Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
May/June 2020
COVID-19 Relates to Everything These Days, Even
TURFGRASS PATHOGENS
Crisis Turfgrass Management COVID-19 Response
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | May/June 2020
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
18
VTC OFFICERS President Michael Skelton (540) 718-4133
DEPARTMENTS 16 Recent Event – Highlights from Come to the Bay
18 Cover Story –
COVID-19 Relates to Everything These Days, Even Turfgrass Pathogens
President’s Message 6 from Mike Skelton
8 Director’s Corner
from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.
8 Turfgrass Calendar 10 Editor’s Perspective
from Mark Vaughn, CGCS
22 Feature Story –
12 VTF Report
24 Feature Story –
12 Virginia Tech Turf Team
Crisis Turfgrass Management
Banding Together: COVID-19 Response in the Virginia Turfgrass Industry
from Brandyn Baty
13 Index of Advertisers 14 News from VTC
Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: THETURFZONE.COM 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 ©2020 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 Jefferson City, MO. 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 37064-3394, (615) 790-3718, 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.)
4 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2020 www.vaturf.org
Vice President Phil Bailey, CGCS Virginia Green Lawn Care (757) 572-1981 Secretary / Treasurer Jimmy Viars, CGM Gloucester County Public Schools (804) 815-2779 Past President Scott Woodward Woodward Turf Farms (540) 727-0020 VTC DIRECTORS Wes Bray Sam Burris Scott Caskie Tony Montgomery Bruce Sheppard T.J. Skirsky Craig Zeigler VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. David McCall Ph.D. Dan Sandor, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004 VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION Brandyn Baty (757) 585-3058
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President’s Message
COVID-19 N
ever did I ever believe I would be writing a president’s letter based on a worldwide pandemic. First, you, your family and your employees are in my mind, heart and prayers. Please follow the advice coming from the health department to protect everyone. The VTC (really Tom) has been vigilant to ensure important and critical issues affecting the turf industry in our state are being solved.
Very early on when it was determined that only essential business would be allowed to stay open, Tom knew the decision makers must be reminded of the importance of the turf industry. He spent countless hours on the phone and computer contacting the right Virginia State Departments and leaders to ensure they understood our importance to the state during this crisis. Through his actions, our turf and landscape workers are part of the essential business allowed to be open.
Mike Skelton VTC President
He also prepared and shared a letter for the turf workers to carry with them that proves they are working in an essential industry. Tom then created an online webinar for Pesticide Applicators to get their pesticide recertification (since they can’t meet in person) and got approval through VDACS. He spent what seems like endless hours putting together the webinar with multiple speakers from all over the state. Not only did he get it approved for Virginia applicators but also applicators from Maryland and North Carolina. It was also decided that this certification would be open to Non-VTC members — they would be asked for a nominal voluntary donation, but would not be required to join the VTC. Third, Tom has been working with VDACS to get information out to the industry for certification of new Category 60 (Registered Tech) approved through a process of testing from a Licensed Business and a Commercial Applicator. The process is for the Commercial Applicator to create a written test and administer it in house. The suggestion is to use questions that are already part of sections within the Core Training Manual. For persons to keep their certification they must take the VDACS test within 30 days of the lifting of our state of emergency. Tom, thanks for all you are doing. The Virginia Turf Industry would be lost without you. Be safe,
Mike Skelton
2020 VTC President 6 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2020 www.vaturf.org
©2020 STIHL/MAS MA20TUIMOW-12-143736-3
Director’s Corner
FOR THE GREATER GOOD E
MARK YOUR CALENDAR & SAVE THESE DATES! Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
veryone who paid attention in fourth grade science class knows about the bee dance. A worker honeybee uses it to inform her hive mates of the direction and distance to a rich food source. This unique and effective communication which is done in a pitch-black hive is well known. But how many persons can identify its discoverer? Karl von Frisch was the scientist who in 1944 discovered the meaning of the dance. He was a distinguished professor at a German university. He was also of Jewish ancestry. Although he was spared many of the horrors of the holocaust, he did experience persecution because of his heritage. In 1944 his nation was embroiled in a murderous war that destroyed countless lives. In the midst of murder, economic collapse, and national ruin, Dr. Frisch made a discovery that revolutionized our understanding of these amazing insects. The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic will (hopefully) be history by the time you read this column. As we look back at the shut downs, quarantines, sickness, and death that hit our nation, I trust we can look back and see ways our industry has progressed. Although our experience is nothing like the horrors of World War II, I can proudly say many professionals joined together for the greater good. Multiple segments of the turfgrass and landscape industries and government officials united. The legal ability of our industry to continue working, emergency changes in the requirements for pesticide testing and pesticide recertification are just three of many examples of collaboration. Crises either unite or divide because they reveal what lurks beneath the surface. COVID-19 uncovered great people whose hidden qualities rose to the occasion. Foundations were laid and collaborations were formed that will reap benefits in the coming decades. The amazing honeybee and its connection to war-torn Germany does not end with Dr. Frisch. In 1945, just months after the war ended, Martin Lindauer became one of his students. In the 1950’s the now Dr. Lindauer discovered how bee swarms use a dance to decide on a new home. Before he decided to study honeybees, Dr. Lindauer was drafted into the German army. He was severely wounded in 1942 and was sent back to Germany. The rest of his company continued to Stalingrad. 98% of them never returned.
