Virginia Turfgrass Journal - May / June 2017

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

A Collaborative On-Site Research Project Between Independence Golf Club and the Virginia Tech Turf Team

May/June 2017

Become One of the Businesses for the Bay! Debunking Myths: A Professional’s Take on Herbicides and Algaecides in Lake Management

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | May/June 2017

18

14 14 Cover Story

A Collaborative On-Site Research Project Between Independence Golf Club and the Virginia Tech Turf Team 18 Eye on Business

Become One of the Businesses for the Bay!

20 Water Feature

Debunking Myths: A Professional’s Take on Herbicides and Algaecides in Lake Management 4 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal May/June 2017 www.vaturf.org

20 Departments 6 President’s Message

from Rick Owens, CGCS

8 Director’s Corner

from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

10 VTF Report

Betty B. Parker

12 VTC Membership Form 24 Industry News 24 Virginia Tech Turf Team 26 Turfgrass Calendar 26 Index of Advertisers

President’s Message Virginia Turfgrass Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Office: (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net

The

VTC

Rick Owens, CGCS 2016–2017 President

Is Here for You! S

ummer is here, and all of us in the turf industry are now very busy, many of us working long hours. In the hustle and bustle of the season, I want to encourage you to still try to find some time to spend with your family and in doing things that help you recharge and refresh. Also, keep in mind that in only two or three months, cooler weather will return and with it, less stress and fewer items on your todo list.

Last summer had rather difficult weather patterns. Let’s hope this summer is more forgiving. Whether it is or isn’t, remember that the Virginia Turfgrass Council — through its magazine articles, its educational events and its connections with the Virginia Tech turf team — is the place to seek resources to help you make it through whatever Mother Nature throws our way.

Membership in the VTC has many great advantages. Members receive free pesticide recertification at numerous locations throughout the state. Members receive reduced rates for our conference and trade show and our numerous other events. In other words, don’t be left out in the weather all by yourself. Be a member of the Virginia Turfgrass Council, or if you know of a turfgrass professional who is not a member, please feel free to have them complete and send in the membership form on page 13.

Rick Owens, CGCS 2016–2017 VTC President

Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com Editor Mark Vaughn, CGCS VTC OFFICERS President Rick Owens, CGCS Laurel Hill Golf Club (703) 674-6934 Vice President Scott Woodward Woodward Turf Farms (540) 727-0020 Treasurer Michael Skelton Culpeper County (540) 727-3412 Past President Fredrick Biggers, CGCS Wintergreen Resort (434) 325-8252 VTC DIRECTORS Steve Glass Tony Montgomery Jesse Pritchard, CSFM David Smith T.J. Skirsky Rick Viancour, CGCS Jimmy Viars, CGM Craig Zeigler ­ VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. Erik Ervin, Ph.D. David McCall Ph.D. Executive Director/ Director of PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004 Virginia Turfgrass Foundation Betty Parker (757) 574-9061

6 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal May/June 2017 www.vaturf.org

Director’s Corner

A Renewed Focus on People As

I write this column, I’m adjusting my schedule to attend the funeral of a friend and VTC member. His sudden and unexpected death leaves many voids, including the abyss of sorrow and loss that his widow and four young children are experiencing. Death of

friends interrupts my life, gives perspective to my busy schedule and reveals my own mortality. It also reinforces my commitment to focus on people.

The VTC conducts many activities and is involved with many efforts to educate legislators, bureaucrats and

8 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal May/June 2017 www.vaturf.org

Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director

other decision-makers. Keep in mind that each endeavor is possible only because of relