PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
MTC BOARD ADVISORS
MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Adaptation We
started the year with mild weather in February and early into March. Bermudagrass was almost ready to wake up as many of us were starting to rush to get out pre-emergent herbicides for crabgrass. In almost an instant the weather turned a 180 and the cold was back to stay. Covid-19 quarantines, business closures, and Shelter in Place Orders were all that anyone talked about. No matter who we were or where we fit into the turfgrass industry — landscape management, sport turf managers, golf course superintendents, sod farmers, sales representatives, or on a supporting staff — we all had to do one thing, adapt. The Maryland Turfgrass Council needed to adapt quickly to support the membership. We needed to get our members Pesticide and Professional Fertilizer Credits not knowing when we would be available to be in a classroom or conference setting. Because of the joint effort of the University of Maryland and MTC, the first online re-certification for BOTH Pesticide and Professional Fertilizer Credits for Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources was conducted via Zoom on June 26th. The Maryland Turfgrass Council is here for you, our members, while we adapt together. I hope everyone has been able to adapt in one way or another for this year. The Mid-Atlantic region has always been unpredictable during the summer months but working through weeks with high temperatures followed by heavy rains, as turf managers we had to adapt. Going into leaf season and preparing for the winter months we never know what is around the corner. Maybe by the time you read this we will have a promising cure for the COVID-19 virus, or maybe we will have 5" of snow followed by a heat wave. Whatever happens I know as turf managers in Maryland we will adapt. The decision to host the Maryland Turfgrass Conference online has been made and if you are not already seeing information in your in-box or mailboxes about registration it is on the way. I am looking forward to working with everyone as we prepare for what is next. Whatever is on the horizon I know we will do one thing, adapt.
Ben Ellis
Maryland Turfgrass Council, President
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 © 2020 by the Maryland Turfgrass Council. MTC Turf News is published quarterly. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. 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 advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC – 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, sales@leadingedgecommunications.com.
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MTC TURF NEWS
Rick Boldissar Turf & Seed Section 50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 Work: 410-841-5968 • Cell: 443-791-2896 Rick.boldissar@maryland.gov Kelly Love Pesticide Regulation 50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 410-841-5710 • kelly.love@maryland.gov Judy McGowan Urban Nutrient Management 50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 410-841-5955 • judy.mcgowan@maryland.gov
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE & LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Dr. Mark Carroll Environmental & Pesticides 2132 Plant Science Bld. College Park, MD 20742 Campus: 301-405-1339 • Farm: 301-314-6303 mcarroll@umd.edu Dr. Thomas Turner, Professor Emeritus Turfgrass Nutrients / Extension 395 Green Meade Dr. College Park, MD 20740-3721 Farm: 301-314-6302 • tturner@umd.edu Dr. Peter Dernoeden Professor Emeritus 18086 White Oak Dr. Milton, DE 19968 301-314-6300 • pd@umd.edu David Funk Turf Farm Manager 395 Green Meade Dr. College Park, MD 20740-3721 301-314-6300 • dfunk@umd.edu Joseph Ryan Doherty Grad Student 8230 Harvest Bend Lane, Apt 38 Laurel, MD 20707 910-990-9844 • jdoherty3@umd.edu
INSTITUTE OF APPLIED AGRICULTURE: Geoffrey Rinehart Turfgrass Management 2113 Jull Hall 4196 Stadium Dr. College Park, MD 20742 301-405-4692 • rinehart@umd.edu Dr. Kevin Mathias Professor Emeritus College Park, MD • jkm@umd.edu
