Tennessee Turfgrass - April / May 2022

APRIL / MAY 2022

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

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON

DAN JOHNSON PLUS

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS APRIL / MAY 2022

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Cover Story — Member Spotlight on Dan Johnson

FE AT UR ES

18 24 28 36

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Carpenter Bees: Uninvited Houseguests Who Do Not Take a Hint A New and Improved Mobile Weed Manual

Pesticides of the Future Lawn Care Professionals Finding New Options for Getting the Job Done: Patent-pending Solution Developed on University of Tennessee-Knoxville Campus

D E P AR T MENTS From the TTA President

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News from ETGCSA

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News from MTGCSA

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Index of Advertisers

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From the TVSTMA President

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The Turfgrass Team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville

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Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: THETURFZONE.COM

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022

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FROM THE TTA PR ESIDENT

Christopher C. Sykes

FROM THE BOARD ROOM

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

The

400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 928-7001 info@ttaonline.org www.ttaonline.org

Tennessee Turfgrass Association Board of Directors has been working hard on your behalf. The BOD actually went on an overnight retreat recently in an effort to lay the foundation for the future of the association.

Things kicked off on the morning of February 28th where the BOD discussed the recent Conference and Show, which was considered a rousing success. We continue to look at ways to improve the conference and show and opportunities were discussed at length. The association is committee driven and those assignments were finalized for 2022. Every Board Member is heavily involved in at least two of the following committees: r. Jim Brosnan chairs the education committee. The education committee is the educaD tional platform of the TTA and is responsible for planning the education sessions at seminars, workshops, the annual conference, and any other educational activity. r. Ryan Blair chairs the awards and scholarships committees. The awards and scholarM ships committee oversees the application and selection process of awards and scholarships presented by TTA. This committee will oversee the awards banquet that is held at the annual conference. r. Mark Stovall chairs the membership committee. The membership committee is inM volved in the aspects of marketing, fundraising for the endowment fund, and increasing the membership base (including determining new membership categories when needed). xecutive Director Melissa Martin chairs the conference and tradeshow committee. The E conference and tradeshow committee is responsible for the operation of the conference and tradeshow. The includes contract negotiations, site selection, and providing on-site management at the conference and tradeshow. The committee will plan, budget, and promote the conference throughout the year as well as soliciting sponsorships, tradeshow vendors and conference registrants. This committee will coordinate with the education, awards and scholarship and membership committees for conference and tradeshow purposes. he finance committee is made up of members of the executive committee which includes T TTA President, Mr. Chris Sykes, Vice President, Mr. Ryan Storey and Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. Ryan Blair. The finance committee provides financial oversight for the association, including developing an annual operating budget with staff. he nominating committee is responsible for soliciting nominations for the impending T vacancies on the board of directors. This committee consists of the president and those board members whose terms are expiring.

The BOD also spent time in a strategic planning session where the focus was on developing a mission statement that summarizes the aims and values of our organization. We also worked on a vision for what we want to achieve as well as the strategy for how we plan to accomplish the vision and goals of the TTA. We hope of finalize these in future meetings after which we will share with the entire association.

The retreat was primarily all business, but we also worked in some team building activities in an effort to grow closer together as a board. We went bowling off-site and the Golf Club of Tennessee served as the perfect backdrop for our overnight event. We also had an impromptu scavenger hunt for Mr. Bill Marbet’s phone, so make sure to ask about that the next time you see Bill.

The TTA has never been stronger, and the future is very bright.

Christopher C. Sykes TTA President

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association

PUBLISHED BY Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 info@leadingedgecommunications.com EDITOR Dr. James Brosnan TTA OFFICERS President Chris Sykes Tellico Village Vice President Ryan Storey Line to Line LLC Secretary / Treasurer Ryan Blair, CGCS Holston Hills Country Club Past President Doug Ward Belle Meade Country Club Executive Director Melissa Martin Tennessee Turfgrass Association TTA 2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jason Bradley Bart Cash Ben Dodd Dan Johnson Ashley Gaskin Cal Hill Jeff Huber Jeff Kuhns Bill Marbet Bob McLean Jason Sanderson Mark Stovall John Wagnon Jeff Wyatt TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Bill Blackburn Dr. Jim Brosnan Joe Hill Dr. Brandon Horvath Lynn Ray Jeff Rumph Dr. Tom Samples Dr. Dennis Shepard Dr. John Sorochan Dr. Wes Totten

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FROM THE ETGCSA PRESIDENT

Michael Crawford

PRESSING FORWARD

H

ard to believe another spring golfing season is in full swing. As I am writing this, our team at Fox Den Country Club is closing in on a successful week of aerification, and I cannot thank them enough for their hard work and dedication. We took full advantage of (finally!) beautiful weather last week after what has become the annual big rain event in the month of February. I would also like to thank my fellow ETGSA Board Members for a successful 2021 including the creation of a tremendous 2022 events calendar. We are eager for the ETGCSA and Western North Carolina Golf Course Superintendents joint meeting in July and this year’s ETGCSA Scholarship and Research Golf Tournament which is scheduled to be held at The Virginian Golf Club on October 24. Based on how successful our fundraiser tournament was this past fall at The Black Creek Club, the Virginian will be one you will not want to miss. We are compiling a stellar list of speakers for our meetings.

Please stay tuned for updates as we get closer to these events.

As we continue to press forward into 2022, I’m wishing you all much success with the start of golfing season and preparing for what could be another record-breaking year for rounds played on the golf course. From the sound of it, 2022 is tracking to be just that. As I’m sure you’re all aware, the cost of goods and raw materials as well as the SOS warnings from vendors, it will be even more crucial to our success for us all to work together to provide excellent course conditions for our clients and members.

Michael Crawford ETGCSA President

FROM THE MTGCSA PRESIDENT

Patrick Daniel

SUMMERS IN THE SOUTH

It’s

that time of year again. The Masters! The time of year where every golfer sits in front of the TV for four days and starts wondering “Why can’t my local course look like that”. Ahh the questions are endless. I assume every superintendent is flattered to be compared to one of the most heavily manicured properties on earth but know that it’s not possible. I personally could care less about greens speed. I’m just trying to get my greens healthy enough to survive the marathon of bentgrass summers in the south.

Every summer seems to be hotter and longer. I hate to say it but the old days of getting your greens to Sept. 1st are long gone. As always, we are at the mercy of the ever-changing Tennessee weather. I wish everyone the best of luck and hope to see you all at our meetings throughout the year.

Patrick Daniel MTGCSA President

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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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, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

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Marks the Spot

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FROM THE TVSTMA PRESIDENT

Byran Farris, CSFM

“EXCELLENCE IN SPORTS TURF” AWARD

T

VSTMA is going to be using this column a little bit differently. This year we have established an “Excellence in Sports Turf ” award to recognize the efforts of sports turf managers in the region who maintain high quality athletic field surfaces. Our first recipient of this award is Dustin Wilson, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach of Springfield High School in Springfield, TN.

Tell us about yourself and the turfgrass you manage.

I am currently the AD and Head Football Coach at Springfield High School. This is my 17th year in education as a business teacher, coach, and athletic director. I was raised in Robertson County. I grew up in the hay and tobacco fields on a family farm.

