AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Field Management Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association TTA Member Spotlight on JOHN WAGNON PLUS, THE 411 ON FALL ARMYWORMS
Tur fgrasses for the 21st Centur y 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. www.WinsteadTurfFarms.com 901.867.8116 • 1.800.624.TURF (8873) 22860 Highway 196 • Arlington, TN 38002
4 The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Field Management Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association DEPARTMENTS From the TTA President 6 From the MTCGCSA President 8 Index of Advertisers 8 From the TVSFMA President 10 The Turfgrass Team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville 39 FEATURES Origins of Turfgrass22 The 411 on Fall Armyworms30 TN Turf Twitter Updates40 Leveraging Untapped Talent Pools42 Cover Story — TTA Member Spotlight on John Wagnon14 Upcoming Event — Save the Date for the TTA Annual Conference & Trade Show12 143022 Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: THETURFZONE.COM TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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hope that everyone is surviving another volatile summer season and thankfully fall is just around the corner. I have been in the green industry for over 30 years and have experienced my fair share of weather extremes. I have worked through a micro-burst with sustained winds over 100 mph, three direct hits from Hurricanes – Charley, Francis and Jean, ice storms, snowstorms, temps below zero and well above 100. You work in the green industry long enough and you pretty much will experience it all.
Godspeed my Turfgrass Friends,
TTA President I FROM THE TTA PRESIDENT Christopher C. Sykes
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org6
COASTERROLLERWEATHER
The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Field Management Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) www.ttaonline.orginfo@ttaonline.org928-7001 PUBLISHED BY Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) info@leadingedgecommunications.com790-3718 EDITOR Dr. James Brosnan TTA OFFICERS SecretaryVicePresidentChrisSykesTellicoVillagePresidentRyanStoreyLinetoLineLLC/TreasurerRyanBlair,CGCSHolstonHillsCountry Club PastBelleDougPresidentWardMeade Country Club ExecutiveTennesseeMelissaDirectorMartinTurfgrass Association TTA 2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jason Bradley Bart Cash Ben Dodd Dan JeffJohnMarkJasonBobBillJeffJeffCalAshleyJohnsonGaskinHillHuberKuhnsMarbetMcLeanSandersonStovallWagnonWyatt 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
The transition zone is unique in so many ways and the weather is no exception. We get to experience it all in the Tri-Star State and the weather only seems to be getting more volatile. The 100-year rain seems to come every few years and the summer thun derstorms only seem to be getting more severe. This season has seemed to be exception ally volatile with a steady pattern of storms that I cannot recall to this degree. We had a drought in June, but ever since I feel like I am back in Florida where you could set your clock to the daily thunderstorms that would pop up around 3 p.m. Just when we needed more work to do, right? Thankfully, we do have better tools, with turbine blowers, super 600’s, and bunkers with hard liners. Still, it is disruptive and a lot of thankless work while we are still battling the worst staffing crisis of our careers. I would ask for some average weather, but we all know that is purely a mathematical equation as we never re ally experience any average weather in the Volunteer State. Again, thankfully fall is just around the corner when things should settle down a little. I am very much looking forward to the consistency that the fall typically brings with our weather with the reduced humidity, less rain, and chances of severe weather. While my Hokies are struggling on the football field these days, I am still very much looking forward to football season and some good ole Tennessee fall weather. Hoping everyone finishes the season strong and remember that we are all in this together. Christopher C. Sykes
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Patrick Daniels MTGCSA President As FROM THE MTGCSA PRESIDENT Patrick Daniels A TOSUMMERREMEMBER BASF P&SS - GA, AL, TN 13 Buyww.basf.comSod,Inc. 29 BWIww.buysod.comCompanies, Inc. 39 Carolinawww.bwicompanies.comGreenCorp. 37 Corbinww.cgcfields.comTurf&Ornamental Supply 27 Crossroadsww.corbinturf.comSodFarm 21 GrassMasterscsfsod.com Sod Farm 25, Inside Back Cover Greenegrassmastersindiana.comCountyFertilizer Co. 41 Greenvillewww.greenecountyfert.comTurf&Tractor,Inc 9 Harrell’sww.greenvilleturf.comLLC Back Cover McCurdyww.harrells.comSodFarms, LLC 41 Mid-Atlanticww.mccurdysodfarms.comSTIHL 31 Modernww.stihldealers.comTurf,Inc. 13 Northww.modernturf.comGeorgiaTurf Company, Inc. 21 Progressivengturf.com Turf Equipment Inc. 11 Regalww.progressiveturfequip.comChemicalCompany 3 Sigmaww.regalchem.comOrganics,Inc. 37 Smithww.SigmaTurf.comTurf&Irrigation 5 Sodww.smithturf.comSolutions 33 STECww.sodsolutions.comEquipment 35 Super-Sodww.stecequipment.com 7 Sur-Lineww.supersod.comTurf,Inc. 38 Theww.surlineturf.comTurfZone 19, 37 Thetheturfzone.comTurfgrassGroup 17 Turfww.theturfgrassgroup.comMountainSod,Inc. 13 Winsteadwww.turfmountain.comTurf Inside Front Cover ww.winsteadturffarms.com ADVERTISER INDEX 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 © 2022 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Tennes see 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, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org8
I sit here writing this article it’s the second week of August in Middle Ten nessee and we are experiencing what I jokingly call a cold snap. Never would I dream that I would call a high of 88 and low of 72 in August anything but normal. As you all know it’s been an absolutely brutal summer. Extreme temperatures, drought, more extreme temperatures, and flooding in some parts just to put the icing on the cake. A salesman told me the other day “Who the heck would’ve thought that August would be our saving grace.’ I personally have been tasked with the increasingly frustrat ing task of keeping bent grass greens alive. It’s funny how we don’t remember the easy summers but sure can’t forget the rough ones. I received a fun statistic from my local power company that said the total hours above 90 degrees for June\July were almost five times greater than that of last year. Just that statistic alone scares me as a superinten dent. With temperatures like these, superintendents are bound to have more grey hairs. I personally lost more turf in a 2-day period than in my previous 11 years combined. This makes you start think “What could I have done differently?” Sprayed more? Watered less/more? Solid tined? This summer will be permanently etched into my mind as one I never want to experience again, but I know will eventually happen again as the summers get hotter and hotter. We take the lumps as they come and take it a day at a time because this is the profession we chose. Deep down most of us love it because when it all comes together and the sun is rising it can be a beautiful thing. The good news is it’s August. The days are getting shorter and lord willing a drop in nighttime temperatures will follow. I know it’s not time to take our foot off the gas yet, but just maybe we can see a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel. We have a meeting coming up in September at the course at Sewanee and I hope to see you all there. Best of luck to everyone in the weeks to come and stay hydrated!
