Auburn University (334) 844-3980 handavi@auburn.edu
Jim Jacobi, Ph.D.
Alabama Cooperative Extension System (205) 879-6964, Ext. 19 jacobjc@auburn.edu
It’s WE’VE COME A LONG WAY!
that time of year! Everyone is in the thick of growing season and running around like crazy! It’s funny how every year, I can’t wait for things to green up, and then by August, I want things to just slow down a bit! I’m sure most ATA members feel as if 2022 is flying by quicker than normal! This may be partially due to life returning to a busier pace as COVID restrictions fade away. Also, supply chain issues seem to be improving, especially for parts.
In the last issue of Alabama Turf Times, we introduced a new cover story series, “Looking to the Future – Where Will the Turfgrass Industry Be in Ten Years.” The specific topic was “Pesticides of the Future,” and Dr. Eric Reasor, Southeast Research Scientist for PBI-Gordon Corporation did a great job discussing this subject. If you missed his article, it would benefit you to go back and read Dr. Reasor’s perceptive view of this issue.
This issue will dive into the huge topic of Equipment & Technology. So large, in fact, this cover story will span two issues, Summer 2022 and Fall 2022. An interesting part of this article (on pages 20 and 21) is the list of equipment and technology advancements that our fellow ATA members have seen the last 30 to 40 years. Thanks to those members for helping build that list for all of us to review. We’ve come a long way!
As a special note, in the Winter 2023 issue of Alabama Turf Times, Dr. Dave Han will cover the future of turfgrass breeding. And for now, the last topic of this series will examine the turfgrass industry labor issues going forward. Can’t wait to see what those two articles will reveal about the future. As always, if you have ideas for articles, please let us know!
The 2022 Auburn Turfgrass Research Day was held Wednesday, April 13. It was a beautiful day and the research discussed was very insightful. Everyone had a great time as usual. We also held our Poa Annua Classic at Inverness on May 2nd, with James Spann as our guest speaker. Again, we were fortunate to have great weather for the 53 golfers that played. The Poa is a great opportunity to play golf with your friends and colleagues, while raising money for turfgrass research and education.
Be sure to place July 13th on your calendars now, for the 2022 Sports Turf Field Day. It will be held at the University of Alabama this year. Special thanks go to new ATA Board Member, Drew Charcandy for hosting this event. We hope to see all those involved in park and recreation, sports fields, or just anyone interested in seeing the facilities at UA, at this event.
If you aren’t able to make it to anything else this year, the Deep South Turf Expo is an excellent value and an amazing experience to attend. It will be held in Biloxi as usual on October 24th through the 27th, with 4 days of golfing, tours, education sessions and tradeshow. The ATA Annual Business Meeting and Elections will be held there on October 26th. Be sure to attend! You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity. You’ll also have the bonus opportunity of earning pesticide points and CEU’s at the expo. There is a description of the DSTE in this issue, with expanded coverage in the Fall Issue of Alabama Turf Times
I want to keep encouraging everyone to be involved with our turfgrass industry. We offer plenty of opportunities for everyone to gather and spend time networking while investing in ourselves. Continuing to learn and grow in your career path will only help you succeed. We always want to encourage ATA Members to be involved and we’re looking for new potential leaders that are interested in being a part of the ATA Board of Directors. So, if you have a desire to get more involved, or if you just want to help, let us know!
I want to thank all our members and vendors for their support. ALL of us together make ATA a leading turfgrass association! And we want to continue to grow, and to be a valuable tool in advancing your success.
Ben Anderson
ATA President
GOLD
• Bayer Environmental Science
• Beard Equipment Company
• Greenville Turf & Tractor
• Harrell’s, Inc.
• Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation
• Simplot, Inc.
SILVER
• BWI Companies
• Corteva Agriscience
• Ewing
• Nufarm, Inc.
• Regal Chemical Company
• SiteOne Landscape Supply
• Syngenta
BRONZE
• Aquatrols
• Agromax
• BASF
• GreenPoint Pro
• PBI-Gordon
• Southern States Turf
• Sur-Line Turf
• Walker / Wright Mowers
Ben Anderson
2022 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED for the DEEP SOUTH TURF EXPO
By Melanie Bonds
Deep South Turf Expo Committee is pleased to announce their keynote speaker line-up for the 2022 Expo scheduled for October 24th through the 27th at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.
First up, on October 26th in the morning session is Jeff McManus! When Jeff was 37, the University of Mississippi hired him as the Director of the newly formed Landscape Services Department. As one of the most junior directors on campus, the immediate challenges that faced him were staggering – exceptionally low morale with an unacceptable lack of productivity. In many ways, the Ole Miss landscape services was actually an extreme example of the same problems facing many organizations then and today.
Jeff believed the challenges could be overcome with focused team effort. So, he established a four-step process he calls “The GROW System.” Jeff works from the position that everybody wants to be successful, and they can be by recognizing their personal potential. Great Teams, Raising Results, Offense Scores and Winning Attitudes formed Jeff’s GROW System.
