Tennessee Turfgrass - October / November 2013

October/November 2013

The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

48th Annual TTA Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow Special Inside!

Program & Registration Forms Planning for Success Against

Turfgrass Pests UT Turf and Ornamental Field Day

Highlights from the

The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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October/November 2013

FEATURED ARTICLES

10 12 18

Recent Event — Highlights from the 2013 UT Turf and Ornamental Field Day, September 12 Upcoming Event — 48th Annual TTA Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow, Program & Registration Forms Cover Story — Planning for Success Against Turfgrass Pests

DEPARTMENTS From the TTA President, Bob McCurdy

7

From the TVSTMA President, Wayne Treadway

8

From the ETGCSA President, Jeff Rumph, CGCS

9

Calendar of Events

22

Index of Advertisers

22

The Tennessee Turfgrass Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Tennessee Turfgrass Magazine, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or 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 ©2013 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Tennessee Turfgrass is published bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee Turfgrass allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. 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.

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The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 591-8286 tnturfgrassassn@aol.com www.ttaonline.org Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Editor Dr. James Brosnan TTA OFFICERS President Bob McCurdy McCurdy Sod Farms (731) 692-3515 Vice President Paul Carter, CGCS Bear Trace at Harrison Bay (423) 344-6374 Secretary/Treasurer Theo Lankford Nashville Sports Leagues (615) 799-8664 Past President Jay Willis Glen Eagle Golf Course (901) 508-1986 Executive Secretary Jim Uden Tennessee Turfgrass Assn.

(615) 591-8286 TTA 2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bob Elliott Luke Hankins Cal Hill Joe Hill Robert A. Main, CGCS Bill Marbet Mitch Parker Jason Pooler Jason Sanderson Sean VanHoose Doug Ward TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Bill Blackburn Dr. Jim Brosnan Dr. Brandon Horvath Lynn Ray Jeff Rumph Dr. Tom Samples Dr. John Sorochan Dr. Wes Totten

From the TTA President

Bob McCurdy

Earn This L

ast year, I got to stand in the U.S. National Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. It was an experience of emotion that I was not prepared for. The thought of the sacrifice by the young men of that war (World War II) opened a whole new sense of appreciation for those men that I never knew.

The closing scene of Saving Private Ryan shows Captain Miller whispering his dying words to Private Ryan: “James… earn this. Earn it.” As I stood among the vast rows of crosses and Stars of David, this phrase kept coming back to my mind. What have I done to earn what others have done for me?

This is not an article about politics and our freedom. It is not even about our military or our involvement in world affairs.

My purpose is to make you think of those who have been less heroic, but probably more influential in your own daily life.

There was probably someone who helped you aspire to your present position in life, someone who did more than show you where your locker was or how to clock in your time card. It may have been a relative, a friend or someone who saw value in you and wanted to encourage your interest in the turf industry.

When was the last time you contacted that person and thanked him (or

her) for that support? You should let him know what you have accomplished and give him deserved credit for helping make your achievement possible.

And maybe more importantly, when was the last time you took the time to mentor another young person showing interest in the business of turfgrass?

Take an opportunity to honor those who

helped you by passing forward your experience and knowledge. You will probably be surprised by how much you have to offer.

We should never stop earning all of these things that have been done for us.

Bob McCurdy

2012–2013 TTA President

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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From the TV ST MA President

A Valuable

Wayne Treadway

Resource I

hope everyone is having a good fall sports season. The spring and summer rains sure presented enough challenges this year. I was fortunate, though, to have good people working with me to help with the challenges.

Athletic-field managers frequently get advice on how to grow and maintain good turf. Another important aspect of maintaining a sports facility is the staff with whom you work. Coworkers are a resource that can be overlooked, and a

good sports-turf management staff is as important as any resource used to manage the turf. No individual is less valuable than the other. The person who picks up trash is just as important as the one who laser-grades the field.