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.orgFROM10 THE TVSFMA PRESIDENT Byran Farris, CSFM
Congratulations to PHIL HATCHERT
VSFMA is going to be using this column a little bit differently from time to time. We have established an “Excellence in Sports Turf” award to recognize the efforts of sports turf managers in the region who Maintain high qual ity athletic field surfaces. Our next recipient of this award is Phil Hatcher, Field Maintenance Foreman for the City of Knoxville Parks & Recreation Department. Tell us about yourself and the turfgrass you manage. I’ve been working in turf for 33 years for the City of Knoxville. I maintain two soccer sites, four complexes, Old Manor baseball field, help with nine community parks, and also help other local high school fields. What led you to turfgrass management? That’s a hard question to answer. It’s hard work, which I enjoy, and my bosses wanted me to manage the turf.
What is most rewarding about the position? I try to make myself a better person in life. Working in turf, I’ve been through so many different situations that I’ve been able to learn how to handle different things in a variety of different ways. What is most challenging about the position? With how the world is today, finding help and keeping them here. What is your favorite “tool” in your turf maintenance toolbox? I’ve been able to get the very most out of the best staff money can buy.
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS FIELD MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION 11 WWW.PROGRESSIVETURFEQUIP.COM 800.668.8873 Better Built. Quality Results. Period. Quality built in North America and supported by a world-wide Dealer network. Tri-Deck cutting widths: 12’, 15.5’, 22’*, 36’* Roller Mower cutting widths: 65”, 90”, 10.5’, 12’, 15.5’, 22’*, 29.5’* Contour/rough finishing mower: Pro-Flex™ 120B 10’ cut TDR-X™ roller mower 10.5’ cut Progressive Turf builds the right mowers and rollers for any field. For over 30 years they have set and re-set the standards in commercial grade mowing equipment. Contact your Progressive Dealer to find out why Progressive products are outstanding in any field! * available with bolt-on galvanized deck shells Turf ProductionGrassMowersContour / Rough Finishing Mowers Sports field, Park and Estate Mowers What tool would you most like to add to your turf maintenance toolbox? Better education and understanding of what turf maintenance is. Why do you do it? I love working on something, changing and making something great for all the kids to play on. Congratulations to Phil, his staff, and the City of Knoxville Parks & Recreation Department! Check us out at www.tvstma.org for more information on the award, membership in our organization, and Meeting dates and locations.
As an association, we are proud to honor and highlight those turfgrass managers who go the extra mile, as recognition by our peers imparts extra significance to these awards.
TOM
Tennessee Turfgrass Association’s annual Conference and Trade Show has historically been a favorite event for members. A world-class education lineup, along with certifications, networking, and award recognition rounds out full lineup of events and workshops that are essential for turfgrass professionals. We were proud to return to an in-person event in January 2022, and we anticipate a great turnout once again for our 2023 gathering. Be sure to register early and make plans
• To be considered a field must have had two full seasons of play (may be concurrent, i.e., football and soccer on the same field in the fall, etc.)
• All materials must be submitted in one application packet to be considered.To nominate:Sports-Field-of-the-Yearhttps://ttaonline.org/
• All materials must be submitted in one application packet to be considered.To nominate:
The Ernest Hardison Memorial Scholarship offers financial aid to students interested in pursuing a career in turf management. The scholarship is funded and administered by the TTA. The Scholarship and Awards Committee will review all applications and select the scholarship recipient. All decisions of the committee will be final. This scholarship will be awarded at the TTA annual conference and a check will be made payable to the recipient in the amount of $2000.
• To be considered a golf course must have had two full seasons of play.
UPCOMING EVENT / 57 TH ANNUAL TTA CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW JANUARY 9 – 11, 2023 / EMBASSY SUITES / MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE
One of the most prestigious and highest recognitions bestowed on a Tennessee turfgrass professional by the Tennessee Turfgrass Associa tion is the Tom Samples Professional of the Year Award. Each year TTA members are given the opportunity to nominate those who they feel have made contributions to the turfgrass industry.