Jeff has been praised by Forbes and the Huffington Post for his book, Growing Weeders into Leaders, where he shares how his team went from last place to being on the national stage. It wasn’t long before Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS), Newsweek, Princeton Review and USA Today all recognized Jeff and his staff and awarded their efforts with the nation’s most beautiful campus designation.
Jeff’s presentation is a must for those in the industry wanting to cultivate leaders. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in Landscape and Ornamental Horticulture from Auburn University and is a Certified Arborist.
The Committee is delighted to announce that Dr. Pat Cobb, retired entomologist with Auburn University, will present as a keynote speaker on Wednesday. Dr. Pat Cobb is a veteran Extension specialist who served the state of Alabama for 20 years. She is a native of Prattville, Alabama, with a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in entomology and a Ph.D. in entomology. During her tenure with Extension, she served as an extension specialist on the state staff and an Extension entomologist and professor in the Auburn University Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Pat’s former students will be delighted to re-connect with her, and if you haven’t met Pat, you should take the opportunity to meet her at the Deep South Turf Expo! Those that know her will agree, her nuggets of information “are as rare as hen’s teeth”!
Drs. Jay McCurdy (Mississippi State), Scott McElroy (Auburn University) and Pawel Petelewicz (University of Florida) will present in the afternoon session. Their presentation, “News of the (Herbicide) World” describes exciting new herbicides on the market, and a few old ones that have been revamped. Join them for a discussion about where these herbicides fit in a weed management program and how they may help overcome some of the challenges faced by practitioners. The panel will also be discussing pending regulation of herbicides and just how it affects end users.
In addition to the speakers, this year’s tradeshow will be held on Wednesday afternoon in conjunction with some of the speakers and book signings by Jeff McManus and Dr. Cobb. Wednesday is also when we hold the host organization’s annual business meetings, so please come prepared to “Stay the course” on Wednesday!
Jeff McManus
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INCLUDES:
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12 Name tags for Staff
Four-Ball Golf Sponsorship
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INCLUDES:
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8 Name tags for Staff Breakfast Break Sponsorship
Tradeshow Break Sponsorship
Tee Sign in Scramble Tourney
Tradeshow Flag in Exhibit Booth
Logo on Website & Program
Signage at Event
Online Registration Assistance
EXHIBIT SPACE SPONSORSHIPS
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2022 SPORTS TURF FIELD DAY
at The University of Alabama
The Alabama Turfgrass Association’s 2022 Sports Turf Field Day will be held on the campus of The University of Alabama on July 13. Please make plans to join us in Tuscaloosa for an outstanding opportunity to view the Crimson Tide playing fields!
The program will feature Alabama Softball Head Coach Patrick Murphy. Coach Murphy was there at the origin of the program, having been present from the very inception to where it stands today. And certainly, nobody can claim to have brought a program further, and in shorter time, than Crimson Tide head softball coach Patrick Murphy, who entered his 24th season as the program’s leader in 2022. From a humble start to a national championship, Murphy has taken Alabama to the top of the college softball world. Beginning with his days as an assistant in the very first years of the Alabama softball program, Murphy has emerged as the face of a team that has grown under his leadership to become one of the most consistently successful programs in the nation.
In addition to Coach Murphy there will be a representative from Football Operations to speak. Jon DeWitt, CSFM and his assistant, Drew Charcandy will give a first-hand look at their carefully groomed UA athletic fields.
There will be opportunities for sponsors to use the practice fields for the exhibition of equipment. Lunch and speakers will be in the North End Zone inside BryantDenny stadium.
The ATA sponsors two Legacy Scholarships each year in the amount of $1,250 each.
Applications will be accepted from any student that is a child or grandchild of a current ATA member that meets the criteria of our guidelines.
The Legacy scholarship application is online on our website alturfgrass.org
You can also find the guidelines on the website. Essays and transcripts should be mailed or emailed to the ATA office.
All applications are due by November 15th.
Jon DeWitt, CSFM and Drew Charcandy
Featuring a Range of Topics AUBURN’S TURFGRASS RESEARCH DAY
This year Auburn’s Turfgrass Research Day returned to April, and it was a beautiful day to be outdoors viewing the plots.
TOPICS INCLUDED
Pollinators in turfgrass and how to maintain and support pollinators. The latest on problematic insect biology and ecology was also discussed and how it applies to insect management in turfgrass.
Discussion of the use of growth promoting Bacillus in turfgrass, the impact of vesiculararbuscular mycorihizal (VAM) fungi on turfgrass, and the latest on the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program.