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
June 16
Hampton Pesticide and Fertilizer Recertification Hampton, VA
June 23
Virginia Tech Turfgrass Field Day Virginia Beach AREC
September 15
Virginia Tech Turfgrass and Landscape Field Day Blacksburg, VA
January 19–20, 2021
Mid Atlantic Turfgrass Expo Richmond, VA
February 23–24, 2021 Come to the Bay Virginia Beach, VA
For event news and updates throughout the year, visit: VATURF.ORG
8 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2020 www.vaturf.org
Editor’s Perspective
THIS TOO SHALL PASS
Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor
W
here to begin? In late February, my wife and I were on a ski trip out west with some friends that we had been planning for months. As we came over the snow-covered Wasatch mountains into Salt Lake, the mood was light and the anticipation high for a great few days that we had worked so hard and saved for. Spring and the heavy workload it entails would be returning to Virginia not long after our return, so this was the final chance to decompress and recharge our batteries. As on most vacations, our contact with world news was sporadic. All of us had heard the news reports of some “bat virus” in China that had put a small portion of that country on what western society considered a typical overreaching communist style lockdown. But honestly, most of our concern was with the “historic” 12% drop in the stock market that week and trying to make our flights out on Monday after a Sunday snowstorm. Not long after we arrived home, life changed forever. Not in the gut punch way of 9/11; no, more like a small snowball tumbling downhill, picking up mass and speed as it travels. The first indication for most of us (maybe as a commentary on our society for later discussion) was the “temporary” suspension of entertainment events. Sports, concerts and the like. Sporting events would take place, but without fans. Then the “BIG” shocker: March Madness was cancelled! Not too long after that, public schools closed. Then began the trickle of businesses; first restaurants, then gyms, then other forms of retail, and finally large manufacturers. Social distancing became the most unfamiliar/familiar term for us all in 2020. As I write this we’re about one month out from the incubation of all the chaos in our American society — way too early to be making assumptions and predictions. I’ll 10 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2020 www.vaturf.org
be the first to admit for not the first, and I’m sure not the last, time in my life I got it all wrong. Never saw it coming. Like most of us, I’d like to think I would have been better prepared, in a lot of ways. But honestly, would I have been? I can only fall back on this. Having lived through multiple military wars/conflicts, assassinations of Presidents and other leaders, financial highs/crashes, losses of immediate family and friends, serious health crises, and other highs and lows of what is the human condition, this too shall pass. Not in the way we might expect. Nor with the flippant kick-ass attitude we so often want to employ. And most certainly not without some serious loss of life, in the next few weeks and for years to come with stressrelated health issues. And there will be many positives from this. Positives???? Yes. We will be changed (hopefully). Think of it more as a reordering. When we’ve wandered off the path physically, mentally, financially, personally, and professionally most of us are not wise enough to reorient ourselves without a significant life event. Yeah, yeah I know about that human condition thing and how easily we revert back to old ways after a period of time. I remember the concern for others “glow” that was great but eventually faded after 9/11. So what are you and I going to learn from the great pandemic of 2020? What will we look back on one, five or ten years from now in sadness and shake our heads about? What will we remember of the goodness and smile? What behaviors and attitudes will we change? What good things will we reinforce and make better? It’s our choice.
Mark Vaughn, CGCS
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 11
VTF Report
Virginia Tech Turf Team
EVENTS SUPPORTING TURFGRASS RESEARCH
F
Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D.
Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-5807 askew@vt.edu
Jeffrey F. Derr, Ph.D.
Brandyn Baty VTF Director
undraising events have been the largest source of funding for the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation and turfgrass research. We thank the many Associations that collaborate with us by hosting the many events throughout Virginia to support our mission; funding turfgrass research! We also must thank the thousands of industry businesses and professionals that sponsor or attend these events each year. Through these collaborative efforts, the VTF is growing and able to support Virginia Tech’s research needs now more than ever.
