Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
November/December 2023
Don’t Miss COME TO THE BAY JANUARY 22 – 25, 2024
Can We Control Weeds in St. Augustine?
Autonomous Turfgrass Robotic Technology
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | November/December 2023
10
20 COVER STORY
10 Don’t Miss Come to the Bay
DEPARTMENTS 6 President’s Message from Phil Bailey, CGCS
UPCOMING EVENTS
14 Road Shows FEATURS
16 Can We Control Weeds in St. Augustine? 20 A Contrarian’s Guide to Autonomous Turfgrass Robotic Technology
8 Director’s Corner
from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.
8 Virginia Tech Turf Team 9 Turfgrass Calendar 27 Index of Advertisers
THETURFZONE.COM Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More !
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
26 Working Slower 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 © 2023 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, Suite 200, 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 November/December 2023 www.vaturf.org
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Virginia Turfgrass Journal
President’s Message
is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989
Opportunities Abound
Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Office: (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net
Phil Bailey, CGCS VTC President
PUBLISHED BY Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200
M
onday, January 22 through Thursday, January 25, 2024 look to be exciting dates to mark on your calendar. Starting with Monday, January 22 you will have the chance to demonstrate our industry’s commitment to sound environmental practices and community involvement as we perform our annual Environmental Institute Service Project. We will be partnering with Virginia Beach Public Schools by assisting the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. Students in the Environmental Studies program and vocational horticulture have researched, selected, and – in some cases – grown the plants we will install. On Tuesday, January 23, the “Come to the Bay” program will provide you with classes tailored to your specific industry. You will have the opportunity to take classes leading you to properly, and profitably, maintain overlooked areas of most landscapes – areas close to the water. Wednesday, January 24 allows you, as a member of the Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC), to receive free pesticide and fertilizer recertification. What a great educational opportunity awaits you on this day as well. You will have the opportunity to participate in day one of the Modified Turf and Landscape Short Course. To have hands on training by Virginia Tech staff at the Agricultural Research and Extension Center is phenomenal. Thursday, January 25 will conclude our conference by having a second day of continued education with the modified Turf and Landscape Short Course. I look forward to visiting with you at the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center and to be able to present to our colleagues a most unique and educational “Come to the Bay” conference.
Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com VTC OFFICERS President Phil Bailey, CGCS Isle of Wight County Parks & Recreation (757) 572-1981 Vice President Wes Bray Lawns & Gardens Plus (757) 422-2117 VTC DIRECTORS Sam Burris Jack Findling Ray Funkhouser Richard Linsday Bruce Sheppard
Respectfully,
T.J. Skirsky
Phil Bailey, CGCS
Harris Wheeler, CTP
VTC President
Craig Zeigler VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair)
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Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. David McCall Ph.D. Dan Sandor, Ph.D. Cynthia Smith, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
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6 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2023 www.vaturf.org
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004 VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION Brandyn Baty (757) 585-3058
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Director’s Corner
Boots on the Ground
Virginia Tech Turf Team Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-5807 askew@vt.edu
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
“W
hen can I get you to do in service project in [insert a Virginia city] ?” is a question I hear several times each year. Persons asking it are intrigued by the Environmental Institute’s projects in Petersburg and Virginia Beach. I answer by listing three things that made those projects successful: (1) multiple “boots on the ground”; (2) financial and material donations; and (3) the selected projects both helped the environment and were highly visible. Allow me to elaborate. Local volunteers selflessly giving their time and other resources enabled each of our service projects to succeed. Preventing erosion and saving dunes in Virginia Beach, rebuilding a bioswale at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Environmental Center, keeping silt out of the James River, and planning and installing vital landscaping at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center happened because of volunteers. Here is a short list of those dedicated persons: Phil Bailey, Wes Bray, Jeff Derr, Ray Funkhouser, Gary Gittere, David Holcomb, Michael Moore, Bruce Sheppard, Harris Wheeler, Craig Zeigler, and many others. Of course nothing happens without financial and material support: plants must be bought, ground must be prepared, and labor is needed on the day of the service project. Gracious support from individuals and companies (Lawns and Gardens Plus certainly stands out!) enabled each endeavor to succeed. For obvious reasons, we prefer projects that accomplish specific goals, can be completed in one day, protect the environment, and generate goodwill. All of our past service projects check every one of those boxes. As an example of goodwill generated, here is a recent email we received from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation praising our work on their bioswale: “This week has gotten away from me, but I would be remiss if I didn’t send this email. THANK YOU for the addition of the purple Asters. They are the perfect pop of color this time of year and planting them a few days before our entire board of directors arrived was perfection. The grounds looked great and the bioswale was the perfect welcome. Thank you for this partnership and your work…I get constant text messages saying, ‘it looks great.’ I have also seen several bees, butterflies, and other pollinators around it. Kids stop and engage with it. And several photographers stop and focus on the planting. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” We hope to replicate our Environmental Institute service projects in cities throughout Virginia. Please help that hope become reality by being a “boot on the ground,” donating (remember, the Institute is a 501(c)3 corporation so your gifts are tax deductible), and finding the right project.