The following criteria must be met to submit for the Tennessee Turf grass Association Sports Field of the Year Award
The following criteria must be met to submit for the Tennessee Turf grass Association Golf Course of the Year Award:
• Property must be in use for at least two years. To nominate: Environmental-Stewardship-Nomination-Formhttps://ttaonline.org/SPORTSFIELDoftheYEAR
PROFESSIONALSAMPLESofthe
1. Applicant must be enrolled at a Tennessee accredited institution of higher learning in Tennessee.
GOLF COURSE of the YEAR
2. Applicant must be the child or grandchild of a current, in good standing member of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association.
The Tennessee Turfgrass Association Legacy Scholarship offers financial aid to children or grandchildren of active TTA members in good standing. Scholarship applicants are not required to be pursuing education in a turfgrass related field to be eligible for the TTA Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship is funded and administered by the TTA. The scholarship is $2000.
The following criteria must be met to submit for the Tennessee Turf grass Association Environmental Stewardship Award:
WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER DANNY BADER
ERNEST HARDISON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
STARS
SupportingGolf-Course-of-the-Year-Nomination-Formhttps://ttaonline.org/SCHOLARSHIPSthenextgenerationthroughcollegescholarships is an honor – TTA is proud to support students in their pursuit of higher education! If you know a high school senior who meets the criteria for these scholarships, please encourage them to apply!
REQUIREMENTS
1. Applicants must be enrolled at a Tennessee accredited institution of higher learning in Tennessee in a turf management related field of study. Applicants who are enrolled in online and/or correspondence courses must be currently employed in a turf management related field in Tennessee.Visitpage-1583684https://ttaonline.org/forapplications.
ELIGIBILITY
• Property must be fully managed by an active and in good standing member of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association.
LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP
12
YEAR
to join us!
OF THE INDUSTRY: TTA AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN, DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 1 ! An exciting part of our Annual Conference program is the presentation of awards and scholarships honoring those members who work hard to demonstrate a commitment to excellence, best practices, innovation, collaboration and dedication. AWARDS
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
The TTA Board hopes to see many businesses and individuals across the state represented in applications this year. Please nominate a deserving professional – it’s quick and easy to complete the nomina tion form!
To nominate:STEWARDSHIPENVIRONMENTALhttps://ttaonline.org/page-1822617AWARD
• For the purposes of this award, a “field” constitutes ONE natural grass playing surface
SEPTEMBERETGCSAMeeting 20 10am (EDT) Woodlake Golf Club TN Turf JANUARYEastWebinarTuesdaySeriesOCTOBER4Virtual11:30am(EDT)32ndAnnualTNScholarship&ResearchGolfTournamentOCTOBER24TheVirginian57thAnnualTTAConferenceandTradeShow9–11,2023EmbassySuitesMurfreesboro CALENDAR OF DATES!EVENTSTHESESAVETENNESSEETURFGRASSASSOCIATION•TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS FIELD MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION 13 ScholarshipMTGCSATournamentOCTOBER3GreyStoneGolfClub 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 Mike Jones, CGCS
Six years in September. What was your career path before that?
How long have you been with the City of Franklin?
I went to school at Tennessee Tech, where I graduated with a Turf grass Management and Ag Business degree. While I was at col lege, their athletic fields were just being mowed with zero turns, so I began working with the Athletic Dept and started changing the practices while I was there. At first maintaining, and then at a higher level with the fertility, agromonics, and purchasing of reel mowers. While in school, I did an internship for the Titans for a year. Then when I graduated, I had the opportunity to work for the University of Florida. I got to learn under a great supervisor there. He was new there, revamping that turf program, so I got to learn a lot being hands-on with that. Then I was able to move back closer to home, where I worked for the Tennessee Smokies, which is the AA team for the Chicago Cubs, in Kodak, TN. I also worked for the Univerity of Tennessee Athletic Depart ment. Then I had another chance to come back even closer to home, and that was this job with the City of Franklin. I’ve also done some game day work helping out a good buddy, Thomas Trotter with the Nashville Sounds. Did you always know this was what you wanted to do? I started out in accounting. In high school I was always good with numbers and math. When I realized I’d be inside all the time in ac counting, that is when I decided to swap. Since I was about halfway done with school, I was able to get a full Ag Business degree because I had all the business classes I needed, so those classes overlapped. 2022 TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
14 COVER STORY ON TTA BOARD CSFMWAGNONSPOTLIGHTMEMBERMEMBER,JOHNATHLETICFIELDANDTURFSUPERVISORCITYOFFRANKLIN–PARKSANDATHLETICS
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS FIELD MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION 15
What is the scope of your work?
16
COVERTENNESSEESTORYTURFGRASS AUGUST
I’m pretty unique with City of Franklin. I’m just in charge of the athletic facilities – so inside the fences. I have a crew of six full time staff, but by the end of year another two will join. We have about 50 acres we maintain; 19 clay surfaces, 15 are base ball fields; four adult softball; six football fields, two get turned into lacrosse. Last year we had six clubs, including Franklin High School boys and girls lacrosse, use our fields as game fields. I’m also unique in that we have an equestrian outdoor arena. Not only do I maintain your typical baseball/softball/football/la crosse fields, we also maintain a 150x300 equestrian arena that’s got about five acres of paddocks around it that we maintain as well. We’re over all the daily tasks – fields mowed, edged, weedeated, lines down on appropriate playing surface for that time of year. Also I make all the agronomic calls from writing fertility plans, scouting for pests, looking at short and long term projects, reviewing plans of future facilities that we’re building. In addition to fields, we have basketball and tennis courts that we’re in charge of. We have a cricket facility coming and a brand new park that’s over 300 acres. In the next 4 years we will double our acreage. That’s exciting to watch. This project is currently wrapping up design and is about to go to bid. It will include two separate parks – a lake, multipurpose fields, walking trails, a dock, a pavilion, all-inclusive playground, tennis, pickleball, basketball, 10 rectangle fields for football, lacrosse, a new shop, naturalized areas. This is a massive undertaking and we hope to have it open in two to three years. We also just joined a partnership with Franklin Special School District building a new baseball and softball field with cages, re stroom, and concession and common areas that we will also be in charge of maintaining, which will be another 5 acres or so. / 2022 TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
SEPTEMBER
UPGRADE TO FIRST CLASS www.TheTurfgrassGroup.com 38% Less Water Greater Fall Color Retention Earlier Spring Transition Increased Wear Tolerance Reduced Fertility Requirement Extremely Rapid Grow-In
What is your day-to-day balance of office time versus field time?
