Reducing Phosphorus in “Do It Yourself” Lawn Fertilizer (and more!)

1. Reducing Phosphorus in “Do It Yourself”Lawn Fertilizer (and more!) • Gary Felton • LGAC • June 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

2. 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

3. Home Lawn CareNumber of Home Lawns (millions) Harry Homeowner’s Habits

4. Proposal: The Healthy Lawns and Clean Water Initiative • Three phases: • Reduce Phosphorus in DIY lawn fertilizers by 50% by 2008 • Conduct point of sale outreach program with industry and major retailers on “healthy lawns and clean water” • Initiate dialogue with the DIY lawn fertilizer industry on improving nitrogen use efficiency

5. 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

6. 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

7. Phase I: Phosphorus reduction Future State Turf Builder Line - Phosphorus Reduction Plan Turf Builder Turf Builder Turf Builder Turf Builder Turf Builder Halts Crabgrass Plus 2 WinterGuard and SummerGuard Lawn Fertilizer Preventer Weed Control WinterGuard+2 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-K 30-3-4 28-3-3 28-3-8 29-3-4 22-3-14/26-3-12 Analysis (2006) 2007 N-P-K 30-0-4 28-0-8* 29-2-4 22-2-14 28-3-3 /26-3-12 2008 N-P-K 28-2-3 30-0-4 28-0-8 29-2-4 22-2-14/ 26-2-12 Goal: 50% Reduction in Phosphorus Applied by 2008 Sales Year

8. Product Lines - Phosphorus Reduction Plan P O P O New P O New P O P O 2005 5M Equiv Units Weight 2 5 2 5 2 5 2 5 2 5 Products Units % Lbs. % Lbs. % Lbs. Reduction 5,201,068 10.5 14.06 3 2,193,810 0 0 TB Halts 13,667,899 27.7 14.29 3 5,859,428 2 3,906,285 TB +2 2,802,706 5.7 13.35 3 1,122,484 0 0 TB Summerguard 2,658,359 5.4 14.23 3 1,134,853 2 756,569 TB Wint 3,161,600 6.4 14.29 3 1,355,378 2 903,585 TB Wint +2 4,340,892 8.8 15.52 3 2,021,120 2 1,347,413 TB North 6,773,220 31,832,524 64.5 13,687,073 6,913,853 TB Subtotal 49% 161,114 0.3 25.00 2 80,557 2 80,557 TB Moss 3,740,694 7.6 20.69 3 2,321,849 2 1,547,899 Bonus S 203,224 0.4 15.63 3 95,292 0 0 TB FAK 2,197,067 4.5 19.23 2 844,992 2 844,992 TB South 6,312,715 12.8 14.92 3 2,825,571 2 1,883,714 Lawn Pro 2,533,547 5.1 14.29 3 1,086,132 2 724,088 Private Label 625,734 1.3 14.29 0 0 0 0 Zero P TB Line 2,173,142 15,774,095 32.0 7,254,392 5,081,250 Other Subtotal 30% 1,750,412 3.5 17.78 27 8,403,028 27 8,403,028 Starter 8,946,363 49,357,031 100.0 29,344,493 20,398,131 Total w/ Starter 30% 8,946,363 47,606,619 96.5 20,941,465 11,995,103 Total w/o Starter 43% Reductions based on 2005 sales figures in the 5 states & DC

9. 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

10. 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

11. Proposed Executive Council Action It is recommended the EC sign an Agreement/MOU with RISE/S-MG to: • 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)

12. 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