Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | September/October 2009
18
12 12 Looking Back
on the First 25 Years of the Virginia Turf Conference 17 In Memory A Tribute to George Cornell
18 Feature Story
22 DEPARTMENTS 6 President’s Message
from Rick Viancour, CGCS
8 Director’s Corner
from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.
9 Editor’s Perspective
from Mark Vaughn, CGCS
10 VTF Report
from Betty Parker
Managing Naturalized Areas on Golf Courses… Maintenance Tips to Keep Weeds at Bay and Balls in Play
24 Recent Event:
22 Turf Talk
25 Industry News
EPA Imposes Restrictions on MSMA Use in Turf
26 Turfgrass Calendar
VTC Research Golf Tournament
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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.)
President’s Message
WE’RE MAKING
HISTORY! Rick Viancour, CGCS VTC President
This January at Fredericksburg!
istory will be made this January as the VTC celebrates the 50th anniversary of the annual Virginia Turfgrass Conference. Not many businesses, let alone events, ever reach the ripe old age of fifty. How has the conference survived — and, in many years, thrived — for five decades? The answer is simple. As one of the VTC’s most important services, the conference serves the turfgrass industry. At this event, attendees make contacts, gain information and close deals that help them be more successful turfgrass professionals. Wisdom usually comes with age. The VTC’s years of experience have taught us a thing or two about the right way to structure a conference to yield optimum benefits for both attendees and vendors. For instance, we no longer schedule educational classes during tradeshow hours. Dedicated hours for each activity allow vendors to attend educational sessions and give attendees ample time to visit with vendors, which maximizes traffic on the tradeshow floor. The VTC Annual Conference and Tradeshow has become the “go-to” event for the Mid-Atlantic region. Fredericksburg, the site of the conference, is less than a four-hour drive for major cities from North Carolina to New York. Join us this January and be a part of history.
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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
Director’s Corner
Reflections on the ANNUAL CONFERENCE Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
his coming January, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Virginia Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow. Throughout 2010 and culminating with the 2011 Virginia Turfgrass Conference, we will celebrate the 50th birthday of the VTC, which was officially formed in 1962. With this issue of the Virginia Turfgrass Journal, we are kicking off our yearlong celebration, so Mark Vaughn, Betty Parker and I are recalling our early experiences with the annual conference. My memories go back to the mid-1990s when the VTC Conference was held in the Richmond Exhibition Hall. I traveled to Richmond with friends to spend a day visiting vendors and having meetings. I was enthralled by the displays of large equipment and trucks. (Yes, that show had large displays of Chevrolet and Ford trucks.) The show has undergone tremendous changes since that first one I attended. Allow me to give a bit of a history lesson about the annual conference and tradeshow. Since I’m a latecomer to the VTC, my overview will be limited to looking at mountain peaks of experiences since the early 1960s. I hope to sit down real soon with John Shoulders and Dick Schmidt and get details about what happened between the peaks. The first seven conferences were held in Richmond. After then moving to Norfolk and back to Richmond, the conference found its way in 1970 to Fredericksburg at the Sheraton Motor Inn, where it stayed for nine years. After the next two years in Williamsburg, the conference returned to Richmond in 1981, expanding to three days and including the event’s first tradeshow. Actually, the first turfgrass tradeshows in Virginia were held in conjunction with the Virginia Tech Field Days in Blacksburg, which began decades ago. For many years, those tradeshows were held under the bleachers at Lane Stadium. Ironically, I recall walking past one or two of these events while I was a student. After several years of bouncing around the state (including appearances in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg), the conference finally settled down in Richmond in 1989. The Richmond Exhibition Hall was home until, in the late 1990s, a complete rebuild of that facility required another move. For the next two years, the Virginia Beach Convention Center became home for the Conference and Tradeshow. This time in Virginia Beach was just before I joined the VTC, but I understand those two years showed the need to have the show somewhere more toward the central part of Virginia, not off in a corner. We are now up to 2001 and the tragedy of September 11, which caused hotels and shows to suffer. The VTC needed to move its flagship event to central Virginia, and we needed to scale back the tradeshow to a tabletop event. This is about when I came on board. The first post-9/11 conference was held at the Richmond Marriott. That venue served us well for several years, but eventually the tradeshow needed to grow beyond the confines of a hotel ballroom. After many months of deliberation and fact-finding, the decision was made to move the Annual Virginia Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow back to Fredericksburg. That once sleepy little town was rapidly becoming a major shopping and event destination. We contracted with the Fredericksburg Expo and Convention Center while the owners of that facility were still pouring concrete and before there were any hotels next to it. Now, we are entering our fourth year back at Fredericksburg. Each year has been tremendous, and the upcoming 2010 show promises to be a multi-state event because turf professionals from up and down Mid-Atlantic States recognize the value of attending. Is January 18–21 marked on YOUR calendar?
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Editor’s Perspective
Remembering My First VIRGINIA CONFERENCE Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor
emories, light the corners of my mind. Misty watercolor memories of the way we were. Ah, yes, it was January 1979. Just a few years removed from Vietnam, Tricky Dick and Watergate. “Amphibious” Leon Spinks had beaten Ali for the title. Disco was starting to die a slow death, and I was listening to “Hotel California” on the latest audio device — a cassette tape. Jimmy Carter was taking the country down the economic tubes (now, there was a REAL recession). All the while, I was earning the priestly sum of $15,500 per year (plus housing and utilities, of course) as superintendent at Meadow Greens Country Club in the metropolis of Eden, NC. Life was good. I had briefly attended what passed as the North Carolina Turfgrass Conference a few years prior, in order to make contacts for my first job out of college (Cardinal Country Club, with supt. Gary Stafford). But, everyone knew THE turf conference in the region was in Virginia. With that in mind, my friend and former boss (Rick Briley) and I headed to Williamsburg in his land yacht, a 1978 Ford Thunderbird. I can’t remember a lot of what happened in 1979, but I do remember my good friend slamming on his brakes on I-64 just to scare the beJesus out of me after I had fallen asleep. I have never napped as a passenger in his vehicle since. We arrived at the Williamsburg Inn and Conference Center to find what actually looked like an honest-to-goodness organized event. All the giants were in attendance — John Shoulders, Houston Couch, Dick Schmidt, Link Taylor, Wayne Bingham and a young buck named Jack Hall. Wow, Virginia Tech actually had more than two people dedicated to turfgrass! There was some guy walking around with a camera snapping pictures of the goings-on, and there was an official program. It was cold (remember, this was back before global warming), but we managed to sneak in an afternoon round of golf during the two-day conference. The seafood was good at Nick’s under the bridge in Yorktown, and we could have eaten it off of the maintenance shop floor at The Golden Horseshoe. David Harmon had the bestorganized and cleanest maintenance operation I had ever seen until then and since. Well, here we are thirty years later. John Shoulders, et.al., have been replaced by Mike Goatley, Erik Ervin, Shawn Askew, Jeff Derr, Sam Doak and company. Lee Dieter, the VTC’s photographer for many years, has been replaced by Tony Montgomery. Dr. Couch has been replaced by… nah, you just can’t replace an American Original. The conference has the same attendee-friendly location, albeit a few miles further north. The local food is always tasty and something a little different. We still haven’t conquered poa and dollar spot, but their little butts are on the run. And the friendships that began all those years ago are still going strong and have become more valuable to me as the years fly by. See you in Fredericksburg!