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
8 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2023 www.vaturf.org
Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757-363-3900 adelpozo@vt.edu Jeffrey F. Derr, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757-363-3912 jderr@vt.edu Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D. 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 Dan Sandor, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 170 Drillfield Dr. 411 Price Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-9775 dsandor@vt.edu WITH SUPPORT FROM: 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
Turfgrass Calendar
Save These Dates ! JANUARY 22 – 25, 2024
Come to the Bay Hampton Roads AREC Virginia Beach, VA
FEBRUARY 20, 2024
Road Show Harrisonburg, VA
FEBRUARY 21, 2024
Road Show Fredericksburg, VA
For event updates throughout the year, visit
VATURF.ORG Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 9
SERVICE PROJECT
During VTC’s Come to the Bay Conference on Monday, January 22
Aquarium Tickets for Service Project Attendees Sponsored by Bill’s Landscape and Design Public School Students Shine:
Service Project Sponsors:
Students with Virginia Beach City Public Schools in the Environmental Studies Program are interning with WPL Architects and RBA Architects. Part of their internship is designing the planting at the Virginia Aquarium Educational Pond and designing a system to reduce wetland erosion.
Agronomic Lawn Maintenance
They are designing our 2024 Service Project
Details about Educational Pond can be viewed at vaturf.org/come-to-the-bay
Bill’s Landscaping and Design Lawns & Gardens Plus We Need a Lunch Sponsor for the Service Project
The two students who prepared these plans are interning with WPL Architects.
The Virginia Turfgrass Council’s Come to the Bay Conference is January 22 – 25, 2024 in Virginia Beach. For full details and registration, visit
(Note: Details about the system to reduce wetland erosion from excessive stormwater flow will be sent later. Students designing that system are interning with RBA Architects.)
vaturf.org/come-to-the-bay
VA Aquarium Educational Pond – Planting Plan and Schedule – Drawn By: Molly Jones & Lexi Bradshaw
10 |
Cover Story
INDUSTRY SUCCESS IN VIRGINIA’S CUL-DE-SAC at
COME TO THE BAY Presented by Agronomic Lawn Management, Lawns and Gardens Plus and the VTC Environmental Institute J A N U A R Y 2 2 – 25, 2024 • H A M P T O N R O A D S A R E C • V I R G I N I A B E A C H For details, visit: vaturf.org/come-to-the-bay/ MONDAY, January 22
TUESDAY, January 23
SERVICE PROJECT
CLASSES at the Hampton Roads AREC
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center 717 General Booth Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451
1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, Virginia 23455
Our 2024 Service Project partners with the City of Virginia Beach Public Schools, several architect firms, green industry corporations, and the Virginia Aquarium to: (1) establish a regionally appropriate landscape at the newly constructed demonstration pond, and (2) prevent further soil erosion from storm water.
Volunteer to help us and stick around to tour the facility (virginiaaquarium.com). Tickets are courtesy of Bill’s Landscaping.
Earn Valuable CEU’s
THEME: Wetlands, Living Shorelines, Buffers and the Lawn / Landscape Professional 7:30 Registration 8:00 Welcome and opening remarks (Wes Bray, Jeff Derr) 8:15 Challenges and opportunities of working with these ever increasing areas (Karen Duhring, Laurie Fox) 11:00 Virginia Beach City Public School students report on the service project 11:30 Lunch and visit vendors 12:30 Successful Landscape Establishment of Plants Grown in a Greenhouse (Eric Stallknecht) 1:00 Turfgrass as a Buffer (Adam Nichols) 1:45 Examples from the City of Norfolk (Justin Shafer) 2:15 Case Studies (WPL Site Design) 3:00 Closing Remarks (Wes Bray, Jeff Derr) 3:15 END
The complete schedule is online at vaturf.org/events
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 11
TUESDAY, January 23 | CONTINUED HAMPTON ROADS AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER
Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. Station Director
The Hampton roads AREC is a premier site for green industry research with emphases on turfgrass, nursery production, landscape maintenance, small fruit production and urban stormwater management.
