The Turf Zone Podcast

New England Blade – Julie Holt, Content Director, TheTurfZone.com

The Turf Zone: Welcome to The Turf Zone. This episode begins our series on the USDA-funded ResistPoa Project. In this, our first episode, we’re talking to researcher Jay McCurdy, Associate Professor at Mississippi State University. How are you Jay?

Jay McCurdy: I’m doing well, thanks for having me. 

 

TTZ: Thanks so much for joining us. I want to give a little intro about what we’re doing here and why. You are partnering with The Turf Zone and all of our publications to help share some information on the ResistPoa Project. Since you are tasked with extension and outreach, we’re kicking off the series with you and in the coming days we’ll also hear from other researchers that are part of the project. Start off by telling me why it’s so important that this information gets out to turf managers at this time? 

JM: Well, the hope is that we’re doing this in a timely fashion and sharing results so that stakeholders can make informed decisions about how they choose to control annual bluegrass this fall – it’s a fall emerging cool season plant. Within our listening range or readership range, that’s going to be sometime starting in September when practitioners are making applications of pre emergence herbicides and then after that, post emergence herbicides, and then maybe implementing cultural practices now that actually also influence the success or failure of some of those applications so I think that’s why we’re choosing to do that now. Hopefully our listeners and readership will take heed of some of the things we discuss.

 

TTZ: For the average turfgrass manager out there, what has been their experience with poa annua?

JM: Reports to us as a group of university scientists usually lead to the conclusion that annual bluegrass is probably the most troublesome weed in maintained turf and in general manmade landscapes in the United States. It probably is also one of the most most troublesome weeds in international markets as well. So what leads us into this conversation is, we want to try to change that and that’s going to be a very complicated, integrated approach, including herbicides, but also cultural practices and so on and so forth. 

 

TTZ: What objectives are you specifically pursuing as part of the ResistPoa Project, and what other interests pertaining to annual bluegrass are you studying separately. 

JM: So a little bit of background on the project, we proposed this project in 2017, and then again in 2018 and had very positive reviews in the first round, and then the second round got approved. We have about 5.6 million dollars in this project covering probably about, it’s not complete salaries, but it’s paying for some research being done by roughly 50 employees. I think there are 16 university scientists involved, there are at least 15 universities so it’s a major project across the United States. A number of different variables including cool season and warm season types of climates, various different industry segments including golf, lawn care, sod farms, sports fields. So on this project, these university scientists, myself included, have, at last count, nine different major objectives. Within each of those objectives, a good example would be understanding the seed life cycle and germination success of various different populations. Understanding the germination of those populations would be a sub-objective of one major objective looking at the germination and life cycle of the seed. So I’m actually on a couple of different objectives.

My major objective that I’m responsible for is the extension and outreach component of this project. Part of that has been building a website. That website is resistpoa.org it’s got a number of different things that we’re going to talk about today. Also,

North Carolina Turfgrass – Julie Holt, Content Director, TheTurfZone.com

What company do you work for and what is your title? I am the President/Owner of Barefoot & Associates Inc.

How many years have you been in this position? I began with the company in December 1992 immediately following fall graduation at NC State. After just a few years, I became a partner and achieved some ownership in the company. In 2008, I become majority owner and president of the company.

How did you decide to pursue a career in turfgrass management? Honestly, I never really liked school all that much. In high school, I did the early work release program my junior and senior year and began working at Swift Creek Nursery, so I thought at that time I had a love of plants. After beginning my studies at NC State in the Ag Institute, I double majored with Turfgrass Management and Ornamentals & Landscape Technology with the Agri-Business Concentration. I spent my summers working at The Country Club of Johnston County and was named Assistant Superintendent. It was then I realized I enjoyed the turf world a little more than the plants.

What path led you to your current position? While working summers and weekends at the CCJC, I met James “Bo” Barefoot and he seemed to take a liking to me and offered me a job once I graduated. I am happy to say I have been with Barefoot & Associates Inc. all my professional career, now almost 28 years.

What is the best part of your job? Creating beautiful and healthy lawns and landscapes for homeowners and their families to enjoy is satisfying. Beyond that, working with young employees and helping mold them into young men or ladies, helping them learn from their mistakes and seeing them mature and evolve within the company is maybe just as gratifying.

