Mississippi Turfgrass - Summer 2021

SUMMER 2021

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

PARTNERSHIP FOR

POLLINATOR FRIENDLY LAWNS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT on DR. MARIA TOMASO-PETERSON PLUS

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SUMMER 2021

CONTENTS • The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

FEATURES

8 Event News –

10 Cover Story –

16 Member Spotlight on

Turfgrass Research Field Day Partnership for Pollinator Friendly Lawns

10

Dr. Maria Tomaso-Peterson

20 Feature Article –

Better Planning and Execution Through Weather App Adoption

26 Professional Development – When Doing Good is Good Business DEPARTMENTS

6 From the MTA President

7 Index of Advertisers

16

Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More:

THETURFZONE.COM

Mississippi Turfgrass is the Mississippi Turfgrass Association magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTA members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, Mississippi Turfgrass, or its editors.

Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTA members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of Mississippi Turfgrass. Copyright ©2021 by the Mississippi Turfgrass Association.

Mississippi Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of MTA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTA allows reprinting of material published here.

Permission requests should be directed to MTA. 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 insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

4 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

20

EXTRAORDINARY DESIGN DESERVES

It Deserves the World’s One & Only

www.THETURFGRASSGROUP.com

FROM THE MTA PRESIDENT, Keair Edwards

A RENEWED SENSE OF OPTIMISM

S

ummer is officially in full swing and as you know, for our industry, it is the busiest time of the year. With the vaccinations continuously rolling out, I hope that it has brought a renewed sense of optimism to your facilities. Continue to stay safe and prayerfully, we will gain a sense of normalcy sooner rather than later.

This year’s Yard Dawg Classic was a huge success. The turnout rate was great and I truly enjoyed seeing everyone enjoying themselves. I would like to send a huge thank you to all the sponsors and participants, because we could not have pulled off such a successful event without all of your help! Thanks also to the great work by the folks at Starkville Country Club. Proceeds from the event are used for turf research at MSU and the MTA scholarship fund.

I want to take a moment to say thank you to Dr. Maria Tomaso-Peterson for her years of service to the Mississippi Turfgrass Association, MSU Turfgrass, and the state’s turfgrass industry. Dr. Peterson retired in June from MSU. She played a vital role in the success of our industry and fostered professional development of many students. We are truly grateful for her support of the MTA and the green industry. The MTA family would like to wish her a happy, happy retirement! And we will continue to advocate for the filling of the position with a scientist focused on solving problems our industry faces and educating professionals for the future.

Lastly, we have a few events scheduled for later this year. You don’t want to miss them, so mark your calendars now.

• The MSU Turfgrass Research Field Day will be held September 22nd – September 23rd, 2021. The 22nd will consist of a social and the 23rd will consist of field day events.

• November 1 – 4th is the Deep South Turf Expo in Biloxi, MS. • The MTA Turfgrass Road Show is returning to the Lion Hills Center in Columbus, MS on January 14, 2022.

We look forward to your continued support and participation in these events.

Once again, thank you for your endless hard work and commitment to the MTA. Have a great summer!

Mississippi Turfgrass Association Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Fax: (662) 325-2705 www.msturfassociation.org Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 Office: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS EDITOR James D. McCurdy, Ph.D.

MTA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Keair Edwards City of Gulfport (228) 861-5641 VICE-PRESIDENT / PRESIDENT ELECT Alan Sullivan Grand Bear Golf Course SECRETARY-TREASURER Dr. Barry Stewart (662) 312-9335 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Jeremy Tate Tate’s Turf LLC (662) 209-0023 ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY Linda Wells Mississippi State University Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Cell: (662) 769-7558 lmw218@pss.msstate.edu

DIRECTORS Chris Hussey, Sod Rep Hussey Sod Farm (662) 840-0512

Keair Edwards MTA President

Jimmy McPherson, Golf Rep MSU Golf Course (662) 610-3260 Todd McCullough, Grounds and Landscape Rep City of Louisville (601) 416-3292

