Cover Story
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | November/December 2009
22
12 12 Upcoming Event
50th Annual VTC Turf & Landscape Conference & Tradeshow… Educational Program 18 Feature Story
24 DEPARTMENTS 6 Director’s Corner
from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.
8 Editor’s Perspective
from Mark Vaughn, CGCS
10 VTF Report
from Betty Parker
Looking Back on the Past 25 Years of the Virginia Turf Conference
11 Industry News
22 Turf Talk
26 Index of Advertisers
Shrinking the Property… Implications and Projections from a Rough Economic Climate
24 Turf Basics Understanding Product Labels
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26 Turfgrass Calendar
Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC) 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, Virginia Turfgrass Journal, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or VTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright Š2009 by the Virginia Turfgrass Council. Virginia Turfgrass Journal is published bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of VTC. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to VTC, P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471. Postage guaranteed. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Virginia Turfgrass Journal allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to VTC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37068-0142, (615) 7903718, Fax (615) 794-4524. Deadlines are the first of the month prior to the following month’s publication. (Example: August 1 for the September issue.)
Director’s Corner
Fifty Years Behind Us, Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
FIFTY YEARS AHEAD his January, we are celebrating fifty years of VTC Conferences. Many details about the upcoming event are on the pages of this issue of the Journal. Please look at those pages and make plans to celebrate the big “five-o” with your friends and colleagues. For perspective, look at some of the changes that have occurred since Dick Schmidt and John Shoulders first conceived the idea of a turfgrass organization. • Space exploration has gone from a few orbits of a small piece of metal to moon landings to space shuttles to private companies launching and maintaining satellites. • Computers have gone from room-filling behemoths that were really good at arithmetic to index-card-sized wonders that will do everything but dress you in the morning. • Television has gone from black-and-white sets with three stations and rabbitear antennas to satellite and cable-ready devices that pull in hundreds, if not thousands, of channels. • Telephones have gone from black rotary dial units frequently connected to party lines to voice-activated headsets. The list of accomplishments and changes can easily fill a large book. I have not even mentioned the internet or changes in medicine and law enforcement (I doubt if anyone even dreamed of DNA testing fifty years ago). Regardless of the length of the list, I believe they all have one thing in common — visionary leaders who were willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work. The Virginia Turfgrass Council has survived and thrived for these five decades because of leaders who had a vision and were willing to work. They saw the value of banding together for the common good. Their efforts paid off. For instance, the efforts of Jack Kidwell, Gus Constantino and others prompted the General Assembly to increase funding of the turfgrass program at Virginia Tech. Where will the VTC go in the next fifty years? Look at the current members of our board of directors. Look at who is serving on the committees. I know the number of hours these persons invest, and I also know something of their vision for the future. We are in good hands, and we have a great foundation for increasing our service to the turfgrass industry in the next fifty years.
T
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Virginia Turfgrass Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Office: (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net PUBLISHED BY Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com EDITOR Mark Vaughn, CGCS VTC OFFICERS President Rick Viancour, CGCS Golden Horseshoe Golf Club (757) 220-7489 Vice President Melissa Reynolds Dura Turf Service Corp. (804) 233-4972 Treasurer Brian Vincel, CGCS Spring Creek Golf Club (434) 566-2580 Past President Stephen Glass University of Richmond (804) 289-8605 VTC DIRECTORS Patrick Connelly Sam Doak Frank Flannagan Gil Grattan Vince Henderson Jeff Holliday, CGCS Rick Owens, CGCS Steve Smith VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. Erik Ervin, Ph.D. Rajandra Waghray, Ph.D. Rod Youngman, Ph.D. HISTORIAN John Shoulders, Ph.D. CSES Retired EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 681-6065 VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION Betty Parker (757) 574-9061
Editor’s Perspective
C U N FBURG! Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor
ey guys. I wsh I had somit clevA 2 sA dis mth, sinC itz finly d Nd of smmr. bt lk mosta u, I’m jst plain burnt ot. I gueS we cUd tlk bout 1thing dats realy chngd n d lst 50 yrs. hw we comnC8. onfused? I don’t know why. I have just used the most up-to-date, 2009 version of the English unspoken language. Come on, old timers. Do I have to translate for you? OMG. Okay, here goes: HEY GUYS. I WISH I HAD SOMETHING CLEVER TO SAY THIS MONTH, SINCE IT’S FINALLY THE END OF SUMMER. BUT LIKE MOST OF YOU, I’M JUST PLAIN BURNT OUT. I GUESS WE COULD TALK ABOUT ONE THING THAT’S REALLY CHANGED IN THE LAST 50 YEARS — HOW WE COMMUNICATE. This is how my youngest daughter’s generation communicates. This, along with Facebook and Twitter. I’m almost certainly showing my age here, but I don’t get the part where my life is so boring that I need to follow what some celebrity is eating for lunch. And oh, by the way, who has time for all of these finger Olympics? I looked at my cell phone bill last month. Me — a few hundred minutes and a FEW text messages (sent to me by my daughters); my wife — several hundred minutes and MORE text messages; my youngest — THOUSANDS of text messages. Now, I realize she can play the phone keyboard like Chris Thile can play the mandolin, but if you average all of these out over the 30/31 days in a month, that’s a LOT of time every day. Which leads to, I guess, the butchering of the English language above. You know what REALLY bothers me, though, about texting (besides the fact that it is incredibly dangerous while driving a car or, for that matter, while walking; I recently observed a guy almost walk into a wall because he was staring down at his Crackberry)? Like most of the pros on the PGA Tour today, it is sterile; it is detached; it is safe. It shows no emotion (other than those stupid little emoticons). I cannot hear the inflection in your voice, the anger, the over-the-top happiness. I can communicate with you like Wilson from “Home Improvement,” behind the fence with most of my face hidden. I cannot see the grin, the look of concern or the stress behind your eyes. I cannot sit down and have a beverage with more than one of you, listen to the conversation and jump in when I want to, throw my verbal jabs like Roberto Duran and then retreat to my corner while someone else takes center ring. Like most years, I recently attended Field Days at Virginia Tech. It was a great two days, and the attendance was about average with the last five or so years. The seemingly always sunny and crisp weather of early fall in Blacksburg did not disappoint. But here’s what I wish — I wish ALL of you could have enjoyed the sun sinking over
C
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the New River, the lengthening shadows and the wonderfully conditioned (thanks, Mark Cote) River Course, as a few of us did during our “Emergency Nine” after the Turf Club tournament. Or the jokes, tidbits of advice or lies told while we wandered from research site to research site. Or the camaraderie around the tables during lunch. I can remember the time (God, I’m sounding more and more like Lee Dieter every year) when most everyone made the pilgrimage to Blacksburg. Yeah, I know; times were different then. Everybody is soooo busy. The demands of members and bosses. Besides, you can Google “Rhizoctonia Brown Patch” and get 48,400 results. You can get great weed pictures from Tech’s or just about any University’s website. You can text your buddy at the nearest golf course to see if he/ she has had an armyworm outbreak. And I guess, if you wanted to, you could Twitter all your members: “Riding from the first to second green, Rat Patrol style; first assistant at the wheel, standing in the back of the Carryall. On the lookout for Pythium!” The strange thing in all this is that we have become much more accessible to our members, while at the same time become less accessible to each other. Call me crazy, but like boutique stores to shopping malls to big boxes back to boutique stores, I believe this digital-communication thing will one day come full circle. People will see the value in face-to-face. And when they are face-to-face, they won’t be texting someone else, or listening to their iPod, or staring down at their hand-held video game like the kid a couple of tables over from me did recently while his family ate lunch. And here’s the great part: you have the chance to be on the cutting edge of this movement. Blacksburg is history, but Fredericksburg is just a few weeks away. Need a reason? 50 years for this organization, for God’s sake. Besides, I don’t have that many years left, and I’m starting to forget (B.P.) what some of you look like. C U N Fburg! Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |9
VTF Report
Faces from the 2009 VT FIELD DAYS Betty Parker VTF Manager
ield Days at Virginia Tech (held in Blacksburg on September 1–2) offered the usual temperatures in the mid-70s, low humidity and amiable faces. It is always a wonderful way to usher in the fall and catch up on the latest developments in turf research. Here are just a few of those faces. How many can you identify?
F
Birds of a feather?
Leading the forces. “I have a great job.”
This is not a graveyard.
MOHAWK! The crew really is working hard.
“I’d rather be golfing.”
Surveying the south 40.
Incognito.
“It’s my birthday! It’s my birthday!”
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And a special thanks to our sponsors. You set the table for success, and for a great day!
Industry News
Important Update on Water-Withdrawal Reporting From the Williamsburg Environmental Group
The
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) continues to emphasize permit compliance. This includes the often-neglected element of reporting for groundwater and surface-water withdrawals. While not routinely enforced in the past, DEQ is now in the process of looking at water-withdrawal projects and examining records to determine if users are, in fact, reporting their withdrawals on an annual basis. These data are used in formulating water-supply plans for consideration by the Virginia General Assembly and
in delineating surface-water-management areas. They are also available to local governments and private interests to assist them in their own water-supply planning. This reporting requirement applies to every user who is withdrawing groundwater or surface water in Virginia whose average daily withdrawal during any single month exceeds 10,000 gallons per day. Reportable withdrawals include (but are not limited to) those for public water supply, golf courses, irrigation, manufacturing, mining, commercial, institutional, livestock watering, artificial fish culture and steam-electric power-generation users.
