Alabama Turf Times - Spring 2014 by leadingedgepubs

Spring 2014 Fungicides: What they do (and Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Do)

Understanding

Product Labels

Plus, ATA Member Spotlight

Andy Cook,

Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation

Experiences from the 2013

U.S. Mid-Amateur

Championship

at the Country Club of Birmingham

Spring 2014

Top Features Upcoming Event — 8 Mole Cricket Classic

Fishing Tournament, September 21–22, 2014

ATA Member Spotlight — 10 Andy Cook,

Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation

Cover Story — 12 Experiences from the 2013

U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at the Country Club of Birmingham

Turf Talk — Fungicides:

What They Do (and Don’t Do)

Turf Basics — Understanding

Product Labels

Business Matters — Five Warning Signs

that Your Employees May Lack a Vital Sense of Belonging Recent Events —

28 ATA RoadShow Seminars

Departments

6 6 7 30 30

From the President’s Pen ATA Annual Sponsors Welcome, New ATA Members! Calendar of Events Advertiser Index

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On the cover: The Country Club of Birmingham. Photo courtesy of ©Russellkirk/ Golflinksphotography.com.

www.AlaTurfgrass.org 4

The Alabama Turfgrass Association 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, Alabama Turf Times, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Alabama Turfgrass Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright ©2014 by the Alabama Turfgrass Association. Alabama Turf Times is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Alabama Turfgrass Association. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. 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 insertion please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com

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From the President’s Pen >>>

Great Things

Happening

with Your Association! John Carter

2014 ATA Annual Sponsors Gold •B ayer Environmental Science • Beard Equipment Company • Greenville Turf & Tractor • Golf Ventures, Inc. • Harrell’s, Inc. • Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation

Silver •A AT — Direct Solutions • Ewing • John Deere Landscapes • Syngenta T & O Products

appy spring! It feels great to say that… it has been a LONG winter. Due to our harsh weather, the Alabama Turfgrass Association actually had to reschedule two Road Show Seminars; that was a first in ATA history! We appreciate our members’ and sponsors’ support of these seminars and the patience of the attendees while we made arrangements to reschedule. All in all, we had five great seminars across the state. Be sure to read about them in this magazine (see page 28), and support the sponsors of these educational offerings. As I write this, we are eagerly anticipating our deep-sea fishing tournament, the Mole Cricket Classic, slated for September 21–22 in Orange Beach. We are incorporating some new features this year, including a dinner the evening before the tournament that will serve as our official registration and tournament check-in. It will be a great opportunity to network and socialize before we take to the wide-open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Come join the fun in this fundraiser for the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation. As many of our members may have heard, the Alabama Turfgrass Association, along with other state and local associations within the turfgrass industry, are planning a regional conference and tradeshow. The goal is to have the event in the fall of 2015 with an industry tradeshow, educational sessions and official “business meetings” for all organizations involved. With combined resources and the support of our suppliers, we feel that a regional show could offer premium educational opportunities and regional networking. At this time, there is minimum information we can report, but rest assured that we are working behind the scenes on this endeavor to make it a success (surveys, site visits, committee meetings, etc.). Look for more details on this event soon! Enjoy this wonderful spring weather! I’ll see you in Orange Beach at the Mole Cricket Classic!

John Carter 2014 ATA President, Carter Landscaping & Sod Farm

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Bronze • • • • • • • •

AGRI-AFC, LLC Agromax Aquatrols BASF Humphries Turf Supply PBI/Gordon Southern States Turf Sur-Line Turf

Alabama Turf Times is the official publication of the: Alabama Turfgrass Association P.O. Box 70 Auburn, Alabama 36831 Tel: (334) 821-3000 Fax: (334) 821-3800 Email: mailbox@alaturfgrass.org www.alaturfgrass.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 Tel: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com Executive Director Tricia Roberts Alabama Turf Times Editor James Horton Birmingham Botanical Gardens

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President John Carter Carter Sod Farm

Vice President Jeremy Sutton

Montgomery Country Club

Treasurer Jason Cooper

Richter Landscape Co.

Past President Glenn Hedden Town of Loxley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS At–Large Kim Byram University of Alabama

Richard Brackin

Lawrence County Sod Farm

Mark Langer

welcome new members >>>

Welcome,

New ATA Members! Greg Andrews SpringHill College Mobile, AL Mindy Bowen Sodexo-AUM Montgomery, AL Tommy Burns Selma Country Club Selma, AL Gary Bush, CGCS Ballantrae Golf Course Pelham, AL Greg Davis Fairway Lawns Alabaster, AL Dora Easterwood Sodexo-AUM Montgomery, AL Arnold Frantz Saugahatchee Country Club Opelika, AL

FarmLinks Golf Club

Golf Cole McInnis

Willow Point Country Club

Industry Chad Lambert Sur-Line Turf

Institution Paul Patterson

Barry Gladstone Steven’s Wack-N-Sack, Inc. Maylene, AL

Jonathan Gruber Sunbelt Golf - RTJ Trail – Hampton Gove Golf Course Owens Cross Roads, AL Jonathan Holland Precision Turf Buford, GA

Jerry Schuman Pennington Seed Cullman, AL Chad Scott Country Club of Brewton Brewton, AL