I am now proudly working at the school which I graduated from in 1998. In 2017, our on-campus stadium was built. The surface was installed by Ryan Moriarty with SportsTurf and provided by Tri-Turf Sod in Paris, TN. We have a practice field as well. I continue to use it as a “farm” for repair, but it receives but much more traffic being a practice field.

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What led you to turfgrass management?

Athletics/coaching. I have been involved with sports my whole life.

I can remember every uniform I have ever worn. I can remember every field I played on. I want people to remember Springfield Football when they visit. Whether in person, clips in the paper, on social media or on a TV broadcast, everyone is looking at the field.

I want it to be the best. With those desires and the lack of resources we have in public education and education-based sports specifically, I had to learn a lot. I had to lean on a lot of experts. I raised tobacco, corn, hay, tomatoes, so now I had to learn about grass.

What is most rewarding about the position?

Hearing and/or seeing our boys/players treat it like the staff does.

The comments, the identity, the pride they have in the field. It spreads in the community. Not to the degree of spreading that I strive for, but the boys take pride in it and is enjoyable.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

What is most challenging about the position?

Time management. It is another job that we are not reimbursed appropriately for. I am a teacher, a coach, and an athletic director.

When you add field maintenance, it is tough to balance and manage your time. Our players help us paint but nobody else gets on the mower but me!

What is your favorite “tool” in your turf maintenance toolbox?

The phone. I pick it up and call Billy Clark, Stephen Callis or Matthew Powell. I continue to learn about it, but I can’t take credit for it all because of the people that give me advice when called upon.

Don’t reinvent the wheel just trust the people you call and ask.

What tool would you most like to add to your turf maintenance toolbox?

I would love a small horsepower tractor unit with a bucket that has turf tires. Something to do maintenance. We have a two wheel drive gator that was donated by Stevie Howell at Industrial Staffing of Tennessee that provides most of the maintenance now.

Why do you do it?

To represent our community the best it can be. To make Springfield a destination not just a stopping place. The football program (and in some cases the athletic programs) is something I am in control of. I choose to put time and other resources in the athletic fields because we have visitors that leave here remembering Springfield just as I did when growing up traveling to fields across the country. The football field here is an example of something that is beginning to be mentioned when talking about Springfield Football. I have a vision that includes facilities that are better than average, better than “good.” Also, I strongly believe the better the field looks, the better the boys feel about it and the better they play on it!

Congratulations to Coach Wilson, the staff, and players of Springfield High School!

Check us out at www.tvstma.org for more information on the award, membership in our organization, and Meeting dates and locations.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON

DAN JOHNSON

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT Jackson’s Old Hickory Country Club Old Hickory, Tennessee

Dan with his family

D

an Johnson is a current TTA Board member and has previously served as MTGCSA president. He invited us to visit him at Jackson’s Old Hickory Country Club and shared some great insight about the industry, building and keeping a great crew and the highlights of working as a golf course superintendent.

How did you decide to become a golf course superintendent and what was the path to your current position?

I’ve been working in this industry for 23 years now. I started at age 14 weed-eating and changing cups at my local country club. I grew up in upstate, northern New York. I have always done golf in some capacity from outside on the grounds to picking up range balls to working in pro shops and ultimately as I got closer to college it was 100% out on the course. I played golf for two years in college down in Louisiana and worked at a couple of clubs there.

After Hurricane Rita I came to MTSU and finished my last two years of my business degree there. I took an assistant superintendent job down in Dalton, Georgia at The Farm Golf Club. I worked there for four years. During that time I did the two-year online Penn State Turf degree.

I’ve had the privilege to work under some really great superintendents here in Tennessee and also in New York. I worked for Michael Brownlee at Stone River for a year and a half, and Tim Parsons, who is one of the best friends I’ve ever had. I worked for him for a year and a half at Riverbend Country Club. Then I worked for Trey Cutshall – four really valuable years for me down in Georgia. I owe a lot to all three of those in different ways – me growing as a professional and quite frankly, me growing up.

I’ve been here ten years. I’m just incredibly blessed to be here, I’ve seen the lowest of lows and truly it’s been special to be part of something that’s on the way up. I’ve worked for some really great people here at this club, I owe a lot to the people who hired me here. Joey Hickman, the golf professional who’s no longer with us, was one of the guys who hired me. Another gentleman named Ron Graham, who’s also part owner at Champion’s Run down in Eagleville, Tennessee. We were always broke or struggling and then that’s where Steve and Leah Smith and their other business partner who’s now deceased, Allen Ross, bought the club three and a half years ago and transitioned it into something great.

Their vision is great. It’s a process, construction is ongoing, every day year-round, so we’re always under construction and will be for a number of years to come. I want to be here a long time.

Dan with his crew

What is the history of the club, and where is it going from here?

It was founded in 1926 by Dupont and it’s President Andrew Jackson’s piece of property. It’s always been known as a blue collar, working man’s country club. The membership here, the people are great. They treat me well, they treat my staff well, there’s no uppity-ness. My first day here, Jim Hickman said to me, “Welcome home.” That was our member slogan back in the day, and it truly was like one giant family.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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COVER STORY Since the Smiths have taken over, our membership has continued to explode and we have a lot of unique clientele. Basically every singer, songwriter, or musician in Nashville who is a golfer is a member here, then also we get some professional golfers out here – John Daly has been out here numerous times. We had the opportunity to do some projects out on the golf course together. We built a set of new championship tee boxes and that was neat to work with John, who has been my favorite golfer since I was eight years old.

Staff wise, I’ve got such a good group of guys. I run anywhere from ten to fifteen employees. Ten to twelve year-round, two or three seasonal. I try to cross-train everyone. When I worked on a crew, I didn’t like doing the same thing every day. I guess part of my philosophy is that my guys know that they might be weedeating all day Monday, but then Tuesday they’re mowing fairways and Wednesday they’re mowing greens, Thursday they’re mowing tees, Friday they’re raking bunkers. That way it spreads the load on the entire crew. I take a lot of pride in that.

Is it a mix of excitement of going into your busy season and also realizing it’s about to get crazy and you’re about to be working around a lot more golfers on the course?

It is. Since the pandemic and our unique clientele of having a lot of musicians, we’re busy all the time now. We went from, back in the day, doing 18,000 rounds a year to where we’re doing 28,000+.

The singers and songwriters, they’ll work from seven in the morning until one or two o’clock, so obviously they’re out here every day. There’s probably 30 or 40 of them total.

We’ve been busy with all the construction, doing cart path work, we just built a brand new bathroom/halfway house out on the course and landscaping it. We built a new driving range net, among other projects. So we’ve been under construction almost every day.

It’s fun, it’s a great problem to have because we’re improving. It’s all gone well and I’ve got a good crew to take care of the pieces.

Have have you dealt with any of the labor challenges that we’re hearing consistently across the board, where it’s hard to find and keep good staff?

I am blessed that I have good retention. Crew dynamics can change, but I think most of the guys on my staff have been with me between three and ten years. I have a couple newer employees who have done well to this point – we’ll see if they can thrive. It’s getting better in terms of clubs finally starting to pay people a little more to where it’s a little more attractive. But it’s tough to make living. I lot of my guys, when the pandemic hit, lost their second jobs, and it put a real crunch on them financially. Steve and Leah have been so great, have stepped up numerous occasions and have given me what I need to retain good employees. So myself and my two assistants, Randy McClanahan and Sundance Lawrence, we demand a lot out of the guys, but we really want everyone to be close and feel like they’re part of something. You’ve got to get creative in ways to keep employees in this business because the pay is not that great unless you’re in one of the higher up positions. The Nashville market is flat out tough, the cost of living has exploded, as everyone knows, so we’re really happy and blessed to have the guys I do have. Hopefully we can keep them for many years to come.

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Jackson’s Old Hickory Clubhouse

What makes you want to be involved and be a part of industry associations like TTA? My best friends are superintendents, sales reps, professors at the university. It’s one of the most unique industries where we are all competing as clubs, but it’s crazy how close we all are, in that I’d pretty much do anything for any other superintendent or sales rep because they’re truly some of my closest friends. Whether it’s giving advice or loading equipment, everyone reciprocates really well in Tennessee. TTA does a lot, I did go on the board this year in an advisory role.

One of my big passions and one of the biggest benefits is the University of Tennessee Turfgrass program. The professors, the three I work closest with are Dr. Sorochan, Dr. Horvath and Dr. Brosnan. The research assistants, the grad assistants, two key guys who are retiring, and this whole state owes so much gratitude for, Dr. Tom Samples and Dr. Alan Windham. Being here in the Tennessee Turfgrass industry in all these meetings where we have the privilege of going and learning from these really great group of professors, it’s like you’re basically getting a free college education. It’s amazing what these guys do for each individual golf course, but the overall industry, the amount of effort and time and care that all of these different professors at the University of Tennessee. I tell people all the time that we have at UT the best turfgrass program in the nation and there’s some really good ones.

I don’t want to knock anyone else, I flat-out think that UT does it better than anyone else. So I’m really passionate about doing whatever we can as TTA, MTGCSA, ETCGSA, MAGCSA, helping out the university in any way that we can, and we’ve got some good ideas flowing and we need to keep them moving forward because they give us so much.

We’re looking forward to seeing what we can do and continuing to raise funds for the University of Tennessee. I don’t know what all of that looks like yet, numbers-wise, but the ball is rolling and we want to do whatever we can. Getting back to Dr. Samples and Dr. Windham, they have both personally helped me so many times over the years, looking at soil samples, if I’ve got disease pressure, insect pressure, they love what they do. Both of them are really great guys who the whole industry is really going to miss working with. really hope and believe that UT will eventually, when they look at filling those positions, because they’re two of the most important positions in the state. I look forward to eventually see who will be in their place. It’s two key positions that we really need to continue and pass the torch onto two of the next really great minds. Personally, I just want to thank Dr. Samples and Dr. Windham.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

COVER STORY What are some changes or improvements that you hope to see in the industry over the next ten years?

It’s getting better in terms of the payscale, but it needs to continue to go up, we need to keep paying our assistants higher wages, our technicians. My number one asset, and I’ve got two fantastic assistants and my technician Matt McClanahan is a really special, talented, unbelievable asset to me, so I want to continue to pay the key positions and really make it to where you can make a living on the crew.

It’s really important to continue to treat your employees well.

The cost of replacement in any business, but the turfgrass business, I feel like I’ve got about 10 guys that can do everything so it’s continuing to grow employees. People get tired of hearing that but it’s every industry right now, with inflation, it’s going to be a common theme across the board. The cost of replacement is way more.

It takes a while to make a valuable, quality golf course employee because there’s so many different machines and so many job duties and a level of care and attention to detail, it’s easier to continue to invest in the people you’ve got than to constantly be trying to hire people cheap. I’d like to see each golf course continue to invest in people. A lot of courses turn a profit now, invest it back.

What would be your advice for somebody who is considering entering this profession now?

There’s no greater job on earth, I feel really lucky to be a superintendent. It comes with headaches, it comes with long hours, it comes with weekends and holidays. It’s still a service industry job, so you’ve really got to love it, you’ve got to love golf. Anyone can learn. The best people I’ve worked for over the years, some have had turf degrees, some haven’t. They’ve all been fantastic in different ways. I think you just have to be geared a little different. Most of the superintendents I know, we all have very similar personalities. Seems like most of us are all type A, most of us a little bit ADD, the attention to detail, maybe that’s why we all get along so well.

You have to have all of that, but ultimately, you don’t just get out of turf school and go to the top. That’s tough because on your way up, you have be patient with yourself for a number of years because not everyone goes right from turf school to a high end assistant or superintendent job or they could go into sales, or for the chemical or fertilizer companies.

I would recommend this business to everybody, but it’s not for everybody. You’ve got to have, I don’t want to necessarily call it a skill set, because you can learn how to do anything, but you’ve gotta love golf. It doesn’t necessarily mean working all hours of the day anymore, but it’s a different lifestyle. You’re up at 4:30 or 5:00 every day, you’re starting work at 6. It’s not for everybody, but you’ve got to love it.

What do you do when you’re not working?

My wife Laura and I have been married almost 10 years and we have two beautiful kids. My daughter Evelyn just turned four, my son Owen just turned 9 months. We love to travel when we can.

Her family and we’re really close to my family so they live in Denver and her family lives in Cleveland, Tennessee.

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“I would recommend this business to anybody, but it’s not for everybody.”

It’s nice that most of my best friends are all industry people here in middle Tennessee, so we get together a lot, go on a lot of golf trips. My wife and I like to travel to the beach with the kids and we love Nashville. You’ve got 10 state parks within 30 miles, two lakes, Titans, Predators, Sounds, we have a soccer team, a racetrack, Broadway, which is a blast, but the food, the music scene, everything about the city is great. My wife and I live in East Nashville, it’s a fun, eclectic part of town. I just feel like it has a lot to offer. I don’t have a ton of free time since I have kids, it’s a blast. I’ve had some really good advice from other supers talking about work/life balance. Once I had kids, it forced me to look at this job a little bit differently.

My assistant’s wife watches my kids. They live right across the street from the golf course so I actually bring my kids to work every morning from 5:30 to about 6:15 and then I take them to daycare. The crew loves interacting with both kids, so that’s been pretty cool. Both kids love riding around the golf course. Sometimes my daughter says, “Hey Dad, wanna go ride, wanna go hit golf balls?” After a long day, as much as I love this club, I don’t always want to come back after I go pick them up. But I would love both kids to get into golf. It’s offered me so many opportunities. I’ve traveled all over the world playing golf, I’ve worked all over the United States, I think five or six different country clubs over a 23-year period.