Sometimes, the amount paid to an individual or the complexity of his/her tasks causes one coworker to rank one above the other. Both individuals, however, should be treated the same. A good supervisor must make each individual feel like

a valuable part of the team, and the person who performs each job must take pride in doing that job.

We all have been around someone who grumbles all the time, and this is just as bad as brown patch disease. Both, if not treated, will cause your facility to be less efficient, and the more quickly you apply treatment, the less damage will be caused.

Just as with any disease, prevention is better than waiting until symptoms appear. We all have been given advice on products to prevent turf disease, but what can we do to prevent someone from being disinterested in his job? As mentioned previously, each staff member must feel valuable to your team. The best way I know to make someone feel valuable is through praise. If you give someone the task of picking up paper, praise a job well done. Everyone likes praise. I never get tired of being thanked or having someone say, “Your field looks great.” If no one had ever said that I would think “what’s the use?”

I’m fortunate in having good people who take pride in our facility, and I appreciate the job they do. I know, with the challenges of all the rain this year, our fields would not have looked and played as they did without every person doing his best. I cannot thank my coworkers enough, and I’m sure each of you also has a valuable staff. Please thank them, and praise them for their efforts.

Wayne Treadway

2012–2013 TVSTMA President

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2013 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

Jeff Rumph, CGCS

From the E TGC SA

An Interesting

Year!

F

all is here, and of course, that means “Football Time in Tennessee.” It also means time to reflect on the year that is quickly coming to a close. It has certainly been an interesting year in terms of weather. At one time, we were about 15 inches above normal rainfall. Knoxville had only three days above 90 degrees this summer. Makes you wonder what this winter will be like.

As wet as it was, none of our ETGCSA regular meetings were affected by rain.

We started the year in April with a “Mini Field Day” at the UT Turf Research Center, hosted by Dr. Jim Brosnan. Golf was at the UT Golf Practice facility where superintendent Mark Gossett arranged for players to be challenged by golf and skills contests. We hope to do this type of fun outing again.

The Crossings Golf Club in Jonesboro was the site of our May meeting. Josh Olinger was our host superintendent, and Fox Den C.C. superintendent Scott Severance was our speaker, discussing bentgrass management for a PGA tournament.

The June meeting was at River Islands Golf Club in Kodak, TN. Our host was superintendent Pat Toth, and our speaker Chris Sykes discussed the creation of low-maintenance areas.

The Country Club of Bristol was the site for the July meeting, hosted by Tim Jessee. UT’s director of athletic surfaces Darren Seybold was the speaker, discussing sports turf.

In August, ETGCSA visited Ridgewood Golf Club in Athens, TN. Host Superintendent Brian Ford converted Ridgewood’s greens to Champion this year, and our speaker was Mike Brown, discussing ultradwarf bermudagrass management.

In September, the University of Tennessee hosted the annual Turf Research Field Day. Attendance appeared to be recordbreaking. The format was upgraded this year with eight stations in the morning, organized so that it was easy to visit each station before lunch. The afternoon sessions were shortened a little due to an approaching thunderstorm.

As I write, we are looking forward to our 23rd Annual Scholarship and Research Tournament, October 28 at Chattanooga

Golf and Country Club. Superintendent Jeff Hollister will host ETGCSA for the first time since he went through a major renovation. We hope to have a full field of players and sponsors in order to raise plenty of scholarship and research money.

I hope everyone has had a great year. I look forward to seeing you in January at the TTA Conference in Franklin.

Jeff Rumph, CGCS ETGCSA President

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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Rec ent Event

UT Field Day 2013 Breaks New Ground and Sets an Attendance Record

By UT Turfgrass Science and Management Communications

The

University of Tennessee hosted more than 500 industry educators and professionals at the 2013 Turf and Ornamental Field Day, held September 12 at the East Tennessee Research and Education Center (ETREC).

The largest crowd to ever attend a UT field day watched interactive presentations given by UT students and faculty on subjects spanning every aspect of the turf and ornamental fields of study, including pest control, mowing technology, ornamental grasses and management of synthetic and natural-turf athletic fields.

