T H E A R KA N S A S T U R F G RA S S A S S O C I AT I O N M AG AZ I N E • S U M M E R 2022
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T H E A R KA N S A S T U R F G RA S S A S S O C I AT I O N M AG AZ I N E CO N T E N T S • S U M M E R 2022
10
16
F E AT U R E S
10
Cover Story
Pesticides of the Future
D E PA RT M E N T S
16
Feature
A New and Improved Mobile Weed Manual
18 Professional
Development
Making the Most of Team Member Check-Ins
4 Vice President’s Letter 6 News from ATA 7 Index of Advertisers 7 University of Arkansas Turf Team
For turf news & updates, follow T W I T T E R . C O M / T H E T U R F Z O N E Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: T H E T U R F Z O N E . C O M The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Arkansas Turfgrass Association, its staff, or its board of directors, Arkansas Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Arkansas Turfgrass Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright © 2022 by the Arkansas Turfgrass Association. Arkansas Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Arkansas Turfgrass Association. Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Summer 2022
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ARKANSAS TU R FGRASS
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V I C E P R E S I D E N T ’S L E T T E R
Hard Work and Positive Attitudes
The
Arkansas Turfgrass Association P.O. Box 1862 • Lowell, AR 72745 Tel: 479-301-5534 Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 Franklin, TN 37064 Tel: 615-790-3718 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com
Josh Landreth ATA Vice President
great thing about managing turfgrass in the transition zone is that today’s problems are never the same as yesterday! These past few years, the same could be said of the non-agronomic stresses we’ve all been battling as well. This year we are all dealing with skyrocketing fuel prices, fertilizer prices, and employee shortages, just to name a few. However, we are a resilient industry, built on hard work and positive attitudes. I hope you are finding encouragement from your club members, customers, athletes or any number of folks that get to enjoy the fruit of your labor without fully knowing the cost it takes to provide. There are many exciting turfgrass events happening around our state this summer, and our membership should be proud of their hard work. Razorback Stadium underwent a full resod following the Garth Brooks concert in April. I felt like I was the only one not there! Pinnacle Country Club will be hosting the Wal-Mart NW Arkansas Invitational once again in September. There are countless venues and events that wouldn’t be possible if not for turfgrass and those that choose to manage it. Get out there this summer and enjoy some of what Arkansas has to offer. We have set January 26th & 27th as the dates for next year’s ATA Conference in Hot Springs. Save those dates, and be on the lookout for registration information for both vendors and members this fall. We are beginning to work on educational topics, so please reach out via twitter or email if there are specific topics that you are interested in. We will be offering pesticide recertification, as usual, and it will be a great time to see folks you may only see once a year. In other association news, we have hired a new Executive Director, Courtney Landreth. She has gotten off to a great start and is excited to meet more people in the industry. Most importantly she wants to learn how we as an association can best serve our members. There is an article in this publication to tell you a little more about her. We are also excited that the University of Arkansas has hired a new turf faculty member, Wendell Hutchens, as well as a new extension weed scientist for turf and specialty crops, Hannah Wright. We are excited to get to work with these two professionals for years to come! Our association exists to provide education and growth opportunities for the turf managers of the state. Hannah and Wendell will be instrumental in that vision!
ATA OFFICERS Richard Covert, President Baptist Health Systems Richard.covert@baptist-health.org Kyle Sanders, Immediate Past President Sanders Ground Essentials 501-315-9395 kylesanders@sandersground.com Courtney Landreth Executive Director ataturfgrass@gmail.com Pat Berger, Director Emeritus University of Arkansas • 479-575-6887 pberger@uark.edu Charlie Bowen, Director Emeritus Arkansas Hydroseed • 501-315-7333 charliebowen@yahoo.com Daniel O’Brien, Educational Chair dpo001@uark.edu Seth Dunlap Arkansas State Plant Board seth.dunlap@agriculture.arkansas.gov 501-225-1598 Mark Brown Nabholz • 501-749-7459 rmbrown2@ualr.edu Rodney Fisher Agra Turf, Inc. • 501-268-7036 agrarod@yahoo.com Josh Landreth Ace of Blades • 479-530-7001 aceofblades@cox.net
We look forward to seeing everyone at the conference in January!