To hear Dan’s full interview, visit TheTurfZone.com.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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FEATURE

CARPENTER BEES: UNINVITED HOUSEGUESTS WHO DO NOT TAKE A HINT

By Dr. Jennifer Tsuruda, Assistant Professor, and Dr. Karen Vail, Professor, UT Entomology and Plant Pathology Department

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An adult carpenter bee (Xylocopa sp.) visits Chastetree (Vitex sp.) flowers in spring (photo by J. Tsuruda)

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Carpenter bees are similar in appearance to bumble bees (Bombus sp.). This female bumble bee is also foraging on Chastetree flowers at the same time in spring (photo by J. Tsuruda)

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Male carpenter bees (Xylocopa sp.) can be distinguished from females by the presence of a light patch on the male “face” (photo by C. D. Pless and G. Schweiger)

4

Female carpenter bees (Xylocopa sp.) excavate nesting galleries in dead wood, but also soffits, eaves, decking, gazebos, and portions of other household structures (photo by J. Tsuruda)

S

pring is here, and as floral resources become abundant, bees begin buzzing and developing their nests. Most people who spend time outside are familiar with large carpenter bees (Xylocopa species) – their size, loud buzzing, and hovering make them hard to miss. While the behavior and activity of these native bees can be problematic for homeowners, these bee species also provide beneficial pollinator services.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE CARPENTER BEES Large bees, 0.75" (20 mm) or more in length Dark/black abdomen [Photo 1] • Carpenter bees are similar in appearance to bumble bees [Photo 2] • The adult abdomen is less hairy than bumble bees • Carpenter bees have a “shiny hiney”, with little to no hair [Photo 1] Light patch on the “face” of males [Photo 3] • Males cannot sting but can appear intimidating when hovering around people near nesting sites or females ylocopa virginica and Xylocopa micans both X occur in Tennessee. Other species may be present in other regions

REPRODUCTIVE HABITS AND RESOURCE USE Rather than living in colonies, like honey bees and bumble bees, female carpenter bees create nesting galleries in wood. Carpenter bee entrance holes excavated by females are very clean and circular, around ½" (12 mm) in diameter [Photo 4]. From the entrance hole, the colony-founding female will turn and chew one or more tunnels that are often 4 – 7" long, but can extend several feet after reuse and expansion over multiple years.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022

OTHER INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH CARPENTER BEE NESTS

Although the giant resin bee (Megachile sculpturalis) cannot drill through wood like carpenter bees, this nonnative, introduced bee species may occupy abandoned carpenter bee galleries or displace carpenter bees and capitalize on these pre-existing nesting sites. Female giant resin bees are similar in appearance to female and male carpenter bees – at least 0.75” (at least 20 mm) in length and dark in color, but are narrower in width [Photo 5]. Native to Asia, giant resin bees pollinate a federally threatened viny plant (Apios priceana, known as Price’s PotatoBean) that is native to the southeastern region of the United States, as well as other flowering plants.

A giant resin bee (Megachile sculpturalis) foraging on Vitex sp.

(Chastetree) flowers (photo by Frank Vassen, CC-BY-2.0)

5

An adult tiger bee fly (Xenox tigrinus) can parasitize carpenter bee nests and displace Xylocopa larvae (photo by Christina Butler, CC-BY-2.0)

6

The tiger bee fly, Xenox tigrinus, is a parasitoid of the carpenter bee and derives its name from the dark wing stripes resembling that of a tiger [Photo 6]. Tiger bee fly larvae hatch from eggs laid in the carpenter bee nest and feed on the carpenter bee larva or pupa in its cell.

These complex interactions within our landscape ecosystems highlight the need for thoughtful and careful management plans for pests and beneficial organisms. We continue to search for simple and effective solutions to pest activity, but carpenter bee nesting and interactions of these species with humans and other pollinators exemplify how different circumstances may warrant different strategies. In spring, when nesting female carpenter bees are chewing into our homes, it is easy to simply classify them as pests, rather than beneficial pollinators.

In reality and like many organisms, carpenter bees have both harmful and helpful behaviors. With a bit of effort, we can employ practices to limit their structural harm in ways that allow their ecosystem benefits to be appreciated.

TTA • TVSTMA • TGCSA

19

FEATURE

TifTuf® Bermuda, HGT Bluegrass, Turf-Type Tall Fescues and Zeon® Zoysia BRAD JEAN, OWNER 166 Lester Limbaugh Lane • Belvedere, TN 37306 Cell: 931-703-9758 • Phone: 931-962-3481 CHRIS HAYES, MANAGER 6121 New Hope Road • Sweetwater, TN Cell: 423-506-0019 • Phone: 423-337-0777 M EM BE R

A tunnel consists of a series of cells, each provisioned with a ball of pollen mixed with nectar, and a single egg [Photo 7]. Each cell is sectioned off with a division of chewed up wood pulp.

After hatching, the larva consumes the provisions and progresses through multiple larval instars before pupating into an adult. Adults emerge in the summer and forage on floral resources before overwintering in galleries. In the spring, males typically emerge earlier than females and establish and guard territories and females.

Given the overlapping housing issues for humans and carpenter bees, many homeowners are surprised that carpenter bees can still be considered beneficial insects for their ecosystem services [Photo 8]. Native bees, including carpenter bees, pollinate approximately 15% of agricultural crops in the US. Carpenter bees are also frequent pollinators of home gardens that include tomatoes, eggplants, and other plants needing sonication for the release of pollen (buzz pollination).

General preferences for carpenter bees include unpainted, untreated, weathered wood from varieties of softwood trees, like cedar, spruce, and pine, that are easier to chew. However, lumber from less preferred hardwood species may be utilized if these are the only available resources.

Carpenter bee galleries in natural wood can be found in stumps, logs, and dead branches. Structural lumber and fence posts are timber products that are frequently compromised.

CARPENTER BEE DAMAGE AND MANAGEMENT While carpenter bees contribute valuable ecosystem services as pollinators, they also are often considered pests. Our annoyance also stems from sustained infestations, repeated fly-by’s and buzzing, and defecation streaking below nest entry holes [Photo 9]. A single year’s nest building may not result in extensive damage, but carpenter bees continue to expand upon old nests, adding additional galleries in subsequent years. In time, their activity can weaken structural timbers if not curtailed.

Successful management often requires multiple actions, repeated treatments, and persistent efforts.

7 8

9

PHOTO 7: A gallery tunnel consists of a series of cells, each containing a single egg provisioned with a ball of pollen mixed with nectar, and sectioned off from each other with a division of chewed up wood pulp.

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PHOTO 8: Despite damage caused by nesting excavations, male and female carpenter bees also provide ecosystem services as pollinators, like this female on Passion flower (Passiflora sp.). (photo by J. Tsuruda)

PHOTO 9: Female carpenter bees also excrete fecal waste from the entrance to their nesting holes that can result in messy and unappealing streaking and discoloration on adjacent surfaces (photo courtesy of UT Entomology and Plant Pathology archive)

TTA • TVSTMA • TGCSA

21

FEATURE

Mike Jones, CGCS

Territory Sales Specialist for GA, AL, & TN Mobile: (470) 347-2045 • Email: michael.jones@basf.com BASF P&SS • P.O. Box 71607 • Newnan, GA 30271

Commercial traps are available that provide easy entry holes and less obvious exits. Simple designs utilize a wooden block with an appropriately-sized entrance hole and tunnel to attract and lead the bees to a clear compartment – a destination with no exit. Bees struggle to find a way out and eventually exhaust themselves to death. Additional work is needed to determine how effective these are at eliminating female carpenter bees, which are the individuals that build nests, and whether traps measurably decrease nesting in structural wood.

Non-chemical management also can include inserting a strong but flexible wire into galleries to destroy developing bees. Once cells are damaged, the entrance hole should be plugged and sealed with plastic wood, putty, or a similar substance. If possible, paint the patched surface to further discourage reentry. This method is more likely to be successful for nests with few and short galleries, and seasonal timing should be considered for effective implementation.

Reducing or replacing exposed wood can help prevent initial probing and excavation. This pro-active approach is most practical when building new structures and refurbishing severe damage.

Non-wooden materials like vinyl are unlikely to encourage nesting. Lumber from hardwood species is generally less preferred than softwoods, but nesting in hardwood can still occur if preferred wood sources or sites are unavailable.