Bobby Knight The Country Club of Birmingham Birmingham, AL

Brett Shinick Emerald Green Landscapes, LLC Columbiana, AL

Mike Lawrence Southern Pride Lawn Care Theodore, AL

Morton Shlossman Ameri-Scapes, Inc. Norcross, GA

Phillip Lowe The Master’s Classic Touch Springville, AL Paul Merchant City of Fairhope Fairhope, AL James Phillips Phillips Lawn Service, Inc. Chancellor, AL Mike Randall BWI Companies Mobile, AL

Doris Slater Dogwood Hills Golf Flat Rock, AL Michael Swicord Sodexo-AUM Montgomery, AL Larry Underwood The Links at Redstone Redstone, AL Larry VanEmelen Really Innovations, LLC Austell, GA

University of Alabama Huntsville

Lawncare Tom Luchner Turf Tenders

Parks & Recreation Mark Irwin Sod Tres’ Wilkinson South Dallas Turf

EX OFFICIO/ EDUCATION ADVISORS Dave Han, Ph.D. Auburn University

Jim Jacobi, Ph.D.

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

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City of Foley

Southern Specialty equipment, inc.

Upcoming Event >>>

We’re Going AGAIN... Come join the fun!

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Sept. 21–22 in Orange Beach

By Tricia Roberts, ATA Executive Director

The

Mole Cricket Classic Fishing Tournament was a huge success last year, so we are bringing it back with more fun for everyone! We are having a dinner the evening before the tournament that will serve as the official registration. This will give everyone an opportunity to socialize, plan strategies for the tournament and enter the optional Calcutta winnings. Mark your calendar for Sunday evening for the dinner, September 21, and for the tournament on Monday, September 22. Thanks to the generosity of the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club, we will use their clubhouse, located at the Orange Beach Marina, for our dinner and weigh-in. We will use six-pack boats this year; however, if your group needs a bigger boat, we will be glad to accommodate you. Participants can bring your own group or register individually. Remember, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation, so bring your friends, family, colleagues… everyone is welcome to participate! Registration will be $275 per person and will include your eight-hour boat charter, tournament fees, dinner and tournament prizes. If you wish to charter your own boat, each participant will need to pay $50 for tournament fees. Participants are responsible for their own food and refreshments during the tournament and the deckhand’s tip. All registrations must be paid in advance by September 12! Sponsorships are available to help offset the cost of the dinner. Thank you to our generous sponsors thus far: Agri-AFC, LLC, Beard Equipment Company, Harrell’s, Inc., Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation and Syngenta. Make your plans now to come down to Orange Beach, September 21–22. Since we are hosting this event at the beginning of the week, we encourage you to take advantage of the beautiful Alabama beaches and enjoy a long weekend. Thank you in advance for supporting the Mole Cricket Classic Fishing Tournament! v

Member Spotlight >>>

ATA Member Spotlight on

Andy Cook, Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation By Tricia Roberts, ATA Executive Director

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ndy Cook is no stranger to our association; he has been a member of ATA for 17 years, starting when he worked at Tieco, setting up equipment with another industry friend, Jim Phillips. As Andy is an avid golfer, this industry was a perfect fit for him. Andy was soon given a sales territory at Tieco that eventually led to his current position with Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation as a Director of Sales Commercial, Industrial & Grounds for Central Division. Although originally from Spring, Texas, Andy has called Alabama home for some time now. His parents, Dave and Nancy Cook, are in Houston, and his sister, Candice Irvin, is in Dallas. His family has been a great influence on him, especially his father. A retired businessman, Andy’s father is currently teaching a class at the University of Houston on mentoring. Andy likes to think he was his father’s first student. Reflecting on his father, Andy states, “He has always been my guide and sounding board, and he is responsible for each and every success I have accomplished. He never guided me wrong.” What a great tribute to his father! We are sure that Andy will be the same mentor to his two boys, Jack and Drew. Andy and his beautiful wife, Amy, stay busy chasing these two adorable boys with the help of their furry, four-legged vacuum cleaner/ dog, Bailey, around their home in Birmingham. Hanging out with his family has taken precedence over golf lately. And like most Alabamians and Texans, Andy

enjoys college football, grilling and cooking food and just about anything outdoors. Andy has a very serving heart: he is currently serving on the Walter L. Moore Scholarship and The Dub Perry Memorial Scholarship for his local golf club; he served on the board of the Alabama Golf Course Superintendents Association for nine years; and he volunteers and supports The Children’s Hospital, Exceptional Foundation, The Regions Tradition Golf Tournament and First Tee of Alabama. He is also an active member in the Sales and Marketing Association (where he has a designation of a Certified Sales Executive), several golf course superintendents associations throughout the Southeast, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, United States Golf Association, Sports Turf Managers of America and, of course, the Alabama Turfgrass Association. We are honored to have Andy as a member of our organization. He has supported our organization, shared his advice and partnered with us throughout his career. His company, Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation, is an annual Gold Sponsor and supports each and every event ATA hosts. Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation is based out of Pensacola, FL; however, the company just celebrated the grand opening of its new branch in downtown Birmingham early this year. Andy, thank you for your support of our association, and congratulations on your new facility. v

Top Left: The front of the newly opened Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation building in downtown Birmingham. Top Right: Andy Cook with his wife, Amy, and sons, Jack and Drew. 10

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Cover Story >>>

Experiences from the

R 2013 U.S.