“Field Day has grown substantially since my first year in 2008,” said Dr. Jim Brosnan, associate professor of UT Turfgrass Science and Management, and coordinator of the event. “We’ve grown from drawing less than 200 individuals from east and middle Tennessee to now attracting more than 500 turf professionals from across all of Tennessee and five states throughout the Southeast. Partnering with ornamental research and Extension faculty has broadened our scope to both turf and landscapes.”

Brosnan said attendees surveyed were pleased with the content and enhanced features of the event, particularly those pertaining to Tennessee’s and neighboring states’ recertification credits. The event provided green industry professionals with the most current information on managing disease, weed and insect pests on turf and ornamentals.

“Field Day was an important event for turf professionals because it gave

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them an opportunity to learn about the research that UT is doing and how our work addresses problems that they may be experiencing now or in the future,” said Dr. Brandon Horvath, UT assistant professor of Turfgrass Science and Management.

UT Turf joined forces with Turf Republic to present Field Day to an expanded audience. Using a web page called the UT Turf Field Day Social Media Experience (http://turfrepublic.com/2013-universityof-tennessee-turfgrass-field-day-socialmedia-experience/) and a unique Twitter hash tag (#UTTurfFD2013), this year’s event was essentially broadcasted live via social media. “We wanted to share Field Day 2013 with a much larger audience than could be present at our event,” Horvath said.

The social-media site includes video clips and summaries of presentations, Instagram and Twitter feeds, and an interactive map of the ETREC. ”We’re taking the Turf program places it has never been before, starting with Field Day 2013,” said Scott Boyle, the UT Turfgrass Science and Management communications coordinator. “We are exploring every opportunity we can to let the world know about the great things UT Turfgrass is doing through research, education and Extension, and social media is just the beginning.”

The website, which will continue to be updated throughout the year, was designed to provide professionals who were unable to attend a place to go where they could follow the day’s happenings. “Our educa-

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2013 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

tional material is pertinent to all turf managers, regardless of geographic location, and we hope that social media can help us reach green-industry professionals across the globe,” Brosnan said.

The Social Media Experience will remain active until the 2014 Field Day. T

Thanks to Our

Field Day Sponsors!

Gold Sponsors: Bayer FMC Harrell’s John Deere Landscapes Quali-Pro Syngenta Silver Sponsors: Arysta LifeScience Winfield Solutions Bronze Sponsors: BASF Corporation Kifco, Inc. Pro Solutions, Inc.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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48

th

Annual

Tennessee Turfgrass Association

Conference and

Tradeshow

January 6, 7 and 8, 2014 Franklin Marriott Cool Springs 700 Cool Springs Blvd. • Franklin, Tennessee 37067

A Growing Tradition In Tennessee’s Green Industry

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2013 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

CONFERENCE PROGRAM MONDAY, JANUARY 6 General Session

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

LUNCH (on your own)

9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.

Understanding Your Soil Test: Keys to Minimizing Pest Invasion

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

2 Pesticide Points

TRADESHOW

Attendees will learn how to minimize pest invasion and subsequent pesticide use in turf through implementing results of soil tests.

Dr. David Kopec, University of Arizona

10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.

The Best Hiring and Firing Practices for Pest-Management Professionals in the Green Industry

Please support our vendors!

4:00 p.m.

TTA Business Meeting and Awards Reception Presidential Address

Mr. Bob McCurdy, TTA President

The Importance of TTA

Dr. Scott Senseman, Head of the UT Plant Sciences Department

Mr. Patrick McGuiness, Zilmen & McGuiness, PLLC

When Life Looks Like Easy Street, There Is Danger at Your Door

11:00 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.

Breeding Turfgrasses for Integrated Pest Management on Golf Courses

Dr. Fred Yelverton, NC State University

Attendees will learn about the turfgrasses being bred for use on golf courses that are less susceptible to invasion from weed, disease, and insect pests.

Dr. Leah Brilman, Seed Research of Oregon

7:00 p.m.

