Winter 2013
Requirements for Maryland’s Professional Fertilizer Applicators 8 Ways to be Memorable at Networking Events Plus, Special Inside —
2014 MTC Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow, January 6–7, Educational Program and Registration Form
Winter 2013
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contents • Winter 2013 10 Upcoming Event
14 Cover Story
2014 MTC Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow, January 6–7, Educational Program and Registration Form
Professional Fertilizer Applicator Requirements
16 Recent Event Annual Angie Cammarota Golf Tournament for Turfgrass Research, October 1, 2013, at UMD Golf Course
18 Career Advancement 8 Ways to be Memorable at Networking Events
Departments 06 President’s Message 07 MTC Membership Application 08 Industry News 21 University of MD Turf Team 21 Index of Advertisers 22 Calendar of Events
Front-cover photo: A glorious day for golf at MTC’s Annual Angie Cammarota Golf Tournament, October 1, at the University of Maryland Golf Course. (Photo by Lauren Dubs.) 4
MTC Turf News
MARYLAND TURFGRASS COUNCIL 12 Pressie Lane | Churchville, MD 21028 mdturfcouncil@verizon.net www.mdturfcouncil.org MTC Turf News is published quarterly for the MTC by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge St. Franklin, TN 37064 615-790-3718 (phone) 615-794-4524 (fax) info@leadingedge communications.com
2013 Board of Directors PRESIDENT Lester Dubs Larchwood Landscape Co. Pasadena, MD Cell: 443-623-1745 ldubs@verizon.net
VICE PRESIDENT Bill Warpinski Central Sod Farms Centreville, MD Office: 800-866-1387 Cell: 410-827-5000 billw@centralsod.com
SECRETARY/ TREASURER Cheryl A. Gaultney Churchville, MD Home: 410-836-2876 Cell: 410-322-8275 sandqueen10@aol.com
PAST PRESIDENT Vernon W. Cooper All States Turfgrass Consultants St. Michaels, MD Office: 410-745-9643 Cell: 443-742-6618 vernon@allstatesturf.com
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Michelle LoConte Montgomery Village, MD Cell: 301-518-4449 Fax: 240-597-1420 mdturfcouncil@ verizon.net
Harry Kenney Agrium Advanced Tech. Ellicott City, MD Office: 800-235-6139 Cell: 410-375-6148 hkenney@agriumat.com Doug Lechlider Laytonsville Landscaping Laytonsville, MC Office: 301-253-1481 Cell: 240-372-2788 doug@laytonsville landscaping.com
TWO-YEAR DIRECTORS Rick LaNore MRW Lawns, Inc. LaPlata, MD Office: 301-870-3411 Cell: 301-609-1852 rick127928@ rocketmail.com Bill Patton Sr. Turf Center Lawns Spencerville, MD Office: 301-384-9300 Cell: 301-980-3094 turfcenterlawns@ yahoo.com Kevin Monaco Turf Equipment & Supply Jessup, MD 20794 Office: 410-799-5575 Cell: 443-250-1182 kevinmonaco@ turfequipment.com
THREE-YEAR DIRECTORS Tom Ritter Avenel Community Assn. Potomac, MD Office: 301-229-5916 tritter@avenel.net
ONE-YEAR DIRECTORS
Jamie Roell Anne Arundel Co. Rec. & Parks Millersville, MD Office: 410-222-6250 Cell: 443-370-2582 rproel09@aacounty.org
Brian Gietka Fountain Head C.C. Hagerstown, MD Office: 301-739-4286 Cell: 410-218-0131 briangietka@gmail.com
Damian Varga Scientific Plant Services Sykesville, MD Office: 410-321-0970 Cell: 410-241-4623 spsdamian@juno.com
Winter 2013
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President’s Message
Oh, What A Year! We
launched 2013 with our Annual Conference and Tradeshow. We tried a few new ideas, including having some of the lectures in a room adjacent to the tradeshow floor. This seemed to appeal to both the vendors and the attendees. Feedback from this year’s Conference and Tradeshow was generally favorable. We updated our membership dues structure this year. The changes were well received, and we increased our number of members. The MTC board of directors, with the help of Dr. Angus Murphy, chairman of the Plant Science and Landscape Architect Department at the University of Maryland, formulated a plan to keep the turf education and research program a vital part of the College of Agriculture for generations to come. We have created an endowment to support a professorship of turfgrass pathology at the University. This endowment and
others like it let UMD know that we, as an industry, believe in the future of turfgrass education and research. In July, we wished Dr. Pete Dernoeden much success in his retirement. Also in July, Dr. Tom Turner was named chairman of the search committee to fill the turfgrass pathology position. Our hope is that the committee will be able to pick a candidate who will begin work by the beginning of summer 2014. In early October, we had our Angie Cammarota Golf Tournament for Turfgrass Research. Later in the month, we hosted the Fall Field Day at the Research Farm. Unlike last year, we had great weather for both events. As MTC president, I am asked to attend the annual Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation dinner. This great event honors both young agriculture students and the teachers. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet many students who represent the future of our industry.