SAVE THE DATES August 31, 2020
March 27, 2021
Virginia Tech Research Golf Classic
5k Run the Fairway Festival Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg, VA
Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, VA • Looking forward to another sold out event! •C ontact: David Norman, VGCSA at (804) 708-9760
Summer 2020
•S ponsorship & Run – Walk – Jog Opportunities available. • Family Friendly •C ontact Brandyn Baty, VTF Executive Director at (757) 585-3058
•G olfer and Sponsor Opportunities available. •C ontact: Jeff Everhart, the VSG SecretaryTreasurer at (540) 760-5040
October 2020
•G olfer and Sponsor Opportunities available. •C ontact David Lewallen of SVTA at (540) 974-2889
Virginia Tech 420 Smyth Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-2951 goatley@vt.edu
David McCall, Ph.D.
Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-9598 dsmccall@vt.edu
Virginia Tech 411 Price Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-977 dsandor@vt.edu
Crossing Golf Club, Glen Allen, VA
Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club, Front Royal, VA
Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D.
Dan Sandor, Ph.D.
Virginia Sod Growers Golf Tournament
Shenandoah Valley Turfgrass Association Golf Tournament
Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 (757) 363-3912 jderr@vt.edu
WITH SUPPORT FROM: To help with the success of each of these events, please consider sponsorship or participant opportunities that may be available. The VTF is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization and relies on the support of donations from generous organizations and people like you. All donations help our efforts to increase funding towards turfgrass research and is 100% tax deductible. EIN 54-1503158
12 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2020 www.vaturf.org
Thomas P. Kuhar, Ph.D.
Virginia Tech Dept. of Entomology 216 Price Hall 170 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-6129 tkuhar@vt.edu
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News from VTC In these challenging times, we want you to know the
Want to send a quick note of thanks, as VTC is doing a fantastic job in communicating with the membership. I have been forwarding your emails to other state associations and distributors. Zenon Lis Burlingham Seeds
Virginia Turfgrass Council is working for you and with you to help sustain and protect your health and
Your e-blasts and info are reaching folks. One of our employees quoted you and your hard work. Phil Bailey Virginia Green
your business. It is our goal to keep you informed and advocate on your behalf. First, I want to say THANK YOU for all of the work you are doing in being advocates for the folks in our industry during these very different times. The information that I see coming from you is much needed… and APPRECIATED! Aaron Simmons Superintendent of Parks and Maintenance Dept of Parks, Recreation and Events The City of Fredericksburg
I just wanted to let you know that you’re doing an amazing job of keeping everyone updated with COVID-related updates. I have had plenty of messages from turfgrass professionals and I can quickly point them to VTC’s timely updates. Keep up the good work, from a socially isolated place of course. David McCall Assistant Professor VT Turfgrass Pathology
You are crankin’ it up! This is such a massive pivot in a short time. Thanks for all your hard work.
Thanks for everything you’re doing for the industry, you should be earning combat pay at this point! Jeff Fedorchak TruGreen
Thank you so much for always being informative! We greatly appreciate you! Amy Thomas Reynolds Landscaping
Just wanted to tell you that VTC is doing a good job at communicating to the industry what is going on. Thank you for your leadership as we all try and figure out how to survive during these difficult times. Patrick Connelly Landscape Supply
Richard Lindsay MowCow We appreciated your information that you provided us, it was very helpful. Thank you for the letter justifying our work during this situation. I travel to multiple jurisdictions so I’m concerned about how each one might interpret the governor’s order. I believe this will help should I be questioned about my travel. Barry Robinson Sustainable Horticulturist & Agriculture Consultant
I do not know if VTC is receiving enough congratulations for their work during all of this. Being at home and pumping out information through emails may not seem like much, but for those of us who are leaving our families and asking our employees to enter harm’s way, and without much of a playbook, I can tell you what you are doing is a lot. Chad Peevy Assistant Director of Grounds and Landscapes Old Dominion University
The VTC is working diligently to keep our industry alive during this epidemic, and I can’t say enough how relieving it is to know that I still have full capability to provide for my family!
Thank you, VTC for all of your efforts to help minimize the disruptions to the industry during this time.
Alex Austin
Ray Funkhouser
Craig Koster Premier Sports Fields
Thanks so much for your help on keeping us informed. We at Premier Sports Fields are very appreciative of all the work the VTC does on behalf of our industry. You are helping to keep our business going in this unprecedented time. Bob Benyo Premier Sports Fields
Thanks for all you do. Ep Curling
I’ve spent a good bit of time monitoring the response of turfgrass associations around the country and by far the VTC are being the most proactive in your communications and advocacy for your members. I think it’s a great comfort to know that someone is working on their behalf and that there’s a community supporting each other during this challenging time. Julie Holt Content Director, TheTurfZone.com
Welcome New Entomologist, Dr. Alejandro Del Pozo Valdivia
VTC
would like to welcome Dr. Alejandro Del Pozo Valdivia into the Virginia turfgrass community. Dr. Valdivia is originally from Lima, Peru. There he earned his B.S. in Agronomy at La Molina Agrarian University. He studied at Washington State University
14 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2020 www.vaturf.org
and obtained his M.S. in Entomology before earning his doctorate at North Carolina State University. He will begin work on August 10th. He will be responsible for the entire state and will be based at the Hampton Roads AREC.