Guy Oyler Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation goyler@jerrypate.com • 501-317-5980
Sincerely,
Rodger Pevehouse Life Member
Josh Landreth Vice President Arkansas Turfgrass Association
Michael Rush Rush Lawn Care • 501-279-8980 mrush@rushlawn.com Ricky Self Cypress Creek r.self@yahoo.com • 501-605-8000
4 • A R K A N S A S T U R F G R A S S • Summer 2022
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ncoming Arkansas Turfgrass Association Executive Director Courtney Landreth is ready to step in to help both the ATA Board of Directors and turfgrass professionals across the state get the most from their ATA membership. Courtney’s professional background includes banking, business, marketing and human resources – all integral tasks for an executive director. She brings these skills and knowledge to the task of helping to grow and sustain the association. “I’m excited to meet more members and do whatever is needed to support them and improve the association,” Courtney says. Her goals as director are to increase involvement and help
build connections across the industry. She specifically looks forward to planning and attending events for education, networking and certification. “I want members to know that I’m here to help and I’ll do what is needed to maintain and grow ATA.” Outside of work, Courtney spends her free time with her husband Josh, and sons Hudson and Hayes. As a family, they enjoy outdoor activities including fishing, kayaking and hiking, along with youth sports for the boys.
Be sure to welcome Courtney to the ATA family! She can be reached at ataturfgrass@gmail.com.
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6 • A R K A N S A S T U R F G R A S S • Summer 2022
U N I V E R S I TY O F A R KA N S A S T U R F T E A M Mike Richardson, Ph.D. Professor 479-575-2860 mricha@uark.edu
INDEX OF A DV E RT I S E R S Agra Turf, Inc... ..................................... 18 www.agrainc.com
Poinsett Turfgrass Company. . .................. 9 www.poinsettturfgrass.com
ChemTrade Turf, LLC.............................. 5 chemtradeturf.com
Progressive Turf Equipment Inc............... 6 www.progressiveturfequip.com
Dave’s Sale and Service.. ....................... 17 www.turfeagle.com
STEC Equipment................................... 15 www.stecequipment.com
Fulton Grass Company.......................... 11 www.fultongrass.com
The Sod Store.. ........................ Back Cover sodpartners.com
Greene County Fertilizer Co.. . .................. 9 www.greenecountyfert.com
The Turf Zone.................................. 7, 19 theturfzone.com
Rhiannon de la Rosa M.S. Student
Jackson Sand........................................ 17 www.jacksonsand.com
The Turfgrass Group...... Inside Front Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com
Daniel O’Brien Ph.D. Student
Modern Turf, Inc...................... Back Cover www.modernturf.com
John Boyd, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor Cooperative Extension Service Little Rock 501-671-2224 Jwb019@uark.edu John H. McCalla Jr. Program Technician III 479-575-5033 jmccall@uark.edu
TheTurfZone.com is the central hub for turfgrass research and information from multiple state turf associations.
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Summer 2022
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ARKANSAS TU R FGRASS
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Apply now for Arkansas Turfgrass Association Awards
Congratulations to all ATA members who have been honored in the past for their work. Professionals like you help to advance our industry and each individual it represents!
Applications are NOW OPEN for the Annual Arkansas Turf Awards: • Field of the Year (Football / Soccer OR Baseball / Softball • Golf Course of the Year (Private / Resort OR Public / Municipal) • Turf Site of the Year (Commercial OR Residential)
These awards will be presented at the 2023 ATA Conference & Trade Show January 26th & 27th in Hot Springs. SELF NOMINATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED. This is one of the best parts of the conference every year – getting to showcase & celebrate the amazing work being done by ATA members. PLEASE consider nominating yourself or someone you know. After two years of reduced or limited gathering, it is so important to continue to celebrate our achievements during periods of uncertainty that includes changing health / safety protocols; supply chain issues; labor shortage; high fuel / supply costs. ATA professionals work hard to uphold high standards in all industry segments, despite these hurdles. As an association, we are proud to honor and highlight those turfgrass managers who go the extra mile as recognition by our peers imparts extra significance to these awards. Working to earn this honor demonstrates a commitment to excellence, best practices, innovation, collaboration and dedication. The ATA Board hopes to see many businesses and individuals across the state represented in applications this year. Please apply or encourage another deserving turf professional to do so!
