chem-Lawns and IFAS.
So the Tampa Bay folks added No Phosphate - year round to their list.
Well anyway as I said, it's not time to celebrate yet. Secret meetings and letters will be exchanged I'm sure, so I'll have to bird dog this from here in, and I may need your help with a few more Emails. It seems though there may be some tangible progress on the horizon.
The first No Phosphate county ordinance will be the toughest to achieve, but after that, we’ll have a precedence setting tool to convince others on the importance of this matter, and more counties will adopt No-phosphate Lawn Turf rules.
Hitch
Today was a quick trip to Tampa, and a very important day it was! We have stirred the hornet's nest again with the fertilizer people, and maybe even made some progress, although it's too early to celebrate yet.
This was a consensus workshop for the Tampa Bay area lawn fertilizer ordinances being drafted. I had no idea going in how important this meeting would be. About a dozen reps from the opposition side where there...fertilizer lobbyists, True Green, Chem-Lawn, Massey...
All the top players from University of Florida-IFAS were there in person as well. Dr. Sartain was there. He's the one I've been quoting in my emails, and his sidekick, Dr. Trenholm was there.
I had about a half dozen chances to speak freely, at length. I read Dr. Sartain's quotes from his published papers to the crowd, and I presented the peer reviewed Crop Science paper on Phosphorus leaching. I rebutted a misleading commentary on "how great the Urban Turf Rule is" by Dr. Trenholm. And I challenged both of these scientists to produce peer reviewed evidentiary science on this ridiculous notion they've bandied about; suggesting that more fertilizer actually helps prevent leaching and runoff. They don't have science on this and they know it, so I called them on it.
We ended with straw polls on various features of the ordinances the locals will be drafting for the greater Tampa Bay area which includes several counties. We voted on things like summer black out periods which I think they intend to include. Then they went through items there was consensus on from previous meetings. I pretty much agreed with all of it.
Then here came the good part! They asked the crowd if there were any other features they should consider including in the ordinances for the Tampa Bay area. Several very good ideas were added and quickly agreed to by everyone.
Then I stood up...it was one of those "it doesn't hurt to speak up" moments...
I suggested adding to these ordinances:
"No Phosphate in Lawn fertilizer application year round unless a prior soil test shows a need"
To our amazement everyone agreed to it, including the Chem-Lawns and IFAS.
So the Tampa Bay folks added No Phosphate - year round to their list.
Well anyway as I said, it's not time to celebrate yet. Secret meetings and letters will be exchanged I'm sure, so I'll have to bird dog this from here in, and I may need your help with a few more Emails. It seems though there may be some tangible progress on the horizon.
The first No Phosphate county ordinance will be the toughest to achieve, but after that, we’ll have a precedence setting tool to convince others on the importance of this matter, and more counties will adopt No-phosphate Lawn Turf rules.
Hitch