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Mid-Amateur Championship

By Lee McLemore, CGCS, Director of Golf Course Operations, Country Club of Birmingham Photos by Art Meripole

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ometimes you need a little help from your friends. That was exactly our case in October 2013 when the Country Club of Birmingham hosted the 33rd U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. This championship brings in 264 of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best amateur golfers who are 25 years old and older. With a field this large and a tournament lasting eight days, we needed all the help we could get! The biggest challenge of this championship occurred in the first four days. These consisted of two days of practice rounds, followed by two days of qualifying rounds on both the East and West courses. Trying to get two golf courses ready by 7:00 a.m. in October, when there is very little morning daylight, was a major challenge. However, thanks to many of our friends who volunteered their time and energy, we were able to pull it off. Our club had been in discussion with the USGA to host the U.S. Mid-Am Championship in 2015. However, due to a course in North Carolina that could no longer meet its obligation due to a transfer of ownership, the USGA asked us if we could move up to host the event in 2013. Since this request came in spring 2012, we had to hit the ground running in our preparation since we only had eighteen months, not the normal four years. To host a championship of this magnitude required a lot of resources from outside. We did not have the equipment or manpower to have two golf courses in USGA championship condition at daybreak. This took lots of planning. Tim Kocks, our West Course superintendent, and Bobby Knight, our East Course superintendent, had to plan anticipated morning and evening jobs well in advance to gauge just what resources would be needed. To help determine our needs, we staged a practice round for our crew

Cover Story >>> Continued

exactly one year in advance, in October 2012. This would give our crew and staff an idea of what to expect. Starting at 4:30 a.m. meant that we would be working for two hours in the dark. We had rented a few light towers, with the intention of using one per nine for additional light. We quickly realized that it is very disorienting on the golf course when it is that dark, and we would need three light towers per course to be able to work safely. Also, each employee would need some type of small flashlight. During our planning, we determined that it would require 85 people to get everything done in the morning to meet the USGAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desired conditions. Therefore, we began to notify our former staff and local golf courses for helpâ&#x20AC;Ś and the response was tremendous. During the championship, help came from FarmLinks, Shoal Creek,

Continued <<< Cover Story

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Vestavia C.C., Greystone G.C., Mt. Brook Club, Hoover C.C., Inverness, Valley Hill, The Preserve G.C., Azalea City of Mobile, TPC Sawgrass, Legends Club of TN, Saucon Valley C.C. of Pennsylvania, Auburn, Mississippi State, Florida Gateway College and Texas Tech. Also volunteering on the course were personnel from Greenville Turf and Tractor, Jerry Pate Turf and Irrigation, Harrellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Regal Chemical, Agrium Advanced Technologies, Agrium Direct Solutions, Stribling Equipment and John Deere Landscapes. We even had moral support from our lovely AGCSA and ATA executive directors! Once we had our people issue figured out, we had to plan for our equipment needs. We are fortunate in our area to have great equipment distributors. Greenville Turf and Equipment brought in 38 pieces of equipment. Jerry Pate Turf brought in 17 pieces of equipment. Danny Rohling, our equipment manager, along with extra technicians from Greenville Turf and neighboring golf courses, were able to keep everything rolling smoothly. We could not have done it without their support. Anyone who has been to our golf operations facility knows that we are in a tight, land-locked location. During big tournaments that require lots of volunteers, most courses will bring in large tents as temporary headquarters and to serve food. On our site, there was no place to put a tent; however, we were able to turn one of our equipment bays into our temporary facility. To make this area people friendly, we enclosed the two overhead door areas and installed a glass door. Pipe and drape were used to define the area inside and to allow for some insulation. A large, portable air conditioning unit was rented, along with extra tables and chairs for ninety people. Water, coffee makers, coolers, food warmers, an ice cream chest and two televisions helped create a great people area. Our administrative assistant, Vicky Menendez, and her daughter, Kristina, kept all the tables stocked with snacks and drinks. Also, our club staff prepared two fantastic meals per day, and no one left hungry. Tom Wait has experienced over fifty major championships. Tom is a great friend who came in to help put the