Demonstrations of the following:
• Safening of trifloxysulfuron on St. Augustine grass with potential for weed control
• Poa annua control in warm-season turfgrass when herbicide resistance is present
• Poa annua control in putting greens
• Broadleaf weed control herbicide options
• Pre-emergence herbicide usage for winter and summer weed control
• The growing problem of herbicide resistance
Turfgrass Research Day is a great opportunity to come out and support our Auburn researchers. Many thanks to those vendors who contributed, as well as attendees.
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“Keeping a Weather Eye” POA ANNUA CLASSIC 2022
By Melanie Bonds
This year’s Poa Annua Classic returned to a spring schedule, being held on May 2nd, at Inverness Country Club in Birmingham. Last year the Poa was held in conjunction with the Auburn Turfgrass Research Day in July. Certainly, the change of date made for much more enjoyable playing conditions. We appreciate Jim Mason, Superintendent, and Inverness Country Club for hosting! We are proud to announce that our numbers grew with this year’s tournament and we fielded 53 players!
We also thank our speaker, James Spann. James hardly needs an introduction as he is the weather guru for much of the state! For those who don’t know, James is a television meteorologist based in Birmingham, Alabama. He currently works for WBMA, Birmingham's ABC affiliate. Spann has worked in the field since 1978. His degree is from Mississippi State University. James Spann spoke on “Getting Accurate Weather Information In A Sea Of Misinformation.” He is always an informative and entertaining speaker. Thank you, Mr. Spann for sharing your knowledge with our members!
Congratulations to our POA WINNERS:
FIRST PLACE TEAM: Ben Anderson, Patrick Bell, David Haven and Ben Williams
LONGEST DRIVE: Bryan Scroggins
CLOSEST TO THE PIN: Neal Wisdom
The ATA hosts the Poa each year to raise funds for the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation. Thank you to those sponsoring the event, Bayer Environmental Science, GreenPoint Pro and PBI Gordon.
( l – r ): James Spann, Kayla Cook and ATA President, Ben Anderson.
ATA Board Member Drew Charcandy (center) poses with colleagues from Auburn ( l – r ): James Rogers, Daniel Richardson, Zach Willard and Eli Williams.
“Chasing that Epic Field Moment” JON D e WITT
Ironically, Jon DeWitt, CSFM, who is the Director of Sports Grounds at the University of Alabama, does not have a degree in turfgrass management, horticulture, or plant science. Jon attended the University of Alabama in Birmingham and his career path has been very untraditional.
“I’d say sports turf management choose me, rather than me consciously choosing it. I grew up around the larger green industry. My dad worked in facilities and grounds at colleges and institutions throughout my childhood and teen years. He was also a partner in a private residential / commercial landscaping company, so these were my initial exposures.”
In high school Jon attended Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham. It was there that he began experimenting with sports turf. Jon did grounds work and sports field work to pay for college where, “I studied English of all things. LOL!”
After completing college, Jon became the fulltime grounds keeper at Briarwood Christian School.
From there he went to Wesleyan School in Norcross, GA to develop a grounds department from scratch, as they were outsourcing everything at the time.
“Wesleyan also gave me the opportunity to try my hand at teaching and fall back on sports turf if that better suited me. It’s obvious which direction I chose. After seven years at Wesleyan, a great opportunity at Georgia Tech basically fell into my lap in 2007. Then, in 2015, Alabama had a vacancy in the Sports Turf Manager’s position which obviously appealed to me, not only professionally, but also personally since it was adjacent to ‘home’ in Birmingham.”
Jon acknowledges being somewhat isolated as he navigated his career. His strengths are maintaining sports fields, as well as being good at logistics and organization, which helps manage all the moving parts of a turf program at a college.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
“I am thankful to my dad for instilling a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and the importance of organization in me. Also, my dad’s close friend Dr. Kynerd, Briarwood Superintendent, was a mentor in terms of faith, life skills, and, once again, work ethic. Jerry Simmons and Phillip Hindman (Harrell’s) both helped me out early in my career at Briarwood. Phillip was my sales rep again at the University of Alabama when I took the job here. Both men are ATA lifetime achievement winners. My story is just one of many that is a testament to what they brought to the turf industry in Alabama, through their relationships with people and mentoring.”
There are many things Jon likes about his job: the challenges to overcome, the need to constantly learn and improve because of new scenarios, and even navigating weather events. “I am a taskoriented guy, so the fact that there is literally always something to do, or something you could be doing, drives and motivates me. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was from Dr. Kynard who said, ‘Stay flexible!’ In college athletics situations can change so quickly – many times on just the whim
of a powerful coach. Add in weather, personnel, and equipment and you’ve got a recipe which requires being on your toes 24/7 and even the occasional magic trick.”
For Jon, the relationships and comradery among peers, colleagues, and vendors is certainly a great part of the job. During his off-time, Jon enjoys being involved in his church and studying the Bible. He is a big fan of live music/concerts.
Jon is married to Laura. He says she’s “a real saint for putting up with my turf addiction, but she’s also a University of Georgia fan so there’s that.” They have twin daughters, Evie and Ellie. Evie works at Publix, and Ellie is moving back to Tuscaloosa to go to school at the University of Alabama after a fouryear stint in the Navy.