We’re Seeking an Executive Director
tors. This part-time position will manage daily operations and provide administrative support for the association.
The
Maryland Turfgrass Council is looking for an energetic, selfstarting executive director with strong interpersonal skills. Attention to detail is a must, as well as desire to work harmoniously with the MTC board of direc-
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MTC Turf News
Experience required: High school diploma or equivalent required, secondary education preferred. Experience in the turf industry and association management preferred. This part-time position will require strong computing skills, including Microsoft Office and electronic mail. Ability to manage website and social media required. Ability to work remotely required.
Duties: • • • •
Database management General website maintenance Membership management MTC Turf News magazine content assembly
Finally, our current executive director, Michelle LoConte, has decided to retire after the upcoming Conference and Tradeshow. The MTC board has accepted her decision and has formed a search committee for a new executive director. It is my expectation that we can move into the new year of 2014 with the good foundation that was set in 2013 to take the next steps in making this an even better organization. I look forward to seeing you at Turfgrass 2014.
Lester Dubs
2013 MTC President
•A nnual Conference & Tradeshow management • Additional event management assistance • Attend monthly board of directors’ meetings • Correspondence assistance • Promotion and marketing of the MTC via social media and e-blasts
Reports to: MTC board of directors Compensation: Part-time rate, commensurate with experience
Apply to: Search Committee, at turf@fhcc1924.com Resumes will be accepted until December 31, 2013, or until the position is filled. •
MTC Membership Application _____________________________________________________________________ Name _____________________________________________________________________ Home Address _____________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip Code _____________________________________________________________________ Company Name
___ Individual Member.......................................................$50 ___ Student/Educator Member............................................$15 ___ Master Gardener/ Non-Profit Volunteer Member........$25 ___ Public Agency (all employees per county or location)...............................................*$75 ___ Business: (1 to 5 employees)*..................................... $175 (Bronze) (6 to 10 employees)*......................................$350 (Silver) (10 to 15 employees)*.................................... $500 (Gold) (15+ employees)*.................................... $1000 (Platinum)
_____________________________________________________________________ Company Address
* Submit employee names for membership cards to the MTC Executive Director.
_____________________________________________________________________ Company City, State, Zip Code
Amount Included $______________________________________ ___ Check made to MTC ___ Credit Card (MC or Visa)
_____________________________________________________________________ E-Mail Address _____________________________________________________________________ Business Phone Cell Phone Additional Company Members: Please attach a listing of additional members. Detatch and Send to: Maryland Turfgrass Council 12 Pressie Lane • Churchville, MD 21028
______________________________________________________ Name as it appears on credit card ______________________________________________________ Address where card is billed ______________________________________________________ Card Number ______________________________________________________ Exp. Date 3 digit code
Winter 2013
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Ag Education Not a Major Loss Yet (Editorial) By Bruce Hotchkiss, Senior Editor, The Delmarva Farmer
The
agriculture education major at the University of Delaware has been closed to further enrollment. That should not come as a surprise, where shrinking enrollment has hinted strongly that a stand-alone ag education major was not sustainable. But it is not as final, as conclusive as it may sound. The university’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is fully and firmly committed to students presently on that track and will provide a path for future students seeking a career in ag education. The situation at Delaware is similar to that faced by the ag college at the University of Maryland about a decade ago when officials revived an ag education curriculum by providing two paths: one, an articulated double major in secondary education and a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture science and technology, and the second, a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture science and technology, and a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction, known as the four-plus-one program since both degrees are planned on a five-year schedule. University of Delaware officials are pondering a similar path. Here’s a summary, provided by the ag college: Students who want to become agricultural educators and teach in Delaware have two alternate pathways to do so, even
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MTC Turf News