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Cover Story >>> Continued

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final touches on our people area by hanging the banners from the companies that donated money to help pay for our food and drinks. He also made sure that our volunteers had all of their needs met. Each morning on the course, USGA agronomists Chris Hartwiger and Todd Lowe would test every green for speed and firmness. A meeting was held at 2:00 p.m. each day with Chris, Todd, Bill McCarthy of the USGA and our superintendents. During this meeting, we discussed the condition of the course and where it needed to be, as far as greens speed and firmness. Based on the data, we could then plan the number of evening and morning mows and rolls to reach our goals. We were blessed with great weather, and we were able to take the greens to a number we have never seen on the TDR 300 moisture meters. We found out just how tough bentgrass can be, and the greens bounced back in just a few days after the championship. Communication with our members was important leading up to the championship. The USGA came in a year in advance and gave us their desired changes to fairway landing areas and rough height. Since our course normally has rough no higher than 1.5â&#x20AC;?, 2.5â&#x20AC;? was a big change. We frequently reminded our members about these changes, and many were excited to play the courses under the tougher conditions. The Championship finally ended eight days after it started when Mike McCoy of Iowa defeated Bill Williamson of Ohio 8 to 6 during the 36-hole final. Mike played outstandingly and earned a spot in the 2014 Masters with his victory. Our club was honored to host this prestigious championship, and the excitement it created for our members and the community will be felt for some time. A big thank you goes out to our assistants, Rob Boaz, Justin Lowery, Tyler Applegate and Tyler Hefner for their efforts. Jeff Rainwater, our landscape superintendent, had to serve in many areas leading up to the championship. And finally, our interns, Lane Sims from Auburn and Dustin Miller from Mississippi State, did an awesome job and gained some experience that will last a lifetime. v

Turf Tips >>>

Fungicides:

What They Do (and Don’t Do) By Dave Han, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Dept. of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University

our turf has a disease! What do you do? Reach for a fungicide? What kind? And what’s the best way to use it? What exactly do fungicides do? How can you maximize your chance of getting a good result from a fungicide? In this article we will go over some basics of fungicides, how they are used and tips for maximizing their effectiveness. Fungicides are classified in several ways: when they are used, how they move (or don’t move) inside a plant, their chemical structure and their mode of action (how they kill a fungus, or prevent it from growing).

Time of use

Fungicides can be used both preventively, before any disease symptoms are present, and curatively, after disease occurs. This distinction is important because some fungicides are much better suited for one of these uses than others. For example, fungicides that work by activating a plant’s natural defense responses to infection must be used preventively. By the time a disease is ravaging a plant, its defenses are already being overcome. Although a fungicide application made after disease symptoms appear is called curative, it’s important to remember that fungicides don’t actually bring dead plants back to life. If a lawn or field is suffering from a disease, a curative fungicide application can stop the dead patches from getting bigger. But for the turf to recover takes either good growing conditions for the grass to fill back in, if it can spread vegetatively, or to re-establish via new seed, if it can’t spread vegetatively. This is why turf managers should be much more aggressive about treating (and preventing!) diseases at the end of the growing season: it is harder to repair damage at that time than during good growing weather.

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Movement in a plant

Some fungicides are able to be absorbed into plant tissue and moved in a plant’s vascular system, while others are not. In general, fungicides that do not move inside a plant are called contact fungicides. These fungicides work by coating the leaf with a protective fungicide barrier that will prevent any spore or piece of fungal mycelium that lands on a leaf from growing and being able to infect the plant. Since contact fungicides protect only the plant parts that are sprayed, they are useless for treating root diseases

like spring dead spot, summer patch, Pythium root rot or anything else that infects below ground. Because the contact fungicides work outside the plant, they must coat the entire leaf on both sides. Getting even spray coverage can be tricky in turfgrass, which has many small leaves that overlap each other. This is why fungicide labels specify using large volumes of water, often as much as 5 gallons per 1,000 square feet (over 217 gallons per acre)! This is much more water than is used for spraying herbicides, but it is needed to ensure there is enough fungicide solution to cover every leaf thoroughly. One problem that turf managers often have is they have only one sprayer, and setting it up for both herbicide and fungicide applications can be time consuming. The time it takes to refill a sprayer tank also must be taken into consideration when deciding on spray volumes for fungicide applications over large areas, like multiple-field sports complexes, but the large volumes are on the label for a reason. Nozzle design also can have a large impact on the effectiveness of fungicide applications. In general, nozzles that produce many smaller droplets or droplets that are designed to shatter into many tiny droplets on impact (flat fan or air-inductiontype nozzles) give better results than raindrop-type nozzles designed to produce fewer, large droplets. However, smaller droplets also drift much more easily. Air-induction nozzles may offer the best combination of reduced drift and good coverage. Some fungicides can be absorbed into a leaf and diffuse around different parts of a single leaf, but they do not enter a plant’s vascular system and so cannot be transported from leaf to leaf. These are called local penetrant (sometimes also “locally systemic” or “translaminar”) fungicides. Local penetrants, by entering a leaf and diffusing through it, reduce the need for absolutely perfect spray coverage, although they are not able to move down from a plant’s leaves to the roots and so are, like the true contact fungicides, not effective against root diseases. With both true contacts and local penetrants, the recommended re-application intervals are relatively short, on the order of five days to two weeks, depending on the individual product and disease pressure. New grass leaves that formed since the last application are not protected, and the fungicide coating can be susceptible to being washed off the leaves or degraded by sunlight. The tradeoff for

Above: Dead patches of ryegrass on an overseeded baseball field. These patches will remain unsightly until the bermudagrass greens up and spreads over them. â&#x20AC;˘ Below: Spring dead spot in a bermudagrass football field.