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |11
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MONDAY,JANUARY 18
Program at a Glance MONDAY, JANUARY 18
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 20
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Certified Irrigation Contractor Class
7:00 a.m. Conference Registration
(Day 1 of 2)
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Fellowship Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Conference Registration 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Nutrient Management Seminar
Sponsored by the Old Dominion GCSA All Day Move-In of Large Tradeshow Equipment
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 7:00 a.m. Conference Registration 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tradeshow Set-Up 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Basic Turf-Management Skills Workshop 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Certified Irrigation Contractor Class
(Day 2 of 2) 8:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Morning Seminars 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Tradeshow Open 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 50th VTC Conference Celebration
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Reports from Virginia Tech 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Certified Irrigation Contractor Exam 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tradeshow and Lunch 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. VTC Annual Meeting and General Session 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Concurrent Educational Tracks
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 7:00 a.m. Conference Registration 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Initial Certification Review Session for Core Exam 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Recertification Class, Part 1 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Recertification Class, Part 2 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Initial Certification Exam
NUTRIENT MGMT. SEMINAR 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. This seminar will cover current topics on practical nutrient management, as well as legislative and regulatory impacts within the state of Virginia. Speakers will include Dr. Zach Reicher (Purdue University), Dr. Greg Evanylo (Virginia Tech), Dr. A.J. Powell (University of Kentucky) and representatives from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Class Sponsored by the Old Dominion Golf Course Superintendents Association CERTIFIED IRRIGATION CONTRACTOR CLASS, DAY 1 of 2 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. This advanced landscapeirrigation course is designed to refresh irrigation contractor skills. It may also serve as a good review for the CIC exam (although it is not a substitute for studying exam reference materials). The course reviews advanced soil-water-plant relationships, advanced hydraulics, pumps, job-safety requirements, national codes affecting our industry, scheduling, water conservation, system uniformity and efficiency details. Recommended prerequisites include: field experience in irrigation-system installation and basic design skills (pipe sizing, friction loss, etc.). Basic math skills required.
Class Sponsored by the Virginia Irrigation Association. Registration for this event is separate from the VTC Conference registration. For more information and fees, contact the Irrigation Association at (703) 536-7080.
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |13
50 TH ANNUAL Turf & Landscape Conference and Tradeshow
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19
Ground Ivy and other Tough Weeds
CERTIFIED IRRIGATION CONTRACTOR CLASS, DAY 2 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Communicating with Golfers, Bosses and Other Annoying People
BASIC TURF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS WORKSHOP 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. This Workshop will detail the identification of the major turfgrasses, weeds, diseases and insect pests in Virginia's turf and will also demonstrate proper sprayer and spreader calibration techniques. All instructors are from Virginia Tech's turfgrass program. This is a basic course and not meant for certification at this time. Stations One and Two 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Concurrent Weed ID and Turf ID sections.
Weed ID sections led by Dr. Shawn Askew, Dr. Jeff Derr and PPWS staff/grad students. Turf ID led by Dr. Erik Ervin, Dr. Mike Goatley and CSES staff/grad students. Switch Stations 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Concurrent Weed ID and Turf ID sections.
Zachary Reicher, Ph.D., Purdue University
Pat Jones, Flagstick, LLC Session Two 9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Greens Aerification to Dilute Organic Matter
Erik Ervin, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Annual Bluegrass Weevil & Masked Chafers
Rod Youngman, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Turfgrass and the Environment
Thomas Samples, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Session Three 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Tall Fescue Management Misconceptions
A.J. Powell, Ph.D., University of Kentucky The Environmental Politics of Turf
Stations Three and Four 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Concurrent Disease ID and Insect ID sections.
Pat Jones, Flagstick, LLC
Insect ID led by Dr. Rod Youngman. Disease ID led by David McCall.
Lloyd Hipkins, Virginia Tech
Lunch (on your own) 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Switch Stations 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Concurrent Disease ID and Insect ID sections. Equipment Calibration 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Led by Sam Doak MORNING SEMINARS 8:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Take your pick of topics for each Session. Session One 8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Strategies for Golf Course Career Success
Dave Chalmers, Ph.D., Texas A&M University
Lake Management
Session Four 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Diseases
David McCall, Virginia Tech Top 10 Lessons Learned from the Transition Zone to Texas
David Chalmers, Ph.D., Texas A&M University Poa trivialis: Control It Before It Controls You
Zachary Reicher, Ph.D., Purdue University LUNCH (on your own) 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. TRADESHOW 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
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50 Years of Making You More Green!
VTC CONFERENCE 50TH CELEBRATION 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. After recognition of attending VTC past presidents and board members, Jack McClenahan (the evening's emcee) will introduce the premiere showing of the 50th Anniversary video. Produced by members of the Virginia Tech turf team, the video will feature the recollections of key “movers and shakers” in Virginia's turf industry from the past 50 years, including John Shoulders (1960s), Dr. Dick Schmidt (1970s), Dr. Jack Hall (1980s), Dr. Dave Chalmers (1990s) and Drs. Mike Goatley and Erik Ervin (2000 to present). The celebration will close with the announcement of this year's scholarship recipients. Enjoy the heavy snacks while reflecting on 50 years of Virginia’s Turfgrass History.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010
2009: The Year in Review 4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Darin Bevard, USGA and Keith Happ, USGA This talk will cover the trends that we have seen over the last year on golf courses, as well as the good, the bad and the ugly of the 2009 growing season. Sports Track VSTMA Meeting 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. A Year in the Life of a Ball Field 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Dave Chalmers, Ph.D., Texas A&M University Actual Costs of Managing Sports Fields 3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thomas Samples, Ph.D., University of Tennessee
FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Avoiding the 10 Most Common (and Expensive) Mistakes in Sports Turf 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
REPORTS FROM VIRGINIA TECH 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Zachary Reicher, Ph.D., Purdue University
CERTIFIED IRRIGATION CONTRACTOR EXAM 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Registration for the exam is separate from the class and must be made at least 30 days prior to the exam. For more information or to register, contact the Irrigation Association at (703) 536-7080. TRADESHOW & LUNCH 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. VTC ANNUAL MEETING AND GENERAL SESSION 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. CONCURRENT EDUCATIONAL TRACKS 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Golf Track VGCSA Annual Meeting 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sod Track Sod Production Considerations for 2010 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thomas Samples, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Weeds in Sod 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Shawn Askew, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Working with the Texas Sod Industry 3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Dave Chalmers, Ph.D., Texas A&M University Virginia Sod Growers Meeting 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Lawn/Landscape Track Thriving in a Tough Economy 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Bruce Sheppard, Weed Man USA Trends in Renovation 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Lester George, George Golf Design
Poa trivialis and Other Weeds 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Zachary Reicher, Ph.D., Purdue University Continued on Page 16 >> Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |15
50 TH ANNUAL Turf & Landscape Conference and Tradeshow
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 << Continued From Page 15 Urban Certification 3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Virginia Dept. of Conservation & Recreation Perceptions and Realities in Organic Lawn Care 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Virginia Tech
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010
RECERTIFICATION CLASS, PART 1 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. LUNCH (on your own) 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. RECERTIFICATION CLASS, PART 2 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. INITIAL CERTIFICATION EXAM 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Must have letter from VDACS to take Exam CONFERENCE ADJOURNS 3:00 p.m.