P R E V I O U S AWA R D R E C I P I E N T S 2022 • High School Field of the Year – Beebe High School, Ryan Smith •F ield of the Year – Lester White Field, Mountain Home Parks and Rec, Cody McKee 2020 •G olf Course of the Year – Magellan Golf Course, Hot Springs Village, Superintendent Donald Jones • Field of the Year – Rambler Baseball Field at Rose Bud, Taylor Cooper 2019 •M unicipal Course of the Year – Burns Park Golf Course, Superintendent Dustin McNaughton • Semi-Private Golf Course of the Year – Cypress Creek Golf Club, Ricky Self • Field of the Year – Benton Parks and Recreation, Daniel Baxley 2018 •F ield of the Year – Springdale Parks and Recreation / Cal Ripken Fields at Randall Tyson Park, Chad Wolf, Chris Gibson, Zach Walls •A TA Turf Site of the Year – Ace of Blades for Cross church Pinnacle Hills, Josh Landreth • ATA High School Field of the Year – Harding Academy High Baseball, Shane Fullerton 8 • A R K A N S A S T U R F G R A S S • Summer 2022
Application can be found at https://arkansasturf.net/ awards/ This short, one page form provides all the details for what to include along with your application. Along with the completed form, send your best photos to ataturfgrass@gmail.com.
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COV E R S TO RY
Pesticides of the
FUTURE
Importance of Pesticides in Pest Management Pesticides are any substance or mixture of substances used to kill pests or manage the damage they cause and are an important tool for managing turfgrass pests1. Turfgrasses have been used for functional, recreational, and aesthetic purposes to enhance human lives for hundreds of years,2 and many pests can significantly reduce these desired qualities. For example, disease and insect pests can infect or feed on turfgrass plants, leaving infected areas susceptible to wear damage, or environmental stresses such as drought. Furthermore, weed pests such as large crabgrass and white clover can compromise the safety of natural grass athletic fields by increasing the surface hardness ~ 50% compared to hybrid bermudagrass3. Integrated pest management (IPM) is an approach that combines multiple chemical and non-chemical methods for pest management. Most of these techniques involve maximizing turfgrass growth and plant health by species and variety selection, mowing, cultivation, fertilization, and irrigation. Although these cultural practices are critical for pest management, turfgrass quality expectations and lack of control thresholds drive the need for pest-free turfgrass. As a result, pesticides are still the backbone of turfgrass pest management1. The widespread use and necessity of turfgrass pesticides will require the industry to evolve as the pesticides change in the future.
History of Pesticides
By Eric Reasor, Ph.D. Southeast Research Scientist, PBI-Gordon Corporation
P
esticides have undergone significant changes in the past 50 years with an increased focus
on environmental and applicator safety. Mississippi Turfgrass Association members and the entire turfgrass industry will see pesticide technologies in the future look very different than the past. However, despite many future changes, pesticides will continue being a highly effective tool for turfgrass pest management.
10 • A R K A N S A S T U R F G R A S S • Summer 2022
Understanding the history of pesticides and their use is important to the future of pesticides. There are currently five main time periods of pesticide use that describe the type of pesticides used during those times. Current time periods can be described as 1) early pest management prior to year 1000, 2) 1000 to 1850, 3) 1850 to 1940, 4) 1940 to 1970, and 5) 1970 to present. Additional time periods are likely to occur as pesticides enter a new era in the future. The first recorded use of pesticides is about 4500 years ago by Sumerians, who applied sulfur compounds to battle insects and mites. This type of pesticide use continued until approximately year 1000 when the use of plant, animal, or mineral derivatives increased. From 1850 to 1940, pesticides were mainly inorganic compounds and industrial by-products. Moreover, pesticide use during these times typically involved high active ingredient application rates and unsafe application methods. Following the 1940s and scientific advancement after WWII, synthetic organic compounds were being developed for pesticides as a result of organic chemistry being applied to pesticide science. These synthetic organic pesticides still had high application rates in the kilograms per hectare for active ingredients, such as thiuram and DDT. However, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) was established in 1947 to set guidelines for pesticides registered in the United States. FIFRA determines product uses, application rates, and potential hazards. They also developed the pesticide labeling process to instruct endusers on proper and safe applications.