without an agricultural education major. • The Alternative Routes to Certification program allows students from a variety of academic backgrounds to become certified to teach agriculture in the state. • The ag college will continue to support the Master of Science degree program in agricultural education, which, like the ARTC program, provides a post-graduation route to a career in agricultural teaching for students with various BS degree credentials. The ag college also is exploring the “4 plus 1” strategy that will allow students to secure a BS degree in one of several disciplines in the college and an MS degree in agricultural education in just five years, substantially reducing the time and cost commitment of the traditional MS program. The rationale that led University of Delaware officials to yank the ag education major is hard to fault. It was one of 18 different majors supported by the college. The university registrar’s database shows that 11 of the college’s 733 undergraduates are enrolled in the major, or about 1.5 percent of the college and less than one-tenth of a percent of UD’s undergraduate population. Just two new students were admitted in fall 2012, and three were admitted in fall 2013. The college does not have a Department of Agricultural Education or any
full-time faculty to support the major. Teaching is done primarily by one individual on a year-to-year contract and by hiring an adjunct instructor for one or two of the required courses. Prior to 2012, a committee (which included an agricultural educator from Delaware) was tasked with studying the major and suggesting alternative ways to keep it viable. The study suggested eliminating it as a stand-alone major and moving it to a concentration within the agriculture and natural resources major. The committee also suggested that at least two new faculty would be required to support the program. This would require an investment that the college budget was unable to support. Interestingly, this all is occurring even while a demand for ag education teachers is developing across the country. There is an explosion in FFA chapters in high schools across the country (particularly in the mid-America farm country), and presumably each one requires a trained and certified ag teacher. It is a noble vocation, designed to instruct and excite kids about agriculture, an industry to which those kids can align in scores of diverse disciplines. Those students who choose to accept the challenge of a career in ag education will form the front line of the ag industry’s march into the future, the caretakers of the nation’s agricultural legacy. We wish them God’s blessing. •
National FFA Enrollment Booming, But Not in Mid-Atlantic By Bruce Hotchkiss, Senior Editor, The Delmarva Farmer
N
ational FFA officials report what they described as “an explosion in FFA membership throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in the past year.” The regional problem is, though, that “explosion” was not evident across the Mid-Atlantic. More than 22,300 new students joined FFA during the 2012–13 school year, according to FFA officials. In the five states of the Mid-Atlantic — Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia — there was a net gain of 385 members in three of the states but a net loss of 1,089 members in the other two. Obviously, from figures supplied by FFA, the national ag youth organization flexed its muscle in California, Texas and across the nation’s heartland. Membership in FFA currently stands at 579,678 students in grades 7 through 12. A total of 72 chapters were added in the 2012-13 year, bringing the total of FFA chapters in this country to 7,570. “FFA is preparing our youth to ensure the security of our country’s food, fiber and natural resources for years to come,” said National FFA Organization CEO Dr. Dwight Armstrong. “Through real-world experiences, the nation’s agriculture teachers are helping students develop the technical knowledge, skills and problem-solving capabilities to be the industry’s leaders of tomorrow. FFA members will be tomorrow’s advocates for agriculture.” The Texas FFA Association added more students and new chapters than any other state. With 8,533 new members, total FFA membership in the Lone Star State stands at 95,015 in 1,010 chapters. California, with 74,039 members, is the country’s second-largest
FFA association, followed by Georgia with 35,398 members, Missouri with 25,073 members and Oklahoma with 24,896 members. Here’s a look at the Mid-Atlantic: • In 2012–13, Delaware had 38 chapters and 4,338 members. It added two chapters and 232 members during the course of the year. • In 2012–13, Maryland had 40 chapters and 2,290 members. It added two chapters but lost two members overall. • New Jersey boasted 366 chapters and 2,611 members last year. It had added
one chapter but boosted its total membership by 65 during the year. • Pennsylvania had 144 chapters and a total of 7,973 members. During the year, however, it lost one chapter but added 88 new members. • The Virginia figures offset the modest gains elsewhere in the region. The commonwealth lost six chapters and a total of 1,087 members. • Editor’s note These two articles are reprinted with the permission from The Delmarva Farmer and Sean Clougherty, Managing Editor.
Winter 2013
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Upcoming Event
Join Us for the
2014 MTC Turfgrass
Conference &
Tradeshow! January 6 – 7
Registration: 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in hallway outside of Tradeshow (Grand Ballroom, Room 1206) Visit www.umd.edu for directions, campus map, parking information and off-campus dining options.
EDUCATION PROGRAM Monday Morning, January 6
University of Maryland, Stamp Student Union College Park, MD
9:40 a.m.
1:00 p.m.
The Verdure Sap Nitrate Test and Fall Fertilization of Turfgrass Dr. Karl Guillard, Univ. of Connecticut
Intensive Spatial Mapping: Application for Site-Specific Turfgrass Management Dr. Gerald Henry, University of Georgia
10:20 a.m. Fertilizer Technology: Growing Great Turf While Complying with New Regulations Dr. Eric Miltner, Agrium Advanced Technologies
1:45 p.m.
10:55 a.m.
