June/July 2019
The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
The Fescues — An Update Member Spotlight on
Terry Porch
Plus, Save the Date for
UT Turfgrass and Ornamental Field Day August 29th, 2019
Turfgrasses for the 21st Century
Our goal is to produce the highest quality, innovative turfgrass on the market today while providing the best customer service. Our affiliation with several research and development professionals gives us access to some of the best varieties of turf available for difficult applications. We are also a grower of Tennessee Crop Improvement Association Certified Turfgrass.
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901.867.8116 • 1.800.624.TURF (8873) 22860 Highway 196 • Arlington, TN 38002
A BreAkThrouGh In SuSTAInABIlITy
“ While researching TifTuf TM, i was impressed by the cultivar’s tolerance to adverse conditions, particu- larly drought, low fertility, traffic and cool weather. in the trial work i conducted, TifTuf TM was the first cultivar to green up in the spring, the last to go dormant during drought conditions and the most tolerant to traffic. Other notable characteristics of TifTuf TM include fine leaf texture and high turf density, as well as aggressive growth and establish- ment rates.” Alec Kowalewski, Ph.D., Oregon State University
As water restrictions tighten in many drought-stricken areas of the U.S., golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, property owners and sod producers increasingly value drought-tolerant turfgrass. Selected for its superior drought and wear tolerance, TiFTUF™ has been rigorously developed and tested for more than two decades by a team of researchers led by Dr. Wayne Hanna and Dr. Brian Schwartz at UGA’s Tifton Campus. TiFTUF™ was bred in 1992, as one of 27,700 experimental bermudagrass genotypes. in 1999, ninety of the most promising genotypes were planted under a rainout shelter and evaluated through 2001 under deficit irrigation. Under this drought stress, TiFTUF™ (tested as experimental name DT-1) maintained its quality and green color the longest. in 2011 continuing drought study testing established that TiFTUF™ requires 38% less water than Tifway. Since then, TiFTUF™ has been further tested in 19 drought-stress trials, 2 sports field wear tolerance trials and 4 irrigated, non-stress trials at The University of Georgia, The University of Florida, North Carolina State University, Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M University as part of the Federal Specialty Crop research initiative (SCri) grant. it has now been determined that TiFTUF™ will become the University research standard by which all drought tolerance will be determined. in 2013, TiFTUF™ was entered into the National Turfgrass evaluation Program (NTeP) bermudagrass trials where it is being evaluated in 20 locations across the United States until 2017. NTeP results from 2014 reveal that TiFTUF™ scored the highest quality ratings in the following test locations: North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma and California. TiFTUF™ also ranked in the highest statistical group for quality in Alabama, Georgia, indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri. Fine textured and dense, TiFTUF™ exhibits several additional stellar qualities, including superior wear tolerance, early spring greenup, excellent fall color retention and extremely rapid grow-in. if you’re seeking a truly superior turfgrass for performance, aesthetics and sustainability, you’ve just found it.
“ With its combination of drought tolerance, aggressive growth and superior fall color, it has a great place in the industry.” Grady Miller, Ph.D., North Carolina State University “ it also survives winters in Kansas. With 94% survival, it is no different than Latitude 36 TM, Yukon, Patriot TM and Riviera.” Jared Hoyle, Ph.D., Kansas State University “ TifTuf TM performed very well on our large-scale Linear Gradient irrigation System at the university of florida. it maintained good quality with signif- icantly less water compared to the other commer- cially produced cultivars.” J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., University of Florida “ We found evidence that TifTuf TM used less water than Tifway 419 and TifSport. it’s just a very tough and drought-tolerant grass. As soon as it quits raining, TifTuf TM is still performing well, unlike others that can start to fail.” Brian Schwartz, Ph.D., University of Georgia “ With today’s extreme environmental conditions, there has never been a greater need for a superior drought- and wear-tolerant grass like TifTuf TM. its aggressive grow-in under cold and drought conditions makes TifTuf TM the environmentally and financially successful turfgrass choice. This rigorously tested grass that maintains its color and quality will create the most sustainable, environmentally friendly lawns, sports fields and golf courses around the world.” Ken Morrow, Co-Founder of The Turfgrass Group
USDA drought-tolerance trial (left to right): TiFTUF™, Latitude 36™ and Celebration™. Engineering Better Turfgrass One Blade At A Time
For more information on licensing opportunities, please contact: The Turfgrass Group, Inc. (770) 207-1500 or (770) 710-8139 www.THeTUrFGrASSGrOUP.com
10 The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
TABLE OF CONTENTS June/July 2019
10 22 28 32 35
Cover Story — The Fescues: An Update
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Feature Story — A Roundup on Glyphosate Member Spotlight — Terry Porch Sports Field Manager for the Tennessee Titans Save the Date — UT Turfgrass and Ornamental Field Day August 29th, 2019
Recent Event — National Gold Day 2019
DEPARTMENTS From the TTA President
6
Index of Advertisers
7
News from TTA
8
The Turfgrass Team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
9
Calendar of Events
4
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS June/July 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
32
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From the TTA President
Jason Pooler The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
The Heat is On! W
hat a year it has been already with the changes in temperature and this recordbreaking rainfall. We as turf professionals have certainly had our challenges so far this year. Warm season grasses have been a challenge getting them to green up so that we can sprig and do renovations to our courses, ball fields or commercial projects. Cool season grass has also had its issues with brown patches the first week of May. Hats off to you and your crews for making sure your projects come out the way you intended them to. I have been on many golf courses and athletic renovations already this year. What you guys go through keeping them up and moving forward is impressive. We have to do some of the same things here at the sod farm so that we can be ready for your next project because we want to make sure that we have the best grass that we can provide to you. I feel I learn from the best, you! I go to all the classes and winter conferences and listen to everybody and their problems, so we can hopefully not run into the same problems. And speaking of learning opportunities, UT Field Day is August 29. If you haven’t planned to come, you need to be there and bring your crew. You will be surprised at what they will learn just by listening and talking to their peers and what they can apply to your next project! Hope to see you there‌
Jason Pooler TTA President
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS June/July 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 928-7001 info@ttaonline.org 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 Jason Pooler Tri-Turf Sod Farms, Inc. (731) 642-3092 Vice President Doug Ward Belle Meade C.C. (615) 292-6752 Secretary/Treasurer Chris Sykes Tellico Village (865) 458-5408 Past President Theo Lankford Kormac, LLC (615) 519-2701 Executive Director Melissa Martin Tennessee Turfgrass Assn. (615) 928-7001 TTA 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ryan Blair, CGCS Bart Cash Cal Hill Joe Hill Jeff Kuhns Timothy Long Bill Marbet Jason Sanderson Darren Seybold Ryan Storey Paul Webb Scott Wicker TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Bill Blackburn Dr. Jim Brosnan Dr. Brandon Horvath Lynn Ray Jeff Rumph, CGCS Dr. Tom Samples Dr. John Sorochan Dr. Wes Totten
Advertiser Index A & W Southern Sod Farms................................. 37 www.awssod.com
Buy Sod, Inc................................. Inside Back Cover www.buysod.com
BWI Companies, Inc.............................................. 25 www.bwicompanies.com
Carolina Green Corp.............................................. 38 www.cgcfields.com
Coosa Valley Turf Farms....................................... 33 www.coosavalleyturffarms.com
Covermaster, Inc..................................................... 9 www.covermaster.com
CoverSports USA.................................................. 37 www.coversports.com
E - Z Trench, Inc.................................................... 17 www.eztrench.com
KWMI / K & W Products, Inc............................... 19 www.KWMIequipment.com
Leading Edge Communications............................. 31 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com
McCurdy Sod Farms, LLC...................................... 38 www.mccurdysodfarms.com
Mid Tenn Turf....................................................... 26 www.midtennturf.com
Mid-Atlantic STIHL............................................... 13 www.stihldealers.com
North Georgia Turf Company, Inc........... Back Cover www.ngturf.com
Progressive Turf Equipment Inc............................ 27 www.progressiveturfequip.com
RD Murphy, LLC.................................................... 21 www.rdmurphy.com
Regal Chemical Company..................................... 15 www.regalchem.com
Sigma Organics, Inc.............................................. 25 www.SigmaTurf.com
Smith Seed Services............................................... 7 www.smithseed.com
Smith Turf & Irrigation............................................ 5 www.smithturf.com
Sod Production Services....................................... 29 www.sodproductionservices.com
Super Lawn Trucks................................................ 34 www.superlawntrucks.com
Sur-Line Turf, Inc................................................... 21 www.surlineturf.com
The Turfgrass Group............................................... 3 www.theturfgrassgroup.com
Tri-Turf Sod Farms................................................ 25 www.triturfsod.com
Turf Mountain Sod, Inc........................................... 7 www.turfmountain.com
Turfgrass of Tennessee.......................................... 7 Winrock Grass Farm Inc........................................ 23 www.winrockgrassfarm.com
Winstead Turf..............................Inside Front Cover www.winsteadturffarms.com
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
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NE W S F ROM TTA
TVSTMA Field Day July 31, 2019 – 8am to 2pm
Wear Farm City Park • 623 Wears Valley Road • Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Why should you attend Field Day? • Engage with industry leaders and networking opportunities. • See equipment demonstrations and learn proper operating procedures. • Cultural practices demonstrated, including: • Fraze Mowing • Aerification • Top Dressing • Skinned Area Maintenance and Repair • Latest trends, products, and services.