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |9
VTF Report
The
Betty Parker VTF Manager
BLIZZARD OF 2000 DJ on the radio just said it has been 40 years since we first put a man on the moon. That means I was 14 when this momentous event took place. I hardly remember where I was or what I was doing, but I would imagine it was not that big of a deal to a 9th grade girl who was boy crazy. It was 50 years ago that the first annual Turfgrass Conference took place. I would have been 4, and what I knew about Virginia’s turfgrass industry at that time would have fit into the crevices of my mouth where I stuffed everything else. But the point of this introduction is to let you know I can remember many of the annual turfgrass conferences that most of you can’t! My wonderful husband of 33 years, Brook Parker, has worked in the turfgrass industry for that same amount of time. We were married the summer after he worked his first golf course job mowing ditches at the Country Club of Virginia under Jack Henry. The next summer, he was a college graduate and married, and Jack invited him back as spray technician. He soon went to work for Ken Giedd as the assistant superintendent at Hermitage Golf Course, and in 1979, we moved to Martinsville where Brook replaced Bob Ruff as superintendent of Chatmoss Country Club. Bob was moving on up to Wintergreen Resort. In 1982, we moved to Virginia Beach where Brook has continued to work in the turfgrass industry with developers as a superintendent and site superintendent of several newly constructed golf courses. I give this brief resume of my husband only because he is the reason I ended up as the manager of the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation. Brook took me to all the state conferences and to some of the local ones. I loved going. What girl wouldn’t? I was older, but I still enjoyed being surrounded by men, and this industry was 99% male dominated! In fact, when Dick Fisher approached me about taking over the Foundation job, I was not only flattered — I was thrilled. I now had an answer to that age-old question… “What brings you here?” The first conference I remember attending was in the early 1980s. I was probably looking for any excuse to get away from two babies for a night out in Richmond, dinner served at your table, no dishes and, yes, being surrounded by men! There were lots of wives, too, and I got to meet many of them at the hospitality rooms that abounded in the early years. Brook won a door prize the year we had chicken cordon bleu (I remember this because I didn’t get out much!). It was one of the first home computers that were ever marketed. We had no idea how to use it or hook it up, and I honestly don’t know what happened to it, but it was thrilling nonetheless. I looked forward to the state conference every year, and in thinking back, I believe I have been to almost all (if not all) of them in some form or fashion for
The
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the last 30 years. Even when I was teaching, I would scoot up for an evening out and then usually pay for it the next day! The VTF normally holds its annual research proposal review on Monday night, the first day of the conference. In January 2000, Dick Fisher, John Kois, Ned Herod, Brook Parker, Jeff Michael and I threw caution to the wind and ignored the weather forecasts of a major winter snowstorm and made our way to Richmond for our meeting and the annual conference. The meeting took place, but as the snow continued to pile up, the decision was made to cancel the conference. It would just be too risky to ask anyone to travel in such conditions. The good news was the Council had insurance that would cover the loss of the revenue in the event of weather, so there would be no catastrophic financial loss to the organization. There we were, though, the six of us that had made the meeting, and we were stuck! Food and refreshments had been paid in advance and prepared for various meetings that were not to be held that night. We declared a party, and what a grand time we had. Our meeting room, located in the President’s suite, high on an upper floor, had a baby grand piano and a breathtaking view of our state capital cradled in a blanket of snow. We missed the hum of the tradeshow floor the next day. The smiles and fellowship of friends, some of which we only see once a year, were missed terribly. That evening, while we discussed the development of our first turfgrass survey in over 10 years, as well as the research proposals submitted by Drs. Dave Chalmers, Eluned Jones and Dick Schmidt, we were an island in the middle of Richmond making the very most of the cancelled conference of 2000. We had a grand time! Thanks for the memories, guys. Thanks for your hugs and smiles every time I see you. I sure am looking forward to #50 in Fredericksburg this year. It is bound to be memorable! Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |11
Cover Story
Shown above, the Hotel Jefferson was the host site of the first VTC Conference in 1961.
By Liz Nutter, Managing Editor, Leading Edge Communications, publisher of the Virginia Turfgrass Journal
his coming January, the annual Virginia Turf & Landscape Conference will celebrate its 50th birthday. First offered to the region’s turfgrass professionals in 1961, the Conference has gone through several notable — and memorable — changes in its metamorphosis into the exciting four-day event that will take place in Fredericksburg on January 18–21, 2010. The Winter 1981 issue of Virginia Turfgrass News (the predecessor to today’s Virginia Turfgrass Journal) included the following information from John F. Shoulders, Professor Emeritus of Agronomy at Virginia Tech (and long-time VTC Historian), on the origins of the Conference: “In Virginia, the educational needs of turfgrass managers had begun to attract some attention by the mid-1950s. Virginia Tech staff members had already recog-
Photo courtesy of the Jefferson hotel, Richmond, VA.