Guiding Nitrogen Fertilization of Turfgrass: Moving from Subjective Guessing to Objective Testing Dr. Karl Guillard, Univ. of Connecticut
Nitrogen Fertilization of Zoysiagrass: Final Report Dr. Mark Carroll, Univ. of Maryland
11:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
TURFGRASS NUTRIENTS: Needs, Wants and Advances
9:00 a.m. Nutrients and Environmental Stress Dr. Scott Ebdon, University of Massachusetts
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MTC Turf News
2:20 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
GCSAA Approved Educational Points
GENERAL SESSION / Atrium, Room 1107 Moderator: Mr. Jamie Roell, Anne Arundel Co. Rec. & Parks
Is There a Drone in Your Future? Dr. Larry Stowell, PACE Turfgrass Research Institute
TRADESHOW / Grand Ballroom
Monday Afternoon, January 6 TURF & TECHNOLOGY SESSION / Atrium, Room 1107 Moderator: Mr. William Warpinski, Central Sod Farms
Managing Turf and Technology: How to Make It Work for You Mr. Chase Rogan, Golf Course Superintendents Assn. of America GENERAL SESSION / Grand Ballroom Lounge, Room 1209
1:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Certified Nutrient Management Applicator Workshop Dr. Gary Felton, Univ. of Maryland Dr. Kevin Mathias, Univ. of Maryland Dr. Thomas Turner, Univ. of Maryland
2014 MTC Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow
Registration Form To qualify for the Pre-Registration rate, all forms and payment must be received by 12/31/2013.
3:30 p.m. Maryland Professional Fertilizer Applicator Certification Exam
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. TRADESHOW RECEPTION Complimentary cocktails and snacks, on Tradeshow Floor (Grand Ballroom). FREE of charge for all registered attendees.
Tuesday Morning, January 7 Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., outside Grand Ballroom.
_____________________________________________________________________ YOUR NAME (as it should appear on badge) _____________________________________________________________________ COMPANY _____________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE _____________________________________________________________________ EMAIL (Include a current email address. Email confirmation will be sent.) _____________________________________________________________________ PHONE _____________________________________________________________________ MTC Member #
Tradeshow open: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Grand Ballroom.
7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. IAA – UMD Alumni Breakfast Meeting Prince Georges Room, Room 1120 This is a separate event from the educational sessions, and pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Dr. Kevin Mathias at 301-405-4692. Ticket reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis.
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION DAY
For Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and District of Columbia applicators. Attendance is required at both morning and afternoon sessions for certification.
Members Pre-registration
Non-Members Pre-registration
Full Conference
$115
$155
1 Day (Mon/Tues)
$65
$90
At the door
At the door
Full Conference
$125
$165
1 Day (Mon/Tues)
$75
$100
I would like to become a MTC member. I would like to pay my 2014 MTC membership dues with my registration.
Business Members Individual Member.................................... $50 1–5 employees (Bronze)........ $175 Student/Educator Member........................ $15 6–10 employees (Silver)........ $350 Master Gardener/Non-Profit Volunteer...... $25 10–15 employees (Gold)........ $500 Public Agency........................................... $75 15+ employees (Platinum).. $1,000
Additional Registrants from the same group: _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ Total Registration/Membership Fee:___________________________________________
GOLF TURF SESSION / Atrium, Room 1107 Moderator: Mr. Brian Gietka, Fountain Head C.C.
Enclosed is my check for: $__________ made payable to: MTC Turfgrass 2014
9:00 a.m.
Card#_________________________________________________________________
Developing Turf Disease Management Programs Dr. Larry Stowell, PACE Turfgrass Research Institute
Exp. Date:__________________________________ Security Code:_ _______________
Mail check to: 20667 Highland Hall Drive, Montgomery Village, MD 20886 Please charge my:
VISA
MASTERCARD
Fax Credit Card Registration to: (240) 597-1420
Name as it appears on credit card:____________________________________________ Billing address for credit card:_______________________________________________ City, State, Zip:__________________________________________________________ Winter 2013
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Upcoming Event • continued
Tuesday Morning, January 7 (continued)
Selective Bermudagrass Control Mr. Kenneth Ingram, University of Maryland
ORNAMENTAL CARE SESSION / Benjamin Banneker, Room 2212 Moderator: Mr. William Patton, Turf Center Lawns
General Session Colony Ballroom, Room 2203 Moderator: Lester Dubs, MTC President
10:15 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
Maryland Turfgrass Council Annual Meeting
9:40 a.m.
Pigments and PGRs: Their Impact on Modern-Day Golf Turf Mr. Steven McDonald, Turfgrass Disease Solutions
Sustainable Pesticide-Free Landscape Management: The Glenstone Experience Mr. Paul Tukey, Glenstone Art Museum
10:50 a.m.
