Spring 2014
Phosphorus Reduction in Ponds and Lakes University of Maryland Terps... Nations’ #1 Student Turf Team Plus, Special Inside —
Highlights from the 2014 MTC Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow
10
14
contents • Spring 2014
4
10 Cover Story
14 recent Event
Departments
Phosphorus Reduction in Ponds and Lakes
06 President’s Message 07 MTC Membership Application 08 From the MTC Executive Director 16 News from UMD
MTC Turf News
Highlights from the 2014 MTC Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow, January 6–7, 2014
17 Industry News 18 University of MD Turf Team 18 Index of Advertisers 18 Calendar of Events
President’s Message
Spring’s Coming…
Really! A
lthough the weather was very cold on the outside, inside at our Conference and Trade Show, we had better attendance this year than the last few years. With the Maryland Dept. of Agriculture, we were able to have a session for the new MD Fertilizer Law, and fifty people took the examination. The MTC board of directors believes that we will be able to do both the Fertilizer and the Pesticide recertifications in future years. We are moving along with the Turf Pathology Endowment. We are now close to having half the funds needed for an “Endowed Chair” in the College of Agriculture. Speaking of the College of Agriculture, we are nearly finished with the hiring process for a new turfgrass pathologist in the Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Department. Thirteen applications were submitted, and the search committee headed by Dr. Tom Turner has moved the process to the point of narrowing the choice down to just two candidates. Dr. Turner informed me he expects to complete the process by the middle of April. We have been able to weather this year’s legislature session with no changes to the laws concerning our industry. There will always be members of the legislature who believe they need to make changes to our laws. It is my hope that MTC can interact with the legislators in the future so they will understand it is
6
MTC Turf News
our desire to continue to be stewards of the land. This spring, the Institute for Applied Agriculture will again have the Shields Golf Tournament. This year’s event is scheduled for May 9. The Council is looking for your support at this event. This event helps the programs of the Institute to train students for future work in our industry. I would like to announce that the MTC board has hired Vernon Cooper to be our new executive director. Vernon has been involved with MTC for many years and has served in most every capacity. I am sure we all want to give him our support. You can contact him at: Vernon Cooper, ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com. This year, we will again be working on the MTC website. It is hoped we can improve it and make it a more useable site for all of our membership. We are currently asking for your renewal of membership, and we are working on expanding our rolls. Last year, we achieved nearly 400 paying members. We are asking for everyone’s support to increase our membership and get the word out about MTC. Finally, I hope you all have a very busy and productive spring season. If there is any way the Council can help, please let us know.
Lester Dubs
2014 MTC President
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. Detach and Send to: Maryland Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 389 • St. Michaels, MD 21663
______________________________________________________ Name as it appears on credit card ______________________________________________________ Address where card is billed ______________________________________________________ Card Number ______________________________________________________ Exp. Date 3 digit code
Spring 2014
7
from the mtc executive director
Notes from YOUR
Executive Director Last
November, Michelle LoConte, MTC’s executive director of many years, advised the MTC board of directors that she wanted to retire. Michelle agreed to stay on to guide us through Turf Grass 2014, but we agreed that she would step down effective the last day of January 2014. Michelle has done an excellent job for many years. She provided a “leveling” force that guided us into many improvements that often were done behind the scenes and unknown to most. She made our yearly conference, field days, golf tournaments and all our other functions flow, making them beneficial and pleasurable for all MTC members. The board realized that replacing Michelle would not be easy. So, immediately upon receiving her intention to retire, MTC president Lester Dubs established a search committee. The search included developing a job description and distributing it through email blasts and notices to all of our member organizations. But, alas, a suitable applicant had not been found by January 31. I was approached by a couple of board members and past presidents of the MTC to consider taking on the position. I have been involved in the MTC since 1975. For the 30 years that I served as the turfgrass agronomist at MDA, I also served as an advisor to the MTC board. Upon my retirement from MDA, I was asked to serve on the MTC board as a director. I later served as MTC vice president, president (2011 and 2012) and, for the past year and a half, immediate past president. After considerable consideration, I agreed to apply for the position. At MTC’s February 2014 board meeting, I was presented as a candidate, and after consideration and discussion, I was offered the position, which I accepted. I have established a new MTC office in St. Michaels, and with the help of the board under the direction of president Dubs, I am already starting to work on expanding our website (www.MDTurfCouncil.org) and making changes to our MTC Turf News and our Facebook page (stop by the Maryland Turfgrass Council Facebook page to catch up on what is happening and to “like” us).