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nized this need and had limited research underway by then. This research increased remarkably during the decade of the ‘50s, as did the interest of turf superintendents. By the time 1960 arrived, there was sufficient interest on the part of turf professionals and enough educational material from Virginia Tech to propose that a Turf Conference be held in the state. Held on February 14–15, 1961, at the Hotel Jefferson in Richmond, the first Virginia Turfgrass Conference was sponsored by Virginia Tech (then VPI) in cooperation with the Central Turfgrass Association, the Tidewater Turfgrass Association and the Virginia Turfgrass Association. There was much discussion and great concern over the approximately $500 guarantee required by the hotel, since all the funds for this conference had to be generated through the registra-
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tion fee. Seventeen speakers appeared on the program, which attracted 125 turfgrass professionals. The conference was hailed as an outstanding success and an event that should be repeated the following year.” Below, we take a look at highlights from the first 25 years of Conference history, with important “firsts” highlighted in green. Watch for the November/December 2009 issue of the Virginia Turfgrass Journal, where we’ll revisit the event’s second 25 years. 1961 — Feb. 14–15 / Richmond / Hotel Jefferson • The first Virginia Turfgrass Conference started at 10 a.m. on Tues. and adjourned at 12:30 p.m. on Wed. • The Program Committee included: Harry J. McSloy (Central Virginia Turfgrass Assn.; became
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the VTC’s first president in 1962), Louis F. Knight (Tidewater Turfgrass Assn.), Alvis Hylton (Virginia Turfgrass Assn.), Charles Hollowell (USGA Green Section), and John Shoulders and A.S. Beecher (VT).
Easterly (Virginia State Golf Assn.), whose presentation was titled, “What the Golfer Expects of Turf.” • The Conference registration fee was $10, which included Tuesday’s lunch and Tuesday evening’s banquet.
1962 – Feb. 13-14 / Richmond / Executive Motor Hotel • The Program Committee included: R. D. Cake (Tidewater), Harry J. McSloy (CVTA), Ira J. Bosley (VTA), Sheldon B. Betterly (Greater Washington GCSA; later served as VTC president in 1969 and 1970), and John Shoulders and A.S. Beecher (VT). • Topics included: “Planning Irrigation Systems for Golf Courses, Athletic Fields and Other Turfgrass Areas,” “Verticutting, Aerifying and Topdressing — Principles and Practices” and “Let’s Sell Ourselves,” by George C. Gumm, president, MidAtlantic CGSA.
• Topics included (along with many others): “Good Turf: An Aid in Public Relations,” by Tom Mascaro (West Point Products in Pennsylvania); “Construction and Management of Golf Greens,” panel discussion moderated by James B. Moncrief (USGA Green Section); “Mixtures and Species for Greens, Athletic Fields, Fairways, Etc.,” by Dr. Roy E. Blaser (VT); “Controlling Dollar Spot, Brown Patch and Other Troublesome Diseases,” by Dr. A. S. Williams (VT); and “The Importance of Soil Texture and Structure in Growing Vigorous Grasses,” panel discussion moderated by Dr. Richard E. Schmidt (VT). • The keynote speaker at the Tuesday evening banquet was Harry
1963 – Jan. 30–31 / Richmond / Hotel John Marshall • This was the first conference sponsored by VT in cooperation with the Virginia Turfgrass Council (which had been officially formed the previous year).
1964 – Jan. 14–15 / Richmond / Hotel John Marshall • Lee C. Dieter (Greater Washington GCSA, and VTC president in 1971 and 1972) served on the Program Committee and also chaired Wed. morning’s session. • The keynote speaker at the Tues. evening banquet was Gene C. Nutter, executive director of the GCSAA, who spoke on “The Changing Scene.” • J.R. Watson (director of the Agronomy Division of Toro Manufacturing in Minnesota) spoke on “Considerations in the Selection of Mowing Equipment.”
1965 – Jan. 27–28 / Richmond / Hotel John Marshall • 5th anniversary of the Conference. • Topics included: “Improving Superintendents’ Working Relationships with Greens Committees or Boards of Directors,” by Harry S. McSloy; “Winter Injury to Bentgrass Greens and How to Prevent It,” by Holman Griffin (USGA Green Section); “The Influence of Temperature and Light on Bentgrass and Bermudagrass,” by Dr. Richard Schmidt (VT);“Nematode Problems of Turfgrass,” by Dr. A. S. Williams (VT); and “Choosing an Irrigation System,” by Herbert Klose (Rainy Sprinkler Sales). 1966 – Jan. 25–26 / Richmond / Hotel John Marshall • The Conference’s first presentation on Tues. morning was by Dr. Houston Couch, head of the Plant Pathology and Physiology Dept. at VT. His talk was titled, “Fusarium Blight, A Newly Recognized Disease of Turfgrass.” (This was Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |13
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Dr. Couch’s first time as a speaker at the Virginia conference). • A presentation specifically for home lawns was offered: “Mixtures for Home Lawns and General Turf Areas,” by Dr. Roy E. Blaser (VT). (Previously, most conference topics were on general turf management or specifically for golf course superintendents.)
• The Program Committee included: Louis Brooking Jr. (VA Cultivated Turfgrass Assn.), W. D. Haven (VTA), Paul Weeks (CVTA), Samuel Kessel (Greater Washington GCSA), William P. Silvia (Tidewater), and A. S. Beecher, Richard Schmidt and John Shoulders (VT).
1967 – Jan. 24–25 / Richmond / Hotel John Marshall • The Wed. afternoon session included a presentation by L. R. “Bob” Shields, President Emeritus, GCSAA, on “Improving the Image of Turf Superintendents.” • A presentation solely on athletic fields was offered: “Making Athletic Fields Playable,” by John F. Shoulders, Associate Extension Agronomist (VT). 1968 – Jan. 23–24 / Norfolk / Golden Triangle Motor Hotel • A presentation specifically for parks and rec. managers was offered: “Functional and Aesthetic Development of Recreational Areas,” by James Faiszt (Professor of Horticulture at VT). • A presentation specifically for institutional turf was offered: “Highway Turf and Salt Injury Research,” by Dr. Roy Blaser (VT). 1969 – Jan. 28–29 / Richmond / Holiday Inn • The Program Committee included J. L. Kidwell, Virginia Cultivated Turfgrass Assn. (the first time a sod producer was included on the committee; Kidwell later served as VTC president). • Wed. afternoon included a session on “The Pythium Problem of 1968.” 1970 – Jan. 27–28 / Fredericksburg / Sheraton Motor Inn • 10th anniversary of the Conference.
