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Reducing Phosphorus in

“Do It Yourself”Lawn Fertilizer (and

more!)Gary Felton

LGACJune 2, 2006

“Much of the “heavy lifting” by Mary Lynn Wilhere, B4B, Gary Felton, UMD Cooperative Extension, Mid Atlantic Water Program & Rich Martinez, The Scotts Miracle Grow Corporation

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Lawn Fertilizer and Phosphorus

• Grass requires limited P after establishment

• Substantial P needed at establishment (starter)

• Most DIY lawn fertilizers already have low P contents, except for starter

• Research suggests most P loss from lawn fertilizer application is from misapplication or application to drives, sidewalks and curbs

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Home Lawn CareNumber of Home Lawns (millions)Home Lawn Care

Number of Home Lawns (millions)

40 50% DoNothing

None 1 2 3 4

- - - D.I.Y. Applications Per Year - - -

Mill

ion

s o

f H

om

e L

awn

s

30

20

10

Lawn Service

1011

10

18

4040 50% Do

Nothing

None 1 2 3 4

- - - D.I.Y. Applications Per Year - - -

Mill

ion

s o

f H

om

e L

awn

s

30

20

10

Lawn Service

1011

10

18

40Harry Homeowner’s Habits

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Proposal: The Healthy Lawns and Clean Water Initiative

Three phases:

1. Reduce Phosphorus in DIY lawn fertilizers by 50% by 2008

2. Conduct point of sale outreach program with industry and major retailers on “healthy lawns and clean water”

3. Initiate dialogue with the DIY lawn fertilizer industry on improving nitrogen use efficiency

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How did we get here?• B4B and UMD involvement in National “Lawns and the

Environment” group• Rich Martinez, Chief Environmental Officer for Scott-

Miracle Grow met with Nutrient Subcommittees and CBPO staff in early 2005

• Conversations, discussions, and negotiations continue.• MPTT holds Urban Nutrient Management forum (Nov.

2005), Scotts a major participant. P-reduction a major topic.

• Conversation expands to include Md. DNR, Md.MDA, Va DNREC and intensifies through spring 2006

• March 30, 2006, Martinez meets with NSC, B4B Md. DNR, MDA, Va. DNREC and other state reps and offers proposal

• April 14 and 20, NSC and IC endorse bringing proposal to PSC for possible EC action

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Why did we get here?• S-MG established Chief Environmental Officer and wanted to

strengthen environmental emphasis

• B4B, LGU Regional Water Program and CBP were already engaged and were ready and responsive

• S-MG and industry association (RISE) increasingly concerned about local and state laws/ordinances requiring no P or different P labels. Essentially a different product for each state or even county.

• S-MG and RISE view this as opportunity to be environmentally responsible and have more uniform approach to addressing water quality concerns

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Future State

Use Time Early Spring Late Spring Summer Early Fall / Any Time Late Fall

Coverage 5,000 Sq. Ft. 5,000 Sq. Ft. 5,000 Sq. Ft. 5,000 Sq. Ft. 5,000 Sq. Ft.

Net Weight (lbs) 14.06 14.29 13.35 15.52 14.23/14.29

Fertilizer N-P-KAnalysis (2006) 30-3-4 28-3-3 28-3-8 29-3-4 22-3-14/26-3-12

2007 N-P-K 30-0-4 28-3-3 28-0-8* 29-2-4 22-2-14 /26-3-12

2008 N-P-K 30-0-4 28-2-3 28-0-8 29-2-4 22-2-14/ 26-2-12

Goal: 50% Reduction in Phosphorus Applied by 2008 Sales Year

Turf BuilderWinterGuard and WinterGuard+2

Turf Builder Line - Phosphorus Reduction Plan

Turf BuilderHalts Crabgrass

Preventer

Turf BuilderPlus 2

Weed Control

Turf BuilderSummerGuard

Turf BuilderLawn Fertilizer

Phase I: Phosphorus reduction

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Products2005 5M Equiv

UnitsUnits

%Weight

Lbs.P2O5

%P2O5

Lbs.New P2O5

%New P2O5

Lbs.P2O5

Reduction

TB Halts 5,201,068 10.5 14.06 3 2,193,810 0 0TB +2 13,667,899 27.7 14.29 3 5,859,428 2 3,906,285TB Summerguard 2,802,706 5.7 13.35 3 1,122,484 0 0TB Wint 2,658,359 5.4 14.23 3 1,134,853 2 756,569TB Wint +2 3,161,600 6.4 14.29 3 1,355,378 2 903,585TB North 4,340,892 8.8 15.52 3 2,021,120 2 1,347,413

TB Subtotal 31,832,524 64.5 13,687,073 6,913,853 6,773,22049%

TB Moss 161,114 0.3 25.00 2 80,557 2 80,557Bonus S 3,740,694 7.6 20.69 3 2,321,849 2 1,547,899TB FAK 203,224 0.4 15.63 3 95,292 0 0TB South 2,197,067 4.5 19.23 2 844,992 2 844,992Lawn Pro 6,312,715 12.8 14.92 3 2,825,571 2 1,883,714Private Label 2,533,547 5.1 14.29 3 1,086,132 2 724,088Zero P TB Line 625,734 1.3 14.29 0 0 0 0

Other Subtotal 15,774,095 32.0 7,254,392 5,081,250 2,173,14230%

Starter 1,750,412 3.5 17.78 27 8,403,028 27 8,403,028

Total w/ Starter 49,357,031 100.0 29,344,493 20,398,131 8,946,36330%

Total w/o Starter 47,606,619 96.5 20,941,465 11,995,103 8,946,36343%

Product Lines - Phosphorus Reduction Plan

Reductions based on 2005 sales figures in the 5 states & DC

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Phase II: Point of Sale Educational Campaign

• Placards with “five-five worders” on what DIY can do for healthy lawns and clean

• Tear off with information and link to MAWQP web site (or other regional Land Grant University site throughout country)

• LGUs, CBP, Scotts-MiracleGro develop 5-5 placards

• Major retailers pay for printing

• S-MG or other industry associates manage/replace display

• MAWQP and CBP manage/update placard and web info

• Start in Chesapeake states/District but expand nationally

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Phase III: Nitrogen

• S-MG and RISE have agreed to begin discussions with CBP and LGUs on ways to either reduce nitrogen in fertilizer or use it more efficiently.

• Nitrogen is critical to green color of grass

• This will be much harder than P but industry and CBP and LGUs are committed to the discussion and hope to build on success with P

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Proposed Executive Council Action

• endorse a ~50% reduction in phosphorus in bagged DIY fertilizer lines as our tributary strategy approach to reducing P application (will continue education and pollution prevention)

• initiate discussions on nitrogen content and form in DIY lawn fertilizers

• work with the DIY lawn fertilizer industry and major retailers point of sale educational program (unveil at EC meeting and start spring 2007)

It is recommended the EC sign anAgreement/MOU with RISE/S-MG to:

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May PSC Actions

• Charge IC, through the NSC, B4B, MAWQP and Scotts/RISE, with drafting proposed agreement

• Charge same group (Land Grant Universities lead) with development of point of sale education program

• It is also recommended that Scotts Corporation be recognized at the Executive Council for their proactive leadership in this effort

• PSC have draft agreement and POS info for review by July with final EC draft by September