COV E R S TO RY • continued
Pesticide science vastly changed in the 1970s. Pesticide research expanded outside of the US and Europe and became a world-wide field. The active ingredients themselves begin to change with lower-risk synthetic organic molecules effective at extremely low dosages. Furthermore, these newer active ingredients are more readily degradable, less persistent in the environment, and are more selective against the target pest4. Why the change? In 1972, FIFRA was revised and was moved to the responsibility of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This revision shifted the emphasis of the regulatory process toward environmental protection and public health5. Another major change with FIFRA was the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996. This legislation tasked the EPA with conducting the most comprehensive and historic review of pesticide and food safety laws. The FQPA amended FIFRA by fundamentally changing the EPA’s pesticide evaluation and regulation processes. Through this change, thousands of pesticides and their uses were either modified or eliminated. Then in 2007, an amendment to FIFRA required the EPA to review registered pesticides at least once every 15 years. This review process has yielded changes with many active ingredients and their uses5.
Pesticides of the Future Pesticides and their applications will continue to evolve in the future just as much as it has changed in the past. Low-risk synthetic organic compounds are still being developed; however, a new focus has shifted to other types of pesticides and pest management strategies. Examples of these include biological and RNAi pesticides (which will be described in more detail below). In addition to chemistry changes, pesticide applications and delivery systems will change with formulation technology and site-specific applications6, 4. Biological pest control and biopesticides are tools with a recent substantial increase in research and development. Biological control is founded on using beneficial organisms to reduce populations of pest organisms, or at least keep them below destructive thresholds. Turfgrass managers already implement some biocontrol by promoting a healthy environment for optimal turfgrass growth. This type of biocontrol can be described as general pest suppression, whereas specific pest suppression uses specific, selected organisms, to manage pests. Biopesticides are pesticides, but they are derived from natural materials such as animals, bacteria, fungi, plants, and certain minerals. Biopesticides are classified based on their origin and it must provide some level of pest control to be considered a biopesticide7. Microbial biopesticides have a living organism or a product of a living organism as the active ingredient, and biochemical biopesticides have naturally occurring compounds, such as plant extracts, as the active ingredient. There are commercially available products of both biopesticide categories. However, pest control may be limited when high pest populations or environmental conditions highly conducive to damage
12 • A R K A N S A S T U R F G R A S S • Summer 2022
are present. Furthermore, biopesticides may be limited in longterm storage stability and formulation difficulties. In specific turfgrass situations, biopesticides can be one alternative to synthetic pesticides. Examples of beneficial organisms used in turfgrass to manage specific pests are Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Research and development into biopesticides will continue to increase in future decades. It has been predicted that the biopesticide market will equal and potentially outpace synthetic pesticides by the 2060s8. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference (RNAi) pesticides are another growing area of pesticide research and development. RNAi is a naturally occurring process that uses double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to interfere with normal RNA processes. Normal RNA processes start with DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) transcribing into RNA and then RNA translating into amino acids, which are then used to make proteins. RNAi pesticides disrupt a targeted step in these processes. This allows specific genes within plants and pests to be targeted and manipulated to achieve a desired result. Applications of RNAi compounds are being developed to provide an alternative to synthetic organic compounds. The RNAi currently used for pest management involves dsRNA that can silence essential genes in insects, pathogens, and weeds. These applications are highly specific for the target pest, where non-target effects are minimalized, or even avoided. RNAi has already been used to target plant diseases such as cereal rusts and Botrytis grey fruit mold. It has also been used to develop virus-resistant crops such as papaya, plum, squash, and tomato9. The use of RNAi pesticides in turfgrass pest management will likely be pest specific and will still rely on proper turfgrass cultural practices.