9:40 a.m.
Bacteria Decline of Creeping Bentgrass Dr. Richard Latin, Purdue University
LAWN TURF SESSION / Colony Ballroom, Room 2203 Moderator: Mr. Rick LaNore, MRW Lawns, Inc.
9:00 a.m. Cultivar Selection for Less Pests and Stress Dr. Scott Ebdon, University of Massachusetts
9:40 a.m. The National Arboretum Turfgrass Project Mr. Geoff Rinehart, National Turfgrass Federation
10:10 a.m. Preemergence Weed-Control Strategies for Home Lawns Dr. Gerald Henry, University of Georgia
10:55 a.m. Pesticide-Control Strategies for Lawn Turf Dr. Kevin Mathias, University of Maryland
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Tuesday Afternoon, January 7
MTC Turf News
Pest and Environmentally Tolerant Plants Ms. Lisa Maranto, Prince Georges Community College
10:20 a.m. Sawfly Damaging Trees and Shrubs in the Landscape Mr. Stanton Gill, Univ. of Maryland Extension and Montgomery College Landscape Technology
1:00 p.m.
1:15 p.m. Pesticides Use: Public Perception and Misconceptions Ms. Karen Reardon, RISE
1:50 p.m. New Herbicide Chemistries for Turfgrass Weed Control Dr. Gerald Henry, University of Georgia
2:35 p.m. Scheduling Fungicides for Turf Disease Control Dr. Richard Latin, Purdue University
10:50 a.m.
3:15 p.m.
Apps and ID Cards for Reporting Invasive Pests and Diseases Dr. David Clement, Univ. of Maryland Dr. Mary K. Malinoski, Univ. of Maryland
Pesticide Regulatory Update Mr. Dennis Howard and Mr. Ed Crow, Maryland Dept. of Agriculture, and Mr. Alvin Harris Sr., District of Columbia Dept. of the Environment
2:00 p.m. TRADESHOW CLOSES
Cover Story
New Requirements for All Turfgrass Fertilizer Applicators in Maryland EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a chapter from the Maryland Professional Lawn Care Manual published in June 2013 by the University of Maryland Extension. To refer to mentioned appendices, you may download the entire manual from MDA’s Nutrient Management website at www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer.
M
aryland’s Fertilizer Use Act of 2011 was a game-changer for turfgrass professionals and homeowners alike. The law expands the Maryland Dept. of Agriculture’s regulatory authority to include more than 1,500 urban land-management companies statewide. Beginning October 1, 2013, urban land managers must be certified and licensed by MDA before they can apply nutrients to nonagricultural properties. The Act is intended to reduce the amount of nutrients washing into the Chesapeake Bay from nonagricultural sources such as lawns, golf courses, parks, recreation areas and business properties. The law addresses several issues: (1) it limits the amount of phosphorus contained in lawn fertilizer products sold to the public, (2) it requires both homeowners and lawn care professionals to obey fertilizer application restrictions, and (3) it establishes a training, certification and licensing program for people who are hired to apply fertilizer to nonagricultural landscapes. In
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addition, the law addresses the improper use of fertilizer as an ice melt. The goal of Maryland’s Professional Fertilizer Applicator Certification Program is to ensure that commercial fertilizer applicators and turf managers have an adequate knowledge of fertilizer products and proper application techniques. By establishing uniform standards for applying fertilizers, the law aims to foster overall improved nutrient management in the urban and suburban landscape. The following sections provide a brief description of the new requirements for turfgrass professionals.
Certification
Beginning October 1, 2013, all lawn care professionals hired to apply fertilizers to nonagricultural land must be certified by MDA or work under the direct supervision of an individual who is certified. The rules apply to professionals for hire as well as individuals responsible for turf management at golf courses, athletic fields, public parks, air-
ports, businesses, cemeteries and other nonagricultural properties.
Licensing Licenses will be required for all businesses engaged in commercial fertilizer applications. Each business will be required to employ at least one certified fertilizer applicator. Licenses to qualifying firms will be issued beginning in fall 2013.
Soil testing Soil tests must be taken for each new customer and once every three years thereafter if phosphorus will be applied to the property. An approved lab must be used to test the samples. Follow the University of Maryland recommendations included in the following fact sheets: • TT-115 (turf maintenance, Appendix A on page 58 of the manual) • TT-116 (seeding, at http://mda. maryland.gov/resource_conservation/ Documents/TT-116.pdf) • TT-118 (golf courses, at http://mda.