What I like the most is we still keep high quality fields, we’re still maintaining fields to the best of our abilities, but our weekend demand is not there. There’s only a select few weekends a year that were required to be here—major tournaments and anytime we have an equestrian event. I like my guys to come to work, put in their 40 hours and then go home and be away from work. I’d say the best part is that work/ life balance, where we don’t go from just one sport to the next like you do in college, and we don’t have the longevity of a profes sional season. We get a lot more down time, personal time that I think is good mentally for the guys and myself as well. What roles have you served in industry leadership and why is that important to you?
It’s a different mentality in professional or D1 college. Four fields was probably the least in that scenario, now were at 19 clay fields plus another six rectangle fields, so it’s a larger scale. We still try to keep those same qualities and looks as a college or professional field, but we also have to realize that instead of maintaining one field, we’re maintaining much more, so you’ve got to pick and choose without running guys in the ground. There’s a lot more thinking ahead, looking at weather. A lot of times the weather is our best friend because that’s how we get breaks on the field. We can’t go put 19 covers out on the clays before rain. After a rain, you’ve got to let Mother Nature work to dry the fields out. That’s been a good learning curve, relying a lot more on Mother Nature to help you out instead of just kill ing yourself trying to get as much done. We’re being smarter with how we’re doing this because we don’t have the man power to do all that.
COVERTENNESSEESTORYTURFGRASS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org18
I was TVSTMA president for two years, now my current role is past president, and this is my second year on the TTA board. The biggest thing was when I moved back to Nashville and took the Franklin job, I was just trying to reconnect and meet fel low turfgrass guys in the area and build those relationships. Obvi ously that’s our professional group where we learn, educate, hang out. It started with that, and being able to help others in small roles – serving on the board, getting voted up to president, getting voted onto the TTA board.
When I first started, about 70% field, but now that we’ve got a really good crew that understands what’s expected from citizens and us ers, I’m probably 50/50, if not 60/40 field to office. It really depends on the time of year. I’m out as much as I can be spring through fall, but in winter, there’s a lot more office and maintenance work. I try to be out and involved as much as I can with the guys What differences have you seen going from college and pro sports to a municipal and rec sports setting?
What is the best part of your job?
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Do you have a mentor in the industry?
I like the way that with technology and all the upcoming changes, TTA is changing with that format. It’s going to be more network ing, obviously we like to see the membership and conferences grow, but I think we’re doing a great job in growing it in the right direction.
I’m duck hunting, early spring and late fall it’s fishing. We like to travel, typically one or two big trips a year, early spring and late fall just to get away once the season starts dying down.
COVER20 STORY
Some of my best employees that have come to me with little to no experience other than mowing with a zero turn, but they were willing to learn and listen. I think one of the biggest things that they don’t tell you in school— we’re turfgrass managers, so we’re managing what’s given to us. Working outside, were not guaranteed a consistent work environment. A lot of times the stuff you read in books is in perfect world scenarios, but we don’t ever get that perfect world.
A lot of people are expecting when they come out of school, since they have that degree, they’re ready. A lot of what you learn in the classroom sets you up for success, but really and truly this is a world of hard knocks, getting out there learning it in the field.
I’d say the biggest things are: be able to listen, learn on the job, hands-on; be able to read what the grass/field is telling you. TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Being able to manage the weather, looking ahead, timing and re sources, it’s stuff that you’ve just got to learn in the field.
Bill Marbet. When I met him at Tech working the state tourna ments, he was one of the big reasons I got the job at Florida, be cause my boss Jason Smith knew and had worked for Bill. We can call him for any advice, obviously he’s very local to us. He’s willing to help anybody and everybody. He’s probably the biggest one for me. He runs the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama every year. I got to go down there four years and work the SEC tournament. He’s been able to show me a lot of cool places in the turf world. What do you do in your free time.
TTA does a really good job at educating its members building that brotherhood/friendship between its members. Since joining TTA and meeting a lot of guys on the golf side, I’m able to call them for help, and they’re just as willing to talk to a sports turf guy as another golf course guy. It’s great seeing that cama raderie between all the different groups (sports, landscape, sod production, golf). When you’re there at a conference or need edu cation or help, there’s multiple people you can call, not just some body in your own little turf division.
In the summer when I’m not at work, my wife Allison and I are at the lake—wake surfing, hanging out with friends and family. We just celebrated our seven year anniversary in July. We have four labs, the oldest is 13, and the others are 7, 4, and 3. In winter
What would be your advice for new turfgrass managers?
Not every field that we have here drains or grows the same, so you’ve got to be able to read and decipher what the field is tell ing you it needs/doesn’t need versus just looking at a textbook and thinking, I have to do this because that’s what the book says.
