Positive Outlook

Over 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

Ben Ellis