Table 1. Annual Nitrogen Recommendation Rates for Commercially Maintained Turfgrass
Total Nitrogen Annually (pounds of N per 1,000 square feet) Cool-Season Grasses
Years 1 through 2
Subsequent Years
Kentucky bluegrass
3.0 – 4.0 lbs.
2.0 – 3.5 lbs.
Turf-type tall fescue
2.5 – 3.5 lbs.
2.0 – 3.0 lbs.
Fine fescue
1.0 – 2.0 lbs.
0.0 – 1.5 lbs.
Perennial ryegrass
2.5 – 3.5 lbs.
2.0 – 3.0 lbs.
Warm-Season Grasses
Years 1 through 2
Subsequent Years
Bermudagrass
2.0 – 4.0 lbs.
2.0 – 3.0 lbs.
Zoysiagrass
1.0 – 2.0 lbs.
0.0 – 2.0 lbs.
(Turner, 2013)
maryland.gov/resource_conservation/ Documents/golfcourserec.pdf).
Record keeping Keep the following records of fertilizer applications: • Name of the fertilizer applicator • Address/location of client • Size of the area fertilized • Date of nutrient application • Rate of application (for example 4 pounds of fertilizer per 1,000 square feet) • Total amount of fertilizer used per application • Analysis of the fertilizer product used • An original or legible copy of the fertilizer label
Nitrogen limits A single application may not exceed 0.9 pound total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet and 0.7 pound of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, except when using enhanced-efficiency fertilizer (see below). Annual limits may not exceed UMD recommendations as shown in Table 1.
Enhanced-efficiency fertilizer •E nhanced-efficiency, controlledrelease products may be applied at no more than 2.5 pounds of nitrogen per year. • No more than 80% of the annual
recommended rate for nitrogen may be applied. The maximum monthly release rate may not exceed 0.7 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. • These products may not be applied after November 15. • Professionals must maintain records of the release rate documented by the manufacturer.
Phosphorus limits The following sections describe the phosphorus limits for both organic and natural organic fertilizers and for synthetic turf fertilizers.
Organic or natural organic turf fertilizer •E ach application may not exceed 0.25 pound of phosphate per 1,000 square feet, with an annual maximum of 0.5 pound of phosphate per 1,000 square feet. • These products may not be applied when soils test at “optimum” to “excessive” for phosphorus levels.
Synthetic turf fertilizer •E xcept for starter fertilizer, fertilizer labeled for use on turf may not contain phosphorus. • P2O5 may be applied in accordance with soil test results and the University of Maryland Fertility Index Value Soil Test Category (Appendix D, page 70 of the manual).
Fertilizer setbacks •N itrogen or phosphorus may not be applied to turf within 15 feet of streams, creeks, ponds or other waterways. • If using a drop spreader, a rotary spreader with deflector shield or a targeted spray, the setback may be reduced to 10 feet. • Do not apply fertilizer to driveways, sidewalks or other impervious surfaces. Any product that lands on these surfaces must be swept back onto lawns or cleaned up.
Fertilizer timing restrictions •N o nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizer may be applied to turf between December 1 and March 1. • From November 16 through December 1, lawn care professionals (not homeowners) may apply water-soluble nitrogen (no slow-release formula) to lawns at a maximum rate of 0.5 pound per 1,000 square feet, if agronomically appropriate. • The law prohibits anyone from applying lawn fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorus to impervious surfaces or frozen ground. • Lime, potassium and other nutrients are not regulated under the law.
Newly established lawns Turf fertilizer used for routine maintenance applications may not contain phosphorus unless a soil test that is less than three years old indicates the need. When establishing turf after a tillage operation or more drastic disturbance, such as construction, phosphorus may be applied without a soil test following University of Maryland Extension recommendations for seeding. See UMD publication TT-116 on MDA’s Nutrient Management website.
Penalties Violators are subject to civil penalties of up to $1,000 for the first violation and $2,000 for each subsequent violation.
More information For additional information, visit www.mda.maryland.gov/fertilizer. •
Winter 2013
15
Recent Event
Annual Angie Cammarota Golf Tournament for Turfgrass Research Snapshots from the MTC’s
October 1, 2013 • University of Maryland Golf Course • College Park, MD Photos by Lauren Dubs.
1st Place Team: Gordy Caldwell (left) and Rob Larsen (center), shown with awards announcer, Kevin Monaco (right). Other team members (not pictured) were Andrew Harrison and Lentz Wheeler. 16
MTC Turf News
2nd Place Team: Rick Waltrup (left) and Ryland Chapman (right), with Kevin Monaco (center).
Thanks to Our Supportive Sponsors! Dinner Sponsor Eastern Shore Association of Golf Course Superintendents
Closest to Pin: Lee Carroll (left), 4'9" on the 8th Hole. Note: Kevin Monaco was 10'6" on the 11th Hole (the other Closet to Pin).