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Corey Garrison, Central Rep Country Club of Jackson (901) 490-4547 Frank Ogletree, South Rep Hattiesburg Country Club (601) 543-5033 Seth King, Industry Rep. Ben Nelson Golf and Outdoor (601) 672-4796

FACULTY ADVISOR Jay McCurdy, Ph.D. (662) 325-2331

6 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

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R.W. Distributors...........................................13 www.Exmark.com

RD Murphy, LLC...............................................7 www.rdmurphy.com

Regal Chemical Company...............................3 www.regalchem.com

Riebeling Farms, Inc.......................................7

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Sod Solutions................................................23 www.sodsolutions.com

Southeast Turf Maintenance...........................6 www.southeastturf.com

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RD MuRphy LLC Sales: (256) 762-3564 info@rdmurphy.com www.rdmurphy.com

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sales@leadingedgecommunications.com www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 7

EVENT NEWS

8 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 9

P A R T N E R SH IP FO R

COVER STORY

POLLINATOR FRIENDLY LAWNS

By Jay McCurdy and Isadora de Souza

T

here are an estimated 40 to 50 million acres of turfgrass in the United States, approximately 40% of which is maintained lawn around homes, places of business, and institutions.

These living systems play an important role in society by providing places of gathering, recreation, and community cohesion.

Turfgrass also provides important ecological services, such as carbon sequestration, noise abatement, and temperature moderation. Unfortunately, because the modern “American lawn” is often maintained as a monoculture, it lacks species richness and habitat for pollinating insects.

Mississippi State University, Auburn University, and the University of Georgia are partnering to enrich lawns through best management practices (BMPs) and inclusion of amenity plant species that will attract and sustain pollinating insects.

In April 2020, we proposed a project to create BMPs and stakeholder training that will result in more sustainably managed

turfgrass systems for the improvement of pollinator habitat. The USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded our $493,000 project in the beginning of 2021. The project will employ at least three graduate students (one at each institution) for the project. At Mississippi State, coauthor Isadora de Souza will manage much of our state’s research responsibilities.

Refuge Lawn investigators (left to right): Dr. David Held (Auburn University), Dr. Edicarlos de Castro and Dr. Jay McCurdy (Mississippi State University), and Dr. Gerald Henry (University of Georgia).

10 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

31°28’36.5” N x 83°31’33.3” W

Marks the Spot

UGA Tifton, GA

COVER STORY • Continued

As part of the project, we will identify pollinator friendly turfgrass alternatives and amenity forb species that meet the societal and cultural demands of traditionally maintained southeastern United States urban greenspace while also increasing pollinator habitat resources. The project will disseminate findings through a comprehensive Extension outreach program designed to be delivered by specialists and county agents.

This program will include field days, small-group trainings and webinars, publications, and other outreach activities (e.g.,

12 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

master gardeners, regional and national stakeholder meetings).

A website (RefugeLawn.com) will be created for stakeholder interaction, and we are also assembling a stakeholder advisory board. Follow our progress on Twitter: @RefugeLawn.

A bumblebee (Bombus species) foraging in deadnettle (Lamium purpureum). Deadnettle is an introduced species that is widespread in the southern United States and hosts many early-spring pollinators.

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COVER STORY • Continued

Our research will address the following: 1) Pollinator habitat and pollinator visits on common turfgrass weeds and other amenity turfgrass forbs of the southeastern United States.

2) Effects of turfgrass species selection and cultural practices on forb establishment and persistence as well as effects upon pollinator visits.

3) Stakeholder preference for pollinator habitat within maintained turfgrass systems. •

14 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

Dr. Jay McCurdy is a Turfgrass Extension Specialist and an Associate Professor.

Isadora de Souza is a Graduate Research Assistant and PhD student. She holds a Master of Science in Entomology from Federal University of Lavras in Brazil.

Both are within the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University.

Spring “ephemerals” such as the native spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) and the introduced hairy buttercup (Ranunculus sardous) are common in southeastern lawns, but little is known about their contribution as pollinator habitat, nor is much known about their cultivation.

