Grass sod farmers can now tax themselves to promote grass sod

The US Department of Agriculture is proposing a new program that lets natural grass sod producers fund their own marketing and research. This program would be paid for by a fee on domestic sod producers, if a majority of them vote to approve it.

This is a standard move for agricultural industries. If approved, it means grass sod producers will collectively pay to expand their market, rather than individual companies competing on their own. It creates a unified front for an industry that might otherwise struggle to compete against artificial turf or other landscaping options.