Social for BCS Game

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast

Concurrent Session #1

Concurrent Session #2

Technology Tools to Manage Putting Surface Quality and Consistency

Technology Workshop for Turf Managers: New Technology Tools for Integrated Pest Management in Turf —

Morning Classes | 2 Pesticide Points 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Attendees will learn about tools to monitor the quality of turfgrasses on golf course putting greens.

Dr. Brandon Horvath, The University of Tennessee

How to Interview Candidates in the Pest-Management Industry for Best Results

Mr. Patrick McGuiness, Zilmen & McGuiness, PLLC

Species Selection for Athletic Fields in the Transition Zone to Help Reduce Stress

Attendees will learn about the turfgrasses being bred for use on athletic fields that are less susceptible to invasion from weed, disease, and insect pests.

Dr. Leah Brilman, Seed Research of Oregon

Morning Classes | 3 Pesticide Points 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Attendees will learn about new technology tools for selecting, implementing and monitoring the need for pesticide applications on golf courses, athletic fields, and residential/commercial lawns.

Bring Your Mobile Device!

Mr. Bill Brown, CGCS, Turf Republic

Twitter: It’s Not Just for the Birds

Attendees will learn about using social media as a means of communicating the need for and implementation of turfgrass management practices, including pesticide applications.

Mr. Bill Brown, CGCS, Turf Republic

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | LUNCH (on your own)

Continued on page 14 TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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CONFERENCE PROGRAM TUESDAY, JANUARY 7

(Continued)

Concurrent Session #1

Concurrent Session #2

Herbicide Resistance: A Growing Problem

Irrigating Turf: What You Need to Know to Maximize Quality

Afternoon Classes | 2 Pesticide Points 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon Classes | 2 Pesticide Points 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Attendees will learn about the growing problem of herbicide resistant weeds in turfgrass. An overview of herbicide resistance in row crops will be provided to shed light on what can be done in turf to prevent this phenomenon from worsening.

Dr. Jim Brosnan, The University of Tennessee Dr. Tom Mueller, The University of Tennessee

2013 Year in Review

Attendees will learn about the agronomic struggles and successes of golf course superintendents in 2013. Prominent pests and effective control measures will be discussed.

Mr. Chris Hartwiger, United States Golf Assn.

Attendees will learn about irrigation strategies to maximize the quality of warm- and cool- season turfgrass that in return reduce their susceptibility to pest encroachment.

Dr. David Kopec, University of Arizona

A Closer Look at Athletic Field Safety

Attendees will learn about strategies to improve the safety of natural and synthetic turf athletic fields. Practices such as species selection, overseeding, and weed control will be discussed.

Dr. John Sorochan, The University of Tennessee

3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | TGCSA Annual Meeting 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | TRADESHOW SOCIAL — Please support our vendors!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast

Concurrent Session #1

3 Pesticide Points 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Mobile Weed Manual: A New Tool for Herbicide Selection in Turf and Ornamentals

Attendees will learn about a new mobile application designed to assist end-users in selecting herbicides for use in turf and ornamentals.

Mr. Greg Breeden, The University of Tennessee

Maximizing Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Quality

Attendees will learn about strategies to maximize the quality of ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens. An overview of cultural practices will be presented along with a discussion of herbicide, fungicide, insecticide, and growth regulator programs.

Mr. Rodney Lingle, CGCS, Memphis Country Club

UT Turfgrass Student Internship Feature

Attendees will learn about experiences of UT Turfgrass Science & Management students interning at turf management facilities.

Students will share lessons learned while implementing agronomic turf management practices along with pest management practices such as application of herbicides, fungicides, and plant growth regulators.

Mr. Mark Follis, Mr. Matthew Layne and Mr. Mac Kirkpatrick, The University of Tennessee

Concurrent Session #2 3 Pesticide Points 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Foliar Feeding Made Easy

Attendees will learn about foliar applications of fertilizer to turfgrass stands to maximize vigor/quality and minimize pest invasion and pesticide use.