Current BMPs for

pollinator habitat inclusion: 1) Add flowering plants. Increasing the floral resources in lawns and public greenspace can be achieved by mowing less frequently, planting flowers, converting grass to flowers, and enhancing grass with flowers.

2) Let spring “ephemerals” flourish. Spring emerging plants (sometimes considered “weeds”) provide rich rewards for pollinators that are active early in the spring, and they are especially beneficial for native and less common pollinator species, which are less likely to be adapted to monoculture environments.

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3) Delay and reduce mowing frequency. Decreased disturbance is associated with greater abundance and richness of pollinators and floral resources.

Since many domestic gardens and public greenspaces are comprised of large lawns, reducing and delaying mowing intensity can have a great effect.

4) Avoid broadcast applications of insecticides to lawns and gardens that may negatively affect pollinating insects. Broadcast applications should be applied only according to label directions. Use common sense and avoid application to flowering plant species. Turfgrass managers can minimize pollinator exposure to insecticides by restricting foliar insecticide applications to early morning or late evening.

5) I nclude flowering shrubs, trees, and forbs in the landscape. Increase wild, unmanaged areas (including native weeds), and leave a minimally maintained refuge area. These common-sense practices can be aesthetically pleasing when a “beauty strip” of clean-cut lawn or mulch is included adjacent to or surrounding the refuge.

6) Increase “nidification” (nest-building) by improving nesting sites. Bare ground for soil nesting species and trap nests for cavity nesting bees and wasps are easy to add to any lawn.

7) Create biodiverse corridors. Habitat connectivity is important for all wildlife species, not just pollinators.

Roads, fences, and expansive monoculture (both of lawns and agriculture) contribute to habitat segmentation. By coordinating with neighbors and municipalities, landscape design and its ecosystem services are enhanced by connecting habitats.

8) Establish institutional and organizational strategies for a coordinated approach. Effective knowledge exchange among policy makers, scientists, stakeholders, and industry professionals is key to effectively increasing pollinator habitat. It is easy to imagine a coordinated approach for national, regional, and local green-industry companies to adopt these BMPs. Forward thinking companies will find a way to include “refuge lawns” on stakeholder properties—and they’ll make money doing it.

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Email: butchpugh@gmail.com THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 15

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON

DR. MARIA TOMASOPETERSON “N

ever underestimate the power of a fungus,” is the closing line, maybe even the signature, of a recent email from Dr. Maria Tomaso-Peterson, recently retired Professor of Plant Pathology. Whether the phrase is an homage to the complexity of the organisms she spent her career studying or a warning of their power, is left to the reader’s imagination.

There aren’t many people on Earth who have a consuming passion for fungi, and maybe the average person can’t understand why anyone should feel so strongly about such organisms. But any turfgrass manger can tell you that when you encounter fungus on the job, that’s exactly who you’re looking for. Since 2004, Dr. Peterson has answered those calls for turfgrass managers in Mississippi.

Her lab has analyzed samples from golf course superintendents far and wide. “It’s like solving a puzzle in pathology, whether it’s turf or other plants. I love the diagnostics, and what really opened a door for me is turf diagnostics and working with golf course superintendents, problem solving,” she says. “When you receive a sample that came from across the country, you’ve got a fourinch cupcutter plug that was taken from maybe a 3,500 square foot green, so it’s this little snapshot of what the superintendent thinks is the worst problematic area, and then it’s my challenge to solve that problem.”

In fact, Dr. Peterson says her favorite part of the work she’s done is finding and characterizing a new disease, ink spot. Not only because she “could sit at the scope for hours and hours and look at turf and what’s growing in that turf,” but also because the disease management application of that knowledge for turfgrass professionals can make a real difference in their work.

Alongside her lab research, Dr. Peterson has been a constant presence in education opportunities for current and future turf professionals across the state. Through her classes, mentoring graduate students, and extension work through conference education sessions and research articles in magazines like this, Dr. Peterson has generously shared her findings with anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of disease management.