What inspired you to become a part of TCNC? It is our leading local turf organization. I like the collaboration between the organization and NC State. I also was quick to obtain my TCNC Certified Turfgrass Professional accreditation when it was made available. I have always believed in continuing education especially when I probably did not capitalize on my education at a younger, less mature age. I make available to all my employees at no costs any continuing education or accreditations they wish to pursue. Our industry is evolving, and you can keep up with it or get left behind easily.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing the turfgrass industry right now? I feel public awareness and education is something the local organizations and companies will have to do a better job at going forward. There is so much misinformation out there that can significantly impact our industry, we must work hard at putting out accurate information to protect this industry. My biggest fear is what government regulations will do to industry in North Carolina one day. 

Do you have a mentor in the industry? James “Bo” Barefoot has been a great mentor to me in this industry. He first took a chance on me as a young employee, then a business partner. I was young at the time, made mistakes, but he always continued to teach me to turn mistakes into life lessons and what you can learn from them. I have a great father who I credit my strong work ethic and why I am the person I am today, but I also give Bo much credit because we spent so much time together. He is 10 years older than I, but he was also kind of a father figure for me. I give Bo much credit also for how I turned out and where I am today. Bo taught me about being LOYAL. I could have jumped shipped several times, but I remained loyal to Bo and to Barefoot & Associates which is the biggest reason I am where I am today, owner and president of Barefoot & Associates Inc. Loyalty is an outstanding trait, but hard to find these days. 

What do you do in your free time? I work all the time, but recently have begun enjoying life just a little more.

Tennessee Turfgrass – Julie Holt, Content Director, TheTurfZone.com

Our industry has come together in the face of unprecedented challenges to protect our workers, courses, sports fields, jobs, and the people we serve. So many of you have made quick changes and adjustments to create safer environments and we are proud of the hustle and innovation of our Tennessee turfgrass professionals. Take a look at how we’ve adapted to keep our state’s turfgrass managers working and successful.

Ryan Storey, TTA Secretary/Treasurer, Sports Turf Manager at Vanderbilt University

What adjustments have you made to operations during this time?  We have cut out all overtime and people that can work remotely have been asked to do so until further notice.

What safety measures are you taking to protect yourself, your staff, and others who use your fields and facilities? We have to wear a face covering at all times when on campus unless we are in our private office. We have increased the number of hand sanitizer stations throughout campus. We have also purchased and distributed multiple style masks to all employees.

What advice/encouragement do you have for TTA members in this challenging time? Do whatever you can to remain essential. I am doing things a turf manager would not normally do (removed 364 bikes on campus, doing inventory of items students left behind, etc.). If a layoff is coming, I would hope they see value in an employee who is multi-faceted and can/will do tasks that may not be associated with everyday maintenance but are necessary to get through tough times.

Jim Brosnan, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science, The University of Tennessee

I certainly have been proud of what I’ve seen both from an advocacy standpoint in defining our work as essential to staffs taking a leadership role in implementing distancing procedures to facilitate operations remaining open.

The joint letter to Gov. Bill Lee’s office (below) that was spearheaded by TTA helped ensure maintenance operations, particularly on golf courses, were declared essential such that work could continue during the stay-at-home order. The association showed real leadership in submitting a single document signed by TTA, TGA, TGF, Tenn PGA, and TVSTMA. This is one reason that supporting an association like TTA is so important.

From a university standpoint, the first major change was obviously moving all classes online. UT mobilized this process fairly rapidly and while I’m sure there were a few bumps in the road, the process was successful from what I’ve heard/seen.

Like many of the other turfgrass operations in the state, we have been tasked with becoming more intentional with scheduling work at our research farm in order to keep social distancing a priority. This has taken a little while to get accustomed to but all of our turfgrass research programs are moving forward normally.

Probably the biggest hurdle the turfgrass program faced in light of COVID was how to handle our annual Field Day event in August. With UT facilities being closed to the public and restrictions in place (both on campus and in Knox County) on large gatherings, we needed to decide how to move forward in providing continuing education and networking opportunities for those in the turfgrass industry this year. We landed on the concept of TN Turf Tuesdays, a series of online webinars hosted on the first Tuesday of every month from May-October 2020. You can learn more about that initiative here: www.tennesseeturfgrassweeds.org/Pages/TurfTuesday.aspx.