Pesticide Applications of the Future Pesticide applications and formulations are evolving similar to pesticide active ingredients with a focus on increased environmental safety and reduced inputs. Precise, site-specific pesticide applications is one method that can reduce overall pesticide inputs, and pesticide formulation technology can increase the environmental safety of the final pesticide product. Applying safer pesticides in more precise locations aligns with the future direction of pesticide regulation. New application strategies will be a significant change from traditional broadcast or blanket applications, but the technology involved will be end-user driven (Photo 1). The theory of precision turfgrass management (PTM) is to measure detailed, site-specific information to precisely apply resources (e.g., water, fertilizer, pesticides). Precision turfgrass management has the potential to reduce overall pesticide inputs by only targeting areas with a present pest population, areas with repeated history of pest issues, or areas with highly conducive environments. This would rely on sensor technology, GPS, and GIS systems to accurately measure, analyze, and apply the data10. Sensor equipment could be mounted to a variety of ground or aerial equipment such as mowers, tractors, golf carts, or even drones to make the necessary measurements for management decisions (Photo 2).
PHOTO 2: Precision Turfgrass Management (PTM): Researchers measuring turfgrass surface and soil characteristics for developing site-specific, PTM programs. The aerial drone is measuring normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), while the Toro Precision Sense 6000 tow-behind ground unit measures soil moisture, soil compaction, soil salinity and NDVI. Photo courtesy Dr. Chase Straw, Texas A&M University.
PHOTO 1: Drone technology will become more widespread in the near future. The photo on the left is what the drone sees during a typical fairway flyover. The photo on the right is a NDVI map (normalized difference vegetation index). This shows turfgrass health / stress across the fairway – GREEN is healthy and higher “quality” and RED is stressed or lower “quality”. Drones and ground equipment are both capable of collecting NDVI data. Aerial and ground NDVI measurements have shown strong correlation. Similar technology is being perfected to reduce overall pesticide inputs by only targeting areas when a pest population reaches a specific threshold. Photo courtesy Dr. Chase Straw, Texas A&M University.
Summer 2022
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ARKANSAS TUR FGRASS
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COV E R S TO RY • continued
Researchers are in the early stages of developing the PTM technology for turfgrass pest management. Initial technology will likely focus on controlling specific pest species or issues and may not be applicable to every situation. Turfgrass managers already practice some sort of PTM by managing various areas differently based on many factors, including soil characteristics, turfgrass species, slope, height-of-cut, traffic patterns, etc. These management differences are based on anecdotal or quantified data, but the evolution of PTM will be based on acquiring realtime, detailed site information to make decision making more precise and efficient.10 Many hurdles remain for the wide adoption of PTM, nevertheless it is one of the key components of the future of pesticides and their applications. Pesticide formulation research is important because the pesticide active ingredients comprise only a percentage of the final product. The co-formulants are just as important as the active ingredient for pest control efficacy, product storage/stability, product compatibility, and overall product performance. Different pesticide formulations have advantages and disadvantages, but there has been a shift in trends due to growing concerns on using solvents as co-formulants. Solvent-based emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations are being phased out with the focus shifted on solvent-free formulations (granules [G], soluble liquids [SL], suspension concentrates [SC], and water dispersible granules [WDG]). A new, water-based formulation, emulsion-in-water (EW), uses almost no solvents and has emulsifying agents to improve handling, storage, and transport characteristics. Synthetic pesticide formulation research will continue to evolve for increased applicator and environment safety because synthetic pesticides are still the most economical and effective pesticide option. Nanotechnology is one of the more recent developments in pesticide formulation research11. Nanotechnology research involves manipulation of particles ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm)12. For reference, one nm is one-billionth (10-9) of a meter and there are 25,400,000 nm in one inch (Figure 1).
=
25,400,000 nm
}
FIGURE 1: For reference, it would take 25,400,000 nanoparticles stacked side-by-side to equal one inch. Many nanopesticides will be encapsulated within the range of 1 to 100 nanometers. Not seen with the naked eye, it takes electron microscope technology to view these particles.
