The 2023 UMass Turf Research Field Day

Join us in-person at our biennial UMass Turf Research Field Day.  Field Day is a festive open house at the UMass Joseph Troll Turf Research Center where you can hear about and see research projects in the field, get down to business at the on-site trade show, network with colleagues, and enjoy continental breakfast and a hearty cookout lunch.

For more background information, visit our Research Field Day page.

Agenda:

6:15-8:15 - Exhibitor Check-In & Set-Up

8:15-9:15 - Attendee Check-In - Continental Breakfast - Trade Show and Networking - Equipment Demonstrations

9:15-9:30 - Welcoming Remarks

9:30 - Featured Research Presentation Tour, including (note that speakers and/or topics may be subject to change):

• Glufosinate as a Glyphosate Alternative for Turf Renovation - Randall Prostak, M.S, Extension Specialist, Weed Management
  Interest in non-selective herbicide alternatives to glyphosate has increased in recent years among turf practitioners and the public.  This presentation will cover the use of glufosinate for turf renovation, and will include discussion of timing, rates, and other tips and best practices.
• Effect of Urea on the Reduction of Dollar Spot Inoculum - Dr. Geunhwa Jung, Professor, Turf Pathology
  Nitrogen has been known for a long time to reduce dollar spot severity and yet mechanisms of the control effect of nitrogen are not understood.  This presentation will focus on a recently initiated long-term research project on the effect/mechanisms of nitrogen on dollar spot by the UMass Turf Pathology Lab.
• Pesky Pythium: Biology and Management - Dr. Angela Madeiras, Educator and Diagnostician, UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab
  Pythium diseases are a perennial problem for turf managers.  This talk will review the different diseases caused by Pythium species, the biology of the organism, and both cultural and chemical management tactics.
• Selecting Bentgrasses for Fairway Water Conservation - Dr. Michelle DaCosta, Professor, Turf Physiology
  Fairways make up the largest managed acreage on most golf courses, and therefore offer significant opportunity for water conservation.  This talk will cover agronomic strategies for fairway water conservation, with emphasis on creeping bentgrass cultivar selection.
• Winter in July: Turfgrass Selection for Better Winter Survival - Dr. Masoud Arghavani, Visiting Scientist, DaCosta Lab
  As grasses are exposed to warmer winters and changes in winter precipitation patterns, re-evaluation of grass species and management practices is needed to improve winter survival. This presentation will focus on the latest research on turfgrass selection and physiology work for reducing winter injury potential and improving spring recovery.
• Synergistic Effects of Fungicide Combinations for Dollar Spot Control - Xiaojing Shi and Soonhong Min, Graduate Students, Jung Lab
  Dollar spot has already developed resistance in most of the major fungicide classes and registration of new fungicides has been slow, therefore looking into efficacious and practical mixtures of existing fungicides is critical at this time.  This report will detail ongoing investigation of synergistic combinations among DMI active ingredients, and also between QoI and SDHI fungicides, for the control of dollar spot.
• Turfgrass Selection the Easy Way: A New Tool for Using NTEP Data – Dr. Scott Ebdon, Professor Emeritus, Turf Agronomy
  Selection decisions are among the most important that turf managers make.  Interpreting and sorting National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) data, however, has traditionally been a daunting and time-consuming task.  This presentation will introduce the new Turfgrass Trial Explorer online tool, and outline best practices for effective use.
• The Billbug Complex in New England: Management & Phenology - Dr. Olga Kostromytska, Extension Assistant Professor, Turf Entomology
  Billbugs are uniquely challenging to manage.  Because early stages occur within the plant, this makes them unreachable by many available management tools and means that symptoms don’t often appear until it is too late for intervention.  This talk will focus on recent observations on the biology and phenology of billbugs in New England, and how these translate into novel management approaches.
• Pairing Pollinator Habitats and Turf Areas: Can They Co-Exist? - Jason Lanier, M.S, Extension Specialist and Team Leader, Turf Management
  Recent movements such as “No Mow May” promote an all or nothing approach to creating pollinator habitat, which can result in both pollinator considerations and expectations for turf function being underserved.  Approaches for balancing the desire to support pollinator populations and the interest in maintaining turf areas that convey important functional benefits will be highlighted.
• Irrigation System Uniformity, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting - James Poro, M.S., Superintendent, Joseph Troll Turf Research Center
  Water is perhaps our most critical natural resource, and sufficient moisture from natural and/or supplemental sources is necessary for turf establishment, development, and maintenance.  This demonstration will focus on maximizing plant water availability while also enabling conservation by way of elimination of excess, loss, and waste through the lens of the irrigation system.

12:00 - Educational Program Wrap-Up - Pesticide and Professional Credits Awarded

12:15 - Festive Cookout Lunch - Trade Show and Networking

2023 UMass Turf Research Field Day packet

Pesticide Credits:

2 pesticide contact hours in Massachusetts categories 000 (Commercial Applicator), 37 (Turf) and 49 (Demonstration & Research), valid for equivalent categories in all New England states, have been approved for this event.

Professional Credits:

• 1 credit for the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals MCLP certification.
• 1 credit for the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association MCH cerftification.
• 0.25 Education Points for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America CGCS certification.
• 0.2 CEUs for the Sports Field Managers Association CSFM certification.

AOLCP professional certification credits have been requested.

Contact:

Jason Lanier at (413) 545-2965; jdl@umass.edu or Ellen Weeks at weeks@umass.edu