WEDNESDAY, January 24 | T H R E E O P T I O N S OPTION ONE (Free for VTC Members)
OPTION THREE (Separate Charge) Landscape / Lawn Short Course
Pesticide Recertification / Fertilizer Certification and Recertification 8:00 – 4:00 Pesticide Recertification Categories 3A, 3B, 5A, 6,8, 10, and 60 Special: Persons attending the pesticide recertification may stay longer and receive fertilizer recertification
Two Days: Wednesday and Thursday The Landscape / Lawn Short Course is designed to meet the needs of all green industry professionals. Intensive training will allow you to make better decisions in daily management that will improve both the quality of your landscape and your profit. TOPICS INCLUDE: •Keep it Legal – Pesticide and Fertilizer Regulations
OPTION TWO (Free for VTC Members)
•Selecting, Planting, and Maintaining Trees •Identifying and Controlling Weeds
9:00 – 3:30 Fertilizer Certification / Recertification (recertification is from 9:00 – 12:00)
•Identifying and Controlling Insects •Horticulture Basics •Turfgrass Basics •Soil Basics •The ABC’s of Pruning •Planting Dos and Don’ts
THURSDAY, January 25 | T W O O P T I O N S OPTION ONE
OPTION TWO (Free for VTC Members)
Day 2 of Short Course (must also attend Day 1)
Pesticide Initial Certification 8:00 – 12:00 Pesticide Certification Review (for Registered Technician) and 1:00 – 3:00 Pesticide Exams (Must have approval letter from VDACS to take the exam)
REGISTER ONLINE | VATURF.ORG/EVENTS
12 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2023 www.vaturf.org
Presented by Agronomic Lawn Management, Lawns and Gardens Plus and the VTC Environmental Institute
Registration Form VIRGINIA TURFGRASS COUNCIL’S 2024 COME TO THE BAY January 22 – 25, 2024 • Virginia Beach • Hampton Roads AREC Check the appropriate box or boxes. – You may also register and pay online at www.vaturf.org (see events page) VTC Membership – JOIN or RENEW (January 01 – December 31)......................................................................................Regular: $100 VTC Member Registration
Non-VTC Member Registration
Monday Service Project...........................................................NC
Monday Service Project...........................................................NC
Tuesday Only...........................................................................$85
Tuesday Only...........................................................................$95
Wednesday Only (Pest/Fert)............ No Charge for Members
Wednesday Only (Pest/Fert)....................................................$75
Tuesday and Wednesday..........................................................$85
Tuesday and Wednesday........................................................$150
Condensed Short Course (Wednesday & Thursday).............$125
Condensed Short Course (Wednesday & Thursday).............$160
Thursday Pesticide Review & Test... No Charge for Members
Thursday Pesticide Review & Test..........................................$45
Donation to the VTC Environmental Institute:_____________________ Amount Enclosed:____________________________________________
Make checks payable to Virginia Turfgrass Council and mail with this form to: P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Or charge to credit card:
AMEX
VISA
MasterCard
and fax to (757) 282-2693
Card #:___________________________________________________Cardholder Name:__________________________________________ Verification Code:___________________________________________Expiration Date:____________________________________________ Please type or print clearly: Name:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Company:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City:______________________________________________________State:___________Zip Code:__________________________________ Telephone:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Email:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONTACT US Virginia Turfgrass Council • P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471 • (757) 464-1004 • virginiaturf@gmail.com
WWW.VATURF.ORG Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 13
UPCOMING EVENTS / OPPORTUNITIES
PRESENTED BY
ROAD SHOWS UPDATES FROM Virginia Tech Turf Team and Experts from North Carolina and Tennessee Pesticide Recertification* Fertilizer Recertification** DATES AND LOCATIONS FEBRUARY 20 – Harrisonburg, VA FEBRUARY 21 – Fredericksburg, VA
SCHEDULE* 7:30 AM R E G I ST R AT I O N 8:00 AM C L ASS 12:00 PM LU N C H
COST – INCLUDES LUNCH Free for VTC Members – $50 for others
12:30 PM C L ASS 3:00 PM E N D * DRAFT SCHEDULE
DETAILS AND REGISTRATION https://vaturf.org/road-shows * Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia ** For Virginia Certified Fertilizer Applicators only
14 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2023 www.vaturf.org
CO N TAC T Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 757-464-1004 virginiaturf@gmail.com
2024
SPEAKERS INCLUDE
ROAD SHOWS Virginia Tech Virginia Cooperative Extension Virginia Turfgrass Council Becky Grubbs Bowling University of Tennessee
Grady Miller NC State
VT TURF TEAM