Contest Sponsors Bayer Fisher & Son Co. Harrell’s Helena
Hole Sponsors
Longest Drive: Tim Riismandel (left) on the 9th Hole. Note: Kevin Monaco was longest on the 18th Hole (the other Longest Drive Challenge).
In the Clubhouse, during the buffet dinner held after the tournament.
Agrium Advanced Technologies Antietam Tree & Turf AQUA-AID Cammarota Family Central Sod Finch Services Fisher & Son Co. Frederick Area Landscape Contractors and Nurserymen Association Genesis Turfgrass Mid Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents Mid Atlantic Association of Turf Equipment Managers McDonald & Sons Golf Course Builders Mike and Peggy Larsen Maryland Turfgrass Association Newsome Seed Plant Food Company Summit Hall Turf Farm Turf Equipment and Supply Co. Winter 2013
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Career Advancement
8 Ways
to be
Memorable at Networking Events
By Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE
If
you go to business events and no one remembers you afterward, what was the point in attending? Networking is an important part of building your business and developing good social contacts. However, such contacts only work if you make yourself memorable. Happily, this doesn’t mean you have to be bizarrely dressed or loud and boisterous. My professional life is spent helping professionals speak more effectively to large and small groups. It never ceases to amaze me how many talented and well-educated people attend networking events, yet overlook their big chance to be memorable by developing a minipresentation for audiences of one to five. All speaking is public speaking. Outside the privacy of your own home, you are speaking in public, no matter the size of your audience. Here are some strategies that let you walk into a room with quiet self-assurance, confident that people
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MTC Turf News
will enjoy meeting you and will recall you afterwards.
1. Arrive looking your best.
If you have a hectic day before going to a business meeting, keep a change of clothes in your office or car so you can arrive unwrinkled.
2. Wear your nametag.
We’re all more likely to retain information that we see and hear at the same time, so wear your nametag up on your right shoulder. That way, people can read it as they hear you say your name. Some women put their nametags down on their handbags or in the most inappropriate places. Put it where people are not afraid to look!
3. Develop a
memorable signature.
Men can wear ties that people will comment on. An investment banker I know
wears a money tie. At certain meetings, industry events and the National Speakers Association, I stand out because I wear distinctive hats. When people are asked, “Do you know Patricia Fripp?” the usual reply is, “Yes, she’s the one who always wears the amazing hats.”
4. Develop an
unforgettable greeting.
When you introduce yourself, don’t just say your name and job title. Instead, start by describing the benefits of what you do for clients. A financial planner says, “I help rich people sleep at night.” One of my responses is, “I make conventions and sales meetings more exciting.” Almost invariably, my new acquaintance is compelled to ask, “How do you do that?” Immediately, I get to market myself: “You know how companies have meetings that are supposed to be stimulating, but they’re often dull and boring? Well, I present practical
ideas in an entertaining way so people stay awake, have a good time and get the company’s message. My name is Patricia Fripp, and I’m a professional speaker.” People remember the vivid pictures you create in their minds more than the words you say.
5. Greet everyone.
Don’t ignore people you recognize if you’ve forgotten their name. Smile and ask a provocative question like, “What is the most exciting thing that has happened to you since we last met?” or “What is your greatest recent success?” or “What are you most looking forward to?” And never be afraid to say, “The last time we met, we had such a great conversation. Will you remind me what your name is?” Best-selling author Susan RoAne tells people, “Forgive me for forgetting your name. Since I passed forty, it’s hard to remember my own.”
6. Overcome any shyness.
Much of the value of networking events can be lost if you allow yourself to focus on being unassuming or fundamentally shy. For many people, mingling with a room full of strangers can be an unpleasant or even scary experience. Focus on the benefits of meeting exciting new contacts and learning new information, instead of worrying about any butterflies in your stomach. Until you’ve gained confidence, a good way to do this is to offer to volunteer for a job that requires interacting with other attendees, such as volunteering to be a greeter. Greeters stand at the entrance, with a nametag denoting them as “Greeter.” They have a specific job: “How do you do? I’m Chris Carter. Welcome to the Chamber mixer. Is this your first event? Please find your nametag; the food is in the next room, and our program will start in thirty minutes.” Soon you will start feeling like the host of the party. You’ve met many new people and will get cheery nods of recognition throughout the event, making it easy to stop and talk later. When you focus on helping others feel comfortable, you are not thinking about you being shy!
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Career Advancement
7. Travel with
your own PR agent.
This is a powerful technique that maximizes your networking. Form a duo with a professional friend. When you arrive, alternately separate and come together, talking up each other’s strengths and expertise.