Dr. Tom Samples, The University of Tennessee

Diagnosing Pesticide Damage to Trees

Attendees will learn how to diagnose pesticide damage to trees found in turfed landscapes.

Dr. Larry Tankersley, UT Extension

Strategies for Reducing Heat on Synthetic Turf Athletic Fields

Attendees will learn about chemical and non-chemical means for reducing heat on synthetic turf athletic fields. Use of irrigation will be discussed along with other experimental technology.

Mr. Eric Reasor, The University of Tennessee

Factors Associated with Dollar Spot Development and New Possibilities for Control Attendees will learn about dollar spot, one of the most debilitating diseases of turfgrass, and new possibilities for control using fungicides and new novel technology.

Mr. David Shell, The University of Tennessee

Strategies to Optimize the Performance of Bermudagrass Athletic Fields in Tennessee

Attendees will learn about strategies to optimize the performance of bermudagrass athletic fields in TN. Practices such as species selection, disease susceptibility, cold tolerance, overseeding, mowing, weed control, and plant growth regulator use will be discussed.

Mr. Kyley Dickson, The University of Tennessee

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2013 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

Annua l T ennessee Turfgr ass Asso c ia tion

Conf eren c e an d T ra d e S h o w Please complete, sign and return this form with your payment.

Please list all information as you would like it to appear in the 2014 TTA Annual

Please list the first and last names of the persons attending the 2014 Conference & Trade Show. Attach separate list if needed.

Directory:_ ______________________________________________________________

1)_______________________________

Company Name:_________________________________________________________

2)_______________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________

3)_______________________________

City/State/Zip:_ __________________________________________________________

4)_______________________________

Telephone:______________________________________________________________

5)_______________________________

Fax:_____________________________________________________________________

6)_______________________________

Email:___________________________________________________________________

7)_______________________________

Primary Function Turf Manager q Golf Course q Parks &

Recreation q Sports Field q Hotel/Resort

q q q q q

Commercial

Vendor

Hospital/Health Care q Commercial q Irrigation Contractor Lawn Care School/University q DOT Cemetery q Retail Center q Other_______________ Sod Producer q Landscaping Other_______________

q q q q

Equipment Dealer Distributor Manufacturer Other______________

Registration Options 1

2

3

4

5

6

Primary Member Registration....................$185.00

7

8

Total $

Price includes 2014 membership dues.

Returning Member Registration.................$130.00

$

For members who haven’t attended the Conference in the past three years. Fee includes free 2014 TTA membership.

Associate Member Registration.................$125.00

Registrants from the same facility are eligible for Associate Membership if the facility has two primary members.

$

Student Member Registration......................$60.00

$

One-Day Pass (Limit 1)..................................$80.00

$

One-Day Student Pass (Limit 1)...................$10.00

$

First-Time Attendee One-Day Pass................ FREE

$

Endowment Fund Contribution q Research q Scholarship q Extension

$ Grand Total $

TTA Office Use Only:

Date ________________

Check No. ________________

Cash ________________

Regis tr ation Form

48 th

RULES & REGUL ATIONS Opening and Closing: The exhibit officially opens at 1:00 p.m., Monday, January 6, 2014, and will close at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 7, 2014.

Exhibit Set-up and Breakdown: General booth set-up will be from 8:00 a.m., Monday, January 6, 2014, until 12:00 p.m. All exhibits must breakdown 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 7, 2014.

Booths: There will be sixty five (65) 10' x 8' booths available. Each will be piped and draped. Each will have a 6' skirted table, 2 chairs, wastebasket and one I.D. sign.

Contract for Space: The application for space and the formal notice of assignment constitutes a contract for the right to use the space so allotted. In the event of fire, strikes, or other uncontrollable circumstances, the contract will not be binding. The Tennessee Turfgrass Association reserves the right to cancel any contract with any exhibitor any time prior to or during the conference.

Use of Space: All demonstrations, interviews, distributions of advertising material or other activities must be confined to the limits of the exhibit booths. No exhibitor shall assign, sublet or share the whole or part of the space allotted without the knowledge and approval of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association.