This has been a fun endeavor for our team and something that we think we can build on for the future.

One thing that was communicated to me earlier this year is that regardless of how one feels about the COVID situation, it’s the biggest challenge that all of us will face in our careers. I think it’s important to recognize that!

North Carolina Turfgrass – Grady Miller, Professor, Crop and Soil Sciences

AG-809 Publication date: May 2020

In March 2020, North Carolina State University conducted the sixth annual survey to examine inventory and pricing of North Carolina sod.

Overview

* Supply of bermudagrass sod is up compared to 2019, with most suppliers saying they have adequate supplies for their expected demand in 2020. There still may be some shortages.

* Supply of zoysiagrass and St. Augustinegrass are expected to be worse in 2020 compared to 2019, with more than 40% of surveyed producers expecting shortages.

* This was the third consecutive year that about one-third of the producers predicted they could have shortages of centipedegrass sod.

* No shortages for tall fescue and tall fescue + Kentucky bluegrass sod were predicted for 2020.

* Only four North Carolina growers reported growing pure stands of Kentucky bluegrass, but half of those growers anticipated shortages.

* There are expected price increases for all the turfgrass species in 2020 except for centipedegrass (same) and St. Augustinegrass (7% decrease). Of the actual prices reported for early 2020, zoysiagrass and Kentucky bluegrass had the greatest increases.

* There was a 30% increase in growers reporting that they grew proprietary grasses but a slight reduction in certified sod growers. This reduction was not expected because most proprietary grasses require certification.

* Production acreage was projected to increase in 2020.

* The primary market for North Carolina sod producers continues to be landscape contractors.

* There was an uptick in sales directly to homeowners with a slight decrease in sales to the sports/athletic field sector of consumers compared to previous years.

* There was a 30% increase in the average number of full-time employees per producer.

* Total sod sales was reported to be 65% greater than the previous year.

Survey Details

Twenty-three producers representing the following farm sizes completed the anonymous online survey:

* less than 200 acres (11 participants)

* 201 to 500 acres (four participants)

* 501 to 800 acres (four participants)

* more than 800 acres (four participants)

North Carolina Sod Producers Association (NCSPA) records suggest the number of completed surveys represents about 55% of the sod farms in North Carolina. The number of farms for the respective farm sizes suggests that this survey represents an overwhelming majority of the sod production acreage in the state.

Inventories

We obtained inventory estimates for bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, tall fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass as well as a tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass mix. These estimates were based on estimated sales and the availability of sod as being excellent (more than 10% of demand), adequate (equal to demand), or poor (more than 10% shortage).

Pricing information included the farm price as well as the price for truckload orders delivered to the closest urban market or within 100 miles of the farms. All costs were reported as price per square foot of sod.

Bermudagrass is being grown by 19 (83%) of the surveyed producers. This is currently the most popular turfgrass species grown by NC sod producers. Seventy-four percent of these producers rated their inventory as adequate this year; 11% indicated their inventory was excellent. For 2020, 16% of all bermudagrass producers projected having less than adequate supplies. Projected inventory levels of bermudagrass have improved over the last five years (Figure 1) after significant shortfalls were predicted for 2015.

Zoysiagrass is being grown by 17 (74%) of the surveyed producers, making it the second most popular turfgrass species grown by NC sod producers. Fifty-three percent of these producers rated their in...

ATA Turf Times – Dr. Eve Brantley

Background  

Do you remember the first time you searched a creek for crayfish, swam in a river, skipped stones across a lake, or chased the Gulf waves? Chances are you’ve had a lot of opportunity to explore the more than 132,000 miles of rivers, streams and shorelines in Alabama. As you travel across the state, notice that it’s never very far between seeing a creek, river, or wetland. This network of water resources provides recreation, drinking water, power generation, and industry for the state, while also boasting the most freshwater fish diversity in the country.

With urban and suburban areas increasing, planning, implementation, and maintenance of water friendly practices by turfgrass managers plays an important role in protecting local water quality. Stormwater landscaping may be available on most of your work sites including commercial developments with large parking lots, parks and sports complexes, streetscapes, golf courses, school grounds, residential developments, and more. There is a connection between management of green spaces and water quality.