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Recent Event
COME TO THE BAY Diverse segments of the green industry met at The Virginia Beach Oceanfront at the end of February. The two-day
conference united arborists, turfgrass professionals, environmental groups, landscapers, regulatory agencies, growers, and many other professionals. They came together as a united front working to preserve and enhance our environment. Attendees interacted with speakers who gave examples of successes, challenges, and opportunities. A common theme emerged from the conference. Profitable opportunities abound for green industry professionals who are prepared to be leaders in protecting and enhancing the environment.
Victoria Alleyne Bloom Soil Amendment
Barbara Gavin Elizabeth River Project
Frank Walker Master Beekeeper
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16 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2020 www.vaturf.org
Michael Moore City of Virginia Beach
Elizabeth River Project
Next year’s Come to the Bay is scheduled for February 23–24. Details are at
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As we all navigate through unchartered waters, we wanted you to
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 17
CO VI D -19
Cover Story
RELATES TO EVERYTHING THESE DAYS, EVEN
TURFGRASS PATHOGENS
We
By David McCall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech Turfgrass Pathology
are all living in unprecedented times. Our daily routines have been thrown out the window in favor of Zoom meetings, trying to follow lesson plans for now-homeschooled children, and scouring the planet for the two-ply holy grail we used to take for granted. The novel coronavirus causing COVID-19 has flipped our world upside down as we live in our safe, sanitary, and socially distanced bubbles. But someone forgot to tell the grass (and associated pests)! Just because the majority of humans around the planet have modified their daily lives does not mean that any other biological organisms are going to follow our rules. The grass is still going to grow and the associated pests are still going to be a nuisance. This means that many of us in the professional turfgrass management industry are still doing “business as unusual” because it is essential. Sure, most of us are having to get by with smaller budgets, smaller staffs, staggered work shifts, and greater mental stress, but we’re still in the business of keeping grass alive. Some tasks are more time critical than others as we try to keep our heads above water until we are able to resume normal activities. I’m a pathologist so I’ll give a few thoughts on managing turfgrass diseases during these times. When I completed my Ph.D. in 2016, my wife got me a shirt that said “Trust me, I’m a doctor.” It was a fun shirt making light of the new letters attached to my name suggesting that because of these letters, people were suddenly supposed to take anything I say as gospel. Spend two minutes with me and you’ll quickly realize that I am not a great philosopher with the likes of Aristotle, Socrates, or the legendary Houston B. Couch. One thing I did
FIGURE 1A: Gray leaf spot.
Photo credit: David McCall, Ph.D.
18 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2020 www.vaturf.org
learn about while completing my Ph.D. was how diseases spread in space and time. Plant disease epidemiology was probably my favorite course, taught by my co-advisor and a mentor, Dr. Anton Baudoin. We learned about disease progress curves, factors that influence the rate of spread, and ways to flatten the curve. Sound familiar? Today, the news is riddled with talk of flattening the COVID-19 curve. Strategies include washing your hands frequently, avoiding groups of 10 or more, practicing social distancing when in public, disinfecting common surfaces frequently, and keep your Amazon packages in the garage for three days. Strategies to reduce disease. See the connection with turfgrass diseases? Sure you do! All disease epidemics have a beginning phase, a spreading phase, and an ending phase. How each particular pathogen (turfgrass or otherwise) spreads depends on the life cycle, reproduction rate, surrounding environmental conditions, and the host’s ability to defend itself. This is more commonly referred to as the Disease Triangle and is part of any pesticide recertification class when discussing plant pathogens. We track outbreaks with disease progression curves, and not all diseases are created equal. Let’s take dollar spot and gray leaf spot as examples (Figure 1). Both can cause a lot of disease, and turfgrass managers should take both seriously, but the progression of symptom development is very different. For many in Virginia, dollar spot can appear in the spring when days are warm, nights are cool, and fog is heavy. The progression can last throughout the summer but often holds steady or tapers off during the warmest periods before resurging with a vengeance in the fall. The pathogen that causes gray leaf spot, on the
FIGURE 1B: Dollar Spot.
Photo credit: David McCall, Ph.D.