What do you hope to see as a member of the TTA board right now, what are some of your goals in the coming years?
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 Email
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of Turfgrass ORIGINS
By Jay McCurdy Ph.D., Associate Professor, Turfgrass Extension Specialist Department of Plant & Soil Sciences Mississippi State University
urf consists of a layer of various plants cultivated to form a uniform ground cover, typically one that can tolerate foot traffic and routine mowing. The first known use of the word turf occurs before the 12th century and refers to the “upper stratum of soil bound by grass” (Merriam-Webster, 2022). Objectively, turf only exists in human-maintained systems; how ever, the species comprising various turf scenarios long predate humanThoseinterference. turfgrass species most frequently selected for turf sce narios have been subject to environmental pressures (notably, frequent grazing) that have selected for traits that enhance their value as turfgrasses. Valuable traits include color, texture, unifor mity, growth habit, and durability under stress. Plant breeding, the introduction of non-native and exotic species, and recurrent selection for desirable traits have led to modern cultivars and va rieties of turfgrass that predominate in maintained turf settings such as lawns, sports fields, golf courses, sod farms, and roadside rights-of-way. at: info@ttaonline.org
Figure 1. Turfgrasses, such as the Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass) and perennial ryegrass pictured here, evolved under frequent grazing.
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This is the first article of a multi-part series detailing the origins and future of turfgrass.
Turfgrasses are typically narrow-leaved species of relatively short stature that are somewhat regularly mown at heights of approximately four inches or less (Thompson and Kao-Kniffin, 2017). By convention, all grasses, including turfgrasses, belong to the Poaceae family of monocotyledonous flowering plants. The monocotyledonous (monocot) clade includes grasses and grasslike flowering plants with seeds that contain only one embryonic leaf (also known as a “cotyledon”). Monocots offer few obvious advantages for turf applications, as other flowering plants in the dicotyledonous clade (having two embryonic leaves) also persist under typical mowing heights as weeds or amenity forbs within various turf scenarios.
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NOT JUST GRASS
Turfgrasses are broadly classified as cool- or warm-season plants. Cool-season species are the predominant turfgrass species in cli mates with cold winters and mild summers, as well as adequate soil moisture. Warm-season species predominate in climates with mild winters and hot summers. The overlapping area between the two is termed the transition zone, where cool- and warm-season species grow equally successfully. Cool-season species have evolved a C3 photosynthetic path way for carbon fixation. They use an enzyme (called RuBisCO) to fix CO2. That carbon from CO2 forms a three-carbon sugar and then goes on to fuel plant growth and metabolism. Alternatively, warm-season species have evolved a C4 photosynthetic pathway that produces a four-carbon sugar. Plants with the C4 pathway have improved metabolism and a competitive advantage over C3 plants under conditions of drought, high temperatures, and lim ited nitrogen or CO2.
Cool- and warm-season species have different optimal tem peratures for growth and metabolism. Warm-season species grow best when temperatures are above approximately 80°F and enter dormancy below their “base growth temperature” of around 50°F. Alternatively, cool-season species grow best when temperatures range from 60–75°F. Cool-season species enter a state of winter dormancy at temperatures below freezing and are often consid ered dormant during summer conditions that exceed their ideal growing temperatures, especially when soil moisture is limited. Growth models to predict the suitability and phenology of these species are largely based upon these parameters and estimates.
Figure 2. A traditional hay meadow where human interaction has selected for a complex ecosystem of grasses and forbs that can persist with very few inputs. Figure 3. Lawngrass zones of the United States (Freeze, 2022). Photo Credit: Tim Freeze, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons Cold Winter Humid Zone Mild Winter Humid Zone Hot Summer Arid Zone Cold Winter Arid Zone Hot Summer Humid Zone Transition SemitropicalZoneZone
Lawns would have been composed of mixed grasses and forbs that were endemic to the area.
Lawns are frequently attributed to European origins, but their purposes (e.g., communal gatherings, periodic grazing, aesthet ics, etc.) and the ingredients to manage them (low-growing spe cies and a suitable environment) have often coincided through out global human history. For at least many thousands of years, humans have felled trees, grazed, and gardened their immediate surroundings. This behavior partly arose from the advent of agri culture, but also serves for defense—modern gardeners can easily relate to the struggle to keep deer or rabbits from ravaging gar dens. An aesthetic preference for stately grounds certainly would have developed, but could only occur when safety, time, and labor were available. Grazing would have prevented cleared land from reverting to forest, and other, previously intangible benefits of a cultivated lawn would have been noticed. Though they may not fit neatly within the contemporary defi nition of a lawn, early examples of maintained open spaces as “yards” or “lawns” are fairly commonplace the world over. They include examples like the plaza between mounds at the Cahokia complex in Illinois, where the stick-and-ball sport chunkey was played 900 years ago, and Japanese gardens that incorporated manicured grasses, mosses, and even trimmed bamboo. While not unique to Europe, most scholars agree that the modern American lawn aesthetic owes much to European origins.
FEATURETENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org24
Figure 4. A reconstructed Anglo-Saxon lodging. Lawns would have been places for work, gathering, and grazing.
There are approximately 40 million acres of turfgrass in the United States (2% of the total U.S. land cover) (Milesi et al. 2005).
Several estimates suggest that residential lawns represent roughly 75% of U.S. cultivated turf (an area of approximately 30 million acres) (Roberts and Roberts, 1987; Vinlove and Torla, 1994).