Insurance and Fire Protection: The Tennessee Turfgrass Association will exercise all reasonable care for the protection of exhibitor’s material and displays. An official of the trade show committee will be on duty in the exhibit area during set-up and breakdown periods. The exhibit area will be secured during non-exhibit hours.

Liability: The exhibitor agrees to make no claim against the Tennessee Turfgrass Association nor its members or employees for loss, theft, damage or destruction of goods, nor any injury to himself/herself, or employees prior, during or subsequent to the period covered by the exhibit contract, nor for any damage whatsoever, including the damage to his business by reason of failure to provide space for the exhibit, nor for failure to hold the Conference as scheduled. The exhibitor, upon signing the contract for exhibit space, expressly releases the foregoing named conference and individuals from any and all claims for such loss, damage or injury.

Cancellation: In the event an exhibitor must cancel, and cannot exhibit, the following will apply.

A. If the reserved booth or island can be contracted, a 100% refund will be granted.

B. If the reserved booth or island can not be contracted, a 50% refund will be granted.

F loor P lan

Please indicate preferences on Exhibit Space contract

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2013 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

Annua l T ennessee Turfgr ass Asso c ia tion

Conf eren c e an d T ra d e S h o w Booths

Size

Unit Price

Booths 100 – 823 (Max. limit of 4)

80 Sq. Ft.

$510

ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP TO TTA: 1 included with 10' x 8' booth rental.

Quantity

Total

$50 Total

Please make checks payable to:

Tennessee Turfgrass Association • 400 Franklin Road • Franklin, TN 37069 • (No Credit Cards) First Choice

Second Choice

Third Choice

Booth Preference

All reservations are made on a first-paid, first-reserved basis only. Please note the cancellation policy as outlined on the previous page under “Rules & Regulations.” If electricity is required, please contact Jim Uden at (615) 591-8286 for the Marriott form and further information. Purchased luncheon tickets will be included in the vendor packet upon registration and setup.

Please print or type the following: Name:________________________________________________ MEMBER Name:__________________________________

(Person responsible for the booth)

(To be included in Directory)

Signature:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Firm:___________________________________________________________________________________________________

(As your ID sign should read)

Mailing Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________ City:___________________________________________________ State:___________ Zip:________________________ Telephone:____________________________________________ Fax:__________________________________________ EMAIL:__________________________________________________________________________________________________ **ADDITIONAL NAMES FOR BADGES:____________________________________________________________________

(**If more space is needed, please attach a complete list.)

**ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:__________________________________________________________________________ (**If more space is needed, please attach a complete list.)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCTS/SERVICES YOU SELL OR PROVIDE:_______________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CONTR A CT FOR EX HIBIT SPACE

48 th

Cover St ory

Planning for Success Against

Turfgrass Pests

By Peter T. Hertl, Ph.D., and Rick L. Brandenburg, Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Life

for turfgrass and landscape managers is usually hectic during the growing season, which can encompass much of the year in transition-zone states.

Typically, though, there are slow periods during winter and early spring that provide a little time to get organized and make a plan for the following year. This is a good time to figure out the budget and plan your equipment, labor, fertilizer, sod, seed and pesticide needs for the upcoming season. With regard to pest control, this is a good time to consider new products and approaches, and how to integrate them into the management plan.

There are several good reasons to consider using the new or different pest-control products that frequently come on the market. New products and formulations may provide superior control. They may be more environmentally friendly or safer and easier to use. Older products’ labels are occasionally expanded to include

18

additional pests or use sites, or the product may become available as a less expensive “generic” product.

Depending on the severity of your pest problem, changing products can be a big decision. When deciding on which products to use, it’s best to rely on research-backed advice from experts, rather than glossy ads or promotional literature. Advice from fellow professionals may also be helpful, especially if they have experience using the product. However, tracking down this type of information takes time and should be started well before pest problems crop up.

Avoid pesticide resistance.