PESTICIDE DAY INITIAL CERTIFICATION REVIEW SESSION FOR CORE EXAM 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
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Registration Form
Name _________________________________________________________ Phone No. _______________________________ Company/Organization__________________________________________ Fax No. __________________________________ Address________________________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________ City: __________________________________________________________ State: ____ Zip: _________________________ MONDAY CLASS _______ $85 – Nutrient Management Seminar – (Sponsored by the ODGCSA) Postmarked by Dec. 31 _______ $110 – If Postmarked after Dec. 31 FULL CONFERENCE PROGRAM (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) – BEST VALUE (Includes Tues., Wed. and Thurs. workshops, Tradeshow, Wed. Lunch and Tues. 50th Anniversary Celebration) _______ $215 – Postmarked by Dec. 31 _______ $240 – If Postmarked after Dec. 31 TUESDAY ONLY (Includes Tues. workshops, Tues. Tradeshow, and Tues. 50th Anniversary Celebration) _______ $90 – Postmarked by Dec. 31 _______ $115 – If Postmarked after Dec. 31 TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY ONLY (Includes Tradeshow, Tue. and Wed. Workshops, Wed. Lunch, and Tues. 50th Anniversary Celebration) _______ $160 – Postmarked by Dec. 31 _______ $185 – If Postmarked after Dec. 31 WEDNESDAY ONLY (Includes Wed. Tradeshow, Wed. workshops, and Wed. Lunch _______ $110 – Postmarked by Dec. 31 _______ $135 – If Postmarked after Dec. 31 THURSDAY ONLY – Pesticide Day (Please select an option from Box A) _______ $70 – Postmarked by Dec. 31 (Check Box A) _______ $95 – If Postmarked after Dec. 31 (Check Box A) VIRGINIA TURFGRASS COUNCIL ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP _______ Regular: $60 (dues expire December 31, 2010) _______ Group: See Box B (dues expire December 31, 2010) _______ SUBTOTAL _______ LESS Discount for Group Members (Name of Group ______________________________________________) _______ $35 – SURCHARGE for NON-VTC Members _______ VOLUNTARY DONATION to the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation
SAVE MONEY
Register Early! BOX A Select a Thursday Workshop o Pesticide RECERTIFICATION (for persons who already have their pesticide license) o Pesticide CERTIFICATION REVIEW and Exam (review class for persons seeking to take the Core Pesticide Exam). Must have a letter from VDACS to take the exam.
BOX B Group Membership Platinum ($1,200) 11 and more Members Company Plaque 10% Discount to VTC events Year-Round listing and link from VTC Web Site Gold ($750) 6-10 Members Company Plaque 10% Discount to VTC events Silver ($350) 1-5 Members Company Plaque 10% Discount to VTC events
_______ TOTAL DUE HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE CONFERENCE? _____________________________________________________________ Make check payable to: Virginia Turfgrass Council OR Charge: Card #: __________________________________________________________ o MC/Visa
o Amer. Exp.
Exp. Date: _______________________ Master Card and Visa “V Code” (last three digits on back): __________________ Signature: _______________________________________________________ Date: __________________________________
Mail to: Virginia Turfgrass Council: P.O. Box 5989 • Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Telephone (757) 464-1004 • Fax (757) 282-2693 • EMAIL: vaturf@verizon.net • WEB: www.vaturf.org
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |17
Feature Story • Friday’s Critical Industry Issues Session focused on pesticides, with talks on “Pesticides, Legislation and the Media,” “Dealing with the Public’s Perception of Pesticides” and “Pesticide Fate and the Environment.”
1988 — January 19–21 / Richmond / Marriott Hotel
By Liz Nutter, Managing Editor, Leading Edge Communications, publisher of the Virginia Turfgrass Journal a few short weeks, the annual Virginia Turf & Landscape Conference will celebrate its 50th birthday. First held in 1961, the Conference has gone through many notable changes in its metamorphosis into the exciting four-day event that will take place in Fredericksburg on January 18-21, 2010. In the September/ October issue of the Virginia Turfgrass Journal, we took a look at the first 25 years of Conference history, from 1961 through 1985. This issue highlights the second 25 years, from 1986 to the present.