FIGURE 2: Disease progression curve for dollar spot and gray leaf spot in a typical year in Virginia
other hand, will sit dormant until conditions are just right for an explosion of spore production, infection, colonization, and widespread death. But then the epidemic quickly ends, sometimes even faster than it began, after widespread distribution. Most spores and resulting infections do not result in complete plant death but many do because the pathogen is so prolific. COVID-19 acts more like gray leaf spot, from what the data shows so far. There are two ways to slow an epidemic: delay the infection rate of disease and reduce the inoculum load. For COVID-19, social distancing delays the infection rate and proper sanitation reduces the spread of inoculum (virus particles). Many of the tactics that we promote for turfgrass management do one or the other, and sometimes both. A well-timed fungicide application can not only delay the start of an epidemic by protecting the plant but can also reduce the initial number of spores that may be just gearing up to do their thing. Strategies like disinfecting
equipment and/or removing clippings can reduce inoculum load with highly prolific spore producers like Pythium species and the gray leaf spot pathogen. These practices aren’t as beneficial with less abundant pathogens, like those causing red thread, brown patch, large patch, and fairy ring. For these types of diseases, delaying the epidemic with a good growing environment for the turf and proper fertility may help get you through the rough patch by limiting the overall amount of damage before conditions are less favorable for disease development. We can even practice social distancing with our turfgrass selection to aid in disease management. Studies have shown that a mixed stand of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue can reduce overall brown patch development by acting as a physical barrier between susceptible tall fescue leaves. Another factor to consider is the latency or incubation period from the time of initial infection until the time symptoms first start to develop. For COVID-19, early
FIGURE 1C: Spring Dead Spot. Photo credit: Wendell Hutchens
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 19
Cover Story continued
FIGURE 3: Spring dead spot recovery with spring nitrogen applications. Left side treated with 1 lbs N/1000ft2 in mid-May at Independence Golf Club. Photo credit: Jordan Booth.
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indications suggest an incubation period of 5–10 days. For a disease like gray leaf spot of tall fescue, that period may be 48–72 hours and management decisions need to be made immediately to mitigate the damage before it is too late. For spring dead spot of bermudagrass, that latency period is more like six months and the window to manage for this is the previous fall, much earlier than when symptoms first appear. When you see spring dead spot symptoms, you cannot “cure” the disease, you can only promote recovery with fertility (Figure 3). The flip side is that fertilizing will require additional mowing and you may not have the resources at this time. Again, not all diseases are created equal. Managing for turfgrass diseases will be different in 2020 than it has been in the past. It has to be because of the limited resources (both labor and financial) that COVID-19 has forced on most facilities. Every approach and every facility will be different. I suggest taking a moment to think about the diseases that have plagued your facility in the past. Are they slow-spreading nuisance diseases that may not make for the most attractive surface but do not detract from the safety and uniformity? If so, maybe place management of these diseases on the back burner and focus your efforts elsewhere for the time being. Or are the diseases ones that will cause rapid, widespread death and inevitably force re-establishment? If so, pay close attention to weather forecasts so that you can make appropriate fungicide applications that will reduce both the rate of spread and inoculum load. I hope that you all stay safe, healthy, and appropriately socially distanced as we continue to learn more about the COVID-19 pandemic. The safety of yourself, your employees, and your clientele take priority over the safety of your turfgrass, but a little thought into the spread of diseases may help determine how to minimize the damage.
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Feature Story
CRISIS TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT By Michael Goatley, Jr., Ph.D., Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
N
othing reminds us of how fragile our lives, jobs, and relationships are until they are seriously disrupted by an unforeseen event. If you’re anywhere near my age (58) then 9/11 and 4/16 have particular significance in our lives, and Covid-19 will be another event that will be remembered for how it changed the way we do things, even in managing turfgrasses. The 2020 Pandemic has certainly impacted the turfgrass industry and its effects will continue even as/after social distancing restrictions are relaxed and public activities on our sports fields and golf courses expand and/or return. For situations where budgets and labor forces were not severely impacted by the pandemic, turfgrass managers have taken advantage of the downtime in what are typical high turfgrass use periods to complete a variety of activities /projects that otherwise would not have been possible. I have noted irrigation and drainage installations, bunker renovations, a wide variety of tree management activities, earlier than ever spring transition of ryegrass overseeding back to bermudagrass, rebuilding/renovating infield skins, pitching mounds, and batter’s boxes, etc. The only ‘slaps on the hand’ for the turfgrass managers that I have heard in these situations has been admonishments in some cases for not paying enough attention to ‘social distancing.’ However, the real world scenario for many turfgrass managers has been that they have had to be ultra-creative in managing their labor forces, not just to address social distancing guidelines, but to handle a budget that has been cut and might continue to shrink. Predicting what is going to happen for the rest of 2020 in our industry will likely be as accurate as most of our pandemic models have been to this point in time because this is such a fluid situation; it’s unchartered territory from a variety of perspectives and perceptions. However, necessity brings out the best (and sometimes worst) of human ingenuity, and quite often our management and business models will never be the same again. In listening to and observing 22 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2020 www.vaturf.org