Jon is a member of the Sports Turf Manager’s Association, now Sports Field Management Association. He was a founding board member of the Georgia Chapter of Sports Turf Managers Association (GASTMA) and served as president of that organization for a few years. We are proud to have Jon as a member of the Alabama Turfgrass Association.
( l – r ): Ellie, Jon and Evie DeWitt with Sir Oates. Cooking at Christmas 2021
Jon and wife, Laura, eating out with Family, Christmas 2021
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Where Will the Turfgrass Industry Be in Ten Years? PART 1
FUTURE TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT of the and
This article compiled and edited by James Horton It is a collaborative effort by turf professionals. Appreciation is due to all those listed as article references!
The Need for Lawns and the Equipment to Maintain
The evolution of mankind has intrinsically been tied to the development of turfgrass. Thousands of years ago early man used the advantage of low growing turf across savannas to stalk their prey and watch for approaching danger. During medieval times, only grass was allowed around castles so anyone approaching could easily be seen. The Early Modern Era saw great lawns and gardens fill the landscape around palaces and public malls. All the while, the only practical way for most people to maintain turfgrass through the mid-to-late 1800’s was by grazing animals and/or scything. However, scything was done most effectively when the grass was wet. Some say the commercial turf equipment industry was born in the mid-1800’s when Edwin Budding re-engineered a rotary cutting machine, used to remove nap from carpet, to cut turfgrass. This first-generation mechanical lawn mower could cut dry grass.1 The race for better, faster, bigger, stronger, safer, smarter, more efficient turfgrass equipment had started. And it continues today!
What Turfgrass Managers Have Witnessed the Last 30 – 40 Years
Any member of the Alabama Turfgrass Association approaching retirement today has seen amazing advancements during their career. Here is a partial list of the next, “new innovation” that propelled our industry forward, as submitted by several of our Alabama Turfgrass Association colleagues.
Aerial images from a drone (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle — UAV) are used to map spring dead spot of bermudagrass across golf course fairways in Virginia. Researchers are working on combining drone mapping and GPS-guided ground sprayers into an UAV integrated system (UAV-IS) that can offer a new alternative to implement targeted or site-specific pest management.
• Golf and Sports Fields: cable steer greens mowers; pull-behind rolling drum aerifiers; independent hydraulic aerifiers; hollow tine, solid tine, slicer and spiker variations; core and thatch collecting equipment; drill and fill aerifiers; air, sand, and water injectors; rotary-quaking de-compaction equipment; slit drainage equipment; pull-behind and independent top-drop topdressers of various sizes; rotary topdressers; sprigging machines; turbine-type debris blower; greens mowers with GPS steer; hydraulic triplex greens mower; cruise control on rough and fairway mowers; Fraze mowers; electric and hybrid equipment; sprayers with GPS guidance, utility vehicles; infield groomers; light weight rollers; gang rollers; the progression of drive systems from chain to belt to hydraulic to electric; LED lights; battery operated golf carts, mowers, hand tools, including mechanic tools; ‘Equipment Lift’; tools that measure playability such as the Stimpmeter for ball roll and the Clegg Hammer for surface hardness; laser guided grading equipment; turf planers; larger vacuums/sweepers with hydraulic dump beds; drones with cameras, sensors and sprayers. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
• Lawn Care and Landscape: line trimmers; stick edgers; mulching mowers; backpack blowers and sprayers; Chem-Lawn spray gun; foam marking boom sprayers; walk-behind mowers; zero-turning radius mowers; foam-filled tires; ride-on spreaders/ sprayers with boomless spray nozzles; slope mowers; remotely operated slope mowers; skid loaders; articulating skid loaders; big roll installation equipment; dump trailers; live-bed trailers; hydraulic trailer ramps; power augers; Rollover Protection Systems (ROPS); safety cutoffs bars; pressure activated cutoff switches; neutral start gear shift; chainsaw chain brake. 2, 7, 8
Photo credit: Dr. David McCall, Virginia Tech
The Toro Company has begun field testing the GeoLink® Solutions™ Autonomous Fairway Mower after investing more than 20 years of research and development. This type of innovation aims to alleviate the issues of labor shortages and budget constraints, while increasing productivity and getting more consistent results.
applicators,
for
RC Mowers, Model TK-60XP offers a (1) waterproof wireless receiver, (2) LED lightbar and (3) HD digital camera. Turfgrass researchers and equipment manufacturers are designing the future generations of turfgrass equipment to include an array of remote sensors and some will be completely robotic.