In
The 1986 Virginia Turfgrass Council Officers and Board Members. L to R: Lin W. Diacont III, Cecil Bland, Robert Henderson, Peter Connelly, President, Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC), Walter Montross, J. Richard Fisher, Vice-President (VTC); Robert P. Ruff Jr., Past-President, VTC. Absent were; Gus Constantino, Gil Barber, Robert P. Ruff Sr. and Jack McClenahan.
1986 — January 15–17 / Richmond / new Richmond Marriott • Jack McClenahan (G.L. Cornell) and Lin Diacont III (Lin’s Landscaping) gave Conference presentations for the first time. Both gentlemen were elected at the Annual Meeting to their first terms on the VTC board of directors. • Dr. Roy E. Blaser (Professor Emeritus, Virginia Tech) made his last Conference presentation. • The Spouses’ Program included “Making Astrology Work for You.” Chairman Bob Henderson pointed out, “To enable our spouses to see the great rewards that our careers and their patience will receive in the future, an astrologist will give a presentation to the group.”
1987 — January 21–23 / Virginia Beach / VA Beach Pavilion Convention Center • Dr. Mike Goatley made his first Conference presentation as a Virginia Tech Graduate Student.
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• Dr. Lincoln H. Taylor (a long-time member of the Virginia Tech turf team) gave his last Conference presentation. A turfgrass breeder, Dr. Taylor had retired in 1986 after a 31-year career that had including the development of ‘Vamont’ bermudagrass. • The Critical Industry Session covered several topics, including groundwater protection, Virginia’s Right to Know law, growth regulators and “Avoiding the Burnout Blues.”
1989 — January 17–19 / Richmond / Marriott Hotel • At the conference, the VTC donated $2,700 to the newly formed Virginia Turfgrass Foundation. • The conference included a firstever “Women in the Green Industry” Breakfast, with a presentation on “Women Excelling in a MaleDominated Field.” • This was the last conference to include a “Spouses Program.”
1990 — January 15–18 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • 30th anniversary of the Conference. • For the first time, the event spanned four days; 66 different educational presentations were made by 52 different speakers. • Monday “pre-conference” workshops were introduced. This year’s included “Financial Decision-Making,” “Turfgrass Insects” and “Computers for Growing Businesses.” • George Toma, nationally known athletic-field consultant, gave the keynote address.
Feature Stor y continued
Lymphoma — Is It a Threat to the Lawn Service Industry?”
1993 — January 18–21 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott
The 1991 Officers and Board of Directors of the Virginia Turfgrass Council with Jerry Clower at the Annual Banquet.
1991 — January 14–17 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • The “record-breaking” event attracted more than 1,500 attendees, with 400 at the Annual Banquet on Wednesday night. • Hostilities broke out in the Middle East (the U.S. began bombing Iraq on January 17) on the night of the banquet. Jerry Clower, famous comedian, provided the evening’s entertainment. A few days later, explaining why he went on with his show, Clower said, “I figured that Saddam Hussein doesn’t have the right to keep us from doing normal things in the country. After the show, we went to our rooms and prayed. When people ask me in the future what was my most memorable show, this one will be one of them.”
1992 — January 13–16 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • Monday’s workshops introduced an all-day session on “Basic Turfgrass Management,” led by Dr. Dave Chalmers and Dr. Jack Hall. This workshop became a staple of the pre-conference workshops. • The Conference included the founding meeting of the Virginia Sports Turf Managers Association, with the election of officers and a board of directors. • The Critical Industry Issues Session included a presentation on “Canine
• The event featured a first-ever “Hospitality Night” when the tradeshow was open in the evening with free beer, hors d’oeuvres and door prizes. • Conference sponsors included Harmon & Associates, Capital Turf & Irrigation, Virginia Turf & Irrigation, Meadowspring Turf, Pro-Lawn Products, Douglas Products, Finch Turf Equipment and Loft Seeds.
1994 — January 10–13 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • Ken Mrock, field manager for the Chicago Bears, opened the Tuesday morning Sports-Turf Session by discussing “Maintenance of the Chicago Bear’s Football Facilities.” • John Shoulders (Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech and one of the six founding organizers of the first Virginia Turfgrass Conference in 1961) gave his last official Conference presentation. He later served as a session chairman in 1998.
1995 — January 23–26 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • 35th anniversary of the Conference. • The theme of the Conference was “Quality Stewardship in the Landscape.” • Dr. Dave Chalmers put together the education program (assisted by Dr. Rajandra Waghray), replacing Dr. Jack Hall, who had been promoted to Acting Head of the CSES dept. • The VTC and the VTF combined efforts to raise funds for turf research by hosting the Conference’s first-ever Silent Auction. • Dr. S. Wayne Bingham (Virginia Tech) gave his last Conference presentation.
1996 — January 22–24 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • Club managers were invited to attend the Conference at no charge and to participate in Tuesday night’s golf course symposium. • The Conference introduced a “Mechanic’s Day” on Tuesday. The session received a very positive response and was consequently offered again the following year. • Lee Dieter took photos during the show “for use in our publication and for the history files.”
1997 — January 20–22 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • Visiting speakers included Dr. Bruce Martin (Clemson Univ.), Dr. Gil Landry (Univ. of Georgia), Dr. Jack Fry (Kansas State Univ.) and Dr. Kevin Mathias (Univ. of Maryland).