PESTICIDE CERTIFICATIONS OFFERED Virginia: 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10, 60 offered in each of the Road Shows Maryland: offered February 20 and 21 only West Virginia: offered February 20 and 21 only
DATE (check one or more) F ebruary 20th Harrisonburg
F ebruary 21st Fredericksburg
PRICE (check one) O CHARGE N for VTC Members Mike Goatley
David McCall
50.00 for Non$ VTC Members
$100 Attend and Join the VTC Make checks payable to Virginia Turfgrass Council and mail with this form to: P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Or charge to credit card: VISA
MasterCard
AMEX
and fax to (757) 282-2693 Alejandro Del-Pozo
Shawn Askew
Card #:_________________________________________________ Cardholder Name:_________________________________________ Verification Code:_____________ Expiration Date:________________ Please type or print clearly: Name:__________________________________________________
Jeff Derr
Dan Sandor
Email:___________________________________________________ Company:_______________________________________________
• Latest Turfgrass Updates for Your Business • Research Updates • Sustainable Turfgrass Management • Earn Pesticide Recertification for VA, MD and WV • Earn Certified Fertilizer Applicator Recertification in VA
Telephone:_______________________________________________ Fax:____________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________ City:____________________________________________________ State:_______________________ Zip Code:____________________ Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 15
Feature
Can We Control Weeds in St. Augustine? By Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. and Adam Nichols
At
our research station located in southeastern Virginia, we receive questions about weed control in certain warmseason turf species that are not grown in western parts of the state. One common lawn species in our area is St. Augustine. It tolerates the heat and drought of summer and has better shade tolerance than bermudagrass or zoysia. We have evaluated cold tolerance in St. Augustine cultivars through an NTEP project. Although we have seen significant winter damage in certain St. Augustine cultivars, some, such as the Raleigh types, generally tolerate the winter temperatures we see in Hampton Roads. Weed control, however, is a challenge in this turf species. In this article we will discuss current suggestions for controlling grass, sedge, and broadleaf weeds in St. Augustine, as well as some of the research we are currently conducting. Although you may not be maintaining St. Augustine, some of the treatments we are evaluating are proving useful in other turf species and thus may benefit your program. Herbicide tolerance in St. Augustine: There are some common turf herbicides that cannot be used in St. Augustine due to severe injury. Drive (quinclorac) and products containing quinclorac cannot be used in this turf species. MSMA, currently registered for golf course, sod, and rights-of-way use, also causes severe injury to St. Augustine. The sulfonylurea herbicides Monument (trifloxysulfuron), Revolver (foramsulfuron), and Katana (flazasulfuron) are not registered for use in this turf species. Since St. Augustine has overall lower herbicide tolerance than bermudagrass and zoysia, one needs to pay special attention to rates when making applications. Often application rates are lower for St. Augustine than other turf species. Treating small
Bermuda Strip in St. Augustine
areas first to gain knowledge of turf tolerance when working with a new herbicide or herbicide formulation in St. Augustine is a good and safe practice. Annual grass control preemergence: In established St. Augustine we can use the preemergence crabgrass preventers used in other turf species. For example, prodiamine (Barricade, others), oxadiazon (Ronstar), benefin (Balan), bensulide (Bensumec), pendimethalin (Pendulum, others), dimethenamid (Tower), dithiopyr (Dimension), napropamide (Devrinol), and indaziflam (Specticle) can all be applied to St. Augustine. Read the label, though, as some of these chemicals, such as oxadiazon, cannot be used on home lawns. Also, sprayable formulations of oxadiazon can only be applied to dormant St. Augustine. These crabgrass preventers herbicides can also be applied in August for preemergence control of annual bluegrass as well as control of common chickweed and certain other winter annual broadleaf weeds. Use lower rates of indaziflam on St. Augustine compared to bermudagrass due to injury concerns. There is a combination product available that combines prodiamine, simazine, and imazaquin (Coastal Herbicide). This product will provide preemergence control of a range of annual grass and broadleaf weeds as well as early postemergence control of certain weeds, such as annual bluegrass. St. Augustine will probably be dormant when the application needs to be made for preemergence crabgrass control. If there was any winter kill, these preemergence herbicides will prevent the pegging down of St. Augustine stolons that try to fill in dead areas. St. Augustine does not produce rhizomes so it is dependent on spread through stolons to cover an area.