8
MTC Turf News
We are also looking forward to Turf Grass 2015, with possible changes to make your conference meet even more of the things you need and would like to see. If there’s anything you want to learn more about or a topic that you think would be of interest to other turfgrass professionals like yourself, please call or email me. Speaking of the Turf Grass Conference, I unfortunately missed TG 2014 due to a death in the family. This is the first conference I have missed since we started at the Lanham Sheraton in 1976. However, I have heard nothing but great things and want to specifically thank those companies and firms who went the extra mile to be a “Sponsor, Benefactor or Green Industry Leader.” These dedicated turfgrass professionals who helped make TG 2014 all it could be include: The Mid Atlantic Association of Turf Equipment Managers (MAATEM), Collins Wharf Sod Farm, Fisher & Son, Oakwood Sod Farm, Bayer Crop Science, AAT Direct Solutions, Central Sod Farms, John Deere Landscapes, Syngenta, BASF, Chesapeake Valley Seed, Target Specialty Products, Dow Chemical and, last but certainly not least, Newsom Seed. If I have missed anyone, I apologize. I hope that for TG 2015 we can not only count upon these great supporters of the MTC and the University of MD Turfgrass Programs, but also expand upon this list to include many more. If there is anything the MTC officers, board of directors and/or I can do to help you with any turfgrassrelated issues, please feel free to contact me at any of the following: • U.S. Mail: P.O. Box 389, St. Michaels, MD 21663 • Email: ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com • Website: www.MDTurfCouncil.org • Phone: 410-745-8867 (office), 410-745-9643 (home) or 443-742-6618 (cell) I’m looking forward to working with president Dubs, the other MTC officers, the directors of the board and every one of you.
Vernon W. Cooper MTC Executive Director
MARYLAND TURFGRASS COUNCIL 12 Pressie Lane | Churchville, MD 21028 execdir@mdturfcouncil.com 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
2014 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 Vernon W. Cooper P.O. Box 389 St. Michaels, MD Cell: 443-742-6618 Office: 410-745-8867 ExecDir@ MDTurfCouncil.com
ONE-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@turf equipment.com
TWO-YEAR DIRECTORS Doug Lechlider Laytonsville Landscaping Laytonsville, MD Office: 301-253-1481 Cell: 301-253-0546 doug@laytonsville landscaping.com Les Phelps AA Co. Public Schools Pasadena, MD Office: 410-255-2535 Cell: 410-693-7432 lrphelps@aacps.org Jamie Roell Anne Arundel Co. Rec. & Parks Millersville, MD Office: 410-222-6250 Cell: 443-370-2582 rproel09@aacounty.org jamroell@verizon.net
THREE-YEAR DIRECTORS Brian Gietka Fountain Head C.C. Hagerstown, MD Office: 301-739-4286 Cell: 410-218-0131 briangietka@gmail.com Mark Leahy Blades of Green Harwood, MD Office: 410-867-8873 mark@bladesofgreen.com Rick Williams Pennington Seed Locust Grove, VA Cell: 804-396-5659 rwilliams@pennington seed.com
Spring 2014
9
COVER STORY
in Ponds and Lakes By Shannon Junior, Aquatic Ecologist, SOLitude Lake Management
“N
utrient management� has become a ubiquitous term in the golf course industry. Environmental concerns about excess nutrients leaching into groundwater or running off into surface waters have plagued the industry for years and have led to an industry-wide, dedicated effort to improve turf-management practices and fertilization programs. Government restrictions on fertilizer applications have become more extensive, and the emphasis on nutrient management continues to grow. The use of written nutrient-management plans has become more widespread, and more sustainable practices are being implemented to secure the status of golf course managers as environmental stewards. There is no denying the fact that excessive nutrients can have harmful effects on our ground and surface water. As an aquatic ecologist and lake manager, I deal with the implications of nutrient loading on a daily basis. Ponds with increased nutrients often suffer from cyanobacteria and algae blooms, surface biofilms, dense submersed plant growth and related oxygen depletion. Reducing nutrient inputs to water bodies and mitigating the effects of nutrient loading are the key factors in successful lake-management programs, with phosphorus being the primary nutrient of concern for our industry.