• A Tues. afternoon presentation — “Using Sod for Turf Establishment and Repair,” by Jack L. Kidwell, past pres. of the VA Cultivated Turfgrass Assn. — was the first time the conference included a topic specifically on sod. • The keynote speaker for the Tues. evening banquet was Dr. Fred V. Grau, whose presentation was on “Four Decades of Turf.” • The Conference registration fee was $15.
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1971 – Jan. 26–27 / Fredericksburg / Sheraton Motor Inn • The Conference theme was “The Turf Manager and the Ecosystem.” Tues. morning’s session was devoted to that topic, with presentations titled “For a Cleaner Environment,” “Agricultural Pollution — Truth and Misconceptions” “Ecology and Turf,” and “Virginia’s Pesticide Law.” • The keynote speaker for the banquet was Cullen Johnson, director of public relations for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. 1972 – Jan. 25–26 / Fredericksburg / Sheraton Motor Inn • The Conference theme — “Enhancing Modern Living through Turf Improvement” — continued the focus on the ecology of turf. Presentations included: “Research for Enhancement without Pollution,” “Soils and Fertility Relating to Environmental Quality” and “Pesticides: Past, Present and Future” (by Leo J. Cleary, of W.J. Cleary Corporation). • The Conference Program was 20pages, with advertising (previously, it had been a one-sheet, tri-fold brochure). Advertisers included (among many others): G.L. Cornell, Egypt Farms, Richmond Power Equipment Co. (a Toro distributor), Kidwell Turf Farms, W.A. Cleary Corp., Wilson Feed & Seed (distributor of fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides; president was Gus Constantino), Weblite Corporation, Agrico Chemical, Velsicol, Chipco Turf Products, Borden Turf & Garden Products, Centreville Sod Growers, Virginia Cultivated Turfgrass Assn. and Southern States Cooperative. 1973 – Jan. 30–31 / Fredericksburg / Sheraton Motor Inn • The Conference theme was “There Is a Difference…” While several “environmentally friendly” presentations were included, there
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was also (ironically) a presentation on “The Effect of Air Pollution on Turf.” • The 32-page program included a Special Recognition to Borden Turf & Garden Products in Norfolk (which donated the printing of the program, making “considerably larger the net contribution to the Turf Research Fellowship at VT for 1973”) and Appreciation to advertisers (whose contributions were used to support the industry-sponsored social hour — which the program listed as “Attitude Adjustment Hour” — and to aid the Turf Research Fellowship). 1974 – January 29–30 / Fredericksburg / Sheraton Motor Inn • The Conference theme — “Quality Turf with Less Energy” — was directly related to the energy crisis of the time. Session I reflected that theme, with presentations on “The Effect of the Energy Shortage on Fertilizer,” “Equipment Management for Increased Fuel Efficiency,” Turf Management Techniques to Stretch the Fuel and Fertilizer Allotment” and “Turf Seeds — Availability and Price.” • The conference provided separate morning sessions for golf and lawn/sports/general turf. 1975 – January 29–30 / Fredericksburg / Sheraton Motor Inn • 15th anniversary of the Conference. • Conference attendance was 307, the second highest since the conference began in 1961. • The Conference theme was “Managing Turf Quality with Less.” The first morning session — “Factors within the Superintendent’s Control” — included topics on turfgrass diseases, thatch and weeds. The afternoon session — “Factors Beyond the Superintendent’s Control” — included topics on the
Recognized Disease of Tall Fescue” (by Dr. Houston Couch). • The program included a presentation by Dr. Rajandra N. Waghray, Extension Agent, Fairfax County (“A Practical Approach to Lawn Insect Control”). • In the 36-page program, the Richmond Power Equipment Co. ad was signed by all employees, including Danny McGrory (in Parts), Pete Moss (in Sales) and Bob Brooks (president). • Larry Jones received a $500 scholarship from the GCSAA, and Brook Parker Sr. received the $500 UpJohn Scholarship Award.
fertilizer outlook, trends in seed availability, the pesticide situation, federal regulations and trends in turf equipment. • The second day’s sessions were again divided: one for golf superintendents and one for lawn/ sports/general turf. • The Conference registration fee was $22. 1976 – January 28–29 / Fredericksburg / Sheraton Motor Inn • Theme — “Management Techniques for the Mid-70s.” • In addition to 13 presenters from Virginia Tech, speakers from across the region included: Dr. John Hall, turf specialist at the University of Maryland; Dr. Fred Ledeboer from Lofts Pedigreed Seed in New Jersey; Dr. H. D. Niemczyk from Ohio State Univ.; Dr. A. R. Mazur from Clemson Univ.; and golf superintendents from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia. 1977 – January 19–20 / Fredericksburg / Sheraton Motor Inn • Presentations included: “Rhizoctonia Leaf Spot: A Newly
1978 – January 18–19 / Fredericksburg / Sheraton Motor Inn • Thursday morning included three different sessions for Golf, General Turf and Lawn Service. • Post-conference coverage included the following recap: “Despite bad weather that kept several out-ofstate speakers from showing up, attendance at the 18th Annual Virginia Turfgrass Conference was just about normal. Sandwiched between two of this winter’s most severe snow and ice storms, the two-day conference drew an official attendance of 280 persons.” 1979 – January 24–25 / Williamsburg / Conference Center • Robert Early (editor of Lawn Service Industry magazine) spoke on “Lawn Services — Exploding Newcomer to the Turfgrass Industry.” • The Conference offered a “Ladies (Spouses) Program” (previously, ladies had been welcomed as guests of conference participants). The $12 program included a guided tour of Colonial Williamsburg, with lunch in a Colonial Tavern. Ladies could also buy a ticket to the Conference banquet ($25). Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |15
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1980 – January 30–31 / Williamsburg / Ft. Magruder Inn • 20th anniversary of the Conference. • The first presentation of the conference (“The ‘80s: Decade of Challenge in Turfgrass Management”) was made by Dr. James B. Beard, from Texas A&M University. Dr. Beard also gave a presentation on “Management Concepts for Water Conservation.”