16 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2023 www.vaturf.org
Raleigh, Virginia Beach
So, if you have observed unusually low temperatures during the winter, or a rapid decrease in temperature as we observed in the winter of 2022–2023, you may want to hold off on application of a crabgrass preventer until St. Augustine has greened up and any winter damage will be apparent. The problem with that approach, though, is that crabgrass probably has started germinating before St. Augustine is fully greened up. There are limited options for postemergence crabgrass control in this turf species. Annual grass control postemergence: Atrazine (Aatrex, others), sulfosulfuron (Certainty) and amicarbazone (Xonerate) are options for postemergence annual bluegrass control. The Certainty label cautions users, though, to test this product on small areas first as St. Augustine is less tolerant compared to other warm-season turf species such as bermudagrass. Postemergence crabgrass control: This is a challenge. Dimension and Celsius will control pre-tillered crabgrass and atrazine will suppress this weed. Xonerate will suppress crabgrass but the label warns against summer applications when temperatures are high. Other postemergence crabgrass herbicides used in other turf species, such as quinclorac, will damage St. Augustine. Perennial grass control: There are not too many options here. Atrazine could be used for suppression of actively growing bermudagrass as well as removal of cool-season grasses like tall fescue. We have also evaluated Prograss for bermudagrass suppression. Based on our work, with some assistance from these chemical treatments, St. Augustine appears to be able to outcompete bermudagrass. We have evaluated the addition of mesotrione (Tenacity) to atrazine, which has a synergistic benefit, but Tenacity is only registered for St. Augustine grown for sod. Certainty
Recognition plus 1 Fusilade 12oz; 2 Fusilade 24oz
suppresses dallisgrass and controls cool-season grasses like ryegrass and tall fescue but check the tolerance on a small area first. Preemergence annual broadleaf control: Both atrazine and simazine (Princep) provide control of many broadleaf weeds at germination. Isoxaben (Gallery) will also control a wide range of annual broadleaf weeds, especially winter annuals. Postemergence broadleaf control: St. Augustine is sensitive to some of the postemergence broadleaf herbicides used in turf, such as 2,4-D. Products for use in use in sensitive southern grasses such as St. Augustine utilize reduced rates of the broadleaf herbicides. For example, Speedzone EW, which is not labeled for use in St. Augustine, contains 1.27 pounds 2,4-D and 0.12 pounds dicamba per gallon while Speedzone Southern EW, which is labeled, contains 0.51 pounds 2,4-D and 0.05 pounds dicamba per gallon. The two products have a similar use rate (pints per acre). One product we regularly use for broadleaf control in St. Augustine is Celsius, which has three active ingredients: iodosulfuron, thiencarbazone, and dicamba. It controls a wide range of broadleaf weed and certain annual grasses. Celsius XTRA is a similar product that also contains iodosulfuron and thiencarbazone but instead of dicamba it contains halosulfuron. Halosulfuron is the active ingredient in SedgeHammer and ProSedge. So Celsius may be the preferred product if only broadleaf weeds are present. Celsius XTRA would be the better choice if one is trying to control both broadleaf weeds and yellow nutsedge. Another combination product where acceptable tolerance exists in St. Augustine is Avenue South, which contains 2,4-D, dicamba, penoxsulam, and sulfentrazone. St. Augustine does not possess acceptable tolerance to Tribute Total, which contains foramsulfuron, halosulfuron, and thiencarbazone.
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 17
Feature continued
We would like to be able to recommend an effective postemergence broadleaf herbicide for all warm season and cool-season turf species, especially in our areas due to the variety of turf species being maintained. Unfortunately, we have not identified a product that fits this need. One of the limiting species is St. Augustine, where products containing higher rates of 2,4-D can be injurious, and products containing lower doses of 2,4-D and related herbicides are less effective for weed control. The other limiting species is tall fescue, where Avenue South can be injurious, and other products such as Celsius and Certainty cannot be used. Yellow nutsedge control: Celsius XTRA, sulfentrazone (Dismiss),
halosulfuron, Certainty, Basagran and Vexis are options for control of emerged yellow nutsedge and other sedges. Tower is a possibility for preemergence yellow nutsedge control, but we have not evaluated it in St. Augustine. We have observed delayed greenup in bermudagrass with this product. Current research – Recognition: The active ingredient in Monument is trifloxysulfuron but Monument cannot be used in St. Augustine due to injury. Recognition also contains trifloxysulfuron but along with this active ingredient it also contains a safener, metcamifen, that increases the tolerance in St. Augustine and certain other grasses. Besides increasing tolerance to sulfonylurea herbicides
like trifloxysulfuron, it increases the tolerance in St. Augustine to the postemergence broadleaf herbicide like triclopyr (Turflon Ester), post grass herbicides like fluazifop (Fusilade), and bleaching herbicides like Tenacity. We have seen a slight off-color to St. Augustine following a Recognition application, but the turf outgrows this effect fairly quickly. So, Recognition, according to the label, is an option in St. Augustine for control of ryegrass, a range of broadleaf weeds, and yellow nutsedge, as well as dallisgrass suppression. We are currently conducting research to determine if Recognition is as effective as Monument on a variety of weed species as it is possible the safener in Recognition could also increase herbicide tolerance in weed species. We have evaluated Recognition plus Fusilade for suppression of bermudagrass, as well as Recognition plus Turflon Ester for improved broadleaf control and bermudagrass suppression. Although multiple applications will probably be required to eradicate bermudagrass, the bermudagrass suppression makes St. Augustine more competitive. Recognition plus Tenacity has shown promise for control of doveweed and crabgrass. We also see potential for Recognition plus Fusilade for improved bermudagrass control in zoysia. We have evaluated adding 24 fluid ounces per acre of Fusilade with Recognition. This rate of Fusilade is much higher than can be applied with Fusilade alone in zoysia, showing the benefit of the safener metcamifen. Use of higher rates due to the safener allows for better bermudagrass control. Metcamifen does not appear to increase herbicide tolerance in bermudagrass. There should be similar benefits of Recognition plus Fusilade for control of dallisgrass. We plan to continue our research with Recognition and Recognition combinations in St. Augustine and zoysia. Jeffrey Derr and Adam Nichols are located at Virginia Tech’s Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Virginia Beach.
