2020 Maryland Turfgrass Conference Recap

By Geoffrey Rinehart

The 2020 Maryland Turfgrass Conference was conducted virtually on December 8–10. Although the MTC hoped to maintain the momentum from an increasingly popular one-day conference format the last two years, COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings forced the executive board to decide to conduct the conference virtually this year instead of in-person at the Turf Valley Resort.

The format included pre-recorded presentations which were aired during the first day of the conference and were followed by “live” question and answer sessions moderated by MTC Board members. The presentations were available “on demand” during second and third days of the conference. Due to the online format of the conference, registration fees were reduced. About 250 registrants attended the conference.

The conference featured a range of presenters from instate including: Brian Hogan, CSFM (Calvert Co. Parks) speaking about managing Bluemuda in Maryland; Logan Freeman (Mountain Branch GC) speaking about collaboration among different facets of the turf industry; and Dr. David Clement (UMD) speaking about ornamental diseases. Other “in-state” speakers included Dr. Kevin Mathias (UMD), Joe Doherty (UMD), and Geoff Rinehart (UMD).

As usual, the program also featured several researchers from other states, and this year the MTC was happy to include instruction from Dr. Brandon Horvath (University of Tennessee), Dr. John Sorochan (University of Tennessee), Dr. Douglas Karcher (University of Arkansas), Brad Jakubowski (Penn State University), and Elliott Dowling (USGA). Thank you to all of our speakers! •