industry peers from around the mid-Atlantic, here’s some forecasting that even if it doesn’t pan out as I think it will, should still be applicable strategies to fit most turfgrass management situations: Site-specific management continues. This is one of the oldest and best budget saving strategies in all phases of turfgrass management. Focus management on the areas that warrant the attention because of their specialized purpose or their intensity of use. Logically it’s greens, tees, and fairways in that order on golf courses and it’s been interesting watching how superintendents are adjusting pest, fertility, and mowing strategies to deal with current and anticipated challenges in budgets and labor. Similar concepts are being applied in sports fields with an emphasis on repairing and restoring the heaviest trafficked areas, and only providing minimal maintenance on most other areas. The classic example long preached in sports field management is to emphasize turf recovery between the hashes and the 30s in the spring on football fields, even when they are being used for spring soccer. Focus on infields and hips on grassed baseball and softball facilities and minimize efforts in the outfield (except for perhaps three general locations in left, center, and right?). Many turfgrass managers have told me that budgets simply aren’t going to allow for broad-scale scheduled aeration events, even if performed ‘in house’, and a primary reason is the cost of the tines themselves. The same limitations might apply to scheduled pesticide or fertilizer applications. Adjust the areas that you are managing to those that absolutely need the attention, and return to the other areas as budgets allow. It’s been great to hear how our turfgrass industry professionals have been thinking in the big picture about how the contracted economy is going to affect everyone, including the industry sales force. But I particularly admired what one of our area’s best sales staff told me, “It’s now up to me to offer my clients alternative strategies and products that fit
reduced budget and management programs. When these types of events happen, it serves as a reminder to me in my job to not take my customers for granted because at the end of the day, about the only thing that will eventually shut down turfgrass management is if you quit mowing.” Which leads me to… Remember that you get to manage turfgrass growth. One of the best arguments that classified most turfgrass managers as ‘essential employees’ to governmental agencies is the fact that when environmental conditions are appropriate, grass is growing. Keep it growing, but only at a level that you can properly maintain. It’s a nobrainer to reduce nitrogen inputs when trying to restrict turfgrass growth, but maintain them in areas that you are trying to improve. Raise cutting heights and reduce mowing frequency (both a sports field manager AND a golf superintendent told me they are hoping to use the necessity of raising their cutting heights at their facilities because of a limited labor force as a way to hopefully reset their clientele expectations regarding cutting heights on their sports fields and golf greens… that strategy won’t work at every facility, but might it fit yours?). And where labor availability or social distancing requirements have greatly reduced the ability to simply keep up with the mowing, the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) has great potential. This is a case where sometimes spending a little money can save you significant money based on the economics of the cost of product and the application of a PGR vs. the cost of labor, fuel, frequency, etc. in mowing. We didn’t quite reach that point this spring, but one of our plans if we couldn’t keep enough labor to cut the grass was to suppress the growth of much of our out of use cool-season turfgrass areas at the VT Turfgrass Research Center with a low level glyphosate application. Anticipate a surge in managed turfgrass use as social distancing requirements are lifted. It is already happening and will only continue to grow as people are very weary of shelter-in-place and can’t wait to get outdoors in social settings. The use demands on sports fields and golf turfs will grow exponentially later this summer. When revenues are to be generated by the use of the turfs, the pressure to make up for lost time to generate revenue will be immense. Some of my college sports field and parks and recreation supervisors have told me they already have coaches and supervisors anxious to get fields open for camps; these are often the largest money-making events of the year, and for some, a primary means of supplementing their salaries or funding their leagues. And in most of these cases, the sports field manager (and their budget) has a history of not receiving any supplemental pay/operating funds for the turf management of these events. It will be no different for golf courses where a huge number of tournaments will be added to a much tighter window of play than ever before. All of this is understandable in order to restore funds to the coffers, but it also is potentially catastrophic to the long-term health of the various turfgrass systems. A park and recreation facility manager told me that “If one thought they had heavy demands for field use before, field use this summer is going to be on steroids!” Have you had discussions about this and possibly even developed a post-pandemic management plan at