1998 — January 19–21 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • Free Conference registration and lodging were provided to one individual (who had never previously attended the conference) in the following industry categories: golf course superintendent, lawncare company owner/manager, parks & rec. director/ supervisor, sports-turf manager, landscape manager and sod producer.
1999 — January 19–21 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • Attendance totaled nearly 1,600, and the tradeshow was “the largest ever.” • The VTF received a “recordbreaking” $26,000+. • Later, Cutler Robinson (CGCS at Bayville Golf Club) said, “Of the 16 Virginia turf conferences I have attended, this past one was by far the best. From the speakers to the Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |19
Feature Stor y continued
2001 — November 13–15 / Virginia Beach / VA Beach Pavilion Convention Center
tradeshow, a high level of enthusiasm within the turfgrass industry is very evident. Thanks go out to all who work so hard in order for their peers to learn and grow.”
2000 — January 25–27 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • This was the only time in the Conference’s history that the event was cancelled due to snow.
2000 — November 14–16 / Virginia Beach / VA Beach Pavilion Convention Center • 40th anniversary of the Conference. • The conference included a Retirement Dinner & Roast for Dr. Richard E. Schmidt, who had served at Virginia Tech for 40 years and who had retired on June 30, 2000.
Virginia Beach Pavillion – Host of the November 2000 Virginia Turf and Landscape Conference and Trade Show.
• The General Session on Wednesday included a presentation titled “Is Our Climate Changing?” by Dr. Patrick Michaels, State Climatologist. • The Conference offered, for the first time, a Spanish Training Workshop. • Also, for the first time, the pre-conference workshops included a GCSAA Seminar, titled “Enhancing the Image of Golf Course Superintendents and Golf Industry Professionals.”
• Dr. John R. (Jack) Hall III, retiring head of Virginia Tech’s Crop and Soil Environmental Science (CSES) department, received the R.D. Cake Memorial Award. Dr. Hall’s 30-year career (first in Maryland and then, since 1976, at Virginia Tech) was feted at the conference with a special retirement dinner and roast. • Dr. Erik Ervin and Dr. Shawn Askew, who had both joined the Virginia Tech turf team in early 2001, made their first presentations at the VTC Conference. Sam Doak also made his first conference presentation.
2002 — none held • No conference was held this year, since the decision was made to return to holding the Conference in January. The next conference was held in January 2003.
2003 — January 14–16 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • Dr. Tom Tracy organized the program as the VTC’s new director of education. • The guest speaker at the Tuesday evening conference kickoff was Frank Beamer, coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies football team. • The new marketplace format, with primarily tabletop displays, was sold out with vendors who were especially pleased with the record attendance that the event drew.
2004 — January 13–15 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • The Wednesday evening banquet honored Dr. Houston Couch, who was retiring after 38 years of service at Virginia Tech, and Dr. Dave Chalmers, who had recently transferred to Texas A&M. • Dr. Mike Goatley returned to the Conference program as a member 20| VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2009 www.thevtc.org
Feature Stor y continued
• The event also returned to a full tradeshow format, with large equipment on the tradeshow floor. • Attendance was up by 20% over the previous year, and the tradeshow attracted 30 more exhibitors than in 2006.
2005 Virginia Turf and Landscape Trade Show.
of the Virginia Tech turf team, having transferred back from Mississippi State earlier in the year.
2005 — January 10–13 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • 45th anniversary of the Conference. • The keynote speaker during the VTC Annual Meeting was Lefty Driesell, former head basketball coach at Georgia State University. • Pat Jones, from Golfdom magazine, addressed the conference’s General Session on Wednesday.
2008 — January 14–17 / Fredericksburg / Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center • Visiting turf researchers who gave educational presentations included Dr. Keith Karnok (University of Georgia), Dr. A.J. Powell (University of Kentucky), Dr. Rich Brandenburg (NC State University) and Dr. Brian Horgan (University of Minnesota). • The Conference’s eight $1,000 Platinum Sponsors were Bayer Environmental Science, Evergreen
Seed, Finch Services, G.L. Cornell, Harrell’s, Revels Tractor, Smith Turf & Irrigation and the VA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation.
2009 — January 12–15 / Fredericksburg / Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center • Monday’s pre-conference sessions included a Water-Use Symposium for golf courses and an Environmental Landscaping Symposium, as well as a Certified Irrigation Contractor Class (for the third year in a row). • Dr. Rod Youngman (entomologist at Virginia Tech and the newest member of the VT turf team) gave his first VTC Conference presentation. • 110 vendors filled the sold-out tradeshow floor, many occupying four or more booths.
2006 — January 9–12 / Richmond / Richmond Marriott • For the second year in a row, Tuesday evening’s party featured the heavy-metal rock band C.R.U.M.B., with VTC member Cutler Robinson, CGCS. • Visiting turf researchers who gave educational presentations included Dr. Cale Bigelow (Purdue University), Dr. Peter Dernoeden (University of Maryland) and Drs. Jeff Fowler and James Brosnan (Penn State).