Al abam a T ur f Ti me s > >> Spri ng 2014

Turf Tips >>> continued

a relatively short window of protection is that contact fungicides usually are the cheapest. A fungicide that is able to move throughout an entire plant is called systemic. Systemic fungicides are generally very useful in preventive applications because they are able to be absorbed by and remain present in a plant for several weeks. Re-application intervals for these types of fungicides are generally in the two- to four-week range. However, most systemic fungicides can only move upwards in a plant. If they are absorbed by the roots, they will be moved to leaves, and they will move from lower leaves to newer leaves, but they will not move from leaves down to roots. The only exceptions to this rule are the phosphite fungicides. Because systemic fungicides are actively taken up by plants, they can be effective against root diseases — provided that there are actually roots there to absorb the fungicide! The problem with root diseases is that aboveground symptoms often don’t appear until the root system is almost totally destroyed. In some cases, such as spring dead spot, symptoms don’t appear until months after the initial infection. In almost every case, it is much, much better to use a preventive application than a curative application to fight root diseases. It is very difficult to predict where a root disease will occur without complete and accurate records. With most root diseases, the fungus stays in the soil year after year, and disease occurs in the same areas over and over again when the weather is favorable for the fungus. So, keeping good records of a disease occurrence will allow the proper preventive applications to be made before the next outbreak. When making fungicide applications to prevent a root disease, remember that the fungicide must move down through the canopy, through the thatch and into the soil before a root can absorb it. Many times, a preventive fungicide application will fail because it wasn’t sprayed using enough water to wash it through the canopy (or it wasn’t irrigated after application) or because the fungicide became bound to organic matter in an excessively thick thatch layer. Again, following label directions for spray volume and irrigation and managing the thatch layer are critical factors in using fungicides successfully against root diseases. Even then, sometimes root diseases defy fungicides. Anyone who has ever fought a fairy ring knows how difficult it is to control with a fungicide. The hydrophobic soil that fairy rings produce does not allow for good fungicide penetration. New formulations, wetting agents, aggressive aerification and the like can help, but sometimes very little seems to work.

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Mode of action and fungicide resistance

Mode of action refers to the specific biochemical processes in a fungus that a fungicide interferes with in order to kill it, or at least stop it from growing. Many different modes of action are available in the fungicides labeled for use on turfgrass: some fungicides interrupt a fungus’ cell division; some interfere with cell wall or cell membrane synthesis; some disrupt a fungus’ ability to make DNA, RNA or proteins; some stop energy production; and some have more than one mode of action. One mode of action relatively new to the turfgrass market is the activation of plant-defense responses. Chemicals that

do this are not toxic to fungi, but they “fool” plants into activating their array of physical and biochemical responses to infection before they are exposed to a fungus. This, in turn, boosts the plant’s ability to resist infection and reduces disease incidence and severity. As noted above, however, this works only if the defense-response activator is applied before any infection takes place. This type of fungicide does not work as a curative application. While many different modes of action are available, many of the most popular fungicide products for turf contain ingredients with the same mode of action. This brings up the potential problem of fungicide resistance. Fungi are highly diverse, and repeatedly spraying the same mode of action selects for any resistant individuals that happen to be present in a given population. If they are, then they multiply, while susceptible ones are killed. Soon, the majority of the fungal population is resistant, and the fungicide stops working to prevent disease. Modern fungicides tend to have very specific sites of action in fungi. For example, many target just one enzyme in a fungus, binding to it and making it no longer able to function. This is good, since it means that the fungicides are very specific and less likely to cause harm to non-target organisms. But it is also bad from a resistance standpoint because it means that all that has to happen for a fungus to become resistant is a small change in that one enzyme such that the fungicide can no longer inactivate it. This happens in nature, and often just one or two mutations are enough to make a fungus resistant. Because of the potential for many turfgrass diseases to become resistant to fungicides, managers have been advised for years to rotate modes of action or to tank-mix more than one mode of action at a time in a given application. The international Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC, www. frac.info) maintains a listing of currently registered fungicide active ingredients and their modes of action. They are sorted into groups of individual ingredients that share the same mode of action, and each group is assigned a unique code. Recently, manufacturers have begun placing the FRAC mode of action group codes on their product labels. This is a tremendous help to the turf manager who is trying to manage resistance, as now it is immediately obvious which products contain ingredients that have the same mode of action. Now, it is possible to tell at a glance whether rotating to a given product will actually mean switching modes of action. It is important to remember, though, that even though resistance has been documented in many turfgrass diseases, not every failed fungicide application is due to resistance. It is still more common to see fungicides fail due to improper calibration, reading labels incorrectly, not using enough spray volume and/or the wrong nozzles, and plain old misdiagnosis of the disease. Nevertheless, if you suspect resistance, it is a good idea to contact your local Extension agent or plant pathology lab. They will be able to assist you in identifying possible problems with your fungicide application and, if needed, can collect samples and screen them for resistance. Editor’s note: A version of this article was originally published in SportsField Management magazine (www. sportsfieldmanagementmagazine.com). v

Turf Basics >>>

Understanding Product Labels

Reviewing labels improves product performance. By Wayne Ducote

happens all the time. Someone buys a new herbicide, fungicide or insecticide, skims through the product label and files it away until it’s time to use the product. When that time comes, he or she flips to the portion of the label that lists the recommended rates. No big deal, right? Beyond the date of purchase, most people don’t spend a lot of time reading product labels. Familiarizing yourself with a label when you buy the product is a good idea, but so is re-reading the label before putting the product to use. Doing so can save a lot of time, money and hassle. When using fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, most people ask themselves only, “What product do I need to control the weed, insect or disease that’s causing me a problem, and what rate do I need to use?” Rate information is essential, but product labels provide a lot of other important information. Below are five key things to look for on product labels.