For wooden eaves, siding, or decks with nesting issues, application of registered pesticides that are labeled for carpenter bee control is an option. Dust, spray, and foam formulations are available but insecticidal dusts can be easily blown into an entrance and further spread throughout the gallery by the bees. In addition, dusts will not be absorbed into the wood like the other formulations, and will be available to the newly emerged adult bees.

Consult Extension factsheets for pesticide suggestions1 that can be used by pest management professionals (https:// tiny.utk.edu/W658) and by homeowners (https://tiny.utk.edu/PB1303). As with the non-chemical wire method, the entrance holes should be sealed after treatment with plastic wood, putty, or a similar substance to prevent re-colonization. However, when applying dusts, wait at least a day before plugging to allow time for the female colony-founding female to contact and distribute the dust within the tunnels.

CHALLENGES TO SUCCESSFUL CARPENTER BEE MANAGEMENT There are no simple, one-time treatments that are likely to provide effective management of carpenter bees nesting in structures. Simply sealing nesting holes without treating or eliminating developing bees can result in those bees exiting the nest by chewing new holes, thereby creating new openings (and opportunities) in the wood. Pesticide reapplication is usually needed for long-term control. Successful carpenter bee management may take several years because their reproductive life cycle spans the calendar year.

As a caution to applicators, the insecticides that may be used for carpenter bees are not specific to just this type of bee so it is highly important to follow the label and adopt practices that prevent and reduce the likelihood of accidental pesticide exposure to non-target insects (e.g., other pollinators). A second reason for plugging and sealing nest entrance holes is to prevent entry and infestation by other pests, and also helps keep insecticides within the gallery. Without sealing, insecticides can leak into the surrounding environment, where other beneficial insects and birds may be foraging, nesting, or visiting.

DID YOU K NO W? Unlike large carpenter bees that nest in household structures, soffits, and moldings, small carpenter bee species in the genus Ceratina nest in pithy plant stems rather than household structures. Due to their smaller size (less than 8 mm long) and plant-nesting behaviors, small carpenter bees are not considered economic pests.

More information on carpenter bee biology and management can be found in the UT Extension publication “W 876 Nature’s RightAngle Drill: Carpenter Bees” — please scan the QR code to the right or visit: https://tiny.utk.edu/W876 1 CAUTION: Some pesticides mentioned in this publication may not be legal outside of TN. If in doubt, please consult your county Extension office or regulatory agency. Furthermore, ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR THE PRODUCT YOU ARE USING. This article was originally published in Tennessee GreenTimes, Spring 2022 and is reprinted with permission.

TTA • TVSTMA • TGCSA

23

FEATURE

MOBILE WEED MANUAL A NEW AND IMPROVED

By J.T. Brosnan and G.K. Breeden, University of Tennessee, Dept. of Plant Sciences

regardless of turf type or generate options for weed control in different ornamental plantings. Regardless of the search performed, all herbicides returned would be ranked based on results of UT research trials and contain direct links to both product labels and safety data sheets (SDS). When a particular weed-herbicide combination had not been studied at UT but was labeled for the use outlined via the search, results were marked “LND – Labeled but no UT data available.”

The initial launch of the Mobile Weed Manual website was very successful. The site was updated once annually (typically in January) and drew over 234,000 visitors from 191 different countries, as well as each of the 50 United States and over 268 municipalities across Tennessee. One hurdle that limited use was that Mobile Weed Manual was not available for download as a standalone mobile application on smartphones and tablets. Users were forced to save the web address to the home screen of their devices for it to function similar to a mobile application. Additionally, functionality was either compromised or negated in areas with limited or no internet access.

MOBILE WEED MANUAL 2.0 In 2021, a decision was made to upgrade Mobile Weed Manual.

This upgrade would have several primary objectives: M ake this resource available for download as a standalone mobile application I mprove the user-interface to facilitate faster searching I ncorporate photos of both turfgrass and weeds to aid users I mprove the data framework to facilitate in-season updates.

FIGURE W

Thanks to a collaboration with digital specialists at mesur.io, a new and improved Mobile Weed Manual 2.0 launched in June 2021.

This free resource is now available as a standalone mobile application for use on Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. The historical web address, mobileweedmanual.com, was also updated and takes users to the new and improved version of this resource.

Download for Apple Devices via the App Store:

BACKGROUND The University of Tennessee (UT) launched Mobile Weed Manual in May 2013 as a new resource to aid individuals in selecting herbicides for use in both warm- and cool-season turfgrass, as well as ornamentals. This digital resource was a replacement to a historical UT Extension publication, PB 1789- Weed Control for Turf Managers in Tennessee, that was only available in county extension offices in print form.

Mobile Weed Manual was initially developed as mobile-friendly website (mobileweedmanual.com) that allowed use on any device that had access to the internet. Users could quickly filter through the entire suite of active ingredients labeled for use in turfgrass or ornamentals to find options for their unique situation. Users could simply select their turf type and/or weed species to get a list of herbicides that would be applicable to that situation. Conversely, a user could generate a list of herbicides to control a specific weed

24

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ mobile-weed-manual/id1572882654

Download for Android Devices via the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/ details?id=io.mesur.manual.prd&hl=en_US&gl=US The new and improved Mobile Weed Manual 2.0 gained popularity quickly, drawing over 1,000+ users per month after initial launch.

Users have taken advantage of a new user-interface that streamlines searches, as well as incorporation of both weed and turfgrass photos to guide individuals through the search process (Figure W). Coupling turfgrass and weed identification photos with herbicide recommendations was a logical next step in the advancement of the weed ID tool that was part of a historical version of tnturfgrassweeds.org.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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FEATURE An additional benefit of the new user-interface is that Mobile Weed Manual 2.0 can now recommend herbicide mixtures to control problematic weeds such as Poa annua (Figure X).

Additionally, the Mobile Weed Manual data frame was also updated to improve our ability to keep the resource current. Mobile Weed Manual 2.0 can now be updated multiple times during the season (rather than once annually) such that users will also have access to the most current label and efficacy information for over 114 different herbicides labeled for use in turf and ornamentals. With the ability to regularly update Mobile Weed Manual 2.0, users are encouraged to provide feedback on how to enhance the resource (Figure Y). This could include adding new weeds, new herbicides, or other functionality changes.

We encourage everyone to download Mobile Weed Manual 2.0 for the upcoming season and hope it’s a helpful tool in selecting herbicides for use in turfgrass and landscape ornamentals.

Authors would like to acknowledge Mike Prorock, Russell Hofvendahl, Chris Abernethy, and Tom Rump from mesur.io for their efforts in developing Mobile Weed Manual 2.0

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

THE TURFGRA SS 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 @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 @ 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 @ 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 @ 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 @gbreeden1

Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. Associate Director, Center for Athletic Field Safety Turfgrass Management & Physiology (865) 974-6730 kdickso1@utk.edu @ 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 @ 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 @ 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/ @ UTPlantDoc

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27

FEATURE

PESTICIDES OF THE FUTURE

By Eric Reasor, Ph.D. — Southeast Research Scientist, PBI-Gordon Corporation

P

esticides have undergone significant changes in the past 50 years with an increased focus on environmental and applicator safety. Tennessee Turfgrass Association members and the entire turfgrass industry will see pesticide technologies in the future look very different than the past. However, despite many future changes, pesticides will continue being a highly effective tool for turfgrass pest management.