These nanoparticles are being developed to encapsulate nanosized pesticide active ingredients to potentially provide a “controlled release” of the pesticide to the target pest. Furthermore, encapsulation materials can be biocompatible and biodegradable11. Pesticides formulated as nanoparticles have the potential to increase the efficacy against target pests, reduce the physical degradation, and further reduce the environmental risk13, 14. For example, nanoparticles have been reported to protect neem oil (Azadirachta indica) from degradation to extend its efficacy against
14 • A R K A N S A S T U R F G R A S S • Summer 2022
LITERATURE CITED 1. Koppenhofer, A.M., R. Latin, B.A. McGraw, J.T. Brosnan, and W.C. Crow. 2013. Integrated pest management. In Turfgrass: Biology, Use, and Management. eds. J.C. Stier, B.P. Horgan, and S.A. Bonos. Madison, WI. pp. 933-1006. 2. Beard, J.B. and R.L. Green. 1994. The role of turfgrasses in environmental protection and their benefits to humans. J. of Environ. Qual. 23:452-460. 3. Brosnan, J.T., K.H., Dickson, J.C. Sorochan, A.W. Thoms, and J.C. Stier. 2014. Large crabgrass, white clover, and hybrid bermudagrass athletic field playing quality in response to simulated traffic. Crop Sci. 54:1838-1843. doi:10.2135/cropsci2013.11.0754 4. Umetsu, N. and Y. Shirai. 2020. Development of novel pesticides in the 21st century. J. Pestic. Sci. 45(2):54-74. doi:10.1584/jpestics.D20-201
ONE INCH {
insect pests7. However, nanotechnology in pesticide science has been sparsely researched in field conditions and thus not widely commercialized due to several challenges. There are concerns regarding environmental fate, bioavailability and release rates, transport and storage, and cost effectiveness7, 15. Nanotechnology and nanopesticide research will continue, but their application in turfgrass and availability to turf managers is still unknown. Pesticides and their use have vastly changed within the past 50 years,withanincreasedfocus onenvironmentalandapplicatorsafety. Alabama Turfgrass Association members and turfgrass managers could witness even greater significant pesticides changes in the future. Pesticides will continue to evolve with newer technologies such as biological and RNAi pesticides. It is uncertain when some of these new pesticide technologies will be commercially available for pest control in turfgrass. Moreover, it is possible some will not provide acceptable pest control, be too injurious to desirable species, or too costly for wide adoption. As a result, synthetic pesticides will remain the most effective pesticide tool until these technologies are developed specially for turfgrass. •
5. Reicher, Z.J., P.H. Dernoeden, and D.S. Richmond. 2013. Insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and growth regulators used in turfgrass systems. In Turfgrass: Biology, Use, and Management. eds. J.C. Stier, B.P. Horgan, and S.A. Bonos. Madison, WI. pp. 891-932. 6. Umetsu, N. and A. Ando. 2004. Development of environmentally friendly agrochemicals. In Frontiers of Environmental Pesticide Science. eds. M. Ueji et al. Soft Science. pp. 224-248 7. Damalas, C.A. and S.D. Koutroubas. 2018. Current status and recent developments in biopesticide use. Agriculture. 8(13). doi:10.3390/agriculture8010013 8. Olsen, S. 2015. An analysis of the biopesticides market now and where is going. Outlooks Pest Mgt. 26:203-206.
9. Mezzetti, B. J. Sweet, and L. Burgos. 2021. Introduction to RNAi in plan production and protection. CAB International. doi:10.1079/ 97817892488 90.0001 10. Carrow, R.N., J.M. Krum, I. Flitcroft, and V. Cline. 2010. Precision turfgrass management: Challenges and field applieds for mapping turfgrass soil and stress. Precision Agric. 11:115-134. doi:10.1007/ s11119-009-9136-y 11. Prasad, R., A. Bhattacharyya, and Q. D. Nguyen. 2017. Nanotechnology in Sustainable Agriculture: Recent Developments, Challenges, and Perspectives. J. Frontier Microbiology. doi: 10.3389/ fmicb.2017.01014 12. Hobson, D.W. , 2011. Industrial biotechnology and commodity product. In Comprehensive Biotechnology (Second Edition). eds. M. Butler and M. Moo-Young. Volume 3: pp. 683-697 13. De Oliveira, J.L., E.V.R. Campos, and L.F. Fraceto. 2018. Recent developments and challenges for nano-scale formulation of botanical pesticides for use in sustainable agriculture. J. Agric. Food Chem. 66(34): 8898-8913. doi. org/10.1021/acs.jafc.8b03183 14. Khot, L.R., S. Sankaran, J.M. Maja, R. Ehsani, and E.W. Schuster. 2012. Applications o nanomaterials in agricultural production and crop protection: A review. Crop Protection. 35:64-70. doi. org/10.1016/ j.cropro.2012.01.007 15. Mishra, S., C. Keswani, P.C. Abhilash, L.F. Fraceto, and H.B. Singh. 2017. Integrated approach of agrinanotechnology: Challenges and future trends. Front. Plant Sci. 8:471. doi. org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00471
This article was originally published in Alabama Turf Times, Spring 2022 and is reprinted with permission.
