PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
POSITIVE OUTLOOK O
ver the past several weeks, our world as we know it has dramatically shifted. Nearly every 10 minutes we receive a new update on the spread of the Coronavirus or about closures and shutdowns. With the turfgrass industry being affected just as everyone else, we have to stay positive!
Better Ourselves and Our Staff You remember all the notes that you took at the Maryland Turfgrass Conference or another seminar this winter? Maybe this is a good time to read back over those notes for reference. Since I am a major “Turf Nerd,” I have a notebook where I take all my rough notes from conferences and seminars and neatly rewrite them upon returning to the office. I still have notes from a talk on Turf Pest and Weed Management that was presented by Steve McDonald during the 2013 Maryland Turfgrass Conference. It is nice to go back sometimes and freshen up on topics or talks that you may have forgotten. Online webinars and classes have been popping up all over the internet the past few weeks. Take the time to sign up for some of them or watch a recorded presentation. Although you may not be able to complete all of your Nutrient Management and Pesticide Re-Certifications online yet, companies that support the MTC like Landscape Supply, Genesis, Newsom Seed, Harrells, and Syngenta have some great resources and webinars for you to use until meetings and classes are able to resume. With many golf courses and sport fields being closed for the time being, many of us are still able to maintain the property on a limited basis. This may be a good opportunity to do projects you haven’t been able to get done, take the extra time to train employees on new pieces of equipment, or look into new ways of getting the job done with a limited staff. Necessity is the start of innovation.
Turfgrass Research Another positive is that the University of Maryland Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Farm is still conducting research. Current work is being done to look at Conventional vs. Organic Maintenance Practices on Sports Turf, Bermudagrass winterkill research looking at winter moisture management with the use of wetting agents and mowing heights going into dormancy, and continued research by Mr. Joe Doherty on Improved Biological Controls for Residential Turf. I greatly appreciate all the professional organizations who have reached out to their members to share their support and all the businesses who are able to remain open during this time. I’m proud to be a part of an industry that connects with each other on social media, email, or publications while we fight off and try to contain the Coronavirus. This is yet another positive that we can add to our list.
Ben Ellis
Maryland Turfgrass Council, President 6
MTC TURF NEWS
MTC BOARD ADVISORS
MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rick Boldissar Turf & Seed Section 50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD. 21401 Work: 410-841-5968 • Cell: 443-791-2896 Rick.boldissar@maryland.gov Kelly Love Pesticide Regulation 50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 410-841-5710 • kelly.love@maryland.gov Judy McGowan Urban Nutrient Management 50 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 410-841-5955 • judy.mcgowan@maryland.gov
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE & LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Dr. Mark Carroll Environmental & Pesticides 2132 Plant Science Bld. College Park, MD 20742 Campus: 301-405-1339 • Farm: 301-314-6303 mcarroll@umd.edu Dr. Thomas Turner, Professor Emeritus Turfgrass Nutrients / Extension 395 Green Meade Dr. College Park, MD 20740-3721 Farm: 301-314-6302 • tturner@umd.edu Dr. Peter Dernoeden Professor Emeritus 18086 White Oak Dr. Milton, DE 19968 301-314-6300 • pd@umd.edu David Funk Turf Farm Manager 395 Green Meade Dr. College Park, MD 20740-3721 301-314-6300 • dfunk@umd.edu Joseph Ryan Doherty Grad Student 8230 Harvest Bend Lane, Apt 38 Laurel, MD 20707 910-990-9844 • jdoherty3@umd.edu
INSTITUTE OF APPLIED AGRICULTURE: Geoffrey Rinehart Turfgrass Management 2113 Jull Hall 4196 Stadium Dr. College Park, MD 20742 301-405-4692 • rinehart@umd.edu Dr. Kevin Mathias Professor Emeritus College Park, MD • jkm@umd.edu