IMPORTANCE OF PESTICIDES IN PEST MANAGEMENT Pesticides are any substance or mixture of substances used to kill pests or manage the damage they cause and are an important tool for managing turfgrass pests1. Turfgrasses have been used for functional, recreational, and aesthetic purposes to enhance human lives for hundreds of years,2 and many pests can significantly reduce these desired qualities. For example, disease and insect pests can infect or feed on turfgrass plants, leaving infected areas susceptible to wear damage, or environmental stresses such as drought. Furthermore, weed pests such as large crabgrass and white clover can compromise the safety of natural grass athletic fields by increasing the surface hardness ~ 50% compared to hybrid bermudagrass3.

Integrated pest management (IPM) is an approach that combines multiple chemical and non-chemical methods for pest management. Most of these techniques involve maximizing turfgrass growth and plant health by species and variety selection, mowing, cultivation, fertilization, and irrigation. Although these cultural practices are critical for pest management, turfgrass quality expectations and lack of control thresholds drive the need for pest-free turfgrass. As a result, pesticides are still the backbone

28

of turfgrass pest management1. The widespread use and necessity of turfgrass pesticides will require the industry to evolve as the pesticides change in the future.

HISTORY OF PESTICIDES Understanding the history of pesticides and their use is important to the future of pesticides. There are currently five main time periods of pesticide use that describe the type of pesticides used during those times. Current time periods can be described as 1) early pest management prior to year 1000, 2) 1000 to 1850, 3) 1850 to 1940, 4) 1940 to 1970, and 5) 1970 to present. Additional time periods are likely to occur as pesticides enter a new era in the future.

The first recorded use of pesticides is about 4500 years ago by Sumerians, who applied sulfur compounds to battle insects and mites. This type of pesticide use continued until approximately year 1000 when the use of plant, animal, or mineral derivatives increased. From 1850 to 1940, pesticides were mainly inorganic compounds and industrial by-products. Moreover, pesticide use during these times typically involved high active ingredient application rates and unsafe application methods. Following the 1940s and scientific advancement after WWII, synthetic organic compounds were being developed for pesticides as a result of organic chemistry being applied to pesticide science. These synthetic organic pesticides still had high application rates in the kilograms per hectare for active ingredients, such as thiuram and DDT. However, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) was established in 1947 to set guidelines for pesticides registered in the United States. FIFRA determines product uses, application rates, and potential hazards. They also developed the pesticide labeling process to instruct end-users on proper and safe applications.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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FEATURE Pesticide science vastly changed in the 1970s. Pesticide research expanded outside of the US and Europe and became a worldwide field. The active ingredients themselves begin to change with lower-risk synthetic organic molecules effective at extremely low dosages. Furthermore, these newer active ingredients are more readily degradable, less persistent in the environment, and are more selective against the target pest4. Why the change? In 1972, FIFRA was revised and was moved to the responsibility of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This revision shifted the emphasis of the regulatory process toward environmental protection and public health5.

Another major change with FIFRA was the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996. This legislation tasked the EPA with conducting the most comprehensive and historic review of pesticide and food safety laws. The FQPA amended FIFRA by fundamentally changing the EPA’s pesticide evaluation and regulation processes. Through this change, thousands of pesticides and their uses were either modified or eliminated. Then in 2007, an amendment to FIFRA required the EPA to review registered pesticides at least once every 15 years. This review process has yielded changes with many active ingredients and their uses5.

PESTICIDES OF THE FUTURE Pesticides and their applications will continue to evolve in the future just as much as it has changed in the past. Low-risk synthetic organic compounds are still being developed; however, a new focus has shifted to other types of pesticides and pest management strategies. Examples of these include biological and RNAi pesticides (which will be described in more detail below).

In addition to chemistry changes, pesticide applications and

30

delivery systems will change with formulation technology and site-specific applications6, 4.

Biological pest control and biopesticides are tools with a recent substantial increase in research and development. Biological control is founded on using beneficial organisms to reduce populations of pest organisms, or at least keep them below destructive thresholds. Turfgrass managers already implement some biocontrol by promoting a healthy environment for optimal turfgrass growth. This type of biocontrol can be described as general pest suppression, whereas specific pest suppression uses specific, selected organisms, to manage pests.

Biopesticides are pesticides, but they are derived from natural materials such as animals, bacteria, fungi, plants, and certain minerals. Biopesticides are classified based on their origin and it must provide some level of pest control to be considered a biopesticide7. Microbial biopesticides have a living organism or a product of a living organism as the active ingredient, and biochemical biopesticides have naturally occurring compounds, such as plant extracts, as the active ingredient. There are commercially available products of both biopesticide categories. However, pest control may be limited when high pest populations or environmental conditions highly conducive to damage are present. Furthermore, biopesticides may be limited in long-term storage stability and formulation difficulties. In specific turfgrass situations, biopesticides can be one alternative to synthetic pesticides. Examples of beneficial organisms used in turfgrass to manage specific pests are Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Research and development into biopesticides will continue to increase in future decades. It has been predicted that the biopesticide market will equal and potentially outpace synthetic pesticides by the 2060s8.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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FEATURE Ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference (RNAi) pesticides are another growing area of pesticide research and development. RNAi is a naturally occurring process that uses double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to interfere with normal RNA processes. Normal RNA processes start with DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) transcribing into RNA and then RNA translating into amino acids, which are then used to make proteins. RNAi pesticides disrupt a targeted step in these processes. This allows specific genes within plants and pests to be targeted and manipulated to achieve a desired result. Applications of RNAi compounds are being developed to provide an alternative to synthetic organic compounds. The RNAi currently used for pest management involves dsRNA that can silence essential genes in insects, pathogens, and weeds. These applications are highly specific for the target pest, where non-target effects are minimalized, or even avoided. RNAi has already been used to target plant diseases such as cereal rusts and Botrytis grey fruit mold. It has also been used to develop virus-resistant

crops such as papaya, plum, squash, and tomato9. The use of RNAi pesticides in turfgrass pest management will likely be pest specific and will still rely on proper turfgrass cultural practices.

PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS OF THE FUTURE Pesticide applications and formulations are evolving similar to pesticide active ingredients with a focus on increased environmental safety and reduced inputs. Precise, site-specific pesticide applications is one method that can reduce overall pesticide inputs, and pesticide formulation technology can increase the environmental safety of the final pesticide product. Applying safer pesticides in more precise locations aligns with the future direction of pesticide regulation. New application strategies will be a significant change from traditional broadcast or blanket applications, but the technology involved will be end-user driven (Photo 1).

PHOTO 1: Drone technology will become more widespread in the near future. The photo on the left is what the drone sees during a typical fairway flyover. The photo on the right is a NDVI map (normalized difference vegetation index). This shows turfgrass health / stress across the fairway – GREEN is healthy and higher “quality” and RED is stressed or lower “quality”. Drones and ground equipment are both capable of collecting NDVI data. Aerial and ground NDVI measurements have shown strong correlation. Similar technology is being perfected to reduce overall pesticide inputs by only targeting areas when a pest population reaches a specific threshold. Photo courtesy Dr. Chase Straw, Texas A&M University.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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FEATURE The theory of precision turfgrass management (PTM) is to measure detailed, site-specific information to precisely apply resources (e.g., water, fertilizer, pesticides). Precision turfgrass management has the potential to reduce overall pesticide inputs by only targeting areas with a present pest population, areas with repeated history of pest issues, or areas with highly conducive environments.

