alafarmnews

Sprigging Business a Timely Venture

For Walker Co.’s Garry Rowland

Walker County farmer Garry Rowland inspects some Bermuda sprigs.

For Indiana native Garry Rowland, diversifying his farming business has proven to be a smart decision. Like many producers nowadays, Rowland has had to look elsewhere to keep the cash flowing. Rowland, who also runs a cattle operation, began sprigging Bermuda grass about eight years ago.

He originally bought the machine to use on his own farm, but began doing work for neighbors and eventually traveling around Central Alabama to sprig fields.

"I bought the equipment to sprig my own fields," recalled Rowland. "Then I began doing work close by, for neighbors, and then word spread."

He mainly works in Walker and its surrounding counties. The distance he can travel is somewhat limited because he has to pull the sprigs in the morning, travel to the field and then sprig the field while the sprigs are still viable.

Lately, Rowland has been traveling further from home as word about his service as spread.

"I’ve been as far as Shelby, Tuscaloosa and Franklin counties," said Rowland. He can carry enough sprigs to do 25 acres in one trip.

All of the sprigs come from his fields in Walker County near Jasper. Rowland has about 300 acres from which he currently pulls sprigs. He grazes cattle on the field he is pulling sprigs from to keep the grass short.

Rowland currently uses Tifton 44 and Russell varieties of Bermuda grass. He anticipates using the Sumrall variety very soon.

"Sumrall out yields other varieties for our area," said Rowland. "It is being tested in the area now."

Russell is popular because it establishes within the first year, according to Rowland.

"You can get one cutting from Russell during its first year," he said. "With Tifton 44, you have to wait until its second year."

Drought a Factor

Rowland is worried that the exceptional drought in Alabama will hurt his sprigging business. He anticipates that the already short sprigging season will be cut shorter due to the lack of rainfall.

Rowland said that Bermuda sprigs planted in moist ground can grow for weeks without rain. Ideally, though, the sprigs need plenty of moisture.

Producer Garry Rowland checks his sprigger. He worries the drought will have a negative impact on his sprigging business. The lack of moisture makes sprigging nearly impossible.

The sprigging season in Rowland’s area runs from mid-April to about mid-August, he said. He doesn’t advise sprigging Bermuda after that.

Sprigging Process

In order for him to sprig a field, Rowland said the customer needs to prepare the ground as if corn or soybeans were going to be planted.

"At the beginning of the season we will plant the sprigs about one-half inch deep," said Rowland. "Later on, we have to plant about two inches deep, because of the lack of moisture."

The sprigger works like a planter, according to Rowland. It cuts a furrow, drops a sprig, discs close the furrow and tires pack the ground. The sprigs are held in one large hopper on top of the equipment.

Other Ventures

Even though he likes doing the sprigging work, it is not the only iron in the fire for Rowland. He also runs a successful cattle operation. He has his own cow-calf operation, purchases stocker cattle and contract grazes cattle.

He uses Parkman Cattle Company in Montgomery to handle the selling of his calves. He also purchases his stocker cattle through Parkman.

"We contract graze cattle during the winter time," said Rowland. "That’s when we have the ryegrass for them to eat."

Rowland said he is paid according to the amount of weight the calves gain.

"We have never lost a calf on contract grazing," said Rowland.

Besides cattle, Rowland keeps busy with his local bush-hogging business.

As you might have guessed, hay is a large part of Rowland’s farm work. He is one of the few local producers who still mass produces square bales of hay. Rowland said many of the customers who need square bales have just a few horses and can’t handle large round bales.

In addition, he contract bales for farmers in his area.

Rowland has recently purchased a dozer that he is using to clear some of his own land.

To help him with his heavy workload, Rowland employs one to two workers, depending on the season.

Local Board Member

As if farming on his scale wasn’t a full-time job already, Rowland makes time to sit on his local Co-op’s Board of Directors.

Walker Farmers Co-op manager Ricky Aldridge, the current winner of the E.P. Garrett Award, otherwise known as AFC Manager of the Year award, said that Rowland is a valuable customer and board member.

"Garry is in his third term as a board member," said Aldridge. "He is doing a great job."

Aldridge said Rowland helps generate a lot of business for the Co-op.

"When he sprigs fields for people, he recommends the Co-op to them for their fertilizer and lime needs," said Aldridge.

Besides generating new business for the local store, Aldridge said Rowland is one of the Co-op’s most loyal customers.

"He relies on us for fertilizer, lime, chemicals, animal health products, fencing, much of his feed and his tires," said Aldridge. "He is one of our biggest fertilizer customers in the area."

He considers Rowland a good friend and honest businessman.

In addition to all of his other ventures, Aldridge mentioned that Rowland raises border collies. "He uses the border collies to help with the cattle and then he sells the pups," said Aldridge.

Contact Information

Rowland is married to the former Teressa Guthrie of Nauvoo. They met while in school at the Florence State Teachers College, which is now the University of North Alabama. They married in 1973. They have two children.

Persons interested in contacting Rowland may call him at (205) 384-8556 during the day and at (205) 387-7814 during the evening.

Susie Sims is a freelance writer from Haleyville.