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1. Tank mixing

Most labels have a tank-mixing section, which includes what you can and cannot tank-mix with a particular product. Using several products in one application is a common practice in the industry. It’s vital to read the tankmixing section because some products shouldn’t be used together. Ignoring tank-mixing guidelines can cause problems like clogged application equipment and reduced efficacy. Perhaps just as important is mixing order, which is also detailed on product labels. The basic rule of thumb is that dry materials should be mixed first, follow22

ed by liquids. But rather than assuming this is always the case, it’s recommended that users follow the label closely when mixing products.

2. Special statements

Products often have special statements on the label to help users utilize the product correctly. For instance, many products include statements about what the outside temperature should be when a product is used. If the label says not to apply the product if it’s warmer than 85 degrees outside, and you do, it could cause damage to the plant. Other common special statements refer to drying time. Applying a product prior to rainfall, when the product label states that six hours of drying time is necessary, is a pretty expensive mistake.

3. Group numbers

The front page of many product labels includes a group number, which helps users avoid resistance issues with fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. Products are grouped based on how they work (mode of action), and users are encouraged to vary group numbers of products in an effort to better manage resistance. For example, if after using a fungicide in Group 1 you have concerns about resistance, use a product with a different group number in the next application.

4. Agricultural use requirements

The agricultural and non-agricultural use requirements on product labels are important for users, and they vary depending on product use. A greenhouse or nursery employee, for instance, may use the same product as a golf

course superintendent or lawncare employee, but has to abide by a completely different set of rules with regard to protective equipment and re-entry interval.

5. General restrictions and limitations

An often-overlooked element of product labels is the “general restrictions and limitations” section, which is also known as the “do not” statements. A “do not” statement is a strong declaration that should be followed. For example, a product might have “Do not apply in greenhouses” on the label because the product is volatile and could move through the air to plants, causing foliar damage. Read the “do not” statements carefully, and be sure to brush up on them if it has been a while since you last used a product.

General suggestions

Although it’s unnecessary to continually read and re-read the label for a product that you use several times a year, it’s a good idea to take some time now and again to re-familiarize yourself with product labels. Labels change periodically, so it makes sense to review commonly used product labels about once a year. The best place to obtain current labels is www.cdms.net. The 10–15 minute investment of reading a label can save a lot of time and hassle compared to the fallout of misusing a product. Wayne Ducote is a former Ornamental & Turf sales specialist and member of the the Alabama Turfgrass Association. v

Business Matters >>>

Five Warning Signs

that Your Employees May Lack a Vital Sense of Belonging When employees feel they belong, they’ll give you their all. When they don’t, well, you’ll get only crumbs.

By Christine Comaford, Christine Comaford Associates

Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Spr ing 2014

onsider the power of belonging. Adolescents will change their speech, dress and behavior to “fit in” with their peer groups. Some teens will commit crimes — including murder — for the privilege of wearing gang colors. Adults, too, gain much of their identity from the neighborhoods they live in, the churches they attend or the political parties they align with. Yes, belonging to “the tribe” is a human need that we never outgrow, but most leaders neglect it in the workplace. Indeed, many companies have inadvertently fostered cultures of exile. Employers are not purposely making their employees feel that they don’t belong, but many companies are not proactively making employees feel that they do — and that’s a huge, huge mistake. Belonging (along with safety and mattering) is a basic human drive. After food-water-shelter needs have been met, we must feel that we’re safe, that we matter and that we belong. If not, we can’t seek self-actualization

or, as I call it, be in our “smart state” — meaning we can’t perform, innovate, collaborate or do any of the other things it takes to survive in our global economy. Exile is a deep-rooted, primal fear. This is the way our critter brain sees it: “If I’m not part of the tribe, then I must not matter, and I’m surely not safe. A lion is going to eat me. My only goal right now is survival, so I am going to do and say whatever will keep me safe.” When employees feel this way, they hide out, procrastinate or say what the boss wants to hear, instead of what he or she needs to hear. Such behaviors are devastating for business. When they occur chronically, not only will your company or department be unable to move forward and grow, but it may flounder and fail. People will never speak up and say they feel that they don’t belong. It’s just too scary. It’s up to you as the leader to diagnose the problem and take steps to fix it. Here are five red flags that indicate you may be fostering a culture of exile.

#1.

Certain people get preferential treatment.

Maybe there are different sets of rules for different employees: “exempt” people and “non-exempt” people. Many companies harbor “untouchables” — people who were hired and most likely over-promoted because they are related to (or are friends with) someone in power. Or maybe the CEO always plays golf with Drew and Tom, but not Greg and Alan. Preferential treatment, which is a leadership behavior, is extremely damaging and a major culprit in making people feel exiled. I counsel companies with this problem to include it in their Leadership Code of Conduct and insist that all leaders adhere to it. (See sidebar to right.)

#2.

Cliques and inside jokes flourish.