This would rely on sensor technology, GPS, and GIS systems to accurately measure, analyze, and apply the data10. Sensor equipment could be mounted to a variety of ground or aerial equipment such as mowers, tractors, golf carts, or even drones to make the necessary measurements for management decisions (Photo 2).

Researchers are in the early stages of developing the PTM technology for turfgrass pest management. Initial technology will likely focus on controlling specific pest species or issues and may not be applicable to every situation. Turfgrass managers already practice some sort of PTM by managing various areas differently based on many factors, including soil characteristics, turfgrass species, slope, height-of-cut, traffic patterns, etc. These management differences are based on anecdotal or quantified data, but the evolution of PTM will be based on acquiring real-time, detailed site information to make decision making more precise and efficient.10 Many hurdles remain for the wide adoption of PTM, nevertheless it is one of the key components of the future of pesticides and their applications.

Pesticide formulation research is important because the pesticide active ingredients comprise only a percentage of the final product.

The co-formulants are just as important as the active ingredient for pest control efficacy, product storage/stability, product compatibility, and overall product performance. Different pesticide formulations have advantages and disadvantages, but there has been a shift in trends due to growing concerns on using solvents as co-formulants. Solvent-based emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations are being phased out with the focus shifted on solvent-free formulations (granules [G], soluble liquids [SL], suspension concentrates [SC], and water dispersible granules [WDG]). A new, water-based formulation, emulsion-in-water (EW), uses almost no solvents and has emulsifying agents to improve handling, storage, and transport

characteristics. Synthetic pesticide formulation research will continue to evolve for increased applicator and environment safety because synthetic pesticides are still the most economical and effective pesticide option.

Nanotechnology is one of the more recent developments in pesticide formulation research11. Nanotechnology research involves manipulation of particles ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm)12. For reference, one nm is one-billionth (10-9) of a meter and there are 25,400,000 nm in one inch (Figure 1).

These nanoparticles are being developed to encapsulate nanosized pesticide active ingredients to potentially provide a “controlled release” of the pesticide to the target pest. Furthermore, encapsulation materials can be biocompatible and biodegradable11.

Pesticides formulated as nanoparticles have the potential to increase the efficacy against target pests, reduce the physical degradation, and further reduce the environmental risk13, 14. For example, nanoparticles have been reported to protect neem oil (Azadirachta indica) from degradation to extend its efficacy against insect pests7. However, nanotechnology in pesticide science has been sparsely researched in field conditions and thus not widely commercialized due to several challenges. There are concerns regarding environmental fate, bioavailability and release rates, transport and storage, and cost effectiveness7, 15. Nanotechnology and nanopesticide research will continue, but their application in turfgrass and availability to turf managers is still unknown.

Pesticides and their use have vastly changed within the past 50 years, with an increased focus on environmental and applicator safety. Tennessee Turfgrass Association members and turfgrass managers could witness even greater significant pesticides changes in the future. Pesticides will continue to evolve with newer technologies such as biological and RNAi pesticides. It is uncertain when some of these new pesticide technologies will be commercially available for pest control in turfgrass. Moreover, it is possible some will not provide acceptable pest control, be too injurious to desirable species, or too costly for wide adoption. As a result, synthetic pesticides will remain the most effective pesticide tool until these technologies are developed specially for turfgrass.

PHOTO 2: Precision Turfgrass Management (PTM): Researchers measuring turfgrass surface and soil characteristics for developing site-specific, PTM programs. The aerial drone is measuring normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), while the Toro Precision Sense 6000 tow-behind ground unit measures soil moisture, soil compaction, soil salinity and NDVI. Photo courtesy Dr. Chase Straw, Texas A&M University.

FIGURE 1: For reference, it would take 25,400, 000 nano-particles stacked side-by-side to equal one inch. Many nano-pesticides will be encapsulated within the range of 1 to 100 nanometers.

Not seen with the naked eye, it takes electron microscope technology to view these particles.

ONE INCH

= { 34

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

25,400,000 nm

}

LITERATURE CITED 1. Koppenhofer, A.M., R. Latin, B.A. McGraw, J.T. Brosnan, and W.C. Crow. 2013. Integrated pest management. In Turfgrass: Biology, Use, and Management. eds. J.C. Stier, B.P. Horgan, and S.A. Bonos. Madison, WI. pp. 933-1006.

2. Beard, J.B. and R.L. Green. 1994. The role of turfgrasses in environmental protection and their benefits to humans. J. of Environ. Qual. 23:452-460.

3. Brosnan, J.T., K.H., Dickson, J.C. Sorochan, A.W. Thoms, and J.C. Stier. 2014. Large crabgrass, white clover, and hybrid bermudagrass athletic field playing quality in response to simulated traffic. Crop Sci. 54:1838-1843. doi:10.2135/cropsci2013.11.0754 4. Umetsu, N. and Y. Shirai. 2020. Development of novel pesticides in the 21st century. J. Pestic. Sci. 45(2):54-74. doi:10.1584/jpestics.D20-201 5. Reicher, Z.J., P.H. Dernoeden, and D.S. Richmond. 2013. Insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and growth regulators used in turfgrass systems.

In Turfgrass: Biology, Use, and Management. eds.

J.C. Stier, B.P. Horgan, and S.A. Bonos. Madison, WI. pp. 891-932.

6. Umetsu, N. and A. Ando. 2004. Development of environmentally friendly agrochemicals. In Frontiers of Environmental Pesticide Science. eds. M. Ueji et al. Soft Science. pp. 224-248 7. Damalas, C.A. and S.D. Koutroubas. 2018. Current status and recent developments in biopesticide use.

Agriculture. 8(13). doi:10.3390/agriculture8010013

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAY WITH

8. Olsen, S. 2015. An analysis of the biopesticides market now and where is going. Outlooks Pest Mgt. 26:203-206.

9. Mezzetti, B. J. Sweet, and L. Burgos. 2021. Introduction to RNAi in plan production and protection.

CAB International. doi:10.1079/ 9781789248890.0001 10. Carrow, R.N., J.M. Krum, I. Flitcroft, and V. Cline.

2010. Precision turfgrass management: Challenges and field applieds for mapping turfgrass soil and stress. Precision Agric. 11:115-134. doi:10.1007/ s11119-009-9136-y 11. Prasad, R., A. Bhattacharyya, and Q. D. Nguyen.

2017. Nanotechnology in Sustainable Agriculture: Recent Developments, Challenges, and Perspectives. J. Frontier Microbiology. doi: 10.3389/ fmicb.2017.01014

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12. Hobson, D.W., 2011. Industrial biotechnology and commodity product. In Comprehensive Biotechnology (Second Edition). eds. M. Butler and M. Moo-Young. Volume 3: pp. 683-697 13. De Oliveira, J.L., E.V.R. Campos, and L.F. Fraceto. 2018. Recent developments and challenges for nano-scale formulation of botanical pesticides for use in sustainable agriculture. J. Agric.