18 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2023 www.vaturf.org
Feature
A Contrarian’s Guide to AUTONOMOUS TURFGRASS ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY By J. Scott McElroy, PhD – Professor, Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences – Auburn University
As
a scientist, I hesitate to make predictions such as those a fortune teller might reveal. I wince when I hear people speaking with absolute certainty that this or that will happen in the future. That some team will win, some politician will lose, or that some event will occur is often pure speculation. Absolute predictions are nonsensical, and an affront to probabilistic thinking. To think probabilistically is to think in terms of the percentage of probability that something will occur. This is the foundation of good science.
The Husqvarna 535 AWD hill climber.
20 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2023 www.vaturf.org
Having said that, it is highly probable that in the next 10 years autonomous technology will gain a significant portion of the professional and consumer market in the United States. I base this prediction on four pieces of evidence: 1. Robotic technology has already captured a significant portion of the technology in Europe. 2. All major brands that market traditional mowing technology or mowing equipment are developing robotic technology. 3. At one count there were over 40 additional startups and companies developing all manner of robotic technology, including mowers, painters, and sprayers. 4. The labor shortage will be sustained into the foreseeable future and could potentially increase (https://www.wsj.com/ articles/america-still-has-a-worker-shortage-d0c65166). But here I am addressing the “Contrarian’s Guide to Turfgrass Robotic Technology.” To the robotic contrarian, any positive arguments I present regarding this technology will likely fall on deaf ears. To the contrarian, only seeing is believing. Once my prediction has come true, the contrarian will adopt the technology as self-evident. Don’t get me wrong. Skepticism is a good thing. However, a complete understanding and realistic expectation of what robotic technology can do and where the technology is going is necessary to the healthy skeptic. I want to convince the contrarian that instead of waiting for the technology to be tested by fellow industry partners, they should begin testing and evaluating it themselves. With that in mind, I present this article to the contrarian on fundamentals of robotic technology today.
“The Technology is Just Not There Yet.” This is the contrarian’s favorite phrase. In frustration I respond, “Where is There?” or even “What is There?”. If the technology has not arrived at the point where it can be adopted, what are its current limitations? What irks me so much about this critique is the underlying assumptions about imagined technological characteristics that may not even be possible. The contrarian’s perception of automation is that the technology can be easily set up with little or no planning or understanding of the technology. That it may be deployed for use with little, or no, oversight. The phrase, “The Technology is Just Not There Yet,” is normally rooted in some technological advancement in artificial intelligence, or machine learning, that the contrarian has developed based on their perception of technological development, or maybe even a touch of science fiction. My response is “The technology is what the technology is.” 2022 might as well have been ten years ago when it comes to robotic and autonomous technology in the United States. 2023 saw an incredible number of major advances. These include allowance for extended range connection to 4G and network RTK systems; daisy chaining of reference station signals for greater lengths; creation of virtual zones that can vary in direction, speed, and height of cut; and mobile deployment across multiple sites. The technology launched in 2023 will be the basis of robotic technology for the next five to ten years. To the contrarian, if you were talking about 2022, I agree. The technology was not “there” for the professional user. It was largely restricted to wire boundary units, mowing randomly at a single fixed zone height. But 2023 completely changed the game.
Autonomous vs. Semi-Autonomous Before discussing the technology that now makes robotic automation possible, let me make a rather large distinction in technology – Autonomous vs. Semi-Autonomous Technology. Now and in the future, it will be extremely difficult for any mowers with traditional mowing implements to be fully autonomous simply due to liability. As I have been told (I am not an expert on liability, nor am I a lawyer) liability has been and will continue to restrict deployment of certain technology. Such technology – semi-autonomous technology – will require an operator to be watching it while it is completing its task. It will not work at night and will likely not have a fixed position point for deployment. It will need to be taken to the location by hand for deployment. Fully autonomous technology will likely be small, lightweight equipment weighing approximately less than 300 lbs. Again, I may be wrong, but making traditional mowing equipment fully autonomous is going to be challenging to say the least.