The cost to attend
Field Day Agenda
$25 per organization if you register in advance at www.tvstma.org or by emailing sectres@tvstma.org.
8:00 to 9:00 am: Registration, Coffee, & Donuts
Early registration ends July 10.
9:00 to 9:15 am: Welcome & Introductions
Beginning July 11, the cost is $50 per organization.
9:15 to 11:00 am: Vendor Recognition
NOTE: There is no limit to the number of attendees from an organization.
11:00 to 1:00 pm: Product Demonstrations
We do require a head count at the time of registration so that we may accurately prepare for lunch.
1:00 pm: Lunch (All times listed are Eastern) T
Come see and “test drive” the latest products for maintaining your turfgrass!
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS June/July 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
The Turfgrass Team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville José Javier Vargas Almodóvar Research Associate II Turf & Ornamental Weed Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-7379 jvargas@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @UTweedwhisperer
Jim Brosnan, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-8603 jbrosnan@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @UTturfweeds
Frank Hale, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 fahale@utk.edu ag.tennessee.edu/spp
Tom Samples, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Extension The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-2595 tsamples@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @tnturfman
John Stier, Ph.D. Associate Dean The University of Tennessee 2621 Morgan Circle 126 Morgan Hall Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7493 jstier1@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @Drjohnstier
Greg Breeden Extension Specialist, The University of Tennessee 2431 Center Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7208 gbreeden@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @gbreeden1
Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. Associate Director, Center for Athletic Field Safety Turfgrass Management & Physiology (865) 974-6730 kdickso1@utk.edu Twitter: @DicksonTurf
Brandon Horvath, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. 2431 Joe Johnson Drive Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-2975 bhorvath@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @UTturfpath
John Sorochan, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 363 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg. Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7324 sorochan@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @sorochan
Alan Windham, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 https://ag.tennessee.edu/spp/ Twitter: @UTPlantDoc
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
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Cover St ory
The Fescues
An Update
By Tom Samples, Ph.D. and John Sorochan, Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Department of Plant Sciences
T
here are more than one-hundred species of fescues worldwide. Some are annuals while others are perennials. Annual species are usually considered weeds. Six perennial fescues are managed either alone or in turf mixtures in the U. S. Presently, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), classified as a coarse fescue, is the primary cool-season species used as turf in Tennessee. Strong (Festuca rubra L. rubra) and slender creeping red (Festuca rubra L. ssp. trichophylla, Festuca rubra var. littoralis Vasey), chewings (Festuca rubra L. ssp. falax Thuill., Festuca rubra L. var. commutata Gaud.), hard (Festuca brevipila R. Tracey) and sheep (Festuca ovina L.) fescues are collectively referred to as fineleaf or fine fescues due to their narrow leaves. Because they generally perform better than tall fescue in low light, the fine fescues are commonly recommended for use as cool-season turfs in medium to moderate shade in northwest, north central and upper east Tennessee. A lack of heat tolerance limits the use of these species in shade in other areas of the state in which summer temperatures are much higher. They are also valued for their fibrous root systems when used as components of ‘meadow mixes’ along with legumes, wildflowers and/or native plants. Left unmowed, fine fescues often reach a height of 6–12 or more inches. Seeds of many improved, turf-type coarse and fine fescues contain beneficial fungi, or endophytes, that live between cells inside plants. Endophytes may improve the plants’ ability to withstand heat stress and enhance disease resistance (for example, dollar spot (Lanzia and Moellerodiscus spp.) in fine fescues). They also produce compounds capable of reducing the feeding activity of certain insect pests. Endophytes are transmitted from generation to generation in seed, and do not move from one plant to another by way of pollen.
Tall Fescue Tall fescue is adapted throughout much of the continental U.S. except in non-irrigated arid regions, the Southern Coastal Plain and northern-most zones in northern tier states where plants are routinely severely damaged or killed by extreme low temperatures. Although the date at which tall fescue, a native of Europe and North Africa, was first introduced into the U.S. is unknown, the species was evaluated in several North American forage trials in the late 1800’s. ‘KY-31’, a cultivar found growing in a pasture
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on the farm of W.M. Suiter in the mountains of eastern KY and known to have been there before 1890, is still marketed for use as forage, roadside groundcover and utility and residential turfs. After lengthy testing begun by Dr. E. N. Fergus of the University of Kentucky who first visited the pasture in 1931, KY-31 was released into the marketplace in the early 1940’s.