Suppose you and Fred are co-workers. As Fred walks up, you say to the person you’ve been talking to, “Jack, I’d like you to meet our sales manager, Fred. Fred has taught me nearly everything I know about sales and our product line. In the sixteen years at our company, there has never been a sales contest he has not won.”
Then, Fred can say, “Well, Jane is being very generous. It’s true; I’ve been with our company for sixteen years, and Jane has been here for only six months. But, she has brought in more new business in that short time than any other person in the fifty-three year his-tory of our firm. Thank goodness, I’m now the sales manager and can’t compete. She is going to overshadow the rest of us. Her ability to listen to clients’ needs gives her a competitive edge.” When you do this, you’re saying about each other exactly what you would love your prospects to know, but modesty prevents you from telling them. Also, by saying something interesting, memorable or funny, you become objects of interest to your listeners. Imagine the next day when they go to work and talk about the networking event they attended. They will repeat your funny lines, making themselves an object of interest. Any time you can make someone feel good about themselves, they are very likely to remember you!
8. Always send a note
or brochure the next day to the people you have met.
Keep business cards, and make notes of what you said, for when you meet them at another event. These are all positive, pleasant, easy ways to be memorable. Get the most out of your networking time and energy by making yourself worth remembering! •
About the Author Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, keynote speaker, executive speech coach and sales-presentation skills expert, works with organizations and individuals who realize they gain a competitive edge through powerful, persuasive, presentation skills. She is past president of the National Speakers Association. To learn more about Patricia, contact her at www.fripp.com, (415) 753-6556 or pfripp@ix.netcom.com.
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MTC Turf News
Digital Marketplace
Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.
University of Maryland Turfgrass Team
Pete Dernoeden, Ph.D.
Kevin Mathias, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-1337 pd@umd.edu
Institute of Applied Ag. University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-4692 jkm@umd.edu
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Dave Funk
Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-403-4431 tturner@umd.edu
Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Facility University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-403-8195 dfunk@umd.edu
Mark Carroll, Ph.D. Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-1339 mcarroll@umd.edu
Index of Advertisers
All States Turfgrass Consultants, LLC................. 19
Landmark Turf & Native Seed........................ 3 www.turfandnativeseed.com
Arysta LifeScience................. 5 www.arysta-na.com
Leading Edge Communications.................. 20
BASF..................................... 3
LeadingEdgeCommunications.com
www.basf.com
Buy Sod........Inside Back Cover www.buysod.com
Central Sod Farms of Maryland, Inc..................... 7 www.centralsodmd.com
Collins Wharf Sod Farm....... 22 www.collinswharfsod.com MTC Turf News is the Maryland Turfgrass Council magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTC members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, MTC Turf News, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of MTC Turf News. Copyright Š 2013 by the Maryland Turfgrass Council. MTC Turf News is published quarterly. Presorted standard postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTC allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to MTC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.
CoverSports USA................... 9 www.gerogroup.com
Egypt Farms Inc................... 22 www.egyptfarms.com
Ernst Conservation Seeds.... 19 www.ernstseed.com
Genesis Turfgeass, Inc........ 21 www.genesisturfgrass.com
Maryland Turfgrass Assocation............................. 2 Mid Atlantic Association of Turf Equipment Managers (MAATEM)............................ 12 Oakwood Sod Farm, Inc........ 5 www.oakwoodsod.com
Shady Oaks Turf Farm......... 21 www.shadyoaksturffarm.com
Smith Seed Services............ 21 www.smithseed.com
Summit Hall Turf Farm, Inc.........Back Cover The Turfgrass Group............ 13 www.theturfgrassgroup.com
Winfield Solutions, LLC.......... 5
Winter 2013
21
Calendar of Events
December 11–13
January 6–7
January 7–8
Virginia Tech’s Turfgrass Short Course
36th Annual MTC Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show
2014 Eastern PA Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show
Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center Fredericksburg, VA
Adele H. Stamp Student Union University of Maryland College Park, MD
Crowne Plaza Hotel King of Prussia, PA
January 8–10 Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, MD
January 21–24 STMA Annual Conference (Sports Turf Managers Assn.) Grand Hyatt Hotel San Antonio, TX
January 27–30 VTC 54th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Trade Show Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center Fredericksburg, VA
February 3–6 Golf Industry Show Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL
February 20–21 Chesapeake Green 2013 — A Horticulture Symposium Maritime Institute & Conference Center Linthicum Heights, MD
February 24–28 TPI Mid-Winter Conference (Turf Producers Intl.) Orlando, FL
February 25–27 2014 Western PA Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show Sheraton Four Points North Mars, PA
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MTC Turf News