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A NEW AND IMPROVED
MOBILE WEED MANUAL By J.T. Brosnan and G.K. Breeden, University of Tennessee, Dept. of Plant Sciences
weed control in different ornamental plantings. Regardless of the search performed, all herbicides returned would be ranked based on results of UT research trials and contain direct links to both product labels and safety data sheets (SDS). When a particular weed-herbicide combination had not been studied at UT but was labeled for the use outlined via the search, results were marked “LND – Labeled but no UT data available.” The initial launch of the Mobile Weed Manual website was very successful. The site was updated once annually (typically in January) and drew over 234,000 visitors from 191 different countries, as well as each of the 50 United States and over 268 municipalities across Tennessee. One hurdle that limited use was that Mobile Weed Manual was not available for download as a stand-alone mobile application on smartphones and tablets. Users were forced to save the web address to the home screen of their devices for it to function similar to a mobile application. Additionally, functionality was either compromised or negated in areas with limited or no internet access.
MOBILE WEED MANUAL 2.0 In 2021, a decision was made to upgrade Mobile Weed Manual. This upgrade would have several primary objectives: M ake this resource available for download as a standalone mobile application I mprove the user-interface to facilitate faster searching I ncorporate photos of both turfgrass and weeds to aid users I mprove the data framework to facilitate in-season updates.
FIGURE W
BACKGROUND The University of Tennessee (UT) launched Mobile Weed Manual in May 2013 as a new resource to aid individuals in selecting herbicides for use in both warm- and cool-season turfgrass, as well as ornamentals. This digital resource was a replacement to a historical UT Extension publication, PB 1789- Weed Control for Turf Managers in Tennessee, that was only available in county extension offices in print form. Mobile Weed Manual was initially developed as mobilefriendly website (mobileweedmanual.com) that allowed use on any device that had access to the internet. Users could quickly filter through the entire suite of active ingredients labeled for use in turfgrass or ornamentals to find options for their unique situation. Users could simply select their turf type and/or weed species to get a list of herbicides that would be applicable to that situation. Conversely, a user could generate a list of herbicides to control a specific weed regardless of turf type or generate options for
16 • A R K A N S A S T U R F G R A S S • Summer 2022
Thanks to a collaboration with digital specialists at mesur.io, a new and improved Mobile Weed Manual 2.0 launched in June 2021. This free resource is now available as a standalone mobile application for use on Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. The historical web address, mobileweedmanual.com, was also updated and takes users to the new and improved version of this resource.