16 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 17

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT • Continued

Indeed her true legacy may be the number of students continuing the studies they began in Dr. Peterson’s lab and her passion for engaging with working turfgrass professionals. When asked what her greatest career accomplishment was, she answered with no hesitation, “It’s mentoring the grad students that came through my program, and to see where they are today. They’re all in professional fields, several with Ph.D.s, some still in turf, some in industry. I think my greatest accomplishment was mentoring them.”

While Dr. Peterson is retiring from the University, some of her retirement plans may keep her on the periphery of the turfgrass world. “I’m just going to wake up and see what the day brings to me,” she says. “I love working in my yard and maintaining my grass, my lawn. Pruning and doing a lot of I call it yard work, but it’s just maintaining. That’s the old horticulturalist in me.”

She also hints at dusting off her golf clubs and returning to the course in a recreational capacity. Of her time on the course as a researcher, she says, “Throughout my career, Brad Suggs and Bill Coloredo, who used to be at Old Waverly, and Pat Sneed and Mississippi State Golf Course, they opened their courses to me to do research. That was very, very special and nice to be able to be on a working course and do research. So, without those two golf courses, I couldn’t have done a lot of what I did and a lot of the research I was able to successfully do and had grad students working at those golf courses, doing their Masters thesis research.

So I just want to say thank you to them for opening up their golf courses as a research laboratory to me. They were very generous in doing that.”

Mississippi Turfgrass Association will certainly feel Dr. Peterson’s absence, as her contributions to the industry, the association, and individual turfgrass managers has been immense. We wish Dr. Peterson a happy and restful retirement and our sincere appreciation for her partnership. •

To hear our full podcast interview with Dr. Peterson, visit us at TheTurfZone.com. You can also subscribe to The Turf Zone podcast n Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

18 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

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THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 19

FEATURE ARTICLE

BETTER PLANNING AND EXECUTION THROUGH

WEATHER APP ADOPTION

20 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

BASIC INFORMATION

By Brad Jakubowski, Instructor in Agronomy, Center for Turfgrass Science

K

eeping an eye on the weather is something professional turfgrass managers have ingrained into our systems. Can I mow today? We check our phones for the most recent forecast. Should I spray today? We monitor dewpoints, humidity and temperatures. Will I pull the tarp prior to today’s game?

We study the weather radar. There is a tremendous amount of weather information out there and nearly all of us have some form of a weather app on our phones or a link to our favorite weather website to help us make day-to-day management decisions. Let’s take a journey, to see what is out there and what information will help us make the best weather-based decisions possible.

WHICH APP IS THE BEST?

When looking for basic information, it is best to have most or all important data on the first screen or within one or two clicks from the first screen. That is often a good way to judge how well your app will benefit you over time. As an example, The National Weather Service includes much of the basic data (Figure 1). At a glance, you can get a good idea of what is happening now and what will happen in the immediate future. High and low temperatures provide a quick mental image of how the day (and night) may influence your maintenance plans, while winds, dewpoint and relative humidity provide a quick insight on irrigation requirements, disease potential, and infield skin management requirements.

It is beneficial to see both relative humidity and dewpoint together. Viewing only either limits your view of the big picture.

For example, a relative humidity of 65% with dewpoints over 70 degrees indicate that less time may be spent watering the infield skin and instead used to scout for diseases. The same relative humidity with dewpoints under 40 may indicate a majority of the day should be dedicated to watering the skin and irrigating.

Honestly, there is no one best app so it is important to find an app or a number of apps that provide you the most reliable and quickly available information.

BASIC INFORMATION that is important to have available with the least number of clicks would be:

• High and Low Temperatures (including overnight lows) • Dewpoint

FIGURE

1

• Relative Humidity • Short-Term Weather Forecasts

INTERMEDIATE INFORMATION includes:

• Radar (Base and Composite Reflectivity) • Satellite Imagery • Severe Weather (especially lightning).