This GPS sprayer utilizes a high spatial resolution technique known as Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) to allow targeted pesticide applications using individual nozzle control with pinpoint accuracy within a centimeter. Photo credit: Dr. Wendell Hutchens, Virginia Tech
• Sod Production: walk behind harvesters; tractor mounted harvesters; harvesters with automatic stackers; fully automated, one-man harvesters, using GPS guidance, cutting and stacking sod; big roll harvesters; truck mounted forklifts; wide rotary mowers up to 36 feet; sprayers with GPS guidance, rate control and shut off; variable rate lime and fertilizer application in conjunction with grid sampling; center pivot irrigation, and center pivot irrigation controlled using a smart phone. 9
• Irrigation: PVC and HDPE pipe, pin and dial irrigation timer; advancements in glue and cleaner — hot/ fast curing; heavy, load bearing valve boxes; various types of quick couplers; swing joints; novelty PVC couplers e.g. flow span; drip irrigation especially for
landscapes and parking lots; sub-meters to separate irrigation water from other uses; digital controllers; smart irrigation controllers; soil moisture and salinity sensors; sprinkler head check valves; valve-in-heads (VIH); impact, spray, stream, rotating, fixed and adjustable arc spray heads; master valves; leak detection monitoring devices; twowire irrigation systems; control of the irrigation and lighting systems through the controllers using a cell phone; the use of the old-world cistern idea to store water; testing criteria for WaterSense labeling for sensors and controllers; real time pressure sensing; precipitation sensors; Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) for pump station applications; water audit software; integrated remote pump monitoring; mechanical joint restraints for piping systems; and trenchers of all sizes. 7, 10
Ride-on
such as the PermaGreen Triumph, cover larger areas more quickly, allowing consistency of application throughout the day and is less labor intensive. The goal is
greater effectiveness and higher efficiency while increasing production; trends seen for future turfgrass equipment.
Photo credit: PermaGreen
Photo credit: The Toro Company
Photo credit: James Horton
Colby Martin of TriGreen Equipment, Pelham, Alabama, is remotely operating RC Mowers, Model TK-60XP, on a steep bank at the Highland Park Golf Course, Birmingham, Alabama. The signal range of the remote controller is 1,000 feet, but 200 – 400 feet is recommended. The unit can transmit a HD digital image to an Android or similar tablet for the operator to see what’s in front of the machine in situations where the machine may not be in-line-of-sight. This machine can mow slopes up to 50°, with a 60" deck between the tracks and cut vegetation up to 6 feet tall and 1.5" diameter saplings. See RCMOWERSUSA.COM for more details. Photo credit: James Horton
All of the aforementioned innovations were amazing, huge, labor-saving advances for the turfgrass industry, but let’s not forget what TECHNOLOGY has done! Many managers never even learned to type during their formative years, but as computer and cell phone use exploded even our most seasoned colleagues became proficient with technology. Everything we do evolves around the benefits of applied science. Today, technology touches every aspect of our lives: keeping time; storing employee data, customer files and inventory; aiding with design, sales and advertising; helping with identification of plants and pests; providing information, pictures and videos on any subject at a click, and let’s not forget communication – emailing and texting are taken for granted today. Faxing is almost as rare as MSMA!
• Technology: computers; laptops; digital tablets; pagers/beepers; two-way radios; mobile phones; flip phones; smart phones; digital cameras; GIS and GPS; software for all types of applications; podcasts by the thousands such as TheTurfZone.com; various apps such as Google Maps, Sun & Shade Analyzer, Landscaper’s Companion, Sun Seeker, Lawn Starter, iScape along with other “augmented reality” apps; weather websites such as Storm Tracker and Windy; Social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Snapchat, WhatsApp, etc. 4, 7, 11
As Alabama Turfgrass Association members have witnessed, the advances in equipment and technology over the last 30 to 40 years have been unprecedented in turfgrass history. Past innovations have helped the turfgrass managers in more ways than can be mentioned or explained in this article. So, what’s next?
Where Do Innovations Originate?