1982 – January 19–21 / Richmond / John Marshall Hotel • Dr. Dave Chalmers (Extension agronomist) was a speaker on the educational program for the first time (he had started at VT in 1981, filling the position vacated by John Shoulder’s retirement). • Patrick O’Brien (agronomist, Mid-Atlantic Region, USGA, Richmond) also spoke at the Conference for the first time. 1983 – January 18–20 / Norfolk / Omni International Hotel • Post-conference coverage mentioned that the event attracted 543 participants, and that the “Lawn Service session was heavily attended throughout the conference.” • The tradeshow had a total of 74 booths, with 47 exhibitors (“most successful to date”). • 19 ladies attended the Ladies Program, which included a luncheon, fashion show and “grooming program” on the first day, and 21 ladies took a tour of Norfolk’s history on the 2nd day.
• Also, a presentation was made on using “Composted Sludge in Turfgrass Production & Maintenance,” by J.J. Murray, USDA Research Agronomist at the Turfgrass Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland.
1981 – January 20–22 / Richmond / John Marshall Hotel • The Conference expanded to three days. • The Conference included a tradeshow, with 55 exhibitors. • The third day included a Pesticide Recertification session. • Over 500 people attended the Conference.
1984 – January 18–20 / Williamsburg / Williamsburg Hilton • The keynote speaker at the banquet was Michael Broome, a wellknown national humorist and motivational speaker, whose presentation was titled, “How to Be a Liver of Life and Not a Gall Bladder.” • During the General Session, Dr. P. J. Michaels from the University of Virginia gave a presentation titled, “Is Virginia’s Climate Really Warming?” 1985 – January 23–25 / Virginia Beach / Convention Center and Pavilion Tower Hotel • 25th anniversary of the Conference. • John Shoulders, Professor Emeritus, gave the first presentation
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of the conference, “25 Years of Working Together.” • Dr. Jeff Derr (Virginia Tech) was a speaker at the conference for the first time. Other VT speakers included: Dr. Roy E. Blaser (Professor Emeritus), Dr. John Hall III, Dr. Houston Couch, Dr. Dave Chalmers, Dr. Richard Schmidt, Dr. Lincoln Taylor and Dr. S.W. Bingham. • George Fisher from Toro was also a presenter. • Post-conference coverage called the event the “most successful to date,” with a total attendance of 745 and 112 tradeshow booths. Special acknowledgment The VTC would like to sincerely thank John Shoulders for graciously sharing his collection of original Conference programs (all the way back to 1961!) and back issues of the Virginia Turfgrass News (from 1974), which were used as research for this article.
In Memory
A Tribute to
GEORGE CORNEL
Left: A long-time supporter of turf events in Virginia, G.L. Cornell Co. ran this ad in the published program for the 1976 VTC annual conference.
June 18, 2009, the turf industry lost a long-time supporter of turf research when George Cornell, owner of G.L. Cornell Co., passed away. For many decades, The G.L. Cornell Co. has been a faithful sponsor of turf events in Virginia, particularly the Virginia Tech Field Days and the VTC annual conferences. The firm was also a consistent full-page advertiser in the published programs for the 1972–1982 VTC conferences, when proceeds from advertising were donated to turf research (those were the only years that the conference program included advertising). George was born on May 7, 1919, in Chautauqua, NY. After graduating from Chautauqua Central in 1936, he attended the University of Michigan for three years. He left the university in 1940 to join his brother-in-law’s company, the J.S. Connolly Company. Located in Bethesda, MD, the company sold grassmaintenance equipment to golf courses, park departments, estates and schools throughout Maryland and Virginia. During World War II, George trained first as a lieutenant in the Army engineers and then as a navigator in the Army Air Corps. After the war, George returned to the J.S. Connolly Company. With the help of his brothers and sister, he purchased the company in 1946. The company was incorporated as the G.L. Cornell Company in 1954. In 1966, George added golf cars to the company’s product line, becoming a distributor for HarleyDavidson and later for Club Car. In 1986, he added Rain Bird irrigation. Over the years, the company has been named distributor of the year at least once for each of its major suppliers — Jacobsen, Club Car and Rain Bird. George retired in 2002, but he continued to go to the office regularly for several more years. He kept a strong interest in the turf industry and in the many friends he had among his customers, suppliers and colleagues in the business. An avid golfer, George made several golf trips to Scotland over 40 years, and he joined both Muirfield and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. In 1995, George, at age 76, and his son won seven foursomes matches in five days to win the Calcutta Cup, the first event of the R&A’s Fall Meeting. A member of Congressional Country Club, Burning Tree Club and Chevy Chase Club, George was able to win the club championship at each, winning twice at Burning Tree in 1957 and 1981. George died in his sleep on June 18, 2009. Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Helen Pierce Cornell of Bethesda; two children, Mary Park of Marblehead, Mass., and Larry Cornell of Bethesda; and four grandchildren.
On
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |17
Feature Story
ior Sales Specialist, BASF By Wayne Ducote, Sen
an industry pressured for cost savings, superintendents are considering every option, including going natural. These areas, called by many names (including native, natural and naturalized), can also help make a golf course more marketable during these difficult economic times, by providing increased aesthetic interest for golfers. Naturalized areas help create a contrast to intensely managed turf, and they improve wildlife habitat. While an aesthetic case for naturalized areas can be easily made, many superintendents are converting intensely managed turf to naturalized landscapes to cut their input costs related to fuel, fertilizer, irrigation, pesticides and labor. The deep root systems of these naturalized areas, for example, are more tolerant to environmental stresses and require less irrigation. Properly going natural, however, should not
In
mentals Professional Turf & Orna
be confused with letting Nature take over. Naturalized areas left to grow at nature’s will are bound to become large weed patches and over-grown eye sores that can become a noman’s land for irretrievable golf balls. Unlike turf and groomed landscapes, a naturalized area’s success relies on a different type of plant management and a low-maintenance, but methodical, approach that includes both preemergence and postemergence herbicides.
