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Recent Events

from Alabama Turf Times - Fall 2021

from Alabama Turf Times - Fall 2021, page 8

Upcoming Event

Time to get Back to the Plains for the Poa Annua Tournament and Auburn Turfgrass Research and Education Day

This year the ATA’s Poa Annua Golf Tournament was held in conjunction with the Auburn Turfgrass Research and Education Day. The Tournament concluded just before there was a torrential downpour, so the weather was definitely on our side. Following the tournament, golf attendees and participants from the Auburn Turfgrass Research Day were welcomed at Coach Dye’s Pavilion at Crooked Oaks where Wayne Bassett and Jesus “Shorty” Garcia from Beck’s Turf served up a scrumptious dinner of grilled chicken and vegetables with the best home-made peach ice cream in the country for dessert! Thank you so much to Wayne Bassett and all the folks who came out to support this event!

The Turfgrass Research and Education Day at Auburn on July 7th was extremely well received as demonstrated by the great turn-out and enthusiasm of the attendees. After a year of shut-down, turf professionals were eager to gather and see the latest in research!

**L – R: Clara Culpepper, Sheila Bassett, Megan Anderson and Jimmy Bassett.**

Field Days play an important role in our industry, benefiting both the turfgrass industry and the university researchers. We are fortunate to have such a strong program at Auburn that has not suffered during the pandemic. In addition, Alan Hill, new director of the Sports Surface Field Research Lab (Turf Unit) has done a tremendous job and is proving to be a real asset to the unit.

**L – R: Bridgett Johnson, Wayne Bassett, Claudia Ann Rutland, Dr. Beth Guertal and Jesus “Shorty” Garcia**

TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDED:

1. Proper use of pre- and post-emergent products for control of crabgrass and goosegrass in the turfed landscape. Several studies were included in this discussion and tour.

2. Use of novel pesticide materials (Bacillus subtilis) for disease control in bermudagrass putting greens.

3. There was also discussion about the ‘Resist Poa’ project, a USDA-funded, multi-state project. This covered the biology and management of Poa annua, a problematic weed.

4. Updates and new advances in insect pest and nematode control, with a discussion on new materials.

5. The tours included plots developed for general turfgrass management, their relationships to turfgrass pest management through IPM strategies and Best Management Practices for turfgrass, which leads to reduced pesticide use.