EARLY LAWNS A lawn is an area of soil-covered land planted with grasses or forbs that are maintained at a short height by mowing or graz ing. Lawns may be situated in residential areas or commercial or shared public spaces. The word lawn originates from an an cient Celtic language, possibly Welsh. The Welsh word llan (pro nounced ɬan, where ɬ has a slight sh sound), which is often used in compound words to describe a local place named for a saint, such as Llanbedr or St. Peter, has come to mean a cleared or enclosed area of land—perhaps around a church, business, or settlement. The common Brittonic word llan or laun came to mean an enclo sure, most likely around a place of worship. Early lawns would have been used for communal gatherings and possibly grazing, al though the area would have been distinct from agricultural fields.
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Lawns existed in Europe from the Middle Ages (in the 5th through the 15th century) onward. They were rudimentary by contemporary standards, with very practical purposes—line-ofsight for defense and communication, ease of movement, produc tion of grain crops and vegetables, grazing, and fire prevention. Those early lawns must also have created vistas and an aesthetic that evolved with European civilization. The European lawn of the 17th and 18th centuries was a dem onstration of wealth and power at some of the continent’s finest estates. The palace of Versailles’s tapis vert or green carpet—one of Europe’s first and finest garden lawns—was expanded by An dré Le Nôtre to two acres in the 1660s. A century later, the lawn had been cemented as an exemplar of Western Europe’s idealized built landscape. The architect Capability Brown refined the Eng lish lawn with natural or “romantic” estate settings for wealthy clientele. His landscapes featured smooth, undulating lawns run ning from “house to horizon,” sometimes with dammed rivers or creeks, serpentine lakes, clumps of vegetation and scatterings of trees, and a visible horizon line. These gardens often used grazed grass lawns or pastures to supplement the perception of scale within the landscape. In some instances, they used lines and tex ture to deceive the eye—employing concepts like false horizons using “ha-ha walls” or cleared land that sloped uphill and de creased in width as it reached a ridge. During the late 18th century, wealthy families of the Americas be gan maintaining lawns. In 1780, a Shaker community near Philadel phia began commercializing lawn seed. Thomas Jefferson is credited with the first English-style garden in the United States, circa 1806. / SEPTEMBER 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org26
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Figure 5: Turfgrass has transformed the aesthetic and ecology of the U.S. suburban landscape.
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MOWING LEADS TO MODERN LAWNS Before the advent of mechanical mowers, manicured turfgrass required animal grazing or human-powered scythes. The term “mower” dates to the 14th century, referring to one who cuts grass with a scythe. The term may have multiple origins—Old Eng lish mawan and the Greek term amao both mean “to reap a crop.” In 1830, Edward Beard Budding based his mowing machine on a cloth-cutting cylinder used to trim the irregular nap of wool cloth. Thus, modern mowing equipment was born. The Victorian era’s penchant for sport spurred revolutionary new mow er designs to maintain sporting venues for golf, football, lawn bowls, lawn tennis, and cricket. In fact, the term “lawn-tennis” was coined in the 1880s. Mowing is the most common practice performed on maintained turfgrass and is by most accounts the most important and defining main tenance operation. The obvious pur pose of mowing is to reduce the height of the turf, but it also serves other purposes, including the control of un desirable vegetation (i.e., weeds) and the production of a desirable sports surface (e.g., a “true” putting surface or a target surface firmness).
The ability to mow large areas without tending livestock or toil ing over a scythe revolutionized the grounds maintenance industry and sparked a revolution in landscape de sign. Modern lawns look far different from their early predecessors. Lawns have been a mainstay of the U.S. built environment since the mid-20th cen tury, during which large tracts of land were converted into suburban hous ing, recreational areas, and commer cial real estate. This trend, spurred by population growth, technological ad vancements, and other socioeconomic factors, led to a reliance on turfgrass as a ground cover for newly construct ed outdoor spaces. This is to say almost nothing of the parallel and synergistic develop ments of the golf industry, which we will explore in a future article. / 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
Figure 7. A horse drawn reel mower.
Figure 6. An early push propelled mower with an eight-inch blade width.
Figure 8. 1920s and ’30s-era walking mowers on display.
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It also says little about the historical changes in schools of thought re garding urban infrastructure and the development of parks and neighbor hoods that were spurred by successive waves of soldiers returning from over seas wars, the effects of the Spanish flu pandemic and city dwellers’ migra tion to the suburbs, or Depressionera spending on public projects that transformed the U.S. landscape and natural spaces in ways that are evident to this day. In a future article, we will explore the concepts of landscape sustain ability and “future-proofing” for the modern turfgrass economy. In much of the U.S. and around the world, rooftops, parking lots, busy city streets, and home lawns are replacing natural habitats. These systems have, for better and worse, changed how we interact with, build, and perceive our environment. Turf is just one result of these changes.
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Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Turf. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from ment,lawnComparativeVinlove,ment.functionApplyingThompson,Hill,LawnRoberts,mentalgrassestheR.R.C.D.,Milesi,ary/turfwww.merriam-webster.com/dictionhttps://C.,Running,S.W.,Elvidge,Dietz,J.B.,Tuttle,B.T.,&Nemani,(2005).MappingandmodelingbiogeochemicalcyclingofturfintheUnitedStates.EnvironManagement.36(3),426-38.E.C.,andRoberts,B.C.(1987).andSportsTurfBenefits.PleasantTN:TheLawnInstitute.31.G.L.,&Kao-Kniffin,J.(2017).biodiversityandecosystemtheorytoturfgrassmanageCropScience,57(S1),S-238.F.K.,&Torla,R.F.(1994).estimationsofUShomearea.JournalofTurfgrassManage1(1),83-97.