Establishment and Management The germination and purity of tall fescue seed should be at least 85 and 95 percent, respectively. Depending on cultivar and production year, there are usually about 230,000 or more tall fescue seeds per pound. The recommended seeding rate of tall fescue ranges from 5–8 pounds per 1,000 square feet. The lower rate is recommended when seed is ‘fresh’, and the quality and germination percentages are high, for example >90 and >95, respectively. Depending on soil moisture and temperature, tall fescue seeds may require from seven to 14 or more days to germinate. Turftype tall fescue turfs generally perform well at a cutting height from 2–3 inches, while the recommended cutting height of KY31 is usually slightly higher (for example, 2½–3½ inches). Lower cutting heights are more likely to allow weed infestations than taller cutting heights. The species often requires a medium level of N compared to other cool-season turfgrasses. For example, depending on cultivar and the level of care, tall fescue turfs often require from <0.4-1 pound N/1,000 sq. ft. per growing month. Tall fescue plants are adapted to medium- and fine-textured soils with a pH range from 5.0 to 9.0, although a pH from 6.0 to 6.5 is preferred. Although they typically have a greater evapotranspiration (ET) rate compared to several other cool-season turfgrasses, tall fescues are generally capable of surviving extended periods of drought. The maximum daily water use or ET rate of tall fescue is estimated to be >0.39 inch. However, ET can range dramatically among cultivars. A high root length density in the deeper root zone and the ability to maintain ET as soils dry are two factors important for this drought resistance. Improved, turf-type tall fescue cultivars may accumulate thatch much faster than older, forage-type varieties including KY-31 and ‘Alta’. Dethatching is recommended when the thatch layer reaches ½ inch. Turfs growing in compacted and/or clayey soils often benefit from core aerification (coring). Coring in late summer or early fall
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS June/July 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Irrigating a Residential Tall Fescue Lawn
Large Brown Patch Lesions
NTEP Tall Fescue Trial
Tall Fescue Inflorescence
Photo credit: Dr. Alan Windham
Tall Fescue Auricles
Tall Fescue Leaf Blade Upper Side
Cover St ory before broadcasting seed usually improves seed contact with soil. Rhizoctonia blight (brown patch), a very common disease of tall fescue turfs, causes most damage during warm, humid or wet weather. Activity of the responsible fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani may result in blighting of large areas of turf. Gray leaf spot, caused by the fungus Pyricularia grisea and dollar spot are also common fungal diseases of tall fescue. Pythium blight (Pythium spp.) may develop when night temperatures exceed 65°F and leaves remain wet for 12 to 14 hours for several consecutive nights. A number of insects also cause damage in tall fescue turfs in Tennessee including white grubs (larvae of several species of scarab beetles), armyworm (Pseudaletia unipuncta), fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and sod webworm (larvae of grass moths, Crambinae spp.). Common weeds of tall fescue turfs can be broadleaves, grasses, sedges or rushes. They may have either an annual, biennial or perennial life cycle. Most broadleaf weeds have wide leaves that are produced in pairs or multiples. The leaves are often suspended above the main stem by a petiole and leaf veins form a net-like pattern. The leaf of a broadleaf weed may have one (for example, dandelion, Taraxacum officinale) or multiple leaflets (for example, white clover, Trifolium repens). Although stems of grassy weeds may be round (for example, green foxtail, Setaria viridis and giant foxtail, Setaria faberii) or flat (for example, smooth crabgrass, Digitaria ischaemum and goosegrass, Eleusine indica), leaves are usually blade-like with veins running parallel from base to tip. Unlike grasses, sedges (for example, yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus and purple nutsedge, Cyperus rotundus) have triangular stems and leaves are arranged in three vertical rows. Rushes are members of the Juncus genus, while wood rushes are members of the Luzula genus. There are about 300 species of rushes and about 80 species of wood rushes, and depending on species, plants have either hollow or pithy stems. One such species, path rush (Juncus tenuis), also referred to as poverty rush, is native to both the U.S. and Canada, and is very well adapted in both sun and shade, and wet soils.
Identification Although a percentage of plants of several varieties produce short rhizomes, tall fescue has a bunch-type growth habit. The collar of a tall fescue plant is divided and broad, and has short hairs, and leaf blades are usually flat, ridged, from 5 to 10 millimeters wide and have rough edges.
Cultivar Testing Origin of the development of turf-type cultivars can be traced to plants from well-established turfs in a germplasm collection begun in 1962 by C. Reed Funk at Rutgers University in NJ. ‘Rebel’, the first improved, turf-type tall fescue marketed in the U.S., was selected for release in 1981 on the basis of attractiveness, persistence, disease resistance and overall performance in turf trials.
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National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). A primary mission of NTEP is to develop and coordinate uniform evaluation trials of cultivars and promising selections of several turfgrass species including the fescues in both the U. S. and Canada. Test results are used by seed companies, retailers and turfgrass breeders to investigate the general adaptation and performance of individual, experimental or named cultivars. Results also help determine if a particular cultivar is well adapted to a local area or specific management intensity level. The first NTEP Tall Fescue Test was planted in 1983. A total of 30 entries were evaluated in 19 states (CA, CO, GA, ID, KS, KY, MD, MA, MO, MS, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OR, RI, TX, VA and WA). Plots in a trial in Lincoln, NE were maintained at a high level of intensity while those in a second trial were maintained at a low level of intensity. In order to compare cultivar performance in Dallas, TX with and without supplemental irrigation, the tall fescues were established in both irrigated and non-irrigated plots receiving full sun. Cultivars in a third trial in Dallas were planted in shade and received no supplemental irrigation. Green industry professionals and Tennessee homeowners may remember purchasing seed of one or more of the early improved, turf-type cultivars evaluated in this test including ‘Apache’, ‘Arid’, ‘Barcel’, ‘Bonanza’, ‘Chesapeake’, ‘Falcon’, ‘Finelawn 1’, ‘Jaguar’, ‘Houndog’, ‘Maverick’, ‘Mustang’, Rebel and ‘Tempo’. More NTEP Tall Fescue Tests followed: 1987 w/ 65 cultivars in 23 states and Washington D.C. (Final Report NTEP No. 9211); 1992 w/ 79 cultivars in 27 states, Washington D.C., British Columbia and Saskatchewan (Final Report NTEP No. 96-13); 1996 w/ 129 cultivars in 24 states (Final Report NTEP No. 0114); 2001 w/ 159 cultivars in 24 states (Final Report NTEP No. 06-12); 2006 w/ 113 cultivars in 25 states (Final Report NTEP No. 12-10); and 2012 w/ 116 cultivars in 21 states (Final Report NTEP No. 18-13). Each of the reports listed above are available online at https://www.ntep.org/ntep/. Research results indicate that color, leaf width, stand density, uniformity, seedling vigor, plant height, drought, heat and shade tolerance, disease and insect resistance, and rhizome production and length vary among cultivars. The cultivar ‘Grande,’ developed from germplasm originally selected for improved color, texture, stand density and brown patch resistance, was capable of producing measurable rhizomes within 12 weeks after planting. ‘Labarinth’ was the first cultivar registered as an RTF™, or rhizomatous tall fescue (RTF is a registered trademark of Barenbrug, Tangent, OR). Alliance for Low Input Sustainable Turf® (A-LIST™). The A-LIST™ is a non-profit, university and industry cooperative formed to help turfgrass managers and influence turfgrass breeding by developing trial guidelines and evaluation protocols that result in the identification of best performing turfgrass cultivars under reduced inputs (for example, water, fertilizer, fungicides and insecticides) and management. Presently, cooperators include Rutgers University, the University of Connecticut, Purdue University, the University of California- Riverside, Utah State
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS June/July 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
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Cover St ory Fine Fescues in Shade Along Roadside Montgomery Bell State Park
Fine Fescue Inflorescence
University, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University and the University of Wisconsin. In order to be an “A-LIST™ Approved Variety” the variety must have demonstrated superior performance in A-LIST™ based on three criteria. 1. The cultivar is in the top least significant difference (LSD) group for drought tolerance as measured by percent green cover for each of two years in at least two locations. 2. The cultivar has provided acceptable or better turf quality for each of the two years in at least two trial locations. 3. The cultivar is an entry in an NTEP trial for the species. A variety recognized as ‘promising’ has done well for both drought tolerance and turf quality in the first year of trial by meeting all of the standards for approval in at least two locations as required for full approval, however, two years of field data is lacking. A-LIST™ approved seed blends must have 1) at least 65% approved varieties; 2) No forage varieties, ‘variety not stated’ material or uncertified, common varieties; and 3) an A-LIST™ approved seed tag. More information regarding specific A-LIST™ approved tall fescues is available online at http://a-listturf.org/. In 2019, thirteen tall fescues were listed as A-LIST™ cultivars, and four received tentative approval based on NTEP and other trials, and will be entered into the next series of A-LIST™ trials.