2007 — January 9–12 / Fredericksburg / Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center • This was the first time the Conference returned to Fredericksburg since 1978. Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |21
Turf Talk
By Chris Hartwiger and Patrick O’Brien, USGA Green Section
last year has brought unprecedented challenges to the golfcourse-maintenance industry. Numerous golf courses that we work with have been in full crisis mode, and every expense and task have been scrutinized. Despite the frustrations in dealing with decreasing budgets and shrinking course revenue, however, positive changes have resulted. A shift has been made from look-
The
ing for ways to “raise the bar” to an attitude of determining what is the least amount of resources necessary to meet expected conditions. We hope that, long term, this will keep golf affordable and refocus people’s attention on playing the game. Superintendents who have endured this period ultimately will be more effective turfgrass managers, long term. While much more can and should be said about this shift, in this article, we will fast forward to answering the question, “What’s next?”
Maintained bermudagrass in remote areas, such as along the sides of tees complexes, is being phased out in favor of turf systems requiring fewer inputs.
Too much, too little or just the right amount of sand? This is one of the questions many course managers are asking in the face of difficult economic times.
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Turf Talk continued
Implications
Installation of high-grass areas
After a summer of travels, we noted that the predominant ways courses controlled costs were decreased labor, a reduction in fertilizer purchases and an almost complete avoidance of buying equipment. These were rational decisions in an irrational economy. Unfortunately, much of this plan is not sustainable. Phrased another way, many underfertilized golf courses are being maintained with a bare-bones staff, using equipment that is a year older with less chance of replacement. Implications of this approach include: • Increased demands on full-time staff. Long term, this is not sustainable, as experienced and talented assistant superintendents and superintendents will look for greener pastures as the economy improves. • Minimal staff with more reliance on part-time employees. The sustainability of this approach depends on the employment status of the economy as a whole. If good part-time help is available, courses will benefit. However, if unemployment is low, then the availability of quality part-time employees will decline. This approach also leaves little room for completing anything but routine maintenance, including important preventative maintenance practices and special projects. • Aging equipment. Equipment replacement is often the first expense to be avoided in a bad economy. This approach has long-term consequences for turf quality and the budget. Good equipment shows up on the course. As equipment ages, breakdowns will increase. Parts are expensive. • Insufficient nutrients in the long run. Every plant needs nutrients to grow. While a course can get by for awhile with less-than-adequate plant nutrition, it will weaken the base in the long term, making it more vulnerable to weed invasion, slower to recover from wear- or pest-related injury and a less desirable golf surface.
The Southeast is the land of plentiful and inexpensive water, and our golf courses show it. Take a tour of most Southern golf courses, and you are likely to see areas of turf behind and on the side of tee complexes that are absolutely out of play. You may find turf being maintained that is 75 yards off the center of the fairway, too. All this turf is being irrigated, mowed, fertilized and treated for weeds and insects. Course officials, staff and ownership are studying where managed turf can be removed without any impact on the playing of the game. We expect this to continue. Installing high-grass areas is much more than letting the existing turf grow and shutting off maintenance. Beyond the obvious questions of how, where and when, the topics of grass selection, establishment, altering the irrigation system, placement and high-grass maintenance protocols all must be understood before any plan is prepared for the course.
The next move If the scenario above fits and if you believe it is not a sustainable approach to golf maintenance, the next question is, “What’s next?” Long term, we fully expect every golf course will be required, in some way, to lower their expenses to fall in line with predicted revenues. Until demand for rounds of golf and memberships begins to meet the current supply, we do not see a compelling reason to expect revenue increases long term. Hopefully, we are wrong on this prediction. We encourage courses to take a strategic — and not a reactionary — approach to lowering expenses. A strategic approach will require finding ways to shrink the property and reduce the intensity of maintenance. Here are several ways that courses are shrinking their property.
Bunker removal Bunkers provide strategic and aesthetic elements to the game. They also bring costs. On a per-square-foot basis, bunkers are the most expensive part of the course to maintain. And they have one of the shortest life spans of all parts of the course. How would the course play and look if there were 10, 20 or 30 percent less bunker acreage to maintain? We have no idea, but it is a topic worthy of serious discussion.
Less free water For decades, courses have been committed to providing free water out on the course. The days of the large water cooler housed in a thousand-dollar stand appear to be numbered. As course managers run the numbers and find the true cost of providing free water, they are seeking other ways to keep their customers hydrated. This includes water fountains with or without ice machines at restrooms or bottled water in the golf carts. We have interviewed managers of courses that have removed the water coolers, and without exception, they have no regrets, and long term, the cost of free water will be reduced.
Conclusion We hope that the contents of this article will be helpful to you and the decision-makers at your course. This year has been a difficult one, and 2010 will be filled with new challenges, too. It has been a privilege to work with many of you this year, and for those we were unable to visit, we hope to see you in 2010. As always, our phone lines are open, and our email inbox is clear. Please let us know how we may be of service to you. Patrick O’Brien (patobrien@usga.org) Chris Hartwiger (chartwiger@usga.org) Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |23
Turf Basics
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Turf Basics continued
By Wayne Ducote, Senior Sales Specialist, BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals
happens all the time. Someone buys a new herbicide, fungicide or insecticide, skims through the product label and files it away until it’s time to use the product. When that time comes, he or she flips to the portion of the label that shows the recommended rates. No big deal, right? Beyond the date of purchase, most people don’t spend a lot of time reading product labels. Familiarizing yourself with a label when you buy the product is a good idea, but so is re-reading the label before putting the product to use. Doing so can save a lot of time, money and hassle. When using fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, most people ask themselves only, “What product do I need to control the weed, insect or disease that’s causing me a problem, and what rate do I need to use?” Rate information is essential, but product labels provide a lot of other important information. Below are five key things to look for on product labels.
It
1. Tank-mixing Most labels have a tank-mixing section, which includes what you can and cannot tank-mix with a particular product. Using several products in one application is a common practice in the industry. It’s vital to read the tank-mixing section because some products shouldn’t be used together. Ignoring tankmixing guidelines can cause problems like clogged application equipment and reduced efficacy. Perhaps just as important is mixing order, which is also detailed on product labels. The basic rule of thumb is that dry materials should be mixed first,
followed by liquids. But rather than assuming this is always the case, it’s recommended that users follow the label closely when mixing products.
2. Special statements Products often have special statements on the label to help users utilize the product correctly. For instance, many products include statements about what the outside temperature should be when a product is used. If the label says not to apply the product if it’s warmer than 85 degrees outside, and you do, it could cause damage to the plant. Other common special statements refer to drying time. Applying a product prior to a rainfall when the product label states that six hours of drying time is necessary is a pretty expensive mistake.
3. Group numbers The front page of many product labels includes a group number, which helps users avoid resistance issues with fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. Products are grouped based on how they work (mode of action), and users are encouraged to vary group numbers of products in an effort to better manage resistance. For example, if after using a fungicide in Group 1 you have concerns about resistance, use a product with a different group number in the next application.
4. Agricultural use requirements The agricultural and non-agricultural use requirements on product labels are important for users, and they vary depending on product use. A greenhouse or nursery employee, for instance, may use the same product as a golf course
superintendent or lawncare employee, but has to abide by a completely different set of rules with regard to protective equipment and re-entry interval.
5. General restrictions and limitations An often-overlooked element of product labels is the “general restrictions and limitations” section, which is also known as the “do not” statements. A “do not” statement is a strong declaration that should be followed. For example, a product might have “Do not apply in greenhouses” on the label because the product is volatile and could move through the air to plants, causing foliar damage. Read the “do not” statements carefully, and be sure to brush up on them if it has been a while since you last used a product.
General suggestions Though it’s unnecessary to continually read and re-read the label for a product that you use several times a year, it’s a good idea to take some time now and again to re-familiarize yourself with product labels. Labels change periodically, so it makes sense to review commonly used product labels about once a year. The best place to obtain current labels is www.cdms.net. The 10- to 15-minute investment of reading a label can save a lot of time and hassle compared to the fallout of misusing a product. Wayne Ducote is a senior sales specialist with BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals. He can be reached at 337.849.6040 or via e-mail at wayne.ducote@basf.com. Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |25
Calendar of Events
Turf Industry Events December 7–9
February 8–12, 2010
Virginia Tech Turfgrass Short Course Blacksburg, VA
Golf Industry Show and GCSAA Education Conferences San Diego, CA
December 14–16 Virginia Tech Turfgrass Short Course Virginia Beach, VA
January 12–16, 2010 STMA Annual Conference Orlando, FL
January 18–21, 2010 VTC 50th Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Trade Show Fredericksburg, VA
February 23, 2010
Index of Advertisers E & S Soil and Peat . . . . . . . . . . . 16 www.eandssoil.com Earthworks & Sprinklers Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . 21 www.earthworkssportsfield construction.com
Pesticide Recertification Virginia Beach
East Coast Sod & Seed . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.eastcoastsod.com
April 2010
Egypt Farms, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.egyptfarms.com
Pesticide Recertification Fairfax, VA
May 2010 Pesticide Recertification Staunton, VA
June 2010 VTC Research Golf Tournament Wintergreen Resort, Wintergreen, VA
June 15, 2010 Pesticide Recertification Williamsburg, VA
June 22, 2010 Virginia Beach Field Day and Pesticide Recertification
Herod Seeds, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 www.herodseeds.com Homefield Fertilizer / Meadowspring Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.meadowspringturf.com Jacklin Seed, A division of Simplot . . . . . Inside Front Cover www.jacklin.com Kesmac/Brouwer, Inc. . . . Back Cover www.kesmac.com Lake Norman Dredging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.dockanddredge.com Luck Stone Corporation . . . . . . . 20 www.luckstone.com Mid-Atlantic Sports Turf . . . . . . . . 5
January 24–30, 2010 Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course Virginia Beach, VA
February 1–5, 2010 TPI Midwinter Conference Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
February 3–5, 2010 Central VA Nursery & Landscape Association Winter Short Course Henrico County, VA
July 2010 Pesticide Recertification Central Virginia
July 26–30, 2010 TPI Summer Convention and Field Days New York, New York
September 2010 Environmental Landscape Symposium Fredericksburg, VA
Modern Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.modernturf.com Oakland Plantation Turf Farm, Inc. . . . Inside Back Cover www.ncturfgrass.com Oakwood Sod Farm, Inc. . . . . . . . . 7 www.oakwoodsod.com Precision Laboratories . . . . . . . . . 11 www.precisionlab.com Scott Turf Equipment, LLC . . . . . . 7 Texas Sod Leasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 www.texassod.com The Turfgrass Group . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com
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Cover Story