Sure, we all “click” with certain people more readily than we do with others. That’s only natural. But if you notice some employees seem to be regularly excluding others, take it seriously. Those who are left out know it… and it doesn’t feel good. While leaders can’t (and shouldn’t) interfere with friendships between employees, they can set an example of inclusion. They can have frank discussions on the hurtfulness of making someone feel exiled. They can hold fun workplace events and celebrations to strengthen bonds between all coworkers. Generally, leaders set the tone, so when you focus on belonging, everyone will.

#3.

There are obvious and visible signs of hierarchy.

Each leader is responsible for making his or her own areas of responsibility exceptional. Exceptional teams create exceptional companies. To that end, you should develop a leadership code of conduct like the one below. (I regularly see clients who master these techniques and quickly see their revenues and profits increase by up to 200% annually.) •W e treat all employees fairly, respectfully and equally. We strive to avoid preferential treatment. We reward on merit and hold everyone (including ourselves) accountable to the same set of standards. Everyone gets to speak up. We treat others with the respect that we expect to be afforded us. • We deal with issues directly with the person in question. No complaining about others behind their back, passive-aggressive behavior or backstabbing of any type will be accepted or tolerated. We are bigger than this. •W e value the privilege to serve on the leadership team. Monthly management meetings must be a priority, along with weekly leadership meetings and huddles. Coming prepared is a must. Missing more than two leadership meetings a year is cause for removal from the leadership team. • We debate in the room, execute out of the room. We are accountable to each other for timely and quality results. Once we debate and decide, there is no more debate. We are all on the same team, giving the same message to our teams, focusing on relentless execution and the victory that comes from it. •W e make a promise only if we have the authority and ability to execute. Our word is our bond. We commit to anything we can deliver upon to clients or employees, but not until we get needed approval or resources lined up first. We under-promise and over-deliver. •W e are the model of accountability and leadership. We provide the example of accountability and leadership that everyone can follow to success. If our team may not act a certain way, we will not either.

Al abam a T ur f Ti me s > >> Spri ng 2014

At some companies, there’s a stark division between, say, the executive suite and the hourly workers. The whitecollar guys have nice offices and furniture, while the blue-collar guys are lucky if the bathroom is maintained. To many people, this may seem like the natural order of things, but this attitude is precisely the problem. Is it really a good idea for the physical workplace to say, “We’re in the gated community, while you’re in the trailer park”? Leaders may not think of it that way, but believe me — those under them do. In my work, I see a lot of tension between white-collar workers and union workers; there’s this pervasive attitude that because the union guys don’t have the same level of education, they can’t be part of the tribe. I know, I know: this is a messy, sensitive topic. But what belonging really means is that everyone is equal and marching forward together. We really need to do all we can to work toward this goal, and getting rid of some of the symbols of divisiveness would be a good start.

A Leadership Code of Conduct to Help Teams Become Brilliant Together

Business Matters >>> continued

#4.

Entrenched silos lead to withholding information and “turf wars.”

Of course, departments are, by definition, different from each other. Still, they needn’t be alienated from each other. It’s possible for departments to be “different” in a healthy way, while still marching forward together. That’s the beauty of helping get people out of their critter state; when they have that reassuring sense that they belong to the company overall, they don’t have to close ranks and play power games. They can share and collaborate because now it’s safe to do so (i.e., we’re all in this together).

#5.

There is no path for advancement or personal development.

For an employee, true belonging is knowing you’re not just a cog in the machine. It’s knowing that your employer cares about your future and wants you to live up to your potential. To that end, company leaders should develop and implement Individual Development Plans for every employee at every level. (See sidebar to right.) When people see their IDP, they think, “Okay, the company’s purpose is this, my part is that, and we’re all going into this glorious future together.” It tells them, “You belong here. We bothered to lay out this plan just for you, so that you’ll clearly know what you need to do to grow here. You’re part of the tribe, and we’re putting energy into figuring out how you can be part of the tribe in a bigger way.”

Summary

Making employees feel that strong sense of belonging can send performance into hyper-drive. When people feel they truly belong, they will do everything in their power to make sure the tribe is successful. They’ll come to work jazzed, engaged and 100% on. You absolutely cannot inspire this kind of presence, this deep involvement, in employees with coercion or bribery or even logic. It happens on a primal, subterranean level, and when it does, the transformation is amazing to witness.

Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Spr ing 2014

About the Author

Christine Comaford is a global thought leader who helps mid-sized and Fortune 1000 companies navigate growth and change, an expert in human behavior and applied neuroscience, and the bestselling author of Rules for Renegades. Her latest book, New York Times bestseller SmartTribes: How Teams Become Brilliant Together, was released in June 2013. During her incredibly diverse career, Christine has consulted to the White House (Clinton and Bush), built and sold five of her own businesses with an average 700% return on investment and has helped over 50 of her clients to exit their businesses for $12 to $425 million. She is a leadership columnist for Forbes.com and is frequently quoted in the business and technology media. To learn more, visit www. christinecomaford.com. v 26