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Fine Fescues Fine fescue shade mixtures contain seed of two or more species. Fine fescue seed mixtures are often planted along tree-lined highways where maintenance levels are low and turfs are infrequently mowed at a height of 3 or more inches. Seed of fine fescues is also commonly mixed with seed of improved, turf-type tall fescues or Kentucky bluegrasses to improve overall turf performance in shade.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS June/July 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Cover St ory Chewings Fescue Chewings fescue, a light-to-medium green bunch-type species, is indigenous to cool, forested areas of Europe where it is valued as a cold- and shade-tolerant cool-season turfgrass. The species was first extensively cultivated in New Zealand. Plants are often deeply rooted and form a denser, more upright turf compared to strong creeping fescue. A lack of stolons and rhizomes contributes to the poor traffic tolerance and recuperative ability of the species. Although tolerant of drought, chewings fescue is often dormant during hot, dry summer months. Plants are prone to disease during hot, wet weather and may quickly produce thatch. In Tennessee, chewings fescue is not generally as persistent or as strong as creeping fescue and hard fescue. Plants grows best in slightly acidic, infertile and well-drained soils. The cultivar ‘Cascade,’ one of the oldest cultivars, was developed by mixing seed lots from 12 sites in OR, was released in 1966 by the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station (AES).
Hard Fescue Leaf Sheath
Hard Fescue Hard Fescue Seed Production Field, Willamette Valley, OR
Hard fescue, a non-creeping, cool-season turfgrass species from Europe, has been used for many years to stabilize disturbed soils in the Pacific Northwest. It is one of the ‘toughest’ of the fine fescue species. Plants resemble sheep fescue however, leaves are usually firmer, grayish-green and wider. Although shallowrooted and less tolerant of drought compared to several other fescues including sheep fescue, the species has a high shoot density, excellent salt tolerance and is generally more tolerant of drought than strong and slender creeping red fescues. Due in part to the high level of heat tolerance compared to that of other fescues, the species often remains green throughout summer months. The rate of establishment of hard fescue from seed is often slower than that of chewings, and strong and slender creeping red fescues. One of the early cultivars, ‘Durar’ was released cooperatively by the Idaho, Oregon and Washington AES and the Soil Conservation Service in 1949.
Slender Creeping Red Fescue Slender creeping fescue is native to Europe, where it is found growing in pastures and lawns, and on undisturbed, shady sites. Plants have hair-like leaves and spread by small, short rhizomes. Slender creeping red fescue is well adapted to dry, well-drained, infertile soils, and tolerates close mowing. As the name of the species implies, slender creeping red fescue has much finer rhizomes than strong creeping red fescue. The species, like strong creeping red fescue, does not tolerate routinely saturated or poorly drained soils.
Strong Creeping Red Fescue Ligule
Strong Creeping Red Fescue This species, also referred to as creeping red fescue, is native to Europe. Plants have thick, long and vigorous rhizomes and, when maintained in an appropriate location, form a fine-textured,
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Cover St ory drought tolerant sod. Strong creeping red fescue is valued for its shade tolerance and low maintenance requirement, and is usually more tolerant of high- and low-temperature extremes than chewings fescue. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Golfroodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, an early cultivar selected for its distinct light-green color, very fine leaf blade width, high aerial shoot density, improved low-temperature color retention and good salt tolerance was released by D. J. van der Have of the Netherlands in 1940. The cultivar was, however, susceptible to disease (for example, dollar spot and red thread [Laetisaria fuciformis]).
Sheep Fescue This bunch-type species indigenous to the Northern Hemisphere has very stiff, upright leaves and once established, requires very little maintenance. Sheep fescue tolerates low temperatures and grows well in infertile, acidic, sandy or gravelly soils. Sheep fescue is not well adapted on sites with a high water table. The species also performs poorly where routine flooding occurs. Sheep fescue is planted for soil reclamation and erosion control where plants are not mowed or are maintained at a cutting height
A Comparison of Several Traits of Several Cool-season Turfgrassesa,b
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Cool Season
Cold Tolerance
Drought Tolerance
Required Fertility Level
Heat Tolerance
Shade Tolerance
Thatching Tendency
Wear Resistance
Chewings Fescue
Medium
High
Low
Low
High
Medium
Medium
Strong Creeping Red Fescue
Medium
High
Low
Low
High
Medium
Medium
Hard Fescue
Medium
High
Low
Low
High
Medium
Medium
Tall Fescue
Low
High
Medium
High
Medium
Low
High
Kentucky Bluegrass
MediumHigh
Medium
MediumHigh
Medium
Low
MediumHigh
Medium
Perennial Ryegrass
Low
MediumLow
MediumHigh
Low
Low
Low
MediumHigh
a
old, drought, heat and shade tolerance, required fertility level, thatching tendency and wear resistance vary both among C turfgrass species and cultivars.
b
ummarized from: Turgeon, A. J. 1980. Turfgrass Species- Chapter 3 in turfgrass management, Reston Publishing Company, S Reston, VA. pp. 41-80.
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Cover St ory of 6 inches or higher. Some cultivars including ‘Bighorn’, developed from plants selected from old turfs in NJ and released by Turf-Seed Inc., ‘SR3000’, developed cooperatively by Seed Research of Oregon and the New Jersey AES and released in 1987, and ‘MX-86’ developed by Jacklin Seed Company and released in 1989 are bred for use as low-input, coolseason turfs.
Establishment and Management Fine fescues are not produced as sod in TN. The minimum acceptable germination and purity of fine fescue seed is 80 and 95 percent, respectively. The seed count per pound varies among species. There are an estimated 615,000 strong creeping red fescue seeds per pound, 615,000 chewings fescue seeds per pound, 550,000 hard fescue seeds per pound and 530,000 sheep fescue seeds per pound. The recommended seeding rate ranges from 3–5 pounds per 1,000 sq. ft. depending on the intended use of the species, and the seed germination and purity of the seed lot. When weather favors plant growth, the optimum cutting height ranges from 1–2 inches. Increasing the cutting height by ½ inch prior to hot, dry conditions in summer may help reduce heat and drought stress. The quality of fine fescue turfs most often rapidly declines if too much N is applied. Fine fescues generally require one-half or less N than Kentucky bluegrass. Depending on cultivar, shade level and maintenance intensity, a fertilization rate as low as 1 pound N per 1,000 sq. ft. annually is often sufficient in TN. The maximum evapotranspiration rate of fine fescues ranges from an estimated 0.28–0.33 inch per day, and is classified as moderate, much lower than that of tall fescue. The thatching tendency of fine fescues is usually greater than that of tall fescue, and traffic tolerance is limited, especially in shade. Fine fescue turf may require periodic dethatching and core aerification. The species are susceptible to several fungal diseases including dollar spot, powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis), red thread and pythium blight (Pythium spp.). Since direct sunlight inhibits growth of the powdery mildew fungus, turfs maintained in dense shade and exposed to high humidity are prone to infection. Generally, insect pests of tall fescue also have the potential to damage fine fescues. In addition to mosses, which are members of the phylum Bryophyta and have no vascular system, ground ivy (Glechoma hederaceae), wild violet (Viola spp.) and nimblewill (Muhlenbergia shreberi) are prime examples of perennial, shadetolerant weeds.