When you ask people what the number one cause of water pollution is, they likely picture big pipes spilling out dirty water. While this was once the source of most water quality problems, the Clean Water Act provided oversight and rules for what may be discharged into surface waters by industry and municipalities. Water quality has improved, but we still have streams, rivers, lakes and bays that are impacted by polluted stormwater runoff, or nonpoint source pollution. This pollution is the number one cause of degraded waters in the United States.

Pollutants such as oil and gas from streets and parking lots, excess fertilizer from suburban areas, sediment from land disturbing activities, and pet waste wash into storm drains, roadside ditches, and streams with each rainstorm. The health of our local streams, rivers, lakes, and bays is a reflection of how we manage our landscape. What we do in a stream’s watershed is directly linked to the health of that stream. A watershed is the area of land that, when it rains, that water drains to a common water body – nature’s boundary lines.

Turfgrass managers may inexpensively and effectively manage green spaces and the stormwater that moves across and through them protecting healthy waters that we use for safe drinking water supply, fishing and boating opportunities, landscape amenities, and is home to an amazing array of life.

* Get a soil test.

* Apply fertilizers at the proper rate, using the correct application method, and best time to maximize plant uptake and minimize runoff.

* Use water wisely – irrigate only when needed and in the early morning. Check for leaks and nozzle direction. Use mulch to reduce water loss in plant beds. Consider using rainwater harvesting.

* Only rain should enter the storm drain – avoid blowing grass clippings, leaves, excess fertilizers or other materials into storm drains.

* Keep soil covered – limit erosion with temporary and permanent seed or mulch to protect from soil loss.

* Consider implementing practices such as grass swales, rain gardens, and more to slow and clean stormwater.

* Manage a streamside vegetation buffer along streams and ponds to filter stormwater. Pollinator plants may be incorporated for an aesthetically pleasing look that is also ecologically valuable.

 

Don’t Guess – Test!

One of the best ways to protect streams also protects your wallet. Knowing the fertilizer needs for lawns and applying only the required amount means that chemicals (and money) aren’t wasted. One application of excess fertilizer may not be a big deal, but 100 excess fertilizer applications in a watershed can create problems such as harmful algal blooms.

ATA members can help get the word out to homeowners and others about the importance o...

Arkansas Turfgrass – Julie Holt, Content Director, TheTurfZone.com

How many years have you been in this position?

15 years

How did you decide to pursue a career in turfgrass management?

I ran track for the Razorbacks. My first year, I was a chemical engineering major. The spring track season was a nightmare, and I decided to pursue a career in something that actually made me happy versus what people expected. I thumbed through the catalog of studies and found turf management. I loved sports, and wanted to do something sports related, and thought that fit. I met with Dr. Richardson, and the rest is history.

What path led you to your current position?

I started a Master’s program, but realized that I did not want to do academia the rest of my life. While in grad school, I got married and wanted to earn some extra money. So I started the business on the side. That part time job grew into the business we have now.

What is the best part of your job? 

The flexibility I have to spend time with my family. I also love dealing with numbers, budgets, etc.

What are some unique challenges of your job?

Finding good employees and balancing being able to pay them well with profitability. For whatever reason, people tend to not treat people in the service industry very well. So dealing with the public is always a challenge.

What inspired you to become a part of ATA and serve on the ATA board?

I had not been involved with the ATA for several years. When they started giving the awards for site of the year, we were encouraged to apply to support the award. When we won, it provided a reason for me to get back involved with the ATA. The next year, Doug asked me to speak about the award. From that experience, Kyle Sanders and I became friends. We share a similar vision and motivation. He encouraged me to accept a position on the board as we try to help our industry move the right direction.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing the turfgrass industry right now?

Pre-Covid, employment issues were definitely becoming the biggest issues. It was just really hard to find people. Post-Covid, we have no idea what that’s going to look like. Is it going to be easier to find people? Maybe. But it also may be hard to find people that want to work. The other huge issue that poses challenges long term is the “Anti-Roundup” type lawsuits that are happening.

What is one lesson you’ve learned the hard way in your career?

Dealing with the public in customer service will change you. I’ve definitely been hardened over the years. The biggest lesson would be not to allow the job to change you. I would also start planning earlier for capital investments, buildings, vehicles, etc. I learned the hard way about the growing pains of a business that is outgrowing its space quickly.

Do you have a mentor in the industry?

