History of the RTF Turf Producers Association

The very first Rhizomatous Tall Fescue was found by researchers in Europe in 1991. It was another 8 years of cross breeding, collecting seed, research and trials by before it was even brought to the United States by Barenbrug USA for basic trials. RTF was developed using traditional breeding and hybridization techniques, with no genetic engineering.

Barenbrug USA knew they had something different and unique with RTF and rather than mass produce it and flood the market with it, they went direct to the sod producers to trial and test the RTF as sod. They set up 25 experimental locations across the U.S., 23 of them were sod production sites.

The RTF Turf Producers Association was formed in 2002 as an agricultural non-profit association. The RTF association controls the production of RTF sod and maintains the quality standards. The vision of the RTF Association is not only to market and produce the RTF Sod, but also to support the continued research and development of new and improved generations of RTF for the future.

On January 13, 2004, Barenbrug USA was issued a Utility Patent, "U.S Patent no. 6,677,507", for a Tall Fescue Variety Having Rhizomes.

The RTF Association is governed by a board of 5 directors, consisting of 4 RTF Sod grower members and one Barenbrug appointed representative. In 2015, with the growth and success of the program, the board of directors voted to hire a full time Executive Director.

With RTF Sod you instantly get a healthy mature lawn, grown by the top turfgrass producers in the world. Not all grass is the same. This is why you want to insist on RTF sod. Likewise, not all turfgrass producers are the same. Some are just more particular. They use the most advanced techniques to grow a healthy, thick turfgrass, free of weeds, insects and diseases. These are the growers chosen and licensed to grow RTF sod. To find the grower nearest you, go to the Where to Buy page. Only the growers listed on this site are licensed to grow RTF sod. Accept no other.