Download for APPLE Devices via the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ mobile-weed-manual/id1572882654
Download for ANDROID Devices via the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/ details?id=io.mesur.manual.prd&hl=en_US&gl=US The new and improved Mobile Weed Manual 2.0 gained popularity quickly, drawing over 1,000+ users per month after initial launch. Users have taken advantage of a new user-interface that streamlines searches, as well as incorporation of both weed and turfgrass photos to guide individuals through the search process (Figure W). Coupling turfgrass and weed identification photos
with herbicide recommendations was a logical next step in the advancement of the weed ID tool that was part of a historical version of tnturfgrassweeds.org. An additional benefit of the new user-interface is that Mobile Weed Manual 2.0 can now recommend herbicide mixtures to control problematic weeds such as Poa annua (Figure X). Additionally, the Mobile Weed Manual data frame was also updated to improve our ability to keep the resource current. Mobile Weed Manual 2.0 can now be updated multiple times during the season (rather than once annually) such that users will also have access to the most current label and efficacy information for over 114 different herbicides labeled for use in turf and ornamentals. With the ability to regularly update Mobile Weed Manual 2.0, users are encouraged to provide feedback on how to enhance the resource (Figure Y). This could include adding new weeds, new herbicides, or other functionality changes. We encourage everyone to download Mobile Weed Manual 2.0 for the upcoming season and hope it’s a helpful tool in selecting herbicides for use in turfgrass and landscape ornamentals. • FIGURE X
FIGURE Y
Authors would like to acknowledge Mike Prorock, Russell Hofvendahl, Chris Abernethy, and Tom Rump from mesur.io for their efforts in developing Mobile Weed Manual 2.0
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P RO F E S S I O N A L D E V E LO P M E N T
Making the Most of
TEAM MEMBER C H E C K- I N S
By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM
The
very best managers and team leaders are those who check-in with their team members on a regular basis. Yet even experienced leaders can miss opportunities for employee engagement and success without a great game plan for these conversations. Here’s how I help managers make the most of team member check-ins.
Consistent
Team member check-ins are often launched with a formal announcement as a “new way of doing things” which rarely sticks long-term. For both managers and employees, this experience will feel awkward for a while. Unfortunately, many quit check-ins before they become consistent. In order to have successful team member check-ins, consistency needs to happen first. By developing a habit of formally sitting down for a conversation, the clumsiness of a new conversation will give way to trust and excitement that is required for growth and improvement. Leaders starting (or restarting) check-ins should worry less about what results are we getting from this exercise and more about how often we are completing this exercise. Just like physical exercise, results come from consistent effort over sustained periods of time rather than extreme effort on occasion.
Frequent
Team member check-ins also need to happen on a regular basis to help job performance. Unfortunately, 76% of employees report that their performance is formally reviewed by their manager once a year or less according to Gallup. And deep down, we all know that a one-hour conversation couldn’t possibly increase performance for an entire year. I like to have weekly check-ins with those I’m coaching. With one-hour weekly conversations, there is ample time and space to
discuss all the things we need to cover (more on that in a minute) and frequent enough to responsively adjust to changes as they arise. Instead of boss reviewing last year’s performance, I’m a coach helping performance for the next play of the game.
Future-Focused
Nobody is perfect. So, when we check-in with the people we lead, the goal shouldn’t be to dissect what mistakes have been made in the past because there is nothing that can be done to solve them. In the same way, reviewing what was accomplished since the last check-in isn’t helpful either. That’s because the goal is to increase future performance. To do so requires focusing on the future rather than the past. I prefer to discuss what will be accomplished in the coming weeks, months, and years. On a weekly basis, asking about when and how work will be completed is key to realizing performance. By anticipating obstacles, team leaders can identify opportunities to provide materials, equipment, information, or support to prevent issues from occurring. And by forecasting months and years into the future, employees can feel that they’re working toward a significant goal and growing their career in a direction that will bring them fulfillment. This is where professional and personal development can be explored and encouraged.
Holistic
For too long, team member check-ins have focused solely on work. Employees today want to be valued for more than just their contribution, and team leaders can build successful teams by caring for people holistically. We all know that big issues in our personal life can hinder our performance at work, so creating a place to discuss them in our check-ins is how we can help people as people. I love Gallup’s model of well-being which identifies five areas in our lives that are interconnected and inseparable: Career, Financial, Social, Community, and Physical. All five areas of well-being should be discussed with team members to ensure they can be their best selves both at work and in life. When team leaders help people find success in all five areas, they become trusted mentors who care and receive the best possible performance from their people. Starting team check-ins the right way will be difficult, timeconsuming, and awkward, but it is the only way to provide the support and encouragement that people need to be their best. If I can ever help you or your organization, please feel free to reach out. •
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18 • A R K A N S A S T U R F G R A S S • Summer 2022
Neal Glatt is the Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, an online training platform for the green industry. You can learn more about him and his solutions at www.NealGlatt.com.
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