February 2018 NEWS

Grass Seed Harvest Update

The 2017 grass seed harvest in much of the United States was disappointing. In Minnesota & Canada, young plantings without snow cover froze out. In the Williamette Valley, where much of the seed production takes place, an excessively wet winter and spring prevented some plantings and delayed timely fertilizer and herbicide applications. This led to a larger than normal number of lots having tested as low quality due to weed problems. In general, seed production was down approximately 10-20%, depending on the species.

What does this mean to you? In general, you can expect pricing on grass seed to be higher than last year and good quality seed (meaning 0% crop and 0% weed) to be extremely difficult to come by. We have been monitoring the issue and have already taken steps to lock in the best quality seed early to ensure the high standards you have come to expect from us.

Wall Street Journal Reports a Shortage of freight Trucks is impacting shippers

"A nationwide truck shortage is forcing thousands of shippers into a tough choice: postpone all but the most important deliveries, or pay dearly to jump to the front of the line."

• Some companies are forced to cut shipments.
• Freight volumes are at near-recored levels.
• Strong holiday season is causing retailers shipping volume to increase.
• New Federal safety rule in December has reduced the number of available trucks.

Read the full article at www.wsj.com

The Law of The Skyscraper

Our lives, careers and teams work the same way. If we want to build up we have to first dig deep and develop our foundation.

It's not always easy to unearth the stuff below (the fears we have, the wounds we carry and the things that hold us back) but once we uncover them we can reach the core of our foundation and begin the building process to reach greater heights.

Today I want to encourage you to do some digging. Think about what's holding you and your team back. What needs to be unearthed and dealt with? I know it's easier not to address or confront it but remember the law of the skyscraper. If you don't dig you'll never be able to build the foundation you need to create the life and team that you want.

One of the ways I have built my foundation over the years is by choosing/receiving One Word for the year that is meant to shape and mold me to be my best. Seven years ago my word was Purpose. Then it was Surrender, Serve, Pray, Rise, Forgive and Still. Looking back I realize that in choosing my word each year I was digging and building a foundation.

My word for this year is Connected. I didn’t choose this word. It chose me. I wanted to pick “Grow” but "Connected" came to me on a walk New Year’s eve. I knew that I still had some digging and building to do and that involved being connected. Connected to God. Connected to my family when I’m on the road. Connected to people. We live at a time when we have more ways to connect but are often not connecting meaningfully. To dig and grow I want to connect meaningfully and create a life filled with meaning.

I don’t know what kind of digging you have to do personally or professionally, individually or collectively but I hope you’ll consider building your foundation this year so we can grow to greater heights together.

Identify what you stand for. Once you know what you stand for decisions are easy to make.

Have a vision for the road ahead. If you have a vision you also have the power to make it happen.

Know your why. When you know your why you will know the way and won’t let obstacles get in the way.

Let go of what’s holding you back. Chose faith instead of fear.

Pick a word and live it this year.

We know that there's a limit to how high skyscrapers can physically be built but there's no limit to how high you can soar when you are willing to keep building your life, work and team.

I wish you great growth this year,

—Jon Gordon, www.jongordon.com

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