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By Terri Billeisen, Ph.D., Turfgrass Entomology Lab, North Carolina State University
THE 411 ON ARMYWORMSFALL
lthough they have a wide host range which includes many agricultural crops, fall armyworms are turfgrass insect pests that cause significant and almost immediate dam age in both cool- and warm-season grasses. Fall armyworms are a common issue in the southeastern US, but during active years, can spread to the Northeast, Midwest, and Southwest (Fig. 1).
Nationwide, 2021 was a crazy year for fall armyworms in terms of abundance and distribution. Many observed record numbers of caterpillars and subsequent damage in areas both familiar and unfamiliar with the pest insect. Reports of widespread, severe infestations resulted in extensive media coverage which added to a sense of alarm regarding the outbreak. Like many turfgrass entomology centers, our lab was flooded with calls and emails requesting not only management recommendations but also re assurance that the fall armyworm situation was under control. Uncertainty surrounding pest outbreaks is not only stressful but can cause managers to panic when making management deci sions. This can lead to misapplications which stem from com mon mistakes such as targeting the insect at the incorrect time or life stage, or selecting an inappropriate product or formulation.
FEATURETENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org30
A Northern Range Middle ExtremeSouthernRangeRangeSouthern Range
Fig. 1: Fall Armyworm Distribution (In Handbook of Turfgrass Insects, Second Edition. eds. Brandenburg and Freeman, 2012)
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Fig. 3: Fall Armyworm Sticky Trap with Lure (Photo Credit: J. Smith, Elk River Club)
TENNESSEE TURFGRASS AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 Email
DESCRIPTION Fall armyworm adults are small, brown moths ( Fig. 2 ) that are active at night, which makes them difficult to monitor un less you have a sticky trap and pheromone lure ( Fig. 3 ). Simi lar to other moth species, fall armyworm adults are attracted to lights at night and a well-lit turfgrass area may be more susceptible to fall armyworm outbreaks compared to others. TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
As fall armyworm season gets fully underway in the Carolinas, it is a good idea to review important aspects of fall armyworm biology and how these affect our approaches to management. We will review different life stages, behavior and ecology and empha size how that influences the types of products we use and when is the best time to use them. This information should help us im prove our fall armyworm approaches, not only during times of outbreak, but for regular management as well.
Fig. 2: Fall Armyworm Adult Moth (female) (Photo Credit: M. Bertone, NC State University)
Adult female moths lay their eggs in groups of 100-200 in a clus tered mass on the sides of flat, sometimes stationary, surfaces like buildings, fences, signs/sign posts, outdoor furniture or large or namental leaves. During outbreak years, moths are less particular about their egg laying preferences and will lay eggs on other kinds of moving surfaces like flags, vehicles and smaller ornamentals. Within 3 – 5 days, eggs will hatch and tiny caterpillars (larvae) will drop down to the turfgrass and immediately start feeding. Cater pillars (Fig. 4) can range from ½ – 2 inches and will feed for a few weeks until they pupate. They will remain in the pupal case for a week or two and then emerge again as new adult moths. The entire fall armyworm life cycle typically lasts anywhere from 1 –2 months, depending mostly on temperature and soil moisture. They will undergo this process several times from June-October (sometimes November) in the Carolinas and will die off once tem peratures dip below freezing.
Fig. 5: Fall armyworm Damage (note: distinct line) (Photo Credit: R. Brandenburg, NC State University)
Fig. 4: Fall Armyworm Caterpillars (Larvae) (Photo Credit: R. Brandenburg, NC State University)
DAMAGE AND MONITORING
In normal years, fall armyworms generally prefer feeding on fin er-textured grasses although we have observed significant fall ar myworm feeding in many different grasses and agricultural crops. In residential areas, we have observed that there is a slight tenden cy to avoid zoysiagrass when other turfgrass species are present but this is not the case during outbreak years or in high popula tion areas. Fall armyworm damage is easily identifiable compared to other turfgrass insects because you can often draw a distinct line in the turf between damaged and undamaged areas (Fig. 5).
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Unlike other insect pests, you can also easily spot caterpillars “army crawling” across the turf surface during the mid-morning and early evening in the summer (Fig. 6). During the warmest time of day, you will want to use a soap lush to investigate any areas you suspect as having fall armyworm damage. Soap flushes use lemon-scented dish detergent mixed in water (2 tablespoons soap/gal water) ap plied to the turf to bring mobile insects like caterpillars, weevils and mole crickets to the surface within a few minutes. When applying a soap flush for fall armyworms, make sure to apply the soap mixture to an area along the border between damaged and undamaged turf to ensure caterpillars are present. As highly mobile insects, caterpillars are rarely present in sev- erely damaged areas and flushing in those locations will often yield few to no insects.
