North Carolina State University’s ninth annual sod survey reveals key trends for 2024. While the supply of bermudagrass is set to increase, 37% of producers still expect shortages. Zoysiagrass supply remains steady, with 33% anticipating shortages, and centipedegrass and St. Augustinegrass are also expected to face shortages, affecting about half of the producers. Tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are particularly concerning, with 25% and a significant number of producers respectively predicting shortages.
Pricing trends show modest increases for most sod types, with notable exceptions: tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass prices are rising sharply by 20% and 33%, respectively, while zoysiagrass prices are decreasing by 8%. Production acreage is projected to remain consistent, and there has been a 7% rise in the adoption of proprietary grasses. Despite a 6% decrease in average sod sales compared to 2022, 64% of producers saw an increase in sales in 2023.
Landscape contractors remain the primary buyers, accounting for nearly 71% of sales. Employment in the sod industry is up, with a 16% increase in full-time and a 40% rise in seasonal workers. New survey questions explored how producers manage pallet costs and pricing adjustments for different sod sizes.
See the full report below.