Choosing plants and planning maintenance The types of indigenous or nonnative plants that you choose for naturalized areas have a significant impact on maintenance needs. Monostands or mixes of fescues, lovegrass, bluestems, broomsedge, wheatgrass, indiangrass and others can provide a clean contrast to playable turf and require minimal main-
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tenance inputs. They are great for sloped areas prone to erosion, and some varieties even have natural weed defenses. Native flowers and wildflowers add color to a course’s greenscape, but they require more care to ensure seasonal blooms and growth succession over invasive, aggressive weeds. When grown from seed, wildflowers may take up to three years to provide the impact desired. Some of the most popular choices for golf courses include cosmos, yarrow, baby’s breath, black-eyed susan, primrose, poppy and Shasta daisy, to name a few. Controlling weeds in a naturalized area inhabited by wildflowers can be a challenge for superintendents. Herbicides meant to knock down broadleaf weeds may also kill wildflowers, which are categorized as broadleaf species. As a result, these wildflower areas may require hand-weeding and spotspraying to remove unsightly broad-
Feature Stor y continued
leaf weeds. Grassy weeds, however, can be controlled with selective herbicides. If planting wildflowers, superintendents should consider the size of the planting area, realizing that these areas will require some hand-weeding to achieve the full benefits.
Getting started on going natural Establishing strong, healthy plants is key for weed management in lowmaintenance, naturalized areas. When beginning a new area, use a non-selective chemical treatment to eliminate weeds, and then lightly till. Then use a low seed rate per acre to avoid thick stands of vegetation. Be sure to time seeding with seasonal rains to minimize the need for irrigation. With new areas, it is important to communicate progress to members, because plants may take years to develop and achieve the desired effect.
One way to avoid waiting for the area to develop is to use established plants, if available. Plant them in the fall to make the most of favorable soil temperatures and decreased weed pressure. Superintendents could also cut costs by building an out-of-sight nursery to grow native varieties until they’re ready for planting. Mature plants should be spaced apart so players have room to walk in and play a missed shot back onto a fairway. A number of grass options — including lovegrass, fescues, broomsedge and bluestem — work well in these areas.
A management plan should start with an inventory of current herbicides in the chemical-storage building. Categorize your existing herb-
Managing weeds and promoting healthy, playable growth Seasonal thinning, trimming, mowing and spraying naturalized areas should be included in a golf course’s routine maintenance in order to sustain the integrity and playability of the course landscape.
A naturalized area’s success relies on a lowmaintenance, but methodical, approach that includes both preemergence and postemergence herbicides.
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |19
Feature Stor y continued
Inventory Your Herbicides and Categorize Their Use in These Areas * Recommendations complied by BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals’ technical staff. Disclaimer: Consult individual product labels to determine individual species tolerance. Most product labels allow users to evaluate species not on the label. User assumes all risk. This is a partial list of products and is provided as a guide. Company Name
Product Name
Active Ingredient
Preemergence — Grasses and broadleaves BASF Syngenta Dow AgroSciences United Phosphorus Inc. Amvac Chemical Corp.
Pendulum herbicide Barricade Dimension Surfian Dacthal
Application Timing Preemergence Postemergence
Pendimethalin Prodiamine Dithiopyr Oryzalin DCPA
x x x x x
Use Areas Native Grasses
Weeds Controlled
Wildflowers Grasses Broadleaves Sedges
x x x x x
x x x x x
x x x x x
x x x x x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x x
Sodium Bentazon Halosulfuron methyl
x x
x x
Quinclorac Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl Sethoxydim Fluazifop-P-butyl
x x x x
x x x*
Postemergence — Non-selective Bayer Monsanto
Finale Roundup
Gulfosinate-ammonium Glyphosate
x**
Postemergence — Sedges BASF Gowan
Basagran herbicide Sedgehammer
x x
Postemergence — Grasses BASF Bayer BASF Syngenta
Drive XLR8 herbicide Acclaim Extra Segment herbicide Fusilade II
x x x
x x x x
x
Postemergence — Broadleaves Dow AgroSciences Dow AgroSciences Multiple mfgs. Multiple mfgs. PBI Gordon
Turflon Lontrel Various Various Trimec Classic
Triclopyr Clopyralid 2, 4-D Dicamba 2, 4-D + MCPP + Dicamba
x x x x x
x x x x x
x x x x x
LESCO
Three Way
Dicamba + 2, 4-D + MCPP-P Carfentrazone-ethyl + 2, 4-D
x
x
x
PBI Gordon Dow AgroSciences
SpeedZone Confront
+ Mecoprop-p + Dicamba Triclopyr + Clopyralid
x x
x x
x x
Chart Guide: x* May be used in fine fescue x** Suppression
Maintenance Schedule Breakdown 1. Mow in the spring and apply a preemergence herbicide. 2. Monitor the amount of wildlife living in the naturalized area. If animals or insects have become pests to players, decrease the amount of food- and shelter-giving plants. 3. Spot-spray and hand-weed as needed if weed pressure increases during summer months.
4. Mow in the fall and apply a preemergence herbicide before dormancy hits. 5. If allowed, consider burning to clean out debris and vegetation to promote new growth. 6. If desired, label the indigenous grasses and flowers to both educate players and help remind maintenance crews which plants are intentional.
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Feature Stor y continued
icides by application timing, use areas and weeds controlled (see chart). Note preemergence and postemergence herbicides, whether use sites are appropriate for wildflower areas and native grass areas, and their control of broadleaf weeds, sedges and grassy weeds. While many herbicide products labeled for golf course use do not list native grasses and wildflowers specifically, language on the label usually allows you to evaluate the herbicide on your particular species. You should test the product on a small area to determine tolerance before making applications to larger areas. In addition, many product labels include native grasses and wildflowers that are tolerant to a particular herbicide in the ornamental section of the label. Preemergence herbicides should be the pillar of any naturalized-area maintenance plan. Most preemergence herbicides labeled for golf course use evolved from crop applications, which typically control tall and unsightly weeds commonly found in naturalized areas. These include grassy weeds such as barnyardgrass, foxtail, johnsongrass,
panicum and witchgrass, as well as broadleaf weeds like lambsquarter, pigweed, spurge and smartweed. Since most preemergence herbicides affect only the roots of germinating weed seeds, they are generally labeled for use on mature grasses with a well-established root system. Using herbicides to preventatively control weeds will be the most cost-effective strategy. If you can prevent outbreaks with one product application, you’ll save yourself the time and expense of applying multiple products on multiple weed varieties. Superintendents should apply herbicides annually as part of their routine maintenance. Other strategies, such as mowing and thinning the vegetation, will promote healthy growth and keep the area playable. Consider mowing naturalized areas twice a year — once in the spring to provide for a clean, fresh growing season and then again in the fall before plants go into dormancy. Spring and fall are ideal times to apply a preemergence herbicide to control weeds. After an area has been established for a few years, consider getting a
Consider mowing naturalized areas twice a year — once in the spring to provide for a clean, fresh growing season and then again in the fall before plants go into dormancy.