your facility? Do you have a plan or SOP that involves serious discussions between you as the turfgrass manager with your administration, owners, supervisors, and clientele about responsible turfgrass use patterns that generate income, but not at the expense of creating more problems? You’ve been anxiously waiting for your turfgrasses to be used, and yet this might be the biggest challenge you will face in 2020. Take advantage of the challenges. Everyone that has been at this for any length of time always agrees that managing the turf is the easy part. One of our biggest daily challenges in our personal and professional lives is quite simply successful communication. While it’s never easy, there is great opportunity for us to use these challenging periods as a time to educate our clientele and bosses about just how amazing a natural turfgrass system is, the expertise required to manage such a system, and how it is so easy to take turfgrasses for granted. You might as well get some credit for what you do now because very soon the skill and art of turfgrass management will once again be an afterthought. Many facilities required signs to communicate regarding social distancing protocols. I suggest you continue to utilize and expand your use of on-site signs at your facility, and take advantage of ‘virtual communication’ as well by utilizing social media platforms to instruct the public about appropriate use of the facilities. You get few opportunities where the public is paying attention to your communication efforts, but you do have that chance for a short window now. A golf business model for the 2020 Pandemic that has huge upside for revenue BUT presents more challenges for the superintendent and their staff is the promotion of single cart-only golf (VT alum Mike Johnson gets credit for making me aware of this). If you track the dollars at the golf course, one of the most logical ways to generate more revenue is to increase the number of rounds. If everyone plays from a single cart, they are 1) practicing appropriate social distancing (a very key part of a successful argument for why to do this) and 2) reducing the time of a round for golfers by 25–33%. The positives: a course schedules more tee times, sells the use of more carts, and revenues increase. The negatives: walking golfers don’t fit this business model and the golf turf maintenance team has to deal with the additional traffic from the extra carts. When Mike shared this situation with me, it made me chuckle as I remembered from my first job on the golf course in central Kentucky the group we called (fondly… well usually fondly) the Old Goats (no relation to me, at that time I was a Young Goat). They were the first group off the tee in the morning and there would be anywhere from 4 to 7 of the Goats in individual carts heading down the first fairway. I remember one of them telling me that “the day I have to ride with someone in a cart is the last day I will play golf.” Who would have ever thought the Old Goats would actually be such trend setters in the 21st century? Best wishes in your return to whatever normal becomes in turfgrass management for 2020!
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 23
Feature Story
COVID-19 RESPONSE in the Virginia Turfgrass Industry
It
is certain that no one will forget the global pandemic caused by coronavirus in 2020. Most countries have enacted some level of economic lockdown and medical professionals are hard at work finding treatments and researching this fast-moving virus. In the meantime, tens of millions of workers are adjusting to a new normal. That may mean working from home, working with extra precautions, or unfortunately for some, losing their jobs entirely. In most states, including Virginia, most green industry work has been declared “essential,” and our turfgrass managers and landscape workers have been allowed to continue to operate, although with strict social distancing requirements. This situation has presented unprecedented challenges for all – those who are “nonessential” must struggle to make ends meet, and those who are “essential” must adapt their procedures to protect themselves, their families and their customers. Below are some reflections from industry professionals across Virginia on how their lives and work have changed during the pandemic and resulting shutdowns. As a place that is normally full of life and activity, it is very quiet. Our bell tower tolls but only a small number are here to hear it. As I write this on April 15, 2020, we will most likely still have some restrictions due to Covid-19 when this is published. Since March 23, our staff has been split into two teams with less than nine on each team. We have been alternating schedules and teams between M, W, F and Tu, Th, Sat with a maximum of 24 hours per employee. Therefore, our work hours have been severely limited and we have a couple full-time vacant positions. I believe we have the cleanest doorknobs, switches, counters, steering wheels, and equipment handles in Virginia because they have never been cleaned this thoroughly in my 12 years! So, what do you do? “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” and “Make hay while the sun is shining” are two proverbial sayings I thought of when it comes to my work life. The former encourages you to think positive and be optimistic about the adverse situation you may be facing. Growing up on a farm in Virginia I heard the latter on many occasions. I believe it encourages you to take advantage of the good weather days and not let them pass you by. 24 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2020 www.vaturf.org
Here is what we have done and some future thoughts. Thankfully we did not apply a large amount of fertilizer this spring to our campus lawns (80% Bermuda grass overseeded with perennial ryegrass) so we are able to cut the campus about every eight days as compared to five. Beginning with our athletic fields on March 30, we started the process to remove our ryegrass and have continued on to select campus areas. On certain high-profile areas, we are spraying plant growth regulators to help us manage the lawns and until we go back to a regular schedule, we will only apply fertilizer to weak areas on campus. In the past, we have used a plant growth regulator on our hedges and fully intend to do so this spring/summer. Our graduation has been rescheduled to October so we have been thinking about how the summer flowers will look. Historically, this is about the time we are planting the winter annuals so we are concerned about this transition as it may be a challenge. I have not seen half of my staff since March 20, so communication is vital to our success. My Associate Director, Chris Webb, and I text and talk each day since we are working opposite schedules. We also created a Google document to use for cross department tasks that can be viewed and marked when completed. I talk to my vice president, who is teleworking, more now than I would normally in a week. I feel it is