Robot Positioning – The Leap Forward in 2023 The technology that made 2023 the year of advancement largely dealt with how the robots position themselves in space. And the one acronym you need to know is RTK. RTK. RTK stands for Real-Time Kinematic. It is a satellite navigation technique used for enhancing the precision of position data obtained from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) like GPS (Global Positioning System). RTK is commonly used in applications where high accuracy location information is required, such as surveying, agriculture, construction, and autonomous vehicles. RTK requires a base station in a fixed position that can then communicate to a rover (in our case a mower, painter, or range picker). RTK allows for real time positioning and correction for the rover. RTK signals can stretch from 200 meters to 10 miles depending on the signal type. Husqvarna and Echo Robotics use a fixed position RTK signal that extends 200–300 meters. (Actually, Echo Robotics now has 4G RTK which extends up to 10 miles.) nRTK. nRTK stands for network real-time kinematics. nRTK is a mesh network system individual companies deploy and then offer other companies for use. For example, NexMow uses nRTK from TopCon (https://global.topcon.com/). Kress (https://www.kress.com/en-us/all-robot-lawn-mowers/) has developed its own nRTK system specifically for its mower technology. Tiny Mobile Robots also uses an nRTK system for positioning. RTK, whether a dedicated local RTK reference station, or a nRTK system, allows for positioning of technology in space, allowing for removal of wire from the field and the creation of virtual boundary systems. RTK also allows for directional or systematic work, not random work. With RTK the efficiency of the equipment increases exponentially and the ability to deploy over a wider area has increased.
Where Should the Contrarian Begin? If it is true that robotic technology will be a common form of turfgrass management in the next five to 10 years, one probably needs to start learning about and adapting the technology now.
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 21
Feature continued
To be fair, there are some early adopters that have made significant investments in this technology, but the contrarian samples the product before a full commitment. The key to what to utilize first is choosing equipment that solves a problem. Depending on the operation, you already have mowing equipment, so unless you need to make a major purchase, the first goal is to seek out equipment that solves a problem. Here is my list of useful equipment that solves major issues. Field Painters. Field Painters have been adopted in the United States faster than any other autonomous technology for one big reason – they solve a problem. Painting field lines is a tedious, repetitive task that was begging for automation. Technology from Turf Tank (https://turftank.com/us/) and Tiny Mobile Robots (https://tinymobilerobots.com/ field-marking-robot/) have taken athletic field maintenance by storm with painters becoming the fasting growing segment of autonomous turfgrass management. Range Pickers. Ranges can have a myriad of problems that robots can solve. Large pickers used frequently can compact soil. They are very abrasive to the turf reducing stand density and quality and can cause damage during high soil moisture conditions. Light weight pickers such as the Echo Robotics Range Picker (https://echorobotics.com/en-us/)can be programmed to pick ranges at all hours of the day. It uses the same positioning technology as Echo Robotics mowers – either a WiFi or 4G signal – which massively extends the range of use of the picker. Slope Climbers. Mowing slopes is a burdensome task. It can be damaging to the turf and dangerous for the operator. Because of the difficulty, some sloped areas are mowed infrequently reducing the turfgrass stand and leading to debris buildup after mowing. The Husqvarna 535 AWD is a compact, light-weight slope mower that can be deployed to cover up to 0.8 acres. While it is random and has a wire boundary, it is efficient, and virtual zones can be created after it has mapped the wire bounded area. Drop and Mow. Many contrarians are turned off by the idea of fixed position mowers that are bound to a specific docking station and work zone. They would prefer to be able to deploy mowers to other locations during the evaluation phase. The NexMow M1 (https://nexmow.com/) is a deployable drop and mow system that allows for mapping and deployment at hundreds of areas stored on the NexMow app. Simply choose the location that you have mapped and stored in the app, deploy one or multiple mowers, and return to pick up when the app tells you the job is complete. Mowing Technology. Or the contrarian could just deploy other mowing technology. Mowers from Husqvarna, Kress, and Echo Robotics are all light weight, fully autonomous mowers that can be deployed to mow fairways, rough and tee areas, sports fields, common areas, or large multi-use complexes. This will allow the contrarian to evaluate the cut quality, evaluate the equipment for its functionality at their location, and determine how best to scale with autonomous technology.
The Tiny Mobile Robots Field Painter
The NexMow M1 drop and mow unit.
An example of an RTK beacon – The Echo Robotics Wifi Beacon.
The Echo Robotics TM-2050 unit.
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Feature continued
To be fair, the economics do not work out until autonomous technology has been deployed at scale—meaning across a majority of the facility. In the beginning, if you are just evaluating a few pieces of equipment, this will likely add a little to your workload in the first year, as you are adding a new piece of technology without subtracting equipment you are already using. This is part of the process of adopting new technology. The time and money saving on a facility basis are not realized until you are at scale.
