The turf guys are on their own today, ranting about sports fields. Where do these “annual hours of field use” limits come from? Can we use them to find an appropriate amount of field space to support local sports? What are some ideal scheduling techniques to allow for field recovery? Don’t forget a big shoutout to the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP winning Cornell Big Red Men’s Lacrosse team. LGR!

Dr. Paige Boyle, University of Minnesota, joins the show to discuss her recent work with the Long-Term Ecological Research Project in the twin cities area. We chat about pollinator lawns and trying to channel the energy from No Mow May into more valuable land management approaches.

UMN LTER Project: https://mspurbanlter.umn.edu/research-areas/effectiveness-pollinator-habitat

Lawns to Legumes program: https://ncipmhort.cfans.umn.edu/lawns-legumes

Dr. Ming-Yi Chou, Rutgers, stops by the show to discuss root pathogens. The result is a detailed discussion of application timing (depends on the type of pathogen), and application method that requires moving the product (with water) down into the root system. We also hear from Ming-Yi on some new analytical methods to identify pathogen communities that will improve our ability to control them.

Chemical Control of Turfgrass Diseases 2024: https://publications.ca.uky.edu/files/PPA1.pdf

Dr. Matt Elmore, Rutgers, joins to discuss a variety of weed control topics. We start with the considerations a professional should make when evaluating a traditional pre-emergent weed control strategy vs. a post-emergent strategy that allows for more immediate seeding and growing of turfgrass. Then, we get to the crazy stuff like fiesta, rolling, and even clover for crabgrass control!

It’s the insect mash-up show this week. We tackle No Mow May and Kyle’s data on pollinator resources and below-ground insects. Annual bluegrass weevil timing seems to be lining up “like normal”, but what should we consider as showery weather ahead possibly reduces product efficacy? Can we affect ABW overwintering sites? Robot mowers for earthworm control? Brewing your own entomopathogenic nematodes? The “fastest 30 minutes in turf” is at it again!

Dr. Doug Soldat, University of Wisconsin-Madison, chats about some recent research on topdressing rates, frequencies, and measures of firmness. The results may surprise you, and inform how we might re-think the traditional approach to managing surface organic matter and firmness. The fastest 30 minutes in turf concludes with a crash course in the Ohio State Organic Matter Management tool, where we learn why the same practices might work in Bethpage, but not Lake Placid.

Audio only versions available on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornell-turfgrass-turf-show-podcast/id1798195849

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6tPRGSmg0LBZKGyI6tWJVg?si=b875b7072e2b49c2&nd=1&dlsi=1fadd00621404c01

Dr. Evan Mascitti, Senior Engineer At Biocore, joins the turf guys in an epic conversation on firmness. Evan explains the intricacies of field firmness and traction, and how the soil AND plant properties influence these measures. The show takes a look at some recent data collected using The Beast, that shows how different surfaces perform under traction testing. We discuss how Biocore collects actionable data for NFL teams and grounds managers to improve athlete safety, and the importance of simulating the forces those specific athletes apply, which is often in excess of 200% of their bodyweight!

Audio only versions available on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornell-turfgrass-turf-show-podcast/id1798195849

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6tPRGSmg0LBZKGyI6tWJVg?si=b875b7072e2b49c2&nd=1&dlsi=1fadd00621404c01 

Dr. Arthur DeGaetano, Director of the Northeast Regional Climate Center, joins the show to discuss growing degree day accumulation in the Spring, and the annual variation in application windows for poa seedhead control and pre-emergent herbicides.

The show then moves to synthetic turf, with a primer on WHY synthetic turf gets so much hotter than natural grass. Wet bulb globe temperature is used by many governing bodies to determine activity levels for youth athletes, but does this account for heat stress when playing on synthetic turf? All that, and more on this episode of the Cornell Turf Show

Cornell ForeCast website: https://turf.eas.cornell.edu

Wet Bulb Globe Temperature: https://www.weather.gov/tsa/wbgt

This season kicks off with a macro discussion about the experience of people who use turfgrass, and how it’s about more the quality of the grass. Those same people are itching to get out and play on golf courses and athletic fields, but without much active growth, should we let them? The turf guys debate allowing early season play considering the potential revenue, demand, and maintenance costs. They also discuss the role of synthetic turf in these shoulder seasons, highlighting their particular importance in urban areas where field demand is high.

Check out our turf Growth Potential Tool and Runoff Risk forecast to guide Spring maintenance.

Stay Informed with Cornell Turfgrass: For more insights, research-backed strategies, and the latest turf management updates, visit turf.cals.cornell.edu.

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