but also they are critical sources of irrigation water. They provide habitat for birds and other wildlife, and they serve as obstacles to challenge the golfers. The ponds need to be maintained in an aesthetically pleasing state, with water quality that is conducive to irrigation and free of vegetation that can clog the intakes. Few scenarios are more challenging to a lake manager than the restoration of the ecological health and aesthetic integrity of an impaired golf course irrigation pond (Photo 1). The most obvious difficulty is the restriction on the herbicides that can be used for treatment of submersed and floating nuisance aquatic vegetation. For many of the species that we find the most difficult to control, the herbicide of choice would be one that is not safe to use in irrigation water without damaging the receiving turf and ornamental vegetation. Another complication is that while the ponds are an important component of the golf course, the majority of the budget is allocated to essential maintenance of the turf. Golf course superintendents must focus on sustainable and cost-effective strategies that will allow them to meet their goals for both their ponds and their turf. Nutrient management is as much of a challenge in the lake-management industry as it is in the golf course industry. Integrated pest management plans for nuisance aquatic-vegetation control include strategies to prevent nutrients and sediment from entering water bodies in the first place. Strips of turf or dense buffers of native vegetation are recommended around the shorelines of ponds and lakes to filter runoff. Because the water level in irrigation ponds can fluctuate so dramatically, shoreline stabilization is particularly important to prevent erosion of the soil and the associated nutrient loading. However, preventive strategies have little effect on ponds that are already impaired, and mitigation efforts within the pond are required to reverse the effects of long-term eutrophication.
Phosphorus-removal methods Pond and lake management Ponds and lakes are central features of most golf courses. Not only are they beautiful accessories to the landscape,
10
MTC Turf News
There are many successful methods for removing phosphorus from a pond once it has accumulated there. Obviously, mechanical dredging to remove the unconsolidated sediment layer is the most direct mitigation strategy, although the process is highly disruptive and extremely expensive.
Photo 2. The same pond, now healthy after the use of lanthanum-modified bentonite clay to remove the phosphorus.
Photo 1. A golf course pond in Virginia, covered in filamentous algae due to excess phosphorus in the water.
continued • SECTION NAME
Spring 2014
11
SECTION NAME • continued
Photo 3. Lanthanum-modified bentonite clay being applied to a pond’s water surface as a slurry to bond with free reactive phosphorus.
Aeration can be used in concert with naturally occurring or inoculated beneficial bacterial to accelerate the decomposition of organic matter and prevent the accumulation of excess nutrients. Very little phosphorus, however, is required to support algal blooms, and it is unlikely that these strategies alone will be sufficient to mitigate phosphorus loading in severely impaired ponds. The application of aluminum salts (alum) has been used for over 30 years to remove phosphorus from the water column and to control its release from the sediment. This method of phosphorus inactivation can actually reverse the effects of nutrient loading on ponds and lakes. However, it does have limitations, especially in shallow pond environments. Alum applications are most successful at pH levels between 4 and 6, which are slightly lower than what the pH of a typical nutrient-rich pond would be (approximately 7 to 8). In ponds with low alkalinity, the pH may decrease after alum application, and toxic soluble forms of aluminum may become more prevalent, which can bio-accumulate and become harmful to aquatic organisms. Storm events or water currents may disturb the flocculent properties of alum, allowing the release of phosphorus back into the water column. Alum does not result in the permanent deactivation of phosphorus, and repeat applications are required to maintain the results. A new technology that is safer and more effective than alum is available for the inactivation of phosphorus. The new product formulation is a lanthanum-modified bentonite clay that can be applied to the water surface as a granule or a slurry to bond with free reactive phosphorus (Photo 3). The lanthanum adsorbs phosphate molecules to form a mineral called rhabdophane, which is extremely stable at in situ pH levels. Any unreacted lanthanum remains imbedded in the bentonite granules, which settle to the bottom of the pond to form a permeable layer that will continue to bond and sequester phosphorus as it releases from the sediments.