Final Thoughts When the iPhone was introduced in 2007 it was an amazing leap in mobile technology. It has changed the way we work, play, and live. The current version of the iPhone is even more amazing – camera technology; the myriad of apps that are available; and how you can do almost anything on the iPhone. I have never heard a single person who bought the original iPhone complain that they should have waited to buy the current iPhone and skipped the 16 years of previous iterations. Sure, the new iPhone is amazing, but so was the original.
I leave the contrarian with this final comparison. The technology released in the US in 2023 will be the dominant technological innovations for the next decade and beyond. There will be upgrades and innovations along the way, but the base technology will remain the same. If you wait for some mythical technological level that may never come, you will miss out on the journey this technology will take us on for years to come.
Disclosure Dr. McElroy is a professor at Auburn University, and also owns Scotsman Turf Robotics, (http://scotsmanturfrobotics.com) which is a distributor of Husqvarna, Echo Robotics, and NexMow. Scotsman does not distribute Kress, Turf Tank, or Tiny Mobile Robots but sees these as valuable additions to a growing autonomous turfgrass technology industry. Dr. McElroy and Scotsman encourage readers to explore all aspects of autonomous and semi-autonomous equipment that will be the future of turfgrass management. Robotic equipment is currently <1% of the US turf equipment market but is slated to grow substantially over the next five years.
This article was originally published in Alabama Turf Times, Winter 2024, and is reprinted with permission.
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Professional Development
Working Slower By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM
T
here are times when managers have no choice but to jump into the field and lend a helping hand to meet some pressing obligations. And while most managers bring a big boost of productivity in these times, I no longer personally contribute that way. My goal, when I have to perform a critical task outside my role, is to work slower, and it’s a strategy that more managers might want to copy. The key reason why I work slower is because if I’m performing duties outside of my role it means something has gone wrong. Either we don’t have the manpower available (because we made them feel undervalued and quit) or the manpower available isn’t competent enough to perform the task (because we haven’t trained them well enough). Either way, the problem lies with us as managers. So, I leverage the opportunity to be hands-on not to perform work as quickly as possible because I can, but rather to work slow and remedy those two workforce problems. I enter “training mode” where workers are protected from all the time pressure of the job, and we slowly demonstrate every step of every process. Work is frequently paused to explain the reasoning that tasks occur, and work is done in specific ways. And, when something is completed, we often undo the work so it can be redone without my involvement while I supervise and provide feedback. The other benefit of slowing work down is that there is plenty of time to express appreciation for everything that employees are doing well. That may be as simple as being open and receptive to instructions or exercising care in delivering quality work. Whatever behavior is occurring that I would like to see replicated I affirm, compliment, and reinforce. Working slowly is like saving money. In the moment, it requires discipline and doesn’t deliver immediate gratification. Something must be sacrificed in the short-term, but there are real benefits in the long-term. When I work slower, it’s usually only once or twice with an employee on any given task because they become empowered to run the show on their own after that point. It’s like earning compound interest. The solution to not having enough time and people to complete all of the obligations is to slow down, not speed up. Taking this counterintuitive approach to dedicating resources and effort to training, especially when it feels like we can’t, is the way to empower organizations to break the vicious cycle of always playing catch up.
Neal Glatt is the Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, an online training platform for the green industry. Connect with Neal at www.NealGlatt.com.
26 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2023 www.vaturf.org
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Central Sod Farms of Maryland, Inc.......... 3 www.centralsodmd.com
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East Coast Sod & Seed............................... 6 www.eastcoastsod.com
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Landmark Turf & Native Seed................. Inside Front Cover www.landmarkturfandnativeseed.com
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McGill Premium Compost......................... 27 www.mcgillsoilbuilder.com
Mid-Atlantic STIHL.................................... 23 www.stihldealers.com
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Modern Turf, Inc....................................... 18
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Progressive Turf Equipment Inc................. 24 www.progressiveturfequip.com
Smith Seed Services.................................. 27 Smith Turf & Irrigation................. Back Cover
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Sod Solutions............................................ 19 www.sodsolutions.com
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McGill SportsTurf Premium Compost improves turf aesthetics by adding beneficial microbes to soils, improving nutrient uptake, and increasing porosity in heavy clay soils while improving water capacity in light sandy soils. Create a healthier soil environment and safer playing surface by applying 1/8" – 1/4" of McGill Premium Compost.
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To discuss advertising opportunities, contact Leading Edge Communications:
615-790-3718 888-707-7141 ( TOLL FREE ) sales@leadingedgecommunications.com www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 27