ADVANCED INFORMATION would be:

• Echo Tops • Vertically Integrated Liquid • Digital Storm Accumulation • Forecast Discussion

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 21

FEATURE ARTICLE • Continued

INTERMEDIATE INFORMATION When making game-time decisions such as tarp pulls or field evacuations due to severe weather, radar becomes an important tool. There are numerous good weather radar apps available.

Many are free, some require an annual fee of $US 10 to 50. Many of the fee-based apps offer expanded functionality, precision and overall quality of information. Regardless of cost, radar app selection should prioritize the type of reflectivity the radar images are based upon. There are two types, Base Reflectivity and Composite Reflectivity. Each time a radar transmitter spins, it sends out a microwave ‘sweep’ at different elevations to get a complete picture of all atmosphere elevations. A Base Reflectivity image represents only a single sweep of the radar transmitter.

This means that near the transmitter the radar ‘sees’ low in the storms and as distance increases the beam rises and can overshoot the core of heavier precipitation. Many High-Resolution (Hi-Res) radar images feature only Base Reflectivity sweeps.

Composite Reflectivity stitches together all elevation scans, in order, to create an image that represents a more complete picture of an incoming storm. These are often lower-resolution images and may be more pixelated. Figures 2 and 3 are of the same storm with the former being a Base Reflectivity image and the latter a Composite Reflectivity image.

Figure 4 shows the different reflectivity options you may have within a radar app, and again illustrates not all radar imagery is the same. So, when trying to make critical game-time decisions, a radar image using Base Reflectivity may grossly underestimate the significance of an incoming storm. When selecting a radar app, be sure investigate the types of radar images it provides and be prepared to spend a few dollars for radar that will prove worthwhile in the future.

SATELLITE IMAGERY There are numerous Satellite Imagery options as well. They provide visible cloud cover, infrared (the most common that we see), moisture content, and all-in-one maps that include a combination of radar, infrared, and weather station models to tell a complete weather story. Satellite images can give you a broader perspective of how the weather is behaving on a wider, more continental scale. The images and loops illustrate air flow, cloud and moisture movement and overall dynamics of frontal systems.

These large-scale images and video loops can help in longer-term planning. They can aid in project preparation and be used as a tool to help protect fields when communicating with administrators that may be considering additional unexpected events during non-use days. It is useful to compare these images with regular weather maps to get a good working knowledge of fronts and changing weather systems.

FIGURE

2

FIGURE

4

FIGURE

3

22 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

FEATURE ARTICLE • Continued

SEVERE WEATHER Lightning is the most critical facet of severe weather for sport turf managers. In 2019, one in five people struck by lightning were engaged in an outdoor sporting activity. Having an app that can provide you lightning information instantly or within a click on your phone is important. The lightning information from the WeatherBug app for Figure 5 only required a short scroll down and a single click. An old AM radio is also good to have on-hand as a back up lightning detector. Significant increase in crackles and static transmitted across AM radio bands are dependable indicators of lightning activity in the area. Old School!

ADVANCED INFORMATION As we work towards becoming more proficient with understanding weather and being able to make better weather-based decisions, we find more advanced tools to help us. Echo Tops or Cloud Height is another function to help us assess the intensity of an oncoming storm. An Echo Top measures the overall height of a storm, which is an indicator of the strength of storm updrafts.

Stronger updrafts make convective wind gusts and large hail more likely.

When several storms are on radar, the Echo Tops tool can point out the more severe storms and the direction they are travelling (Figure 6). This can be valuable information to report to the front office when asked about making a call on a game or whether the conditions will be safe to conduct a last-minute tarp pull.

Another tool to assess the strength of a storm is Vertically Integrated Liquid (VIL). The VIL index measures how much water is being transported vertically throughout a storm cloud and is another indicator of a storm’s updraft strength. Taller updrafts tend to have higher values of VIL and are more likely to produce hail.