Whenmaterial.selecting products for fall armyworm control, there are two different approaches: a short-term solution and a long-term solution. The traditional, short-term approach will effectively and immediately control caterpillars causing damage but will have a shorter window for residual activity. This approach utilizes a (preferably) liquid pyrethroid, like bifenthrin, to quickly control caterpillars as they feed on leaf tissue. During the 2021 growing season, we observed a potential option for a preventive approach for fall armyworms in areas of intense pest pressure where an anthranilic diamide (chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, tetra niliprole) had been applied earlier in the season as part of a white grub management program. Early results indicate that a diamide application can provide more than 60 days residual control of fall armyworms. Residual activity of these active ingredients is part of the current research underway in our turfgrass entomology lab here at NC State and we hope to have more detailed information and additional recommendations for fall armyworm management by the end of this year. As we progress through this growing season, it is important to remember that fall armyworms have been causing damage in turfgrass for a long time. Like any other insect, fall armyworm populations, and subsequent damage, will fluctuate from yearto-year. When environmental conditions are just right, outbreaks can occur which will result in numbers higher than what we are used to encountering. However, management approaches or rec ommendations remain the same whether we are managing a rou tine or outbreak pest population. A crucial component of effec tive management is to review information from reliable sources, preferably prior to infestation, to ensure management decisions are intentional and not reactionary.
Fig. 6: Fall armyworms on Turf Surface (Photo Credit: R. Brandenburg, NC State University)
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MANAGEMENT In terms of management, there are a couple of things to keep in mind prior to selecting a product. First, ensure that you are targeting the correct life stage – the caterpillars. Applying a con tact product to control the egg, pupal or adult stage is a complete waste of time and product. Caterpillars are the most susceptible to chemical control. Early instar caterpillars (~ ½ in in length) are particularly susceptible to insecticides so it is ideal to target a population as early as possible. Caterpillars are also the most mobile life stage and therefore most likely to encounter treated plant
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• Are fall armyworms more of a problem in certain areas?
o Because fall armyworms can cause a lot of damage in a short period of time, it is best to treat as soon as you notice activity. (COMPILED 2021)
o Not unusual at all. Remember, the adult life stage of a fall armyworm is a moth. Moths are capable of flying large distances in a relatively short period of time. Many insects exhibit flying behaviors associated with both localized (short) and long-term migration. Female moths fly to an area with an abundant food source (fresh, green turf, for example), lay their egg masses on the flat side of a building, fence, sign, or large leaf, and when the eggs hatch, the larvae drop to the turf below and immedi ately start feeding.
• Where do fall armyworms come from?
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• Is there a threshold for fall armyworms?
FALL ARMYWORM FAQ s
o Fall armyworms overwinter most years in southern Texas and Florida and their northern migration can be influenced by weather patterns. We do not have the ability to accurately forecast fall armyworm problems in advance, so timingwise they can sometimes surprise us with their damage.
o During “normal” years, fall armyworms are more likely to cause issues in turf that has had some mechanical disturbance, like in areas of new construction. They are generally more of a problem in newly-seeded or sodded areas.
• How bad was the fall armyworm season in 2021?
o 2021 had the worst outbreak of fall armyworms on record, in many areas. Fall armyworm populations and damage were on a scale that was very surprising! Areas of the upper Midwest and the Northeast suffered turf damage to both warmand cool-season turf like they had never seen before. Some of the problems came from populations originating in Texas and some from moths that started out in Florida. These different “sources” potentially exhibit different traits for feeding preferences, like the damage we observed with seedlings and overseedings, and insecticide susceptibility.
FROM INQUIRIES IN
• How do fall armyworms move to new areas and is it unusual for them to move so quickly?
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The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) https://ag.tennessee.edu/spp/832-6802@UTPlantDoc
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So how can a team recruit new people to join to capitalize on the current market when the war for talent is so fierce? The same way that we win customers by specializing in a niche market.
Rather than compete for every customer available to be serviced, companies increase profit by only working with those who meet specific criteria, so competition is lessened.
But when it comes to hiring, there is little thought given to the various talent pools from which we can recruit. One example of an untapped talent pool is recruiting employees who were formerly in carcerated. The Prison Policy Institute recently reported that more than 60% of people released from prison are currently jobless. If a company could specifically target this group to recruit and retain, they would have a tremendous and reliable source of labor. Of course, managers must make some considerable adjust ments to properly engage and retain these workers. Job training programs may have to be revamped and expanded to include both more hard-skills and soft-skills. Company hiring policies could have to be adjusted to screen applicants less harshly based on ex perience or background checks. Perhaps transportation must be provided to and from jobsites. Yet we have this incredible gift in the green industry where these accommodations can be made. Our customers rarely if ever interact with our front-line employees, so appearance and profes sionalism are not issues. Working outside means that there is usu ally no sensitive or secure facility requirements for which a clean background check would be required. And we can leverage this fact to help individuals who desperately need a second chance in life to thrive while allowing our companies to grow. Whether the untapped talent pool that makes sense is those who are uneducated, unexperienced, long-term unemployed, retir ees, formerly incarcerated, formerly addicts, immigrants, disabled, or veterans, there is certainly a niche market of employees who could be tapped to solve the labor crisis for any company. In fact, it may be the only sustainable recruitment strategy that is left.
By Neal Glatt, Managing Partner, GrowTheBench • Email: Neal@GrowTheBench.com
Many organizations are simply giving up by cutting back sales to accommodate a shrinking workforce. The problem with this strategy is that when the next economic recession affects their market (which may be very soon) they may not be able to survive.
H
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iring workers continues to get harder and harder. The lat est jobs report shows that rather than interest rate hikes slowing the economy as anticipated, jobs continue to be added at a furious pace. Unemployment remains historically low at 5.7 million people unemployed and there are more than 10.5 mil lion jobs in the United States that remain unfilled. As a result, com petition for workers is fierce, driving millions of people to quit their jobs each month in search of greener pastures and more money.
UNTAPPED TALENT POOLS Leveraging
The larger a quality customer base, the better the ability to with stand economic hardship.
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