David McCall, Ph.D., Virginia Tech answered that question this way, “New ideas originate from need or from somebody seeing a better way to get things done. Sometimes that comes from a golf course superintendent, a sod producer,
a university researcher, an equipment manufacturing engineer, a sales rep, or the guy weed eating along fence lines. In the university setting, we get paid to come up with new ideas for improving how things are done and then testing those ideas. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don’t. However, we can come up with the most high-tech solutions possible, but if the solution is worse than the problem, or the solution is highly impractical, then what’s the point. A lot of the truly game-changing ideas come when there is strong feedback from multiple players who think about the end-goal differently. Strong collaboration is key.”12
Chase Straw, Ph.D., Texas A&M, stated “Some inventions are revolutionary and completely new. Others may be a new feature for an existing tool or piece of equipment, such as GPS and auto steer on sprayers and mowers, or GPS equipped soil moisture sensors. In some cases, inventions may be a simple feature to make maintenance easier or more ergonomic.”2
Dr. Straw sees cutting edge technology and equipment advances being used in Precision Agriculture (PA) and wonders why it’s not being used in Precision Turfgrass Management (PTM). He mentioned as an example, “Concepts of using sensors as part of irrigation systems, started in PA to better utilize this precious resource in making management decisions and now it’s becoming more common place in PTM.”2 When advancements in PTM do occur, many if not most, are often found first on golf courses. Why? Well, the answer is clear for two reasons:
1.) “The United States Golf Association reviews worthy research proposals each year, spending about $1.8 million across a variety of projects.” 13
2.) “The bottom line is that money drives research studies and the bulk goes to agriculture. However, the research usually trickles down to golf first and then to the rest of the turfgrass industry.” 2
For those reasons, Dr. Straw said, “I spend a lot of time talking with golf course superintendents discussing their issues as an opportunity to identify further areas of research.” 2
Interestingly, research funding could have a new source. The U.S. Sod Industry’s formation of a Checkoff Program has the potential to raise approximately $12 – $14 million each year for research, promotion and education of natural grass. If the checkoff program is approved through a nationwide referendum of sod producers, the U.S. Sod Checkoff Board will be created with 5 of the 13 sod producer board members being from the South, according to Dr. Casey Reynolds, TPI Executive Director. He stated, “A U.S. Sod Checkoff Program has the potential to change the face of natural grass research and promotion by creating the largest single funding source of its kind in the world. Sod producers would oversee and manage the program. It could fund large-scale research and promotion locally and nationally on a scale that is not currently feasible.”13
The USDA also funds a good deal of basic research, but not so much applied research. It’s also worth noting that USDA’s annual contribution to turf research varies year-to-year.
The biggest contributor to turfgrass research dollars is private business investment. Motivated by increase sales, market share and, ultimately profit, they are always looking for the next big innovation. Many of these large companies put millions of dollars into their own research division budgets to development new innovations for equipment and technology. Private business also funds universities to develop, research and test new products. Dr. Straw stated “The fact is the turfgrass industry is a small niche market
compared to all of agriculture. So, the other larger sectors of agriculture usually see the benefit of new ideas first; such as the latest in sprayer technology, automized anything, and even drone technology.” 2
But let’s not forget the average person’s ability to see the need for a better way. Some individuals have been responsible for the next industry-changing idea. Take, for instance, the string trimmer. In 1971, George Ballas fashioned the first weed eater by attaching pieces of heavy-duty fishing line to a tin can bolted to the rotary head of an edger. Since that moment, this one simple invention has touched everyone involved with turfgrass maintenance. In 1977, Ballas sold his invention for an undisclosed amount, after having an astounding $41 million dollars in sales during 1976.14
What Turfgrass Issues Are Being Addressed Through Innovation Today?
The development of equipment and technology for turfgrass has been an ongoing process since man started the quest of taming the lawn. Many of the issues addressed over time remain roughly the same: efficiency, cost/benefit considerations, maneuverability, safety and environmentally friendly to name a few.
The Toro Precision Sense 6000 in action on a golf course fairway. This device simultaneously measures soil moisture (% volumetric water content), penetration resistance (i.e., soil compaction), soil salinity (a calibrated electrical conductivity), an d normalized difference vegetation index (i.e., turfgrass vigor or quality). All data are georeferenced so that spatial maps can be generated for all measured characteristics. These maps can then be used to identify locations or create thresholds for targeted irrigation and fertility applications. Photo credit: Dr. Chase Straw, Texas A&M
Today more than ever, innovative ideas related to turfgrass research are juxtaposed with the ever-increasing goals of Precision Agriculture (PA). These goals have progressed to improve site-specific management, based on obtaining sitespecific information. This mindset has also spilled over to the growing concept of Precision Turfgrass Management (PTM). This subject was discussed in what some turfgrass researchers view as a seminal article entitled, “Precision turfgrass management: challenges and field applications for mapping turfgrass
soil and stress” by Robert N. Carrow, Ph.D., et al., 2010. There, the authors stated, “Primary turfgrass cultural practices are irrigation, fertilizer application, cultivation, mowing and pest control. As in agriculture, turfgrass managers world-wide are interested in ways to improve input efficiency, especially related to the primary cultural practices, and to minimize any potential negative environmental aspects.”15 And by input efficiency, they refer to less fertilizer, pesticides and water being used, resulting in less energy and labor as well!
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Rising cost and short supplies of all materials, along with the trend toward PTM have mandated that much of the equipment and technology innovations for turfgrass application address the reduction of inputs to only areas where need exists. Regarding this, Carrow, et al., 2010, gave us more clues about future innovations for turfgrass that are still relevant today. “To achieve input efficiency, one approach adopted by PA is through the use of site-specific management units (SSMUs) delineated within fields, or management zones, which are areas with similar soil, topography, microclimate and plant response. PA (as does PTM) aims to obtain detailed site-specific information by mapping important variations in important soil and plant properties to enable better site-specific management. Therefore, reliable maps of soil conditions, topography and plant yield based on adequate sampling are necessary to delineate SSMUs accurately.” 15 This is to say, that within a golf course, sports complex, sod farm, or any large turf area, there could be as many as 4 – 6 or more distinct SSMUs, each of which might require different levels of “inputs”. Sensor technology would be used to attain this information, along with geographical information systems (GIS) database development and graphic display to pinpoint areas having fertility issues, pest problems, drought, compaction, etc. Using equipment with Variable Rate Application (VRA) technology, different SSMUs would receive different rates of application based on their precise location, thus using inputs more precisely!