12
MTC Turf News
There are many benefits to the use of lanthanum instead of alum. Most importantly, its effectiveness is not dependent on the physic-chemical properties of the water body, so it works well in a wide range of pH levels (~4–11), as well as under anoxic conditions. The mineral rhabdophane produced from the lanthanum reaction is more stable than the aluminum compounds resulting from alum applications, and the deactivation of phosphorus is permanent. Also, since the unreacted lanthanum does not release from the bentonite until it reacts with phosphate, there is a very low concentration of dissolved lanthanum in the water body and no associated toxicity to aquatic organisms. Lanthanum-modified clay application is an extremely safe and effective method of permanent phosphorus removal that can be implemented in water bodies with a broad range of ecological characteristics. In order to implement an effective phosphorus-mitigation strategy with lanthanum, it is essential to have a good understanding of the water quality in the pond, as well as the phosphorus levels in both the water column and the sediment. Ideally, sampling should be conducted in the absence of an active algae bloom to establish a baseline for the water quality and to calculate the total amount of phosphorus in the water body. Because 100 kg of the lanthanum product can inactivate 1 kg of phosphorus, it is possible to calculate the amount of product required for mitigation based on the water and sediment testing with fairly high accuracy. The physical application of the calculated quantity of the lanthanum product can be performed all at once, or it can be phased over multiple years to compensate for budgetary considerations. Since most of the phosphorus in a water body has accumulated over many years, it is an acceptable strategy to also stage the mitigation over several years as well. Once the initial phosphorus load is completely mitigated, annual maintenance applications can be performed to account for new inputs to the water body. However the mitigation plan is implemented, the results will be improved water quality and reduced issues with cyanobacteria and other algal species.
In summary Nutrient management will continue to be a critical issue in both the golf course and lake-management industries. While it is true that improved turf-management practices, fertilization programs and integrated pest management strategies can reduce the inputs of nutrients to our surface waterways, eutrophication is an ongoing process that can be slowed but not completely prevented. It is promising that there are mitigation techniques available to reverse the nutrient enrichment that will ultimately continue to occur despite our best efforts.
About the author Shannon Junior is an aquatic ecologist with SOLitude Lake Management and can be reached at sjunior@solitudelake.com. SOLitude Lake Management is committed to providing full-service lake, pond and fisheries management services that improve water quality, preserve natural resources and reduce our environmental footprint. Learn more at www.solitudelakemanagement.com. •
Recent Event
Snapshots from the 2014 MTC Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow! January 6–8 Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland • College Park, MD Donations made over the past year to the Turfgrass Research Fund — $50,000 from MTC, $25,000 from MAAGCS and $10,000 from ESAGCS — were on display in the tradeshow.
Conference attendees filled meetings and educational sessions.
14
MTC Turf News
MTC President Lester Dubs thanked former MTC Executive Director Michelle LoConte, who retired after the conference, for her many years of service to the organization.
Outgoing MTC board member Thomas Ritter with his plaque of appreciation from MTC.
Thank You to Our Sponsors/Exhibitors! 2014 Green Industry Leaders • • • • •
ATT Direct Solutions BASF Chesapeake Valley Seed Fisher & Son Co. John Deere Landscapes (unable to exhibit) • Mid-Atlantic Assn. of Turf Equipment Managers (unable to exhibit) • Newsom Seed
2014 Sponsors Monday evening’s reception in the tradeshow provided an excellent venue for both socializing and networking.
• • • •
Bayer Crop Science Central Sod Farms Collins Wharf Sod Oakwood Sod Farm
2014 Benefactors
•D ow Chemical (unable to exhibit) • Syngenta • Target Specialty Products (unable to exhibit)
Exhibitors • • • • • • • • •
Capitol Sports Fields Davisson Golf, Inc. FMC Genesis Turfgrass Harrell’s, LLC Landscape Supply Pennington Seed Spectrum Analytic Turf Trade
Photos courtesy of Lauren Dubs.