Food Chem. 66(34): 8898-8913. doi.org/10.1021/acs. jafc.8b03183 14. Khot, L.R., S. Sankaran, J.M. Maja, R. Ehsani, and E.W. Schuster. 2012. Applications o nanomaterials in agricultural production and crop protection: A review. Crop Protection. 35:64-70. doi. org/10.1016/ j.cropro.2012.01.007 15. Mishra, S., C. Keswani, P.C. Abhilash, L.F. Fraceto, and H.B. Singh. 2017. Integrated approach of agri-nanotechnology: Challenges and future trends. Front. Plant Sci. 8:471. doi.org/10.3389/ fpls.2017.00471

This article was originally published in Alabama Turf Times, Spring 2022.

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FEATURE

LAWN CARE PROFESSIONALS FINDING NEW OPTIONS FOR GETTING THE JOB DONE: Patent-pending Solution Developed on University of Tennessee-Knoxville Campus

One of the first Powershed units installed for experimental use on the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture campus

Remote setting for Powershed on the driving range of UT golf facilities

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C

hallenges abound for lawn care professionals now, from staffing shortages to fuel costs to unique demands of clients with remote or rugged properties. Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine even boosted a benchmark for fuel costs, Brent Crude Oil, to a 7-year-high. Plus, more stringent environmental rules and requests for quieter lawn care tools are inspiring demand for alternatives to traditional gasoline-powered mowers. Business forecasters are showing even more growth ahead in demand for electric mowers. Arizton Advisory & Intelligence reported robotic mowers are expected to grow at a rate of nearly 16 percent between 2019 and 2025. The Powershed charging concept is designed to power current and future generations of robotic mowers.

On the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, one lawn care professional’s challenge inspired an industrialgrade solution. Matthew Layne’s role as Turf Manager was part of his responsibility for more than 900 acres of property. He recognized that certain areas needed to meet expectations for staying manicured, although they were not necessarily easy for his staff to reach with a typical mowing device. He also had a lack of available electrical outlets in that area. Vice President of UT Research Foundation’s Multi-Campus Office Maha Krishnamurthy Ph.D., MBA said, “Our UT innovator Matthew Layne wanted to solve an increasingly difficult maintenance challenge: one area of the university’s campus was so tough to access that his staff had to scale down a wall holding weed eaters to maintain it – a time-consuming approach. A lack of available outlets in that area and his desire for a sustainable solution to this problem led Matthew and UTRF to search for a commercial partner to co-develop Matthew’s innovation about solar charging stations, specifically for small robotic mowers.”

Layne began reaching out in late 2019 to Knoxville-area solar companies to find a partner for his vision of powering mowers with a standalone photovoltaic device. He connected with General Manager Jon Hamilton and Vice President Harvey Abouelata at Solar Alliance. The group of inventors also found an ally in the University of Tennessee Research Foundation. By 2020, UTRF filed a provisional patent application with the US Patent Office on behalf of Powershed. That fall, Solar Alliance signed a commercial license agreement UTRF to develop and eventually sell the heavy-duty solar charging stations. The patent offers intellectual property protection pending an awarded patent.

Powershed is a uniquely designed system that provides housing and charging for robotic mowers while harnessing power from the sun and including battery power storage. It incorporates CAT photovoltaic panels. Powershed has been tested for more than a year at various sites on the UT Knoxville Campus. The system has been used as a single module with panels providing 440 watts of power, as well as a double module whose panels deliver 880 watts.

A 400 Ah battery is included for power storage. The single module supports a mowing range of approximately two acres, while the double module supports up to six acres of mowing. The system has a web-based monitoring platform and is Bluetooth, Wifi and LTE-enabled. Experimental use of the Powershed on campus has recently been with Husqvarna, ECHO Robotics and Ambrogio mowers. With an estimated 50-million acres of turfgrass in the United States, the President of the National Turfgrass Federation called turf the nation’s fourth largest crop in terms of acreage.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

FEATURE This puts big demands on the lawn care professionals tasked with caring for grounds in residential and commercial settings. Without a tool like Powershed, running electric mowers in more remote areas could involve laying surface cords or installing costly underground conductors and outdoor receptables throughout a property.

A double Powershed Cicada II module has recently been installed for commercial use in St. Augustine, Florida. St. Augustine landscaping company owner Jason Baker said, “Providing services with maximum productivity these days requires the latest tools.

When Powershed and ECHO Robotics go to work for us, our people can be solving another landscaping challenge somewhere else.” Demand for self-contained power systems is not limited to the landscaping industry and spans a variety of trades. According to John Reynolds at Flagler Power Equipment, “The customers drive what we carry at our dealership and our clients are moving toward more electric power tools. We need the flexibility and independence that Powershed affords us. I think it’s going to be more popular as more people can see how much it saves them potentially in time and money.”

ECHO Inc. Vice President of Robotics, Benjamin Houssa explained, “The demand for professional landscaping services is constantly growing, with humongous acres of turf grass in the

United States. ECHO Robotics is pleased to see the Powershed advantage for landscapers who need off-grid solutions to mowing challenges involving labor and location. Powershed untethers our market for more environment-friendly and sustainable sites. It also drives more opportunities for ECHO Robotics applications.”

Powershed is designed to coordinate with any brand of robotic mower, providing a combination of weather-resistant storage plus overall capacity to meet commercial-scale needs. It is constructed of aluminum and high density polyetheylene (HDPE) plastic.

The AC outlet provides a way to charge batteries or other equipment directly from the unit. The sleek design can be incorporated in plain view. In addition to powering lawn mowers, the system could potentially power other outdoor equipment such as lighting in remote areas. It offers an alternative when there is a lack of employees or a security need to minimize numbers of people in a certain area of a campus.

“We are really excited about all the possibilities for Powershed!

The more we talk to people, the more applications we realize there are for Powershed. If you have a campus that requires special security and limits to people, if you need landscape lighting in remote areas, the list goes on. As people make the decision move away from fossil fuels, Powershed offers a path,” said Harvey Abouelata, Vice President of Solar Alliance.

Cicada II double module installed for commercial use in St. Augustine, Florida

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS APRIL / MAY 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Krishnamurthy said, “UTRF is proud to partner with forward-thinking local partners, like Solar Alliance, to advance UT’s innovative solutions to the market. In spite of the pandemic, Solar Alliance is achieving our diligence milestones. With growing customer demand for sustainable solutions, Powershed will continue to gain momentum.”

About the University of Tennessee Research Foundation: UT Research Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Per its website, it “promotes the commercialization of UT intellectual property, encourages an entrepreneurial culture, contributes to state and regional economic development, and promotes research and education to benefit the people of Tennessee and beyond...

UTRF works to help move ideas to the marketplace.”

About Solar Alliance: Solar Alliance provides skilled East Tennessee jobs while leading the way in commercial and residential installations and related energy monitoring. The Company is currently collaborating with Knoxville Utilities Board to build the city’s first Community Solar project in 2022. Solar Alliance also deploys chargers for homes and businesses in support of electrification and the growing need for electric vehicles. Solar Alliance operates in Tennessee, Kentucky, North/South Carolina and Illinois with an expanding pipeline of solar projects. Since its founding in 2003, the Company has developed $1 billion of renewable energy projects that provide enough electricity to power 150,000 homes.

LINKS

https://utrf.tennessee.edu/ https://www.solaralliance.com/ our-projects/powershed/ https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=TN https://www.arizton.com/news/press-release/ global-robotic-lawn-mower-market-size

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