The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP®) is one of the most widely-known turfgrass research programs in the world. From its beginnings as a mechanism to evaluate one turfgrass species within the USA, it has expanded to the evaluation of seventeen turfgrass species in as many as forty U.S. states and six provinces in Canada. NTEP® is a cooperative program that includes the USDA-ARS, state land-grant universities, turfgrass breeders and seed companies, the U.S. Golf Association, the Golf Course Superintendents Assoc. of America, Turfgrass Producers International and the Sports Field Managers Association.

At any one time, NTEP® is testing more than 600 grasses. The information collected and summarized by NTEP® is currently requested by individuals and companies in thirty countries. Additionally, many more people are exposed to NTEP® information as it is published in U.S. trade publications such as Golf Course Management, Lawn and Landscape, Sports Field Management and Turf News.

Seed companies rely heavily on NTEP® data to advertise and sell turfgrass varieties. Plant breeders use NTEP data to determine the adaptability and utility of experimental cultivars. Turfgrass researchers and extension personnel use NTEP® data to make variety recommendations. Local and state government entities, such as parks and highway departments, use NTEP® for writing specifications on turfgrass purchasing. Most important, the golf course superintendent, athletic field manager, parks and grounds manager, lawn care operator, sod grower and homeowner use NTEP® extensively before purchasing seed or sod. It is the acceptance by the end-user that has made NTEP® the standard for turfgrass evaluation in the USA and many other countries worldwide.