“So, What’s Next for Me?” Individual Development Plans If an employee doesn’t know what his future at the company looks like, he will not feel that crucial sense of belonging, safety and mattering. Information and transparency empower people, while vagueness keeps them off-balance and anxious. Most employees won’t ask about the future, so you need to be proactive about putting it in front of them. IDPs can be planned with a one- to three-year time horizon. What’s essential is that they are monitored and that the individual’s development is actually happening. Below are the components of an Individual Development Plan. Professional Development Portion

•T wo or more possible career evolutions that can occur in the coming one to three years √ ✔ Job skills that need to be gained for each √ ✔ Leadership skills that need to be gained for each • A timeline for acquiring these skills •A plan, budget and leadership commitment to support the plan • Next steps and monthly or quarterly check-in on plan progress • Agreement that the plan will be driven by the individual, not by his or her leader

Personal Development Portion

• Personal growth that the individual wishes to undertake (weight loss, fitness goals, learning new language, stop smoking, etc.) •M apping of how this personal growth will benefit both the employee and the company •A timeline for acquiring these skills/creating this growth •A plan, budget and leadership commitment to support the plan •N ext steps and monthly or quarterly check-in on plan progress • Agreement that the plan will be driven by the individual, not by his or her leader If the individual is in a leadership role or will be in the next year or so, consider a Leadership Development Program. This is where you cultivate your bright stars who have management potential. Everyone who participates needs to “pay it forward” by mentoring a person in your company on enhancing their own leadership.

Recent events >>>

The Road Shows Were a Success Despite the Winter Storms

Thank You to Our Road Show

Sponsors!

Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Spr ing 2014

PBI/Gordon (lunch sponsor) AAT-Direct Solutions AGRI-AFC, LLC Agromax Chris Francis Tree Care Ewing Irrigation FMC Harrell’s, Inc. Humphries Turf Supply John Deere Landscapes Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation MicroSource Really Innovations Southern States Turf Sur-Line Turf

By Tricia Roberts, ATA Executive Director

hank you to everyone who attended a Road Show Seminar this winter. And thank you for everyone’s patience as we rescheduled two of seminars due to the winter storms. Rescheduling these seminars was a first for ATA, and we appreciate everyone’s support of the schedule disruption. Overall, we are pleased with our turnout at all five seminars, with more than 450 participants in Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Loxley and Montgomery collectively. The goal of these Road Show Seminars is to educate turf managers on principles and practices of turf maintenance. They are scheduled during the winter months so there is no competition with busy work schedules. There is an obvious need for these seminars, and we appreciate you, our members, for supporting these meetings and events. We would also like to thank our wonderful speakers who traveled the state, teaching at each of these seminars. Thank you to Dr. Dave Han (Auburn University), Murphy Coy (Auburn University), Fudd Graham (Auburn University), Dr. Beth Guertal (Auburn University), Dr. David Held (Auburn University), John Nabors (Alabama Cooperative Extension System) and Zack Ogles (Auburn University). Their support of these seminars was instrumental to the success of the Road Shows, and we are grateful for their participation. In order for these seminars to remain in the “black,” we rely heavily on our sponsors. A big thank you goes out to each of them that supported these seminars in 2014! We look forward to bringing these educational opportunities to the industry again next winter. Until then, thank you. We look forward to seeing you on the road in 2015! v

Al abam a T ur f Ti me s > >> Spri ng 2014

Calendar of Events >>>

June 18

Gulf Coast GCSA Turfgrass Field Day West Florida Res. Farm Jay, FL

July 27–29

PLANET Legislative Day on the Hill Washington, D.C.

July 29 – August 1

TPI Summer Convention & Field Days (Turf Producers Intl.) Philadelphia, PA

September 21–22

ATA Mole Cricket Classic Fishing Tournament Orange Beach, AL

October 14–16

NRPA Congress and Expo (Nat. Parks & Rec. Assn.) Charlotte Convention Ctr. Charlotte, NC

October 22–25

Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Spr ing 2014

AGRI-AFC, LLC www.agri-afc.com.........................................................3 Bayer www.bayerprocentral.com.....................................21 Ewing Irrigation www.ewing1.com.................Inside Back Cover Greenville Turf & Tractor www.greenvilleturf.com.......................................... 23 Humphries Turf Supply www.humphriesturf.com.................................30 Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation www.jerrypate.com.............................................29 Kesmac www.kesmac.com................................................ 27 Leading Edge Communications www.leadingedgecommunications.com........11 Lebanon Turf..................... Inside Front Cover www.countryclubmd.com RD Murphy, LLC...................................................6 www.rdmurphy.com Riebeling Farms, Inc............................................17 Select Source www.selectsourcellc.net...........................................17 Southern Specialty Equipment www.ssequip.net............................................................7 Southern States Cooperative www.southernstates.com...................................9 Sur-Line Turf Inc. www.surlineturf.com.................................................5

School of Grounds Management and Green Industry Expo Galt House Hotel and Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

Syngenta Professional Products....................5

October 28–30

Tri-Est Ag Group Inc. www.triestag.com...................................................... 8

ATA Annual Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow Auburn University Hotel & Conference Center Auburn, AL

Index of Advertisers >>>

The Andersons Technologies, Inc. www.andersonsgolfproducts.com......................29 The Turfgrass Group www.theturfgrassgroup.com........... Back Cover

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