Your Input Needed:
Regional BMPs
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ESTMA is adapting SFMA’s BMPs for the Sports Field Manager for the New England region. We are looking to highlight important topics with a few case studies that illustrate important lessons learned and practices that work. Have you been successful with a management practice or facility upgrade that others could learn from? Share your story! Topics that we may cover include (and we welcome other ideas): • Communication with user groups and/or administration (e.g., communication with user groups to help relay why a task is done; help support need for equipment or supplies) • Irrigation upgrades/strategies that support water conservation (e.g., wetting agents, sensors) • IPM success stories…pest management strategies that support environmental sustainability • Expanding native habitat (e.g., creating an out of play/meadow area, “advancing pollinator health”)
• Fertility (e.g., attempting to reduce your fertility program where possible) • Record keeping /assessments to support field improvements • Developing a budget for a municipality • Advancing professionalism in the industry • Washing equipment (e.g., effect on environment) • Turf covers (e.g enhancing establishment) We have a template we follow for consistency of the series of case studies. We will need photos and a brief write-up (bullet points are fine) in the following categories: • Problem that needs to be addressed • Site conditions • Goals • Steps taken • Results • What was learned
If you are interested or have questions, please contact Vickie Wallace, victoria.wallace@uconn.edu, or Ben Polimer, polimerb@weston.org. •
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Winter 2022 • New England BLADE • 9
