Representatives from industry suppliers expand on what the concept means to their companies and the message they’re trying to convey to superintendents. 
Bill Fair
Owner
Describe what sustainability means to your company.
Sustainability has always been our approach, even before the word became popular. Our brand has been around a long time, and the technology we use has always been about embracing sustainability. Our products contain all major, secondary and minor mineral elements available in chelated form, a balanced nitrogen complex and high levels of soluble carbohydrates to enrich the soil profile and encourage microbe-based mineral nutrient availability and uptake. We build plant health.
Through your sustainable efforts, what message are you trying to send to superintendents?
That we can help superintendents build a healthy plant. All of our products are manufactured with natural plant extracts, with soy being the base. What is more knowable to a plant than other plant sources of material? Our featured brand is Progressive Turf 10-3-5, which can improve turf root systems and thus improve the ability of turf to more efficiently absorb nutrients. Improving general plant health and vigor will decrease the need for inputs.
Are golf courses doing a good job of embracing sustainability? Why or why not?
I think superintendents are embracing sustainability more and more. Some superintendents have done the same agronomic things for many years, and some beat their heads against the wall trying to make things work, which is not sustainable. If they try to take a more sustainable approach, they realize they can reap rewards from it. Once superintendents see the benefits of sustainability, they will embrace it. They realize that you can teach an old dog new tricks, and that there is a natural approach to doing things that works.