WARNING OVER FURTHER TURF PRICE RISES

The Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA) has issued a warning about anticipated price increases for turf products in 2025.

Following another year of challenging weather conditions and ever increasing operational costs, the TGA say their members have reported mounting pressures that will inevitably drive up the overall cost of production, and therefore the sale price of turf.

The Association says this continues a trend in recent years, as the industry grapples with the ongoing effects of extreme and variable weather patterns. In 2024, further widespread wet weather, increased disease management programmes, and in many cases the legacy of the previous winter's adverse weather have once again driven up production costs across the whole supply chain.

Adding to these challenges say the TGA, is the government’s increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, effective from April 2025, which will significantly affect turfgrass producers. Contributions are set to rise from 13.8% to 15%, while the threshold at which employers begin paying contributions will drop from £9,100 to £5,000. These changes will substantially increase payroll costs for labour-intensive industries including turfgrass production.

Richard Owens, chair of the TGA, said, "2024 was another particularly challenging year for the turfgrass industry. Alongside continued weather-related disruptions and increasing operational costs, government-mandated fiscal changes are adding further pressures. Price adjustments are essential to ensure the industry’s viability and ability to meet future demand."

The anticipated price rises for 2025 build on the challenges highlighted at the start of 2024, when the TGA warned of price increases driven by extreme weather, rising fertiliser and fuel costs, and supply chain issues.

With the effects of climate change continuing to impact growing conditions and economic pressures mounting, the TGA is urging stakeholders to anticipate price volatility and plan accordingly for upcoming projects.