It is obvious that sensor innovations will be used more and more in the future to monitor the many aspects of plant and soil attributes. Operations such as spraying, spreading, irrigating, aerifying, mowing and harvesting, could all use data from either stationary or mobile (aerial and ground) sensors, with data access through direct downloads or wireless communication.
Regarding a completely different technology, battery powered equipment is really starting to show strong improvement. Some areas of the country are being forced in that direction due to air and noise pollution
regulations. Even in Alabama, some larger landscape maintenance companies have crews that use only battery powered equipment because of noise restriction during certain hours of the day at apartments,
REFERENCES:
1. The Lawn Institute, “All You Need to Know About Lawn History”, www.TheLawnInstitute.org
2. Chase Straw, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Turfgrass Management and Physiology, Texas A&M University
City Golf Course
4. ATA Member, Mickey Pitts, Golf and Turf Territory Manager, Beard Equipment Company
5. ATA Member: Jim Harris, TES Professional, Auburn University
6. ATA Member: Jim Simmons, CGCS, Superintendent – Retired, Shoal Creek
7. ATA Member, James E. Horton Jr., Alabama Turf Times’ Editor
8. ATA Member, James Bartley, Territory Manager (Lawn Care), Harrell’s, Inc.
9. ATA Member, Tom Wolf, Owner, Coosa Valley Turf Farms, LLC
10. ATA Member, Tom Shannon, Regional Sales Manager, HydroPoint Data Systems
12. David McCall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
13. Casey Reynolds, TPI, Executive Director, March 2022 contact with James Horton
14. Information provided by Kazan Today Weekly Articles, Dick Kazan, July 26, 2011, “How George Ballas Made a Fortune by Inventing the Weed Eater.”
schools, nursing homes, hospitals, offices and residential areas.
Part 2 of this article will discuss specific equipment and technology advancements.
15. Precision Ag, (2010) 11:115–134, “Precision Turfgrass Management: Challenges and Field Applications for Mapping Turfgrass Soil and Stress,” Robert N. Carrow, Joseph M. Krum, Ian Flitcroft, Van Cline
Part 2 of this article will be published in the Fall Issue of Alabama Turf Times and will include different types of equipment innovations, including battery powered advancements and a short glossary of technology terms.
3. ATA Member, Brian Aaron, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent — Azalea
Crape myrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) is a non-native scale insect and economically important pest in the Southern United States, whose rapid spread is compelling researchers to find sustainable management solutions. Crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS) is native to East Asia and was discovered in the United States in 2004, in a Texas Nursery. This scale insect has quickly dispersed throughout the South and Southeast due to its high fecundity, or reproductive success, and ability to produce multiple generations per year. Crape myrtle bark scale threatens the aesthetic appeal of our beloved crape myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia spp.) in the landscape. For this reason, landscape managers should know the biology of this scale insect, management practices, and how those management practices can impact beneficial insects.
A BIOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING
CMBS are in the felt scale family (Eriococcidae) and can be found on and under the exfoliating bark of crape myrtle trees. These scale insects (Order Hemiptera) have piercingsucking mouthparts that penetrate the bark and limbs to feed upon the sugar-rich phloem. Despite the common name, crape myrtle bark scale can survive on a few different woody plants, but populations are the largest on the namesake host.
CMBS infestations are not easily detectable in early stages when population densities are low. If you were to observe an infested crape myrtle tree, you may see tiny white spots on the bark that resemble the end of a mini cotton swab. Adult stages can be more readily detected, appearing as small white spots and resemble the end of a cotton swab. CMBS are in a group called felt scales, referring to their felt-like hairs, or setae, covering the adults.
The CMBS life cycle begins as eggs inside an egg sac on the females. The eggs hatch, producing an immature “crawler” stage which lacks the felt-like covering of the adults. The mobile immatures are extremely small (smaller than a pin head) and pink in color. Crawlers, when alive, can be squished producing a pink-colored liquid (Figure 1). After feeding and furthering development, crawlers will settle on the trees, become immobile, and develop into either a winged (flying) male or an immobile female. The maturing female crawlers develop the white “felt” as they settle and feed, with the pink flesh still visible. The winged males disperse to other crape myrtles to find and mate with females. Otherwise, males do not feed or develop new infestations. As females feed they mature, producing hundreds of microscopic eggs.