The use of new or different products is important to consider as a matter of product stewardship. Insects, weeds and diseases can all develop resistance to pesticides when the same chemical is used over and over, as many examples from the turfgrass arena have proven. When

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2013 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

this happens, perfectly good pesticides become useless and ineffective.

The rotation of pesticides from season to season is an important practice to prevent this. Usually, several classes of pesticides are available for any given pest.

It is important to choose different active ingredients with different modes of action (MOA), rather than just a product with a different name. Different products may contain the same active ingredient, and several active ingredients may have a similar mode of action. Recent changes in product labeling using the MOA Group numbering system make an effective pesticide rotation program easier than it has ever been before.

Read the label!

Virtually every presentation or publication on pesticide use prominently offers the advice “read the label.” After all, following the label directives is both federal and state law, and it’s required to maintain

your Pesticide Applicator License in good standing. However, reading labels is a time-consuming activity. They include a lot of information written in small print, and they are difficult to read.

Many people do not follow this common advice. Nevertheless, if your pest control from a certain product was less than expected last season, reviewing the label directions during the off season may provide clues as to what happened to cause the “pesticide failure” and help make the product more effect next season.

Consider generic products.

Many commonly used pesticides have been on the market long enough that their original patent protections have expired, and a host of generic products are now available. In many cases, these products are much less expensive, while still providing equivalent control. This may provide an economic incentive to try a “new” product or consider using it in

Cover St ory rotation with the products you are more familiar with. In some cases, using the name-brand product may provide peace of mind, but it may not improve efficacy or your budget. As with any area of management, do the research, and don’t limit your options.

Prepare a pest-control calendar.

It is usually necessary to have some sort of schedule or calendar in place to keep our personal and professional lives in order. Management calendars are a good way to plan the timing of multiple operations at busy sites and to figure out a way to get everything done in a timely fashion.

Advance planning is especially necessary when it comes to operations that require significant labor, closures of the golf course or sports field, the use of outside contractors or equipment, and the timely delivery of supplies.

Making a pest calendar (see below) for insects, weeds and diseases is a good way to integrate these occasional pestcontrol operations into the more routine

schedule of daily or weekly management like mowing and the less frequent operations like topdressing, overseeding and aeration. The most practical approach is to construct the various management calendars separately, and then combine them in a meaningful manner. This will keep the process from becoming too intimidating or overwhelming.

The construction of a pest control calendar begins with a list of pests at your site. Proper identification of each pest is crucial to the process. Then, the lifecycle and best time to treat for each pest should be considered. Publications on application timing, as well as your past pesticide application records, can be helpful in establishing potential treatment dates for your region of the state.

The pest calendar should include an application schedule for preventive pest control, like annual preventative applications for grubs. It should also include a scouting schedule to look for occasional or sporadic pests like cutworms.

This ensures that scouting for pests gets incorporated into the plan and will not

Figure 1. An example of an insect pest-control calendar for a golf course.

20

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2013 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

be forgotten during the busy growing season. Failure to scout for insect and disease problems can often lead to unwanted surprises.

Like any calendar, the pest-control calendar can be as simple or detailed as you want to make it, and it can take many forms. It can vary from a very simple outline of approximate timing, to a highly detailed one based on data from weather stations, pheromone trap catches or past history of pest outbreaks.

The calendar can take the form of a flow chart, bar chart or spreadsheet, and it can be on paper, a blackboard, office computer or hand-held device.

The timing of application for a certain pest can vary significantly depending on the product used and whether a preventative or curative approach is taken. This requires that product selection be considered well in advance. The timing of any application should be based on the best timing for control of the pest (i.e., when it’s most vulnerable to the product) and be made according to label recommendations.

CONTINUED Having a pest-control calendar does not mean that pesticide treatments should be routinely applied just because they are on the calendar. The calendar is meant to be a scheduling aid to foster proper management. Scouting and common sense should also be a part of the plan. Treatments applied for nonexistent pests, or applications made too early or too late, waste time and money. Therefore, the calendar should not be “set in stone” and must have some flexibility built into it.