Identification Because they so closely resemble one another in plant form and structure, or morphological features, fine fescue species can be very difficult to distinguish or classify visually. One laboratory method helpful to turfgrass breeders is laser flow cytometry, where plant cells are suspended in liquid and passed through a laser beam, often after applying a fluorescent stain. Characteristics of the scattered light are then measured and correlated with
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specific cell properties that may include pigmentation, volume and morphology, and the specific fescue species is determined.
Cultivar Testing National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP). Although seed of fine fescues has been available for use as turf in the U.S. since the 1930s, large quantities were not marketed until the 1960s. The initial NTEP Fineleaf Fescue Test was planted in 1983 in 17 states and Washington D.C. Of the 47 cultivars entered, 21 were known to be chewings fescues; 13, creeping red; 9, hard; and 1, sheep (4LS, later named Bighorn). The performance of cultivars was evaluated from 1984 through 1987 and results are presented in Final Report PSI No. 9 available online at https://ntep.org/ntep/ reports/ff83/ff83_88-9f/ff83_88-9f.htm. The 1989 NTEP Fineleaf Fescue Test, containing a total of 94 entries (26 strong creeping red, 10 slender creeping red, 33 chewings, 19 hard, 2 sheep and 1 not stated), was established in 16 states and Saskatchewan (1990-93 Data Final Report NTEP No. 94-17). Seed of several cultivars in this test were enhanced with endophytes. Five NTEP Fineleaf Fescue Tests followed: 1993 w/ 59 cultivars (15 strong creeping red, 2 slender creeping red, 26 chewings, 14 hard and 2 sheep) in 19 states (Final Report NTEP No. 98-13); 1998 w/ 79 cultivars (22 strong creeping red, 4 slender creeping red, 23 chewings, 26 hard, 1 sheep, 1 blue (Festuca glauca), 1 blue hard and 1 tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa)) in 21 states and Quebec (Final Report NTEP No. 03-9); 2003 w/ 53 cultivars (25 strong creeping red, 3 slender creeping red, 14 chewings, 10 hard and 1 sheep) in 22 states and Quebec (Final Report NTEP No. 08-9); 2008 w/ 25 cultivars (8 strong creeping red, 11 chewings, 5 hard and 1 blue hard) in 14 states (Final Report NTEP No. 149); and 2014 w/ 42 cultivars (15 strong creeping red, 4 slender creeping red, 12 chewings, 10 hard and 1 sheep) in 13 states and Quebec (Final Report 18-10). Alliance for Low Input Sustainable Turf ® (A-LIST™). Like A-LIST™ tall fescues, companies marketing fine fescues meeting the acceptance use the A-LIST™ symbol when marketing their cultivar and receive the A-LIST™ Approved tag to use in packaging. As of 2019, three strong creeping red, four chewings and three hard fescues are A-LIST™ approved. One hard fescue and one sheep fescue cultivar are tentatively approved (http://a-listturf.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Approved_ Variety_2019.pdf).
Cultivar Protection The USDA, under the Plant Variety Protection Act of 1970, issues certificates granting the owners of ‘new, distinctly different, and genetically uniform and stable’ turfgrass varieties exclusive right to reproduce, sell, import and export their products in the U.S. for the duration (up to 25 years) of protection. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is responsible for administering the PVPA. A list of tall and fine fescues protected under this program and their certificate numbers are available online at: https://apps. ams.usda.gov/CMS/. Cultivars may also be patented.
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References United States Department of Agriculture. 1995. Grass Varieties in the United States. Alderson, J. and W.C. Sharp. CRC Press. Lewis Publishers. NY. Beard, J. B. 1994. The water-use rate of turfgrasses. TurfCraft. Australia 39: 79–81. Beard, J. B. 1989. Turfgrass water stress: Drought resistance components, physiological mechanisms, and speciesgenotype diversity. Proc. Intl. Turfs. Res. Conf. Tokyo, Japan. 6: 23–28. Beard, J.B. 1973. Turfgrass: Science and Culture. 658 pp. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice-Hall. Hanson, A.A., F.V. Juska and G.W. Burton. 1969. Species and Varieties. In A.A. Hanson and F.V. Juska, eds., Turfgrass Science. Agron. Monogr. 14. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI. Crowder, W. 2007. Plant Fact Sheet Hard Fescue Festuca brevipila Tracey. USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Pullman, WA. Havardi, A. 2010. No-mow Fineleaf Fescue Grasses for California Urban Landscapes. University of California ANR Pub. No. 8391. Huang, B. 2008. Turfgrass Water Require ments and Factors Affecting Water Usage. Chpt. 11. https://www.usga.org/ content/dam/usga/pdf/Water%20 Resource%20Center/turfgrasswater-requirements.pdf. Huff, D.R., and A.J. Palazzo. 1998. Fine Fescue Species Determination by Laser Flow Cytometry. Crop Sci. 38:445-450. Kjelgren, R., L. Rupp, and D. Kilgren. 2000. Water conservation in urban landscapes. HortSci. 35: 1037–1040. Ogle, D., M. Stannard, P. Scheinost, and L. St John. 2010. Plant Guide- Sheep Fescue (Festuca ovina L.). USDANatural Resources Conservation Service, Idaho and Washington Plant Materials Program. Rev. 2014. T
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Fe ature Story
A Roundup on Glyphosate History, Use, Issues, and Alternatives By Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D., Professor of Weed Science, Virginia Tech
G
lyphosate has been in the news quite a bit recently. You probably have seen the ads on television concerning glyphosate and human health. In this article I discuss some background information on this herbicide as well as scientific reports on toxicity of the chemical.
A. What is glyphosate? The glyphosate molecule (Figure 1) is similar to the amino acid glycine. The chemical name is N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine, a relatively small molecule compared to newer herbicides. It is the active ingredient in products such as Roundup PROMAX, as well as in generic products sold under a variety of trade names. Since the chemical is off patent (patent expired around 2000), other companies besides Monsanto/Bayer can sell this herbicide under their own trade name. Some examples of other trade names for products that contain glyphosate include Accord, Gly Star Pro, Glyphomate 41, Razor, Rodeo and Touchdown, among others.