Mike Richardson and Doug Karcher are both mentors. I owe my career to them. John McCalla is not specifically a mentor, but I probably learned more from him than anyone else. John is Dr. Richardson’s research technician. When I worked for Doug, John and I worked together. I had studied the turf industry, but never truly “worked” in it. Working with John, I got a ton of hands on experience with everything imaginable. I don’t see or talk to him that much now, but he definitely helped me a lot during that time.

Tell us about your family and what you do in your free time.

I do a lot of kayak fishing. My wife and I have been married 16 years. We have 2 boys, Hudson and Hayes. We spend a lot of time together as a family. We love hiking, fishing, exploring the Natural State. Prior to the pandemic, we spent a lot of time with people from our church. We lead a Bible study for young married couples.

What would your advice be for people entering the turfgrass industry now?

Tennesse Turfgrass – Julie Holt, Content Director, TheTurfZone.com

What is your title/who do you work for? I am the Golf Course Superintendent at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee, which is owned and operated by McConnell Golf. We are one of 12 Private Clubs owned and operated by McConnell. By joining a McConnell golf property you are not only a member of the home course you join, but also all the McConnell properties. This gives you access to some amazing courses all throughout the Carolinas.

How many years have you been in this position? I have been at Holston Hills for 20 years this summer, which at times is hard for me to believe. Everyone has always told me time goes by faster the older you get, and I am starting to be a believer in this theory.

How did you decide to pursue a career in turfgrass management? I have always enjoyed being in an outside environment and working on things with my hands. At a young age I was introduced to golf by my father who was an avid golfer. I loved to tag along and play golf with my dad and enjoyed being out on the course. As I got older and started looking for my first job, I found myself working on the golf course crew at my hometown course. Every summer, starting in high school until now, I have been working on a golf course. There were times when I thought about other career paths, but I was always drawn back to my love for being out on the course.  You always hear you should do what you love and after a few years at the University of Tennessee I switched to the Turf Program.

What path led you to your current position?  I consider myself very fortunate to be in the position I am in today and meeting the right people along the way is always a big factor in someone’s career development. While in high school I never thought college was right for me. I was happy at the little nine-hole course I was working and really enjoyed the daily job. After a year or so I had a few members and my parents pushing me to think bigger if I really wanted to work on a golf course for a living. One summer I kept asking people, “What is the best golf course in our area?” and “Where can I learn the most?” Everyone told me the Honors Course, so without knowing anyone there or anything about the course, I just drove over one day. Meeting David Stone and working there for a few years was an eye opening experience and the people I got to meet along the way I am still friends with today. In year one the Management team was David Stone, Jeff Huber, Scott Wicker, and Chris Sykes. What a dream team. When I graduated from the University Tennessee I took a position with Chris Sykes who had just taken the Superintendent position at Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville. I learned a lot those years at Cherokee and Sykes really let me be involved in everything going on at the Club. When the opportunity arose at Holston Hills I was fortunate that I was able to stay in Knoxville and get my first head Superintendent position.

What is the best part of your job? To me the best part of the job is having the flexibility to do so many different jobs throughout the day. I did not want to become a Golf Course Superintendent due to my love of spreadsheets or committee meetings. I have always enjoyed being out mowing greens in the mornings and seeing the sunrise. Today I have the flexibility to do so many jobs that every day is a brand new day.

How many employees are part of your team? In a normal year we budget for around 12 full time employees with another 6 or so people in the summer months. This year we have really reduced our team numbers as we continue to work through the COVID-19 situation. We have had to get very creative with staff scheduling as everyone is really working hard to maintain our normal standards through these difficult times. A strong team is the key to a well-maintained course and I am grateful for the guys here on staff and all they do on a daily ...

ATA Turf Times – Julie Holt, Content Director, TheTurfZone.com

Joe worked in a retail plant nursery and garden center while in high school, and then at a golf course during the summers. Based on his enjoyment of those jobs, he decided to pursue a horticulture degree at Clemson. While at Clemson, Joe said, “My love of sports led me to golf course maintenance internships and an eventual Assistant Superintendent position upon graduation.”

