Dedicated to Supporting YOU

Dear MTC Members and Supporters,

I feel it is important to start the year off by reminding everyone who the Maryland Turfgrass Council is and why your support by membership is beneficial, something that can easily be forgotten after the year that we just had.

The Maryland Turfgrass Council (MTC) is a non-profit organization that supports education, research, and the professionals of the turfgrass industry in Maryland.

Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s Maryland Turfgrass Conference. Although we were not able to meet in person at Turf Valley, our virtual event had some outstanding presentations. Geoff Rhinehart of the Institute of Applied Agriculture has written a nice recap later in this MTC Turf News. At this point we are still scheduled to have the 2021 Maryland Turfgrass Annual Conference at Turf Valley this December. More information will be available as we receive it.

One of the major topics I wanted to share with the MTC Membership is about the vacant positions at the University of Maryland.

As many of you know Dr. Joe Roberts, the UMC Pathologist, took a new position over a year ago, while Dr. Tom Turner, after 39 years with the University of Maryland and working with the Maryland Turfgrass Council, respectfully retired in 2019. Both positions remain vacant due to a hold on ALL of University of Maryland Tenured positions. Professor and Chair for Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, Dr. John Erwin has been very supportive of the turfgrass industry and has all intentions of fulfilling the vacant positions as soon as possible. These positions are critical to the turfgrass industry and we would like to assure you that the University is on our side when it comes to filling the vacancies. Continuous communication between the University and the MTC is keeping these positions on the front burners.

Lastly I would I would like to welcome Mr. Brian Haga of Scientific Plant Service to the Maryland Turfgrass Council Board of Directors. Mr. Haga comes to the MTC Board with several years of experience in various areas of the turfgrass industry and we look forward to having him aboard.

I look forward to serving you as the MTC President. If you ever have questions or suggestions please do not hesitate to reach out. After all, the MTC is here to support YOU!

MTC President