B. Formulation The initial formation of this herbicide was an isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, which is still widely used, although other salt formulations are available now, such as the potassium salt and the dimethylamine salt. This becomes important when comparing products. We need to look at the amount of glyphosate acid in products, not the amount of active ingredient, since the different salt formulations differ in their molecular weight. For example, Roundup PROMAX contains 5.5 pounds per gallon of the potassium salt of glyphosate (ai) or 4.5 lbs/gallon glyphosate acid (ae). Roundup Pro contained 4.0 lbs/gallon of the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate (ai) or 3.0 lbs/gallon glyphosate acid (ae). So Roundup PROMAX contains 50% more glyphosate acid than Roundup Pro and applications rates in terms of fluid ounces of product per acre are lower than for Roundup Pro. Besides glyphosate, there are other chemicals in commercial formulations, usually water and a surfactant. As an example of
a formulation, Roundup PROMAX contains the potassium salt of glyphosate at 48.7% by weight, surfactant(s) approximately 9%, and water plus minor ingredients at approximately 42%. Surfactants can aid in the absorption of herbicides by weeds. One example would be POEA (polyoxyethylene tallow amine). Concerns have been raised about the toxicity of this surfactant to aquatic organisms such as tadpoles, salamanders, and frogs. Aquatic formulations of glyphosate either do not contain a surfactant or contain a surfactant that has not shown to be an issue. That is why certain formulations of glyphosate are not labeled for aquatic use â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not due to the toxicity of glyphosate but due to toxicity concerns about the surfactant to amphibians and other aquatic organisms. For glyphosate products that do not contain a surfactant, one generally needs to add an approved one for optimum weed control.
C. History Glyphosate was found to control weeds by a Monsanto scientist in 1970. The herbicide was patented in 1971 and was introduced commercially as Roundup in 1974. Glyphosate use has increased over time, especially when Roundup-Ready crops were introduced, starting with Roundup Ready soybeans in 1996. These soybean lines, and later corn, cotton, and other crop cultivars, were developed to be resistant to glyphosate through biotechnology. For these genetically-modified crops, glyphosate could be applied overtop for selective weed control.
D. Mode of action Glyphosate inhibits the enzyme enolpyruvyl shikimate-3phosphate (EPSP) synthase, needed for synthesis of the aromatic amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine in plants. Animals, including people, do not make these amino acids, so they need to get these chemicals in their diet. Plants have to make these amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. So glyphosate inhibits a process that occurs in plants but not in
Figure 1: glyphosate isopropylamine salt
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Fe ature Story animals, resulting in a chemical that controls plants with low acute toxicity to animals, including people.
E. Acute toxicity of glyphosate A measure of toxicity is the LD50 value, the dose required to kill 50% of the test animal, usually rats. The higher the LD50, the lower the toxicity. The acute oral LD50 for glyphosate in rats is greater than 5,000 mg/kg – practically non-toxic. The acute dermal LD50 rat is greater than 5,000 mg/kg – practically non-toxic. (taken from SDS sheet for Roundup PROMAX, http://www. cdms.net/ldat/mp8NJ004.pdf). For comparison the acute oral LD50 rat for caffeine is 192 mg/kg (https://psychonautwiki. org/wiki/Caffeine) so caffeine is a much more toxic chemical than glyphosate. The acute oral LD50 rat for aspirin is 950 mg/kg (aspirin SDS, https://www.caymanchem.com/msdss/70260m. pdf), also more toxic on an acute basis than glyphosate. Another point to keep in mind is that risk associated with a given pesticide is based on the toxicity of the chemical along with the exposure level.
F. Use Glyphosate is a nonselective postemergence herbicide, meaning that it controls essentially all weeds. The recent development of glyphosate-resistant weeds has pushed researchers and growers to find alternative means to control these weed species. However, most weed species are still susceptible to glyphosate. Glyphosate is systemic, so it moves into and controls underground portions of weeds (roots, rhizomes, tubers, etc.), making it the preferred product for perennial weed control in many situations. This chemical binds to soil particles and has essentially no soil activity, so crops can be planted a week after application. Glyphosate is used for preplant weed control/site preparation, lawn renovation, spot treatment of weeds in landscape beds, as a directed spray application in fruit and nursery production, and for noncrop weed management, such as guard rails, railroad lines, and parking lots, among other uses. It controls grasses, sedges, and broadleaf weeds, making it a broad spectrum herbicide.
G. Recent issues about glyphosate It has been suggested that glyphosate causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a type of cancer, and other diseases. In one epidemiological report, associations between pesticides and NHL subtypes were reported, including B cell lymphoma and glyphosate (Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014 Apr 23;11(4):4449527. doi: 10.3390/ijerph110404449). The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health organization, listed glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen (Group 2A) in 2015 (https://monographs.iarc.fr/wp-content/ uploads/2018/06/mono112-10.pdf), along with burning of wood, eating red meat, high-temperature frying, late-night work shifts, being a hairdresser or barber, spraying insecticides, and making art glass, among others (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ List_of_IARC_Group_2A_carcinogens).
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In August 2018, a jury in San Francisco ordered Roundup’s manufacturer, Monsanto, to pay $289 million in damages to a school groundskeeper (Dewayne Lee Johnson) who argued that the glyphosate-based herbicide caused his cancer. A judge later upheld that decision but reduced Monsanto’s payout to $78 million. Recently, another jury in San Francisco ruled against Monsanto, with the jury concluding that glyphosate was a substantial factor in causing non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Edwin Hardeman, a 70year-old Sonoma County man. Bayer, which bought Monsanto, responded by saying that there is over four decades of extensive science on glyphosate and the conclusions of regulators worldwide support the safety of their glyphosate-based herbicides and that they are not carcinogenic (https://www.bayer.us/en/newsroom/ press-releases/article/?id=123290). Harrells has decided not to sell glyphosate products (https:// www.lawnandlandscape.com/article/ll-031219-harrellsdiscontinues-glyphosate/). Although the company feels that the weight of scientific evidence strongly supports its safety when used properly, their insurance provider would not cover any claims related to glyphosate. With apparently over 11,000 lawsuits filed against Monsanto, there is a financial risk from the insurance standpoint related to glyphosate. Another issue that has been mentioned is that glyphosate may affect bacteria in the gut microbiome. Low levels of glyphosate have been reported in certain crops, generally in the parts per billion range, although the EPA has determined that the low levels do not pose a significant health risk to humans. Low levels of labeled pesticides can sometimes be detected in food crops, but the EPA compares these levels to the toxicity data for that pesticide to determine a no effects level and to set residue levels allowed before approving a pesticide. Certain bacteria can be adversely affected by exposure to glyphosate. A recent issue that has been reported is an impact on the gut bacteria in honey bees, resulting in adverse effects (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2018 Oct 9; 115(41): 10305–10310).
H. What does the scientific literature say about glyphosate and cancer? As of 2016, there were 23 epidemiological studies, 15 animal carcinogenicity studies and over 90 genotoxicity studies for glyphosate. Reviews have been written summarizing the conducted studies. A review in 2012 found no consistent pattern of causation between glyphosate exposure and cancer (Mink et al. Reg. Toxicology & Pharmacology 63:440-452). Some conclusions of glyphosate effects are not supported by available evidence (Frontiers in Public Health 2017 Vol 5 Article 316). There was no association between glyphosate and any solid tumor, including. non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Andreotti et al. 2018 J. National Cancer Institute 110 (5): 509-516). The U.S. EPA concluded in a 2013 report that glyphosate does not pose a cancer risk to humans (2013 Federal Register Notice (FR 25396, Vol. 78, No. 84, May 1, 2013).
