2013 EPA Tier 4 Impacts on The Ford Plantation

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created a  “tiered” series of emission regulations governing the production of new off-road diesel equipment engines in the mid 1990’s. The purpose of the regulations was to reduce the level of harmful emissions such as particulate matter (PM) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) that enter the air via diesel engine exhaust.                                                   

The "final" and most technologically challenging implementation stage is called Tier 4. Basically, engine and turf equipment manufacturers producing diesel engines greater then 25 horsepower will be required to produce products that comply with these most stringent emission reductions. The Tier 4 emission standard will reduce already reduced emissions of PM by 90%. To give you a sense for how stringent the Tier 4 standard is, consider the fact that in many parts of the United States, the air leaving Tier 4 compliant machines will actually be cleaner than the incoming air!

What does this mean for the future equipment here at The Ford Plantation? Environmentally, our equipment will be cleaner and "greener" improving the long term health of our environment and community. However, economically these machines will have a higher cost. Other industries that have been previously effective by the new regulations have experienced upwards of a 20% increase in cost of machines.

Currently, our equipment fleet consists of eleven machines that will fall into the new tier 4 emission standards category starting in 2015. 

The fleet includes:

(3) Toro RM 5510 Fairway mowers 
(2) Toro GM 3500 Rotary Mowers
(2) Toro GM 4500 Rotary Mowers
(1) Toro GM 360 Rotary Mower
(1) Toro GM 4000 Rotary Mower
(2) Toro MP 5800 Sprayers

This Blog article was written by Mr. Alan Bussey, The Ford Plantation Equipment Manager

Golf Maintenance Welcomes Three New Staff Members!

   The golf course maintenance department is excited to welcome three new members to our staff; Equipment Manager, Alan Bussey; Assistant Superintendent, Brooks Riddle; and Assistant in Training, Matt Sumpter.

Alan comes to us from TPC Jasna Polana in Princeton, New Jersey where he was the Equipment Manager for four years. Prior to his time with the TPC network he was the Head Technician for the Golf Club of Georgia located in Alpharetta, Georgia. Alan holds a degree in Turf Equipment Management from Florida Gateway College, numerous manufacture training certificates and is a certified class “A” Golf Course Equipment Manager through the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association. Alan brings not only his mechanical ability but also a wealth of knowledge to our staff including agronomic skills learned from being an assistant golf course superintendent for multiple years throughout north Florida.

In his free time Alan is an all around outdoors man, enjoying golf, both fresh and salt water fishing, hiking, and hunting; with annual trips around the country to support all four interest. Alan is accompanied by his wife of three years Sarah, a teacher of the blind and visually impaired, and their two “children” Sidni- an English Springer Spaniel, and Crash- a Collie mix.

Brooks comes to us from The Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he has spent the past three years as the Head Spray Technician. Like Nelson Caron, he earned a B.S. in Turfgrass Science from North Carolina State University and completed internships across the country at some of the most storied golf clubs in the nation. These include Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, N.C., Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York, The Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the famed Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

Brooks is an avid golfer and reads many books on the history and game of golf. Brooks is enthusiastic about the opportunity to work as an assistant superintendent and maintain the golf course at a high level while expanding his knowledge under the direction of Nelson Caron.

Matt is originally from Plymouth, Indiana and a recent December graduate from Purdue University with a B.S. in Turfgrass Science. Matt, has completed internships at some of the top clubs in the country such as Medinah Country Club in Chicago, IL, Victoria National Golf Club in Evansville, IN, Kinloch Golf Club in Richmond, VA, and Indiana National Golf Club in Plymouth, IN. Not only did he broaden his horizons completing internships and various work experiences Matt, also spent a semester studying abroad in Aberystwyth, Wales.


Along with golf, Matt, enjoys the outdoors and traveling across the country. Matt is excited to start his career with us and broaden his understanding of agronomics and business management.

We feel extremely fortunate to have Alan, Brooks and Matt join our staff, and are excited to see what the future holds for them and our department. When you see them on the golf course make sure you welcome them to the Ford Plantation.