One more tool that can be used to help determine the total accumulation of a precipitation event is Digital Storm Accumulation. By allowing you to assess discrete accumulations over short periods of time, this tool may help you determine whether or not to pull a field cover for a particular rain event, saving time and energy that could be used elsewhere and avoid unnecessary delays. This tool may also aid in determining the potential of a flash flood event in your area.

SUMMARY Technological advancements afford us incredibly convenient tools and information apps that support worker and clientele safety while improving our maintenance, irrigation, pest management, and playability decision-making. Take advantage of this opportunity by investigating these different apps and functions.

Poll your colleagues, service providers, and blogs/forums to best experiment and discover what works best for you and your facility. • This article was originally published in Pennsylvania Turfgrass Magazine, Summer 2021

FIGURE

5

F IG U R E

6

24 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

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twitter.com/theturfzone THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 25

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

WHEN DOING GOOD is GOOD BUSINESS

By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM

A

lmost every organization is facing unprecedented difficulty in recruiting and hiring employees today. Whether the hesitancy to return to work is due to elevated unemployment benefits, lack of vaccination adoption, inconsistent childcare, or family health concerns, the labor problem remains. Quite simply the standard job offering isn’t sufficient to move the needle anymore. Here’s how to change the outcome and do good in the process.

In an effort to find workers, many entry-level jobs have prominently advertised wages starting at $15/hour. Others have created giant signs touting signing bonuses of $250. Some have proclaimed retirement matching. But none of these are compelling anymore.

What is compelling is creating an opportunity for people to find the skills they need to literally change their lives for the better.

People will sign up for an established program of mentorship that will help them achieve their potential and realize their dreams.

Jobs that enable people to thrive will always find willing applicants, and it’s possible to implement in any organization.

The clothing retailer Old Navy has made a commitment to hire 20,000 underprivileged youth by 2025, representing a full 5% of all new hires. Their program, called This Way ONward, has been in existence since 2007 and is active in 576 cities across the US. Through the program, Old Navy works with community partners like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to provide youth with job mentoring opportunities. Managers interview youth and are directed to “hire for potential, not credential.” What’s more, youth receive post-hire support through coaching from managers, a job coach, and experienced peers.

26 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2021

The results? 10-year alumni of the program have found stable employment 72% of the time compared with 55% of their peers.

68% report a significant increase in self-confidence, enabling success in life. And Old Navy hired more than 2,500 youth last year for jobs that may have otherwise been unfilled. Clearly, doing good for the community is good business.

But can small teams adopt the same approach without huge budgets and years of experience? Absolutely. The first step is to make a commitment to coaching others. Investing an hour per week of time with each person is a prerequisite to successfully mentoring staff. When time and space is given towards coaching conversations without daily work pressures, a real human connection can be established, and people can start to thrive.

What do coaching conversations sound like? I prefer to start with hopes and dreams. What’s your dream job? What do you want your life to look like? What do you want to provide for your family? What do these look like in six months and one year and five years and ten years? People usually don’t have all the answers upfront and they often change over months and years, but these are the motivations we’ll use to fuel growth.

Next, I try to collaboratively build individualized action steps which consider the person’s unique talents, benefit on-the-job outcomes, and lead toward realization of their goals. For this step I use specialized assessments to provide self-awareness and idea generation. As a result, the coaching is always relevant, wellreceived, and applicable.

Finally, we shift to driving accountability by setting short-term commitments and ensuring that success is realized. When obstacles arise, I guide mentees through self-reflection to overcome them in the future. This is where skill training tends to enter, either directly or through third-party resources. When priorities change, we rework the process.

It can be an awkward process to start, but as one of my direct reports recently told me, “Our coaching conversations are by far my favorite part of the job.” Every week I’m helping her develop skills and experience. And doing good to help someone else has become my favorite part of the job.

But, as I said, doing good is good business. Those who I’ve been blessed to coach thrive in life and on the job. Their performance is higher, they contribute more positive energy, and work gets done with less stress. I’ve successfully recruited from partners including colleges, halfway houses, faith-based recovery programs, and job-training organizations. The people who participate are some of the most appreciative employees because they have a chance to significantly improve their lives.