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Fe ature Story In 2016, EPA’s office of Pesticide Programs released a report (https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/ glyphosate_issue_paper_evaluation_of_carcincogenic_ potential.pdf). In it, EPA states that “In epidemiological studies, there was no evidence of an association between glyphosate exposure and numerous cancer outcomes; however, due to conflicting results and various limitations identified in studies investigating NHL, a conclusion regarding the association between glyphosate exposure and risk of NHL cannot be determined based on the available data.” “Increases in tumor incidence were not considered treatment-related in any of the animal carcinogenicity studies.” “The overall weight of evidence indicates that there is no convincing evidence that glyphosate induces mutations in vivo via the oral route.” EPA’s overall conclusion was that glyphosate was “’not likely to be carcinogenic to humans’ at doses relevant to human health risk assessment.” In 2017, the EPA issued a draft assessment, which also concluded that glyphosate is not a likely carcinogen to humans (Released Draft Risk Assessments for Glyphosate, https:// www.epa.gov/pesticides/epa-releases-draft-risk-assessmentsglyphosate). The European Food Safety Authority and the EU member states concluded in 2015 that glyphosate is unlikely to
Daily Regional DeliveRy
pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans and the evidence does not support classification with regard to its carcinogenic potential (EFSA Journal 2015;13(11):4302). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in a 2016 summary report concluded that “in view of the absence of carcinogenic potential in rodents at human-relevant doses and the absence of genotoxicity by the oral route in mammals, and considering the epidemiological evidence from occupational exposures, the Meeting concluded that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans from exposure through the diet” (https://www.who.int/foodsafety/jmprsummary2016.pdf). Why did the ARC reach a different conclusion than EPA and the EFSA and the FAO? The IARC only looked at publiclyavailable reports while EPA evaluated all data, including those submitted by the registrant and those not published. The IARC did not consider dose in their analysis while the EPA considered dose to be relevant to the interpretation of data. EPA did a systemic evaluation of the quality for the studies conducted with glyphosate while the IARC did less of a quality evaluation. There can be differing opinions on the interpretation of laboratory testing of pesticides. One cannot test chemicals on people, so scientists use a test animal such as rats. Labs will use only a
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limited number of test animals and may increase the dose to levels much higher than typical exposure levels of the chemical to try to force responses that may occur at low frequency or at low dosages. If cancer develops in the test animal only at doses much higher than a typical exposure would be, what do you conclude? Did the dose cause the response or did the chemical cause the effect? Can you extrapolate the data to lower doses? These are questions that arise when interpreting results from lab studies.
I. Alternatives to glyphosate We do not have a ready alternative to glyphosate that provides the same level of weed control and use. The closest in my opinion is glufosinate (Finale, Cheetah Pro), another non-selective postemergence herbicide that is inactivated upon contact with soil. It works faster on weeds than glyphosate but it is not as systemic as glyphosate. So glyphosate generally provides greater control of perennial weeds, especially perennial grasses, compared to glufosinate. There are nonselective postemergence contact herbicides, such as diquat (Reward), pelargonic acid (Scythe), and acetic acid (WeedPharm). These contact herbicides will not affect the underground portions of perennial weeds so they are more effective overall on annual weeds.
J. Decision making Read the literature cited in this article and determine for yourself the benefits and risks to use of glyphosate. Be careful about articles you read on the internet, in newspapers, and in other media. Sometimes claims are made about chemicals that are not supported by scientific research. Ask to see data from published, peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals. If you plan to continue using glyphosate, as we plan to do here at the research station, follow information listed on the label. For example, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Roundup PROMAX is a long sleeve shirt, long pants, shoes, and socks (http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ld8NJ010 .pdf). Read and follow all label directions. Make sure the product you use has a label for the site to be treated.
Acknowledgement – I would like to thank Dr. Timothy Pastoor, of Pastoor Science Communications for sharing his PowerPoint “Glyphosate – Get the Facts” with me. Some of the information listed above was taken from this PowerPoint. T
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TTA Member S potligh t on
Terry Porch Sports Field Manager for the Tennessee Titans at St. Thomas Sports Park and Nissan Stadium How many years have you been in this position?
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Since July of 1998. 21 years in July. How did you decide to pursue a career in turfgrass management? I started with the Kansas City Royals in 1981 and fell in love with it. What path led you to your current position? Working with the Kansas City Royals and learning under George Toma. I worked there from 1981â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1988. In 1990 I was able to be on the Field crew for Super Bowl 24. I asked George if I could go and he said I could, but I would have to work for free and pay my own way, so I did. At the end of that Super Bowl, George came up to me and said that I worked as hard as any of guys that got paid and handed me a check for working that Super Bowl. He also told me that I made his crew for as long as he was doing the Super Bowls. I was on the field crew for 19 Super Bowls. I also worked with the Carolina Panthers from 1996â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1998 before coming to the Titans. My first year in Tennessee was when the team was still the Oilers. What is the best part of your job? I enjoy painting the field the most, especially the logos. What are some unique challenges of your job? The number of events that we have during the season on field. We always seem to
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have a concert or extra college games played during the season. Last year we had 3 extra concerts. We had the CMA Music Fest, Monster Jam, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran along with 2 Tennessee State football games, The Titans schedule of 10 games, and the Music City Bowl with 2 Nashville Soccer Club games and a USA vs. Mexico game. How many employees are part of your team? I have four full time employees and usually 2 seasonal employees. Mike Henry, Dudley Johnson, Katie Deppen and Austyn Carter are the best crew I have ever had. I had a great seasonal guy last year as well in Jerome Kline. Without their help last year would have been a lot longer year
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than it was. I also get weekend-gameday help for the painting on Saturday and game days. Working in professional sports expectations are very high – what’s the biggest challenge to meeting those expectations? Keeping the grass in good condition late in the year when the grass isn’t growing on its own. We have a tarp that blows up and we can blow hot air under it to keep the soil temperatures up. The tarp also lets around 75% of the sunlight through. What is one lesson you’ve learned the hard way in your career? How to take criticism. Everyone is an expert in what I do.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS June/July 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Do you have a mentor in the industry? My mentor is definitely George Toma. He taught me that everything you do, you’re putting your name on it for everyone to see, so you better do it well. He gave me “that and then some!” That and then some means not just doing the job but doing it better than most and sweating the little things as well as the big thing. What do you do in your free time? Spend time on my boat, and I like going to the movies. Family? I have been married to Jamie for 29 years. I have 4 boys: Brandon (27), Tyler (23), Joshua (19). These are my biological
kids. We also have another son James Adams (27) that came to live with us when he was in ninth grade. What would your advice be for people entering the turfgrass industry now? Find what your area of turf grass you like to do such as golf or sports turf or even lawn care and give it all you got. T Terry Porch
Save t he Date
UT Turfgrass & Ornamental
Field Day August 29th, 2019
Time
Location
Pre-Registration Fee
7:00 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2:30 pm
AgResearch East TN Research & Education Center
per person
$65
Additional employees of the same business can be added at a reduced rate of $35 per person. Be sure to pre-register by August 15th, 2019 to guarantee this discounted rate. Registration will open later this summer.
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS June/July 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
The
University of Tennessee Turf & Ornamental Field Day is becoming wellknown as the premier educational event for green industry professionals in the southeastern United States. Each year turfgrass and ornamental faculty in the Department of Plant Sciences at UT showcase on-going research on optimal strategies for managing infestations of turfgrass weeds and diseases, cultivar evaluations, and athletic field turf and ornamental plant materials. The 2019 event will be no exception with ten different breakout sessions of interest to green industry professionals, in addition to afternoon workshops. The 2019 Turf & Ornamental Field Day returns to Knoxville on August 29th, 2019 with sessions featuring the latest options for weed, disease, and insect management of warm- and cool-season turfgrass, as well as landscape ornamentals. The complete agenda will be available in early summer.