permit for a controlled burn of the area. Scheduling an annual burn during the early spring months will encourage hearty growth and renew the soil. Once new growth appears, apply a preemergence herbicide before grassy and broadleaf weeds invade the area. Postemergence broadleaf herbicides are effective on naturalized grass areas, but eliminating unsightly grassy weeds can be more challenging. There are several postemergence grass herbicides that can be used, but study product labels closely to determine if your stand is tolerant to the herbicide. Naturalized areas on golf courses continue to be a developing trend. And while they are not maintenance free, naturalized areas can reduce the amount of management required on the overall course and increase aesthetics. Properly managed naturalized areas can be mutually beneficial to superintendent budgets and player expectations. And when created and managed methodically, naturalized areas can give the golf course a visually appealing contrast to the manicured playing areas.
This naturalized area features a monostand of ‘Aurora’ hard fescue, providing a visually pleasing textural and color contrast.
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |21
Turf Talk
By Jim Brosnan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor; Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., Assistant Professor; Greg Breeden, Extension Assistant; Tom Samples, Ph.D., Professor; and John Sorochan, Ph.D. Associate Professor; The University of Tennessee onosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) is an herbicide that is commonly used in warm-season climates. Since the 1960s, this product has been used to manage infestations of various crabgrass species (Digitaria spp.), as well as goosegrass (Eleusine indica) and dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum) in warm-season turf. MSMA, an organic arsenical herbicide, contains an organic form of the element arsenic. In its organic form, arsenic is relatively non-toxic. For example, the herbicide MSMA is far less toxic than aspirin. However, in an inorganic state, arsenic can be highly toxic. It is important to note that MSMA only contains organic arsenic. Furthermore, research has continually shown that MSMA is tightly bound to soil organic matter and is not readily leached. Water samples from two golf courses in Florida, however, tested high in arsenic in 2006. This spurred a ruling by (EPA) to cancel the registration of MSMA in all aspects of agriculture, including turfgrass management. There was a concern that organic arsenic from MSMA could convert into the more-toxic inorganic form in the environment.
M
Multiple public comment periods followed the ruling, and the response from various facets of agriculture was overwhelming. The MSMA task force (an alliance of chemical companies that manufacture the product) and the cotton industry led the charge. Concerns were raised on a number of issues about the ruling, particularly that there was no way to conclusively say that the arsenic was from applications of MSMA. On April 22, 2009, the EPA announced the final decision regarding the use of MSMA for weed management. Impacts on the turfgrass industry are significant.
Turfgrass Restrictions
will be able to use MSMA only as a spot treatment, providing that spots are less than 100 ft2 and that no more than 25 percent of the course is treated within a given year.
Sod Farms Sales of all products containing MSMA for use on sod farms will end on December 31, 2012. Any product remaining in storage after this date can be used until December 31, 2013. The EPA has not publicly commented on the fate of product remaining in sod-farm inventories after this date. Until 2013, two broadcast applications of MSMA will be allowed per season, and a 25-foot buffer strip will be required for farms bordering permanent water bodies.
Golf Courses Sales of all products containing MSMA for golf course use will end on December 31, 2012. Any product remaining in storage after this date can be used until December 31, 2013. The EPA has not publicly commented on the fate of product remaining in golf-course maintenance inventories after this date. Until 2013, newly constructed courses will be allowed one broadcast application, and existing courses
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Highway Rights-of-Way Sales of all products containing MSMA for use on highway rightsof-way will end on December 31, 2012. Any product remaining in storage after this date can be used until December 31, 2013. The EPA has not publicly commented on the fate of product remaining in inventories after this date. Until 2013, two broadcast applications of MSMA will be allowed per
Turf Talk continued
year, and a 100-foot buffer strip will be required when spraying near permanent water bodies.
Residential Turf, Commercial Turf and Sports Turf Maintenance Sales of all products containing MSMA for residential, commercial and sports turf use will end on December 31, 2009. Any product remaining in storage after this date can be used until December 31, 2010. The EPA has not publicly commented on the fate of product remaining in inventories after this date. Other uses that fall under this restriction include forestry, nonbearing fruit and nuts, citrus (bearing and non-bearing), seed production (bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass), drainage ditch banks, railroad, pipeline, utility rights-of-way, fencerows and storage yards.
Dealing with the ruling This EPA ruling applies to all organic arsenical herbicides, which includes not only MSMA, but also disodium methanearsonate (DSMA) and calcium acid methanearsonate (CAMA). The loss of these herbicides will certainly make managing weeds in warm-season turf more difficult. Researchers are continually evaluating new compounds, as well as combinations of existing compounds, that will help soften the blow of this EPA ruling.
Some turf managers have slightly less than two years to prepare for life after MSMA. Focusing on a few key principles may help make the transition easier. 1. Use the product while it is still available. Managers dealing with infestations of annual grassy weeds should use MSMA while it is still legal to do so. Make a diligent effort to control these weeds now, and then shift your focus to preemergence control in the future. This point especially rings true for dallisgrass, as there are no options other than MSMA for selective postemergence control of this perennial grassy weed in turf. Herbicides such as foramsulfuron (trade name, Revolver) and trifloxysulfuron (trade name, Monument) will only provide dallisgrass suppression, not control. New chemistries, as well as combinations of existing chemistries, are being explored to provide selective dallisgrass control in both warm- and coolseason turf. 2. Establish effective preemergence practices. The loss of an effective, economical postemergence herbicide like MSMA renders preemergence control of annual grassy weeds
more important than ever. When applied correctly, preemergence herbicides such as prodiamine (trade name, Barricade), oxadiazon (trade name, Ronstar), dithiopyr (trade name, Dimension) and pendimethalin (trade name, Pendulum) can provide effective control of annual grassy weeds like crabgrass and goosegrass for extended periods of time. It is imperative that these materials be applied prior to the germination of weed seed and that they are watered in after application. Most labels require 1/2 inch of irrigation or rainfall after application. 3. Make the most of cultural practices. The best defense against any weed invasion is a healthy, dense, vigorous turf stand. Implementing cultural practices (aerification, fertility, mowing, etc.) to maximize density will make turfs less susceptible to weed encroachment. For example, goosegrass thrives in compacted, poorly drained soils. Soils of this nature are commonly found in high traffic areas on sports fields where there is minimal turfgrass cover. Improving soil conditions in these areas by aerifying and top-dressing will reduce the likelihood of a goosegrass infestation. Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |23
Recent Event
CONGRATULATIONS to
THE VICTORS
at the VTC RESEARCH
GOLF TOURNAMENT! eld on June 8 at Wintergreen Resort, the 2009 VTC Annual Research Golf Tournament attracted 43 teams of golfers from across the state and raised approximately $17,000 for the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation (VTF) in support of turfgrass research. The tournament winners (in addition to the VTF!) are listed below. The VTC thanks all of this year's participants!