If you’re seeking your next employee, maybe it’s time to rethink the approach. Save the money from the job boards and invest the time to find community organizations like vocational schools, foster care programs, churches, homeless shelters, or afterschool youth programs. If you need help training them, we’d love to partner with you with our industry-specific courses on www.GrowTheBench.com. Commit to doing good for people who want jobs but lack skills and filling positions will no longer be such a challenge. It’s just good business. •

NEAL GLATT is the Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, an online training platform for the green industry. You can learn more about Neal and his solutions at www.NealGlatt.com.

®

WE OFFER 3 GREAT LOCATIONS TO BEST SERVE THE STATE OF MS AND SURROUNDING STATES.

PICAYUNE, MS

CLARKSDALE, MS

JACKSON, MS

Oasis Sod Farms South

Oasis Sod Farms

Oasis Sod Farms Central

82 Runway Road Picayune, MS 39466 (601) 889-0440 (662) 621-2040

370 Crumpton Road Clarksdale, MS 38614 (662) 621-2040

273 Simpson Hwy 28 West Pinola, MS 39149 (601) 260-6344 (662) 621-2040

ww w. OA S IS S O D . com

ROOT HEALTH PROGRAM

Your remedy for year-long root health.

Harrell’s Root Health Program will aid in promoting stress tolerance, root mass and length, and uniform distribution of moisture. EarthMAX® Organic, Root Enhancer, Seaweed A&E, and Fleet® are your best friends when it comes to root health.

Fleet®

Root Enhancer

100

LIQUID FOLIAR NUTRITIONALS

SOIL SURFACTANTS

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS Iron (Fe) ...........................................................................5.00% 5.00% Complexed Iron (Fe)

CAUTION Read entire label for additional precautionary statements and use directions.

Derived from: Iron glucoheptonate.

FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY

ALSO CONTAINS NONPLANT FOOD INGREDIENTS 10.0% Fulvic Acid from Leonardite 2.5% Kelp Extract from Ascophylum Nodosum F352

FIRST AID

PRECAUTIONS •

Avoid getting in eyes or on skin. The use of safety glasses with side shields (or goggles) and water repellent, chemical resistant gloves when handling this product is recommended.

•

Do not contaminate food, feed, seed or water supplies during application or when cleaning equipment.

IN CASE OF SPILL OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CONTACT CHEMTREC 1-800-424-9300.

If on Skin: Wash with soap and water. Consult a physician if any irritation persists If in Eyes: Rinse with clean water for 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses after the first 5 minutes and continue to rinse. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

If Ingested: Call 911 or a physician for treatment advice.

Have the product label with you when calling a doctor or going for treatment.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

EarthMAX® Organic

250 gallons (946 liters)

Weight per gallon: 10.26 lbs. @ 68° F

0-0-1

F352

PRECAUTIONS

Avoid getting in eyes or on skin. Use safety glasses with side shields (or goggles) and water repellent, chemical resistant gloves when handling this product.

Do not contaminate water during application or when cleaning equipment.

IN CASE OF SPILL OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CONTACT CHEMTREC 1-800-424-9300.

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

®

CAUTION

FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY

INERT INGREDIENTS 77.0% Total Other Ingredients

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

FIRST AID If on Skin: Wash with soap and water. Consult a physician if any irritation persists If in Eyes: Rinse with clean water for 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses after the first 5 minutes and continue to rinse. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

Soluble Potash (K2O) ...................................................... 1.00%

LIQUID FOLIAR & SOIL ADDITIVES

® LIQUID FOLIAR & SOIL ADDITIVES

2.5 gallons (9.46 liters)

Read entire label for additional precautionary statements and use directions.