The various life stages of CMBS are active at different times of the year. Our lab research in Fairhope, AL found a spike of mobile crawlers in October, followed by overwintering of all
FIGURE 1. A heavy infestation of live adult CMBS. Live scales will have a red to pink pigment when smashed.
life stages through winter months. There is another spike of crawler activity again from April through June. We suspect that crawlers can disperse to adjacent trees by wind or perhaps by catching a ride on squirrels or birds. When present, these scale insects aggregate on limbs, branches, and tree trunks producing copious amounts of honeydew which can develop sooty mold, tree die-back, a loss of aesthetic quality, and even death of smaller trees.
MANAGEMENT
Currently, the most common treatment method for this pest is the application of systemic insecticides, namely dinotefuran and imidacloprid, to infested trees. Because crape myrtles are in flower most of the summer, these materials are commonly applied as labeled for drench applications to the soil. This management tactic is relatively expensive per tree and both active ingredients can move into pollen (no nectar in CM flowers) potentially placing non-target beneficial insects at risk. Our testing suggests new systemic insecticides are being developed. Insecticides that are chemically related to these newer products are less harmful to pollinators and natural enemies. Naturally occurring lady beetles (AKA lady bugs) are aggressive predators of CMBS. Most people can recognize an adult lady beetle but may not recognize the larvae or pupal forms.
Larvae of the mealybug destroyer, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, can be mistaken for CMBS adult females. Even though they share a white, fuzzy, outer appearance, these larvae are larger in size and are mobile unlike the immobile adult female CMBS (Figure 2). The ladybeetle larvae are an effective biocontrol agent of CMBS and can be negatively impacted by insecticide applications. Monitor the trunk of the tree for lady beetle adults and larvae before applying insecticides to the trunk or branches of infested trees.
A STICKY SITUATION
As CMBS feeds on the phloem, they excrete a waste-product called honeydew. Honeydew is a clear, sticky liquid that will coat the plant leaves and bark. It is rich in sugar and carbohydrates and can act as a food source for other visiting insects. In our current research, we have found that honeydew production is seasonal in Alabama on crape myrtle trees. There is a large spike in production in October (significantly greater than every other month) and smaller amounts produced from June to September. Honeydew is not a direct indicator of CMBS because crape myrtle aphids found on the undersides of leaves also infest crape myrtle and produce honeydew. Ongoing research in our lab shows that trees with honeydew are more attractive to flies, lady beetles, and wasps, and bees
FIGURE 2. The mealybug destroyer larvae shown here is mobile and much larger than the adult CMBS.
A fungal pathogen called sooty mold colonizes the honeydew on leaves and bark of the tree. This is often the first symptom of a CMBS infestation. Sooty mold will cover the branches and leaves of crape myrtle trees in dark black film, which lowers the tree’s ability to photosynthesize. Sooty mold is difficult to remove once established and can result in a reduction in leaf flush and floral bloom. Trees with darkened branches and trunks that are slower to flush leaves than other crape myrtle trees should be inspected for CMBS (Figure 3).
A CONCERNING APPROACH
Before CMBS, crape myrtle was not commonly treated with insecticides. With CMBS present, insecticide use on crape myrtle trees has increased. Applications of these insecticides can be expensive and require trained personnel or specialized equipment to do soil applications. Beyond the economical limitations, neonicotinoid insecticide treatments to crape myrtles have high potential for effects on beneficial insects. Crape myrtles provide pollen resources to floral visitors and pollinators. A study we conducted in Auburn on landscape trees found many species of bees and flies visiting the flowers may be at risk from systemic treatments of neonicotinoid insecticides. Dinotefuran applied in the spring and imidacloprid applied in the fall before bloom can result in insecticides in pollen that can be harmful to bees through contact or ingestion.
A WAY FORWARD
While systemic insecticides may pose hazards to floral visitors, they are still the most effective tools to combat CMBS. Landscape companies and homeowners may have other options to take the first steps to controlling crape myrtle bark scale in the landscape. Lady beetles can find CMBS and aphids naturally on trees. Our field research shows that 80-95% of CMBS on branches of heavily infested trees can be removed by lady beetles within 2 wk. Few attractants have been evaluated for lady beetles in urban landscapes. Our landscape tree experiments show nearly twice as many adult lady beetles attracted to infested trees with yellow panels compared to infested trees without yellow panels. However, attraction does not mean they are feeding. On those trees with yellow panels, there was only a 22% reduction in crawlers over 2 months. In areas with low numbers of lady beetles, there is limited impact of attractants.
There are still many steps to create an effective integrated pest management strategy for crape myrtle bark scale. Our on-going research now focuses on methods to preventive infestations, evaluations of other attractants for natural enemies, and testing the performance of newer insecticides and their compatibility with pollinators and natural enemies.
FIGURE 3. The trees in the foreground have flushed leaves. Those in the background with darkened stems and delayed leaf flush are heavily infested with CMBS.