Collin’s career was nurtured during college by his advisor Andy Weber, and afterwards by some well-known names in our industry. He was fortunate to serve in golf maintenance internships under high profile names such as William Shirley at Rivermont Country Club and Ken Mangum at Atlanta Athletic Club. Philip Hindman with Harrell’s and Tim Sullivan at the University of Alabama Birmingham also helped Joe negotiate his career. “There are some great people out there that are willing to help and offer advice. I have been fortunate to be associated with some high-quality people in our industry that have also been consummate professionals.”

Joe decided to take a leap into sports turf maintenance when he heard about a position at Samford University in Birmingham. “I ran into a representative of a large grounds maintenance company at a conference. They were searching for someone to cover the athletic field portion of a new contract. It turned out that the post was at Samford. I interviewed for the job and was hired in 1995. My role has evolved over the years to my current position of Landscape and Sports Turf Manager.”

One experience that molded Joe in his quest for excellence in his career, was oddly, not a positive one. Someone in a prominent position in sports turf was very dismissive of Joe. “That situation taught me how not to act!  It has been a recurrent theme of mine, ever since, to treat others as I would want to be treated.”

Through his work at Samford, Joe has met a lot of great people and is pleased to work at an institution that has high values and purpose. He says, “The luxury of working outside preparing spaces for events that are of high importance to our athletes, constituents, and alumni is very rewarding.” Despite the challenge of report writing and time spent in meetings, along with ever-present budget constraints due to constant demand for facility use, Joe is confident that, “I chose well for my career.”

One thing that sustains Joe is his love of family. Joe’s wife of 25 years is Jennifer, who is the accounting manager at a large travel management firm. Their oldest daughter is Ella (19), a nursing student at Samford. Their youngest daughter is Carys (15) who is a sophomore at Spain Park High School. In ten years’ time Joe hopes to be “looking back fondly on both of my daughter’s graduation ceremonies. I would love to be in a position where all I have to worry about is mowing a straight line!”

For relaxation, Joe still finds time to play league softball with a few good friends, which he has done for years. “My goal is to keep playing until I can’t play anymore…whenever that is… who knows. I love watching my Clemson Tigers play any and all sports. Go Tigers!”

Joe is a long-time member of the Sports Turf Managers Association where he is certified. He is also certified by the Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association. He was voted Samford University Facilities Employee of the Year in 2018 and has participated in at least 15 conference championships teams in various sports.

The ATA is honored to have Joe as our incoming President in 2021. He says, “It is truly an honor and my privilege to serve on the ATA Board alongside so many great people who genuinely care for the future of our profession. This industry has given a lot to me and afforded many moments of great professional satisfaction. I appreciate the opportunity to give a little back amongst the fellowship of my peers, whom I respect immensely.”

ATA Turf News – Alabama Turfgrass Association

It is with regret that we notify you that our 2020 Deep South Turf Expo, originally scheduled for November 4-5, 2020, at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center has been cancelled. After careful consideration, our Board of Directors made this decision since we cannot guarantee the positive and rewarding experience that our attendees and exhibitors have come to enjoy each year in Biloxi. A successful Conference and Trade Show relies on in-person networking, face-to-face business meetings and hands-on instruction that will simply not be possible, given the continued social distancing measures that we anticipate will still be in place throughout the remainder of this year. With so much uncertainty, the board feels it prudent to forgo our education program and trade show and focus on making the 2021 Deep South Turf Expo the best ever!

Tournament

Rather than completely miss an opportunity to have our group come together this year, the DSTE is going to host DSTE 2020 Reinvented: Tournament, Trade Show and Tailgate! Tournament will be hosted by The Preserve Golf Course on Monday, October 26th. This will allow us ample space to socially distance and gather, while keeping the spirit of the DSTE alive for next year. October will be a great time to play this Certified Silver Audubon International Signature Sanctuary Golf Course. One of the only 21 golf courses in the world to receive this prestigious designation, the Preserve is committed to helping preserve the natural environment, while maintaining pristine playing conditions. Judging from the popularity of past DSTE Tournaments at this course they have succeeded! Many thanks to Jeremy Stevens and Stephen Miles, CGCS for hosting the tournament, and their dedication to the Deep South Turf Expo since its inception!

Trade Show

In addition to the golf tournament we are offering opportunities for our vendors to showcase their products during the tournament by displaying on a hole during the golf tournament. Players and attendees (aka customers) will come by on their golf carts, or people carriers, and visit with you. Registration includes exhibit location and entrance to the tailgate celebration. Since we will have limited space, we suggest you register ASAP.