Purpose: May increase micronutrient uptake

•

30 gallons (113.52 liters)

Harrell’s, LLC Post Office Box 807 | Lakeland, FL 33802 | (800) 282-8007 | Harrells.com

1.0% Humic Acid derived from Humus 22.0% Carbon derived from Humus

•

Seaweed A+E

NET CONTENTS

Foliar & Soil Additive

CONTAINS NON-PLANT FOOD INGREDIENT(S): SOIL AMENDING GUARANTEED ANALYSIS ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Harrell’sHydroMAX ®

®

Iron plus Fulvic Acid

If Ingested: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Call 911 or a physician for treatment advice.

Derived from: Kelp (Ascophyllum nodosum and Ecklonia maxima), Sulfate of Potash

ACTIVE INGREDIENT

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

Polyoxyalkylene Polymers .................................100.0% NONPLANT FOOD INGREDIENT

CAUTION Read entire label for additional precautionary statements and use directions.

FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY

FIRST AID

PRECAUTIONS •

Avoid getting in eyes or on skin. Use safety glasses with side shields (or goggles) and water repellent, chemical resistant gloves when handling this product.

•

Do not contaminate water during application or when cleaning equipment.

IN CASE OF SPILL OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CONTACT CHEMTREC 1-800-424-9300.

If on Skin: Wash with soap and water. Consult a physician if any irritation persists If in Eyes: Rinse with clean water for 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses after the first 5 minutes and continue to rinse. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

If Ingested: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Call 911 or a physician for treatment advice.

Have the product label with you when calling a doctor or going for treatment.

NET CONTENTS: 250 gallons (946 liters)

30 gallons (113.52 liters)

2.5 gallons (9.46 liters) Weight per gallon: 8.75 lbs. @ 68°F

# FLEET100-2.5 #FLEET100-30 #FLEET100-250 09/17

Harrell’s, LLC Post Office Box 807 | Lakeland, FL 33802 | (800) 282-8007 | Harrells.com

Read entire label for additional precautionary statements and use directions.

FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY

CAUTION

PRECAUTIONS •

Avoid getting in eyes or on skin. The use of safety glasses with side shields (or goggles) and water repellent gloves when handling this product is recommended.

•

Do not contaminate water supplies during application or when cleaning equipment.

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION MEDICAL: 1-800-304-0824 TRANSPORTATION: 1-800-424-9300

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN FIRST AID If on Skin: Wash with soap and water. Consult a physician if any irritation persists.

If in Eyes: Rinse with clean water for 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses after the first 5 minutes and continue to rinse. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

If Ingested: Rinse mouth. Do not induce vomiting. Call 911 or a physician for treatment advice.

Have the product label with you when calling a doctor or going for treatment.

Have the product label with you when calling a doctor or going for treatment.

NET CONTENTS 250 gallons (946 liters)

30 gallons (113.52 liters)

NET CONTENTS

2.5 gallons (9.46 liters)

250 gallons (946 liters)

Weight per gallon: 8.40 lbs. @ 68° F 880062O-2.5

880062O-30 880062O-250

EarthMAX Organic 880062O-2.5.indd 1

30 gallons (113.52 liters)

2.5 gallons (9.46 liters) Weight per gallon: 8.67 lbs. @ 68°F

06/20

Harrell’s, LLC Post Office Box 807 | Lakeland, FL 33802 | (800) 282-8007

Harrell’s, LLC Post Office Box 807 | Lakeland, FL 33802 | (800) 282-8007

820447 07/20

6/4/2020 1:22:28 PM

Seaweed A+E_820447.indd 1

7/28/2020 3:02:28 PM

Are you ready for year-long healthy roots?

Visit www.harrells.com or contact your sales rep today.

STEVE KUYRKENDALL Golf- Mississippi skuyrkendall@harrells.com (601) 953-1847

JAMES BARTLEY Turf & Landscape- Mississippi jbartley@harrells.com (334) 707-5134

BRETT DRINKWINE Golf- Gulf Coast bdrinkwine@harrells.com (251) 689-3288

www.harrells.com | 800.282.8007 Employee -Owned