GroWers oF QuAlITY TurF sInce 1987
coosA VAlleY TurF FArms llc MeMber of
Recertification Credits Available • Numerous pesticide re-certification categories will be available from states across the southeastern United States and green industry associations.
Register in Advance to Save (and Win)! We encourage everyone to pre-register before the August 15th, 2019 deadline in order to take advantage of reduced fees. Pre-registration will open in early summer.
Stay Engaged – #UTTurfFD19 Attendees can stay engaged with the event on social media using the hashtag, #UTTurfFD19. More details about the event will be communicated over the UT Turfgrass Twitter (@UTturfgrass), Facebook, and Instagram (@utturfgrass) feeds throughout the summer of 2019. T
TIFWAY 419
Fescue
www.coosaValleyTurfFarms.com (256) 927-4228 • (256) 927-4758 FAX • cvtf@tds.net 900 county road 492 • centre, Al 35960
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
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Watch The Video To Learn More At:
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R ecent E vent
National Golf Day 2019
By Brad Marcy, TN GCSA Grassroots Ambassador, Indian Hills Golf Club, Murfreesboro
I
had the privilege of participating in National Golf Day which includes golf awareness events. This event is hosted by We Are Golf, a coalition of the game’s leading associations, including GCSAA. This was a great event and experience. I know many people visited Washington D.C. on an 8th grade field trip. Well, I must have been suspended that day, because I had never been to the Capitol before and had no idea what to expect. That place is amazing! There is so much history in such a small area. I only had about 1.5 hours of free time, so I really didn’t get to experience a whole lot, but I feel like I experienced a lot. There were 16 or 17 service projects going on at the same time. There was sod going down, flowers being planted, flood areas being cleaned up, mowing taking place, aerification, hedge
trimming, dead tree material being removed and tree inventory being taken. The group I was with was leveling an area in the lawns next to the carousel outside the Smithsonian. We had to move two Pronovost trailers of soil about 20 feet with flat shovels, pack it, seed it and add pelletized mulch or “Seed Aid.” What the group leader thought would be a 45-minute job actually took about 2.5 hours for the 4 of us to accomplish. Well 3.5 of us, one of the guys was conveniently in the restroom on the bus when they dropped us off at our location and it took about an hour for the bus to get back around to drop him off. It is crazy trying to get around that town. I understand why people walk and bike to their jobs there. It’s not I-24 to Nashville at 7:00AM, but its tough. Honking horns are a familiar means of communication to the people there.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association
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Recent Event On the 3rd day we went to Senate and Congress for meetings. By we I am referring to Paul Carter (Bear Trace HB), Michael Seabrook (Belle Meade GM), and myself. We had meetings scheduled with Senator Blackburn and Senator Alexander’s office and House members Chuck Fleischmann, Jim Cooper and Scott DesJarlais’s offices. It just so happened that this was the day that William Barr was being grilled in front of the senate. So, anyone who was anyone was in the hearing or was hanging around waiting to get a sound bite out. This possibly worked to our benefit. Meeting with the staff members from the respective offices was probably a better way to communicate our message than speaking directly to a senator or congressman anyway. We were asking for help with specific issues: • $3,000,000 in turfgrass research in the Farm Bill for 2020 • Repeal or modification of WOTUS • Passage of HR 890 Reducing EPA duplication • Getting Golf added to the PHIT Act • Removing Golf from the “Sin List” in the tax code • Increasing the number of H-2B visas • And increasing nondiscretionary bonuses from 10% to 25% After that it was straight to the airport to get home at 11:00 PM and then up again at 3:00 AM to go volunteer at the National Golf Open at Nashville Golf & Athletic Club. That’s a different story though. I thought I was going to have a really hard time at this, but was willing to give it a shot and I am glad that I did. The first meeting was a little shaky, but we found our flaws as a group and the following meetings went much smoother. I highly recommend and encourage any Grassroots Ambassadors or anyone who has any interest in this event. T
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS June/July 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
RoLLing ouT The gReen!
Located in Springfield, Tennessee we provide top quality turfgrass in Kentucky and Tennessee. We strive to maintain the highest quality turfgrass possible, offering Turf Type Tall Fescue and Tifway 419 Bermuda. Turfgrass can be picked up on the farm, delivered or installed at your desired location.
CaLL (615) 384-9303 Today!
awssod@yahoo.com • aWSod.com • 5651 Fred Perry Rd. • Springfield, Tn 37172
Calend ar of Events July 8
731-692-3515 TifTuf • Tifway Bermuda • Blended Tall Fescue Meyer Z-52 Zoysia • Palisades Zoysia
ETGCSA Meeting Gettysvue Country Club
July 23 – 25
TPI Summer Convention & Field Day Minneapolis
July 31
TVSTMA Field Day Pigeon Forge •
www.mccurdysodfarms.com • mccurdysodfarms@gmail.com
Digital
Marketplace Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.
August 6
ETGCSA Meeting Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain
August 29
University of Tennessee Field Day Knoxville
September 16
Annual Bushwood Classic Memphis Country Club
September 17
MTGCSA Meeting Old Hickory Country Club
September 24
ETGCSA Scholarship and Research Tournament Cattails at Meadowview
September 27
Andy Rushing arushing@cgcfields.com Phone: (704) 634-9799 Toll Free – Office: (866) 753-1707
www.cgcfields.com
MTGCSA 1st Annual Skeet Shoot Nashville Gun Club
October 8
Equipment Managers Meeting Smyrna Event Center
November 4
Scott McNeer Scholarship Tournament Spring Creek Ranch 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 © 2019 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Tennessee Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. 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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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS June/July 2019 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
November 5
MTGCSA Meeting Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club
November 7
MAGCSA Annual Skeet Shoot & Shrimp Boil Hernando, MS
January 6 – 8, 2020
TTA Conference & Trade Show Murfreesboro
Give water a break tiftuf bermudagrass is the new drought-tolerance superstar. The newest edition in the “Tif” (Tifton) series of bermudagrasses to originate from the renowned University of Georgia turfgrass breeding program, TifTuf promises to be a true game-changer in stellar yet environmentally friendly performance. Providing unbeatable drought tolerance, it uses 38% less water than Tifway 419, and it is significantly more drought resistant than all other bermudagrasses. In addition to its incredible drought tolerance, TifTuf provides excellent cold tolerance (equal to Latitude 36 at Kansas State University), fast spring green-up, excellent fall color retention and superior wear and traffic tolerance. In the 2015 NTEP trials, TifTuf was the highest-ranked cultivar in North Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi, and across all 17 locations overall, it was the highestranked, commercially available cultivar. TifTuf will not only pay for itself in water savings, but more importantly, it will create eco-gentle lawns for the future. An astounding breakthrough in sustainability, it will soon become the ultimate musthave grass for home and property owners who want to take a break from water use.
www.buysod.com | 866-428-9763 World Class Service On Demand
Buy Sod VarietieS: Golf Putting Greens: Bentgrass and Champion Dwarf bermudagrass
Bermudagrass: TifTuf, TifGrand, Celebration, Patriot, TifSport, Tifway and T10 St. Augustine: Raleigh • Zoysiagrass: Zeon and El Toro • Paspalum: SeaStar Centipedegrass: TifBlair and Common • Bluegrass: Tournament • Fescue/Bluegrass Mixtures