Weather is an important consideration.

The weather can substantially affect insect development, the germination of weed seeds, the onset of turfgrass diseases and the ability to use ground equipment to apply pesticides for their control. Having a flexible pest control calendar that includes scouting will help adjust for seasonal variation in pest development and the weather.

Conclusion Even the best-laid plans can fall apart, but that is not a good excuse for not having a plan in place. Having a well-thought-out turfgrass management calendar is the professional way to stay ahead of the game and avoid surprises and headaches. A good management calendar takes time to develop, and it must necessarily change as businesses grow, budgets change and new products and approaches are introduced.

Using the winter and early spring months to plan for the upcoming season is a good use of time, and it will save time and money when both are in short supply later in the season.

If you don’t like the surprises that pest outbreaks can bring, make sure to have a plan to work scouting and treatment into your busy schedule. A pest-control calendar can go a long way to provide peace of mind and make the best use of limited resources. Unfortunately, droughts, tornadoes and emergencies can’t be scheduled, and challenges like unexpected disease outbreaks, equipment failures or irrigation problems must be addressed immediately. Advance planning and scheduling for non-emergency operations will help to get things back on track once those critical situations have been addressed. T

Calend ar of Events October 23–25

PLANET Green Industry Conference Louisville, KY

October 23–26

School of Grounds Mgmt. and Green Industry Expo Galt House Hotel and Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

October 28

ETGCSA Scholarship & Research Tournament Chattanooga Golf & C.C. Chattanooga, TN

October 29

MTGCSA Scholarship & Research Tournament GreyStone Golf Club Dickson, TN

November 14

MAGCSA Meeting

Memphis Country Club Memphis, TN

November 15

MTGCSA Meeting

Bluegrass Yacht & C.C. Hendersonville, TN

November 15–18

ASLA - Annual Meeting & Expo (American Society of Landscape Architects)

Digital Marketp lace

January 6–8, 2014

Scan the QR code: Download your favorite QR reader to your phone, and scan the code to learn more about these companies.

48th Annual TTA Conference and Trade Show

Marriott Cool Springs Franklin, TN January 17–18, 2014 Tennessee Green Industry Expo (TN Nursery & Landscape Assn.)

Music City Center Nashville, TN

January 21–24, 2014 STMA Conference and Exhibition Grand Hyatt Hotel San Antonio, TX

February 3–6, 2014

Golf Industry Show and GCSAA Education Conference Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL

February 24–28, 2014

TPI Mid-Winter Conference (Turf Producers Intl.)

Orlando, FL

Boston Convention & Expo. Center Boston, MA

Adv ertiser Index Cane Creek Sod....................................................... 7 www.canecreeksod.com Covermaster, Inc.......................... Inside Back Cover www.covermaster.com FMC Professional Solutions..........................7, 9, 11 www.fmcprosolutions.com Greenville Turf & Tractor, Inc................. Back Cover www.JohnDeere.com Harrell’s LLC............................................................ 3 www.harrells.com John Deere Landscapes.......................................... 8 www.johndeerelandscapes.com 22

Mid Tenn Turf, Inc............................................ 6, 22 www.midtennturf.com Modern Turf, Inc................................................... 19 www.modernturf.com Select Source . ..................................................... 21 www.selectsourcellc.net Sigma Organics, Inc.............................................. 11 www.sigmaturf.com Smith Seed Services............................................. 22 www.smithseed.com Sur-Line Turf, Inc.......................... Inside Back Cover www.surlineturf.com

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS October/November 2013 Email TTA at: tnturfgrassassn@aol.com

Syngenta Turf........................................................ 19 www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com The Pond Lady....................................................... 21 www.thepondlady.com The Turfgrass Group............................................... 5 www.theturfgrassgroup.com Tri-Turf Sod Farms................................................ 22 www.trifurfsod.com Turf Mountain Sod.................................................. 9 www.turfmountain.com Turfgrass of Tennessee.......................................... 6 Winstead Turf..............................Inside Front Cover www.winsteadturf.com