important to keep her informed of our progress and concerns because she is not here on campus. This work schedule has gotten me out of the office and I’ve been able to see more of the campus because I’m doing some of the tasks (i.e. cutting grass, spraying weeds, etc.). I have probably become a better task and time manager because of it. I hope you all have made the best out of a bad situation and I pray for the safety of you and those around you. This will pass, but until then, the sun is shining and I am going to make some lemonade! — Dean Whitehead — Director of Grounds, Christopher Newport University I believe the pause of social routine has actually made our work not only more apparent, but important. The spring colors and greening grass of ODU have always been a lovely harbor for city life, but with less people on campus we are able to better notice the connectivity of habitat — birdsongs, sunning turtles, even a fox was spotted this week. The Division of Grounds & Landscapes has a public obligation to not only provide the physical safety of a wellmaintained environment, but also for the psychological comfort of our community. There are many people using this time to walk or bike our campus right now, connecting with themselves and their families. It is meaningful to know we deliver a passionate framework for that experience. — Chad Peevy — Assistant Director of Grounds and Landscapes, Old Dominion University
For test results check www.ntep.org
Feature Story continued
These past few weeks have been surreal. At a time when we are usually ramping up to get campus ready for graduation, we got orders to do only the essential mowing in an effort to reduce staffing on campus. During a season when our campus is at its prettiest in blooms, we were told to make rotating staffing schedules and students, staff, and faculty were sent home to social distance. As crazy as it seems, I feel fortunate to work at a place that cares for the health and well-being of their staff – a place that has never wavered on paying their employees, a place where our staff have risen up and when it is their shift on campus they work as hard as possible to keep our campus looking the very best it can. I am proud to be a Richmond Spider. — Allison Moyer — University of Richmond As our daily lives have changed so drastically in such a short amount of time, during what is traditionally our busiest season, our maintenance crews have had to adjust to a ‘new normal’. As a municipality, our priority has been to keep our essential staff working safely, practicing the recommended CDC guidelines for social distancing, sanitation procedures, etc., while continuing to maintain our green spaces. Creating staggered work schedules, changing our daily operations and means of communication, providing additional sanitizer, as well as working in smaller crew numbers have all been in an effort to minimize interaction. Our employees have appreciated these efforts, but also take extra precautions with regular equipment and vehicle sanitation. I believe it has been helpful for some crew members to be working, maintaining their daily routine as much as possible. Our City has done an excellent job of keeping employees informed of updates, changes in policy, and providing information as the situation has evolved. As we continue to maintain our parks and facilities during these unprecedented events, we will strive to do our best for our citizens while taking care of our employees. — Laura P. Reilly — Landscape Management Coordinator Roanoke Parks and Recreation – A Nationally Accredited Agency I have to admit not much has changed for me as a county employee. Initially the situation was a little hectic as we adjusted to the social distancing. We went from needing 3 trucks to needing 5 trucks. Each employee drives their own county truck to each site. This was a small logistical nightmare, but we made it through. With multiple operations needing to share vehicles, each department stepped up and did a good job cooperating and my crew has been able to continue work on the athletic fields. 26 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2020 www.vaturf.org
At this time my operation is considered essential so we are doing our normal spring turf program. The Turf Crew manages 250 natural grass fields and 45+ artificial fields. We are responsible for applying nutrients, any liquid spray applications, aeration applications and any artificial turf maintenance across the county. Currently the crew will continue doing the turf applications like normal because mother nature does not stop. This is the most important time of the year for turf managers that grow turf in the transition zone. Skipping our spring turf applications could affect the turf quality months down the road and maybe going into next year. We are responsible for the safety and the playability of the fields even if no one can play on them. People will be eager to get outside and play team sports again so we need the fields to be ready when the community gets the green light. — Sam Burris — Turfgrass Specialist, Fairfax County Park Authority I work for a public school system. In the face of a pandemic we are essential employees. We are working a modified shift consisting of half days. We will possibly be going back to a full shift soon. We are trying to figure things out as we go. We are given clear instructions daily, but they change every day. My men are scared to death, and frankly so am I. At the time I’m writing this, we are on spring break. This morning I received a text that my administrative assistant’s husband was admitted to the intensive care unit with a COVID-19 diagnosis. She is symptomatic as well. My plan for my crew is to minimize our exposure by wiping down anything we touch, wearing masks, and washing or sanitizing our hands constantly. We are also using social distancing. I pray that God is watching over us, has mercy, and protects us from this. — Anonymous — For me as a contractor, I am losing a few jobs because all sports are cancelled. I didn’t let this deter me from reaching out to my customers and hopefully new customers about cleaning and disinfecting their synthetic turf fields, as well as any other jobs we can start because there is no use on the fields. — Gabriel Gammill — Capitol Sports Fields LLC
For ongoing COVID-19 updates, visit theturfzone.com
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