Spring 2014
15
News from UMD
University of Maryland Terps…
Nation’s #1 Student Turf Team By Glori Hyman, Director, Institute of Applied Agriculture, University of Maryland
The
University of Maryland has the number #1 turfgrass program in the country! Whether ranking in golf course management or in sports turf management, the Terps are at the top. Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) advisor Dr. Kevin Mathias and his teams seized two national titles early this year in as many weeks. “We had them scared from the start,” joked IAA student Brian Hogan when
16
MTC Turf News
he and his teammates returned from San Antonio, TX, with a national title from the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) 2014 Student Challenge, held in conjunction with its winter conference on January 22-24. This year’s Student Challenge hosted 34 teams, and the Terps team of Brian Hogan (IAA), Matt Park (IAA), Brent Waite (IAA) and Ryan Higgins (PSLA) won the gold with a score of 149.5 points. The IAA’s four-year-old sports turf
program has been a top contender in the competition since its students took third place in their first appearance at the 2011 contest. Two years later the Terps took first place, crushing their nearest competitors by 15 points. A second consecutive national title in 2014 boosted the Maryland’s reputation among sports turf managers. The annual Collegiate Turf Bowl Competition is another story. The firstplace title has eluded Dr. Mathias and his teams for nearly 15 years. Hosted each year during the Golf Industry Show (held this year in early February in Orlando, FL), the turf bowl tests students on various aspects of their profession. The Bowl consists of a written exam, developed by superintendents, and a written essay that is based on a business/ financial case study. This year’s Bowl included 71 teams and 264 students. UMD’s winning foursome is the same team that won the sports turf title two weeks earlier. In addition to the fab four, the other students representing the University of Maryland are Brian Dearstine (IAA), Jeffrey Bynaker (IAA), Jim Halley (IAA), Brian Knott (IAA), Stephen Brew (IAA), Tim Burkhart (IAA), Gabe Gammill (IAA) and Trey Profili (PSLA). Along with Mathias, Alex Steinman, manager with Campus Recreation Services, helped coach the teams. As the winning teams of the Student Challenge and the Turf Bowl, UMD was awarded $4,000 from each competition. The $8,000 will go directly into the programs to enhance lab activities and student learning. In addition, the fab four receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Ponte Vedra, FL, to work at TPC Sawgrass during the The Players Championship in May. •
Industry news
Dr. Peter Dernoeden Receives the USGA 2014 Green Section Award From the USGA Green Section
On
February 8, the United States Golf Association awarded its 2014 USGA Green Section Award to Dr. Peter Dernoeden, a nationally recognized turfgrass researcher and educator. The award was presented on February 8, 2014, at the USGA’s Annual Meeting and Service Awards at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. Presented annually since 1961, the USGA Green Section Award recognizes an individual’s distinguished service to the game of golf through his or her work with turfgrass. Dr. Dernoeden, 65, is professor emeritus of plant science and landscape architecture at the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Over the course of an extensive research, Extension and teaching career, he led the design and management of turfgrass research programs focusing on weed and disease control, integrated pest management and sustainable fescue species. In 1999, he was responsible for the discovery of a new pathogen and disease that affects creeping bentgrass. His work is widely recognized as having contributed significantly to the quality of turf on golf courses both regionally and nationally. Dr. Dernoeden retired from the University of Maryland in July 2013. He currently resides in Milton, Del. with his wife Kathleen. •
Spring 2014
17
University of Maryland Turfgrass Team
Calendar of Events
Pete Dernoeden, Ph.D.
May 9
Advertisers index
Professor Emeritus University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-314-6300 pd@umd.edu
Shields Memorial Golf Tournament
Tom Turner, Ph.D.
(MD Nursery & Landscape Assn.) Roseland Nurseries Sudlersville, MD
Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-314-6302 tturner@umd.edu
Mark Carroll, Ph.D. Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-314-6303 mcarroll@umd.edu
Kevin Mathias, Ph.D. Institute of Applied Ag. University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-4692 jkm@umd.edu
Dave Funk Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Facility University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-314-6300 dfunk@umd.edu
Glenn Dale Golf Club Glenn Dale, MD
All States Turfgrass Consultants, LLC......17 Alliance Material Handling.........................9 www.alliancemat.com
June 26
BASF.........................................................7
MNLA Summer Field Day
www.basf.com
Buy Sod...........................Inside Back Cover www.buysod.com
Central Sod Farms of Maryland, Inc.........18
July 17
www.centralsodmd.com
GIP Field Day and Trade Show
Collins Wharf Sod Farm...........................17
American University Washington, D.C.
www.collinswharfsod.com
CoverSports USA.....................................16
July 23
www.gerogroup.com
UMD Turfgrass Field Day
Fisher & Son Company Inc...................Inside Front Cover
University Turf Farm at the University of Maryland College Park, MD
www.fisherandson.com
Leading Edge Communications................13
July 27–29
www.leadingedgecommunications.com
PLANET Legislative Day on the Hill Washington, D.C.
Lebanon Turf.............................................5 www.lebturf.com
July 29 – August 1
Maryland Turfgrass Association.................9
TPI Summer Convention & Field Days
Mid Atlantic Association of Turf Equipment Managers (MAATEM)...............................17
(Turfgrass Producers International) Ritz Carlton, Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA
January 2015 37th Annual MTC Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show
Adele H. Stamp Student Union University of Maryland College Park, MD
Digital Marketplace
Oakwood Sod Farm, Inc............................6 www.oakwoodsod.com
Smith Seed Services................................18 www.smithseed.com
Summit Hall Turf Farm, Inc........ Back Cover The Turfgrass Group..................................3 www.theturfgrassgroup.com
Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.
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 © 2014 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.
18
MTC Turf News