Tailgate

The Tailgate Picnic, which was so popular last year, is being reprised. Whether you golf or not, we encourage everyone to come by for the Tailgate, sample some great food, listen to some great music, and gather with their peers. Please SAVE THE DATE! There will be rooms available at the Beau Rivage for special rates on Sunday and Monday nights.

While it is of primary importance to the Deep South Turf Expo mission to offer an outstanding education conference each year, there were many factors that determined that we would be unable to host the wonderful program that had been planned. Even a scaled-down live version of this conference would be difficult. Our host hotel, the Beau Rivage, has been mandated to reduce occupancy and many universities have eliminated travel of their faculty during this time. In addition, many of our exhibitors have had travel budgets frozen and could not confirm that they would be able to exhibit until this fall. Our committee is still working on making some offerings that would enable our attendees to get points on a digital platform. As soon as confirmation can be made, we will promote and share this information.

The Deep South Turf Expo Board and staff wish you and your family a safe summer. Whether you play in the golf tournament or not, we hope you will come to the tournament and tailgate. We miss you all and would love to see you there!

Virginia Turfgrass Journal – Julie Holt, Content Director, TheTurfZone.com

Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Policy at the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center at George Mason University and Partner at MowCow Lawn and Landscape.

If you paid too much attention to the prevailing attitudes toward lawns and lawn maintenance, you might assume that environmentalism is at odds with the interests of turfgrass industry. But one conversation with Cindy Smith may help you realize that the two actually go hand-in-hand.

Cindy Smith’s penchant for nature and living things began early. She recounts her early memories of observing insects. “When I was little, I got in a lot of trouble and my mom would send me to sit on the front stoop with my peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich. I’d watch the red and black ants on either side of the sidewalk crack and put bits of my sandwich down to create an ant war.” Her early fascination with observing plants, insects and wildlife has evolved into a gift for nature photography. “You can learn anywhere, just open your eyes!”

That keen eye for beauty and purpose in nature has grown into a thriving career and a great impact in the Virginia green industry.

As a professional who is invested in both education (as a professor at GMU) and in the lawncare industry (as a partner at MowCow), Cindy has a unique perspective on how anyone can contribute to healthy, thriving ecosystems. From MowCow’s organic-based approach to inviting her students to more carefully observe their surroundings, Cindy is focused on public education and shifting perception about how we interact with our environment.

In the lawncare sphere, defining terms is a simple but impactful tool that helps Cindy manage expectations and provide a better understanding of plants and their care. “So many homeowners want ‘chemical free’ lawns. Well, even the ‘natural’ products are chemicals. What they usually mean is lower input. And making that distinction is important,” Cindy says. “Others will tell me they want to add native landscapes. Ok, that means increased maintenance – are you okay with that? Or they want a pollinator patch, but no bees.”

Initiating this conversation with homeowners is key to beginning the long trek to public awareness of best practices in lawn and landscape maintenance and the net benefit when it’s done right. When it comes to her students at George Mason University, sometimes the lesson is as simple as “Touch, See, Do.” Asking students to challenge their expectations and investigate their environment in a hands-on setting provides an authentic learning experience. One basic exercise that is always eye-opening for students sets the tone for Cindy’s classes: “I have students walk around campus with infrared temperature sensors and measure the temperatures of the pond, turfgrass surfaces, pavers, wood chips, forested areas, asphalt. Before the exercise, they all guess that asphalt is the warmest. It’s actually shredded brown mulch. Turfgrass is the coolest.” It is this simple exercise that begins the process of changing perception.

Beyond the university classroom and homeowner education, Cindy is invested in the restoration and preservation of the Chesapeake Bay. “What I do with my colleagues at George Mason, is part of the time I’m based at Potomac Science Center,” Cindy says. “My colleagues and I look at probably anything you can imagine, from the sediment on up to the surface, dealing with the Potomac River water quality. We monitor a couple places, one of them in Dunstan Cove, we’ve been monitoring for almost 37 years, downstream from the NoVa Water Treatment Plant. So we’ve got the longest running story of Chesapeake Bay recovery from way back when, in the 80s, it was nasty, soupy green water from Washington D.C. down to Quantico.”

Cindy’s involvement in each of these aspects of environmentalism are a great foundation for turfgrass p...