H Above, the Old Dominion GCSA team won this year's Commonwealth Cup and was the first-place Net Team.
Closest to the Pin Matt Hammerstein, Dennis Shepherd, David Swanigan
Longest Drive Quent Baria, Sean Owens, Brian Songer
Putting Contest Steve Jocokes
Team – Net (Gus Constantino Trophy) First place: Old Dominion GCSA Second place: Bayer Third place: Old Castle
Team – Gross First place: ENP Fertilizer Second place: Shenandoah Valley Turfgrass Assn. Third place: Goodyear Country Club
Commonwealth Cup Old Dominion GCSA
$20,000 Shoot Out Although no one won the amateur-only Shoot Out, Andy Bemis got the closest to the pin during the competition.
Thank You to Our Shoot-Out Sponsors! Civitas/Innovative Turf Services, Emerald Isle/Ocean Organics, Innovative Turf Services, John Deere, Lebanon Turf Products & Quali-Pro
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Industry News
VT NAMES
NEW DEAN of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
V
irginia Tech has named Dr. Alan Grant the new dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Currently a professor and head of the Department of Animal Sciences at Purdue University, Dr. Grant will start his position at Virginia Tech on October 1, 2009, when he succeeds L.T. Kok, who has been interim dean since March after Sharron Quisenberry left to become vice president of research and economic development at Iowa State University. “Alan Grant has an impressive record of teaching, research, outreach and administrative accomplishments,” stated Senior Vice President and Provost Mark McNamee. “I am excited about his vision for future growth and development of the college, which will ensure the college’s continued excellent standing among its peers. I look forward to his joining our leadership team.” Recognized as a University Faculty Scholar at Purdue University, Grant has received several teaching awards, including the Teaching for Tomorrow Award, an enrichment program for recognizing and fostering teaching. Capital projects under his lead-
ership as department head have included a $2.3 million swine environmental-research building; $600,000 Ossabaw swine facility; major investments in manure-management systems at the Purdue Research and Education Center; and renovations of several research laboratories. “I am committed to Virginia Tech’s land-grant mission, and I believe the college is a natural leader in this area due to its strong assets — quality agricultural and life sciences programs and their integration with Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station,” said Grant. “I am excited about the prospect of working with university colleagues on building the university’s future and expanding existing partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. Through these efforts, the college will continue to develop solutions to relevant problems in the agriculture, food, health and natural resources sectors across its teaching, research and Extension missions.” Grant’s research program has been focused on the study of animal growth that leads to strategies for increasing the efficiency of lean-
meat production and utilization. His discovery efforts have also been directed at understanding the relationship between muscle development and meat quality and have consistently encompassed collaborative partnerships and student involvement. His research program has been supported by more than $5.4 million in competitive funds from organizations like the American Diabetes Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program and the National Pork Producers Council. Grant is a strong advocate of regionalization and multi-state activities to support land-grant missions, and he serves as a board member of a new Midwest Dairy Consortium. He has also provided leadership to the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence. A panel member and reviewer for the USDA National Research Initiative’s competitive grants program, Grant’s expertise has been recognized nationally and internationally. Grant received his Ph.D. and M.S. from Michigan State University in animal science and his B.S. in animal science from Cornell University. Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council |25
Calendar of Events
Turf Industry Events
Index of Advertisers
November 4–6
February 3–5, 2010
E & S Soil and Peat . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.eandssoil.com
Pesticide Certification Training (3B) and Exam Henrico, VA
Central VA Nursery & Landscape Association Winter Short Course Henrico County, VA
East Coast Sod & Seed . . . . . . . . . 11 www.eastcoastsod.com
December 7–9
February 8–12, 2010
Egypt Farms, Inc. . . Inside Back Cover www.egyptfarms.com
Virginia Tech Turfgrass Short Course Blacksburg, VA
Golf Industry Show and GCSAA Education Conferences San Diego, CA
Herod Seeds, Inc. . . . . . Back Cover www.herodseeds.com
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 January 24–30, 2010 Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course Virginia Beach, VA
February 1–5, 2010 TPI Midwinter Conference Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
February 2010 Pesticide Recertification Virginia Beach
March 2010 Pesticide Recertification Fairfax, VA
May 2010 Pesticide Recertification Staunton, VA
June 2010
Homefield Fertilizer / Meadowspring Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.meadowspringturf.com Jacklin Seed, A division of Simplot . . . . . Inside Front Cover www.jacklin.com Lake Norman Dredging . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover www.dockanddredge.com Luck Stone Corporation . . . . . . . . 5 www.luckstone.com
Virginia Beach Field Day and Pesticide Recertification
Mid-Atlantic Sports Turf . . . . . . . 11
June 2010
Oakland Plantation Turf Farm, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 www.ncturfgrass.com
VTC Research Golf Tournament Wintergreen Resort, Wintergreen, VA
June 15, 2010
Oakwood Sod Farm, Inc. . . . . . . . . 7 www.oakwoodsod.com
Pesticide Recertification Williamsburg, VA
Scott Turf Equipment, LLC . . . . . . 7
July 26–30, 2010
Texas Sod Leasing . . . . . Back Cover www.texassod.com
TPI Summer Convention and Field Days New York, New York
The Turfgrass Group . . . . . . . . . . . 3 www.theturfgrassgroup.com
August 2010 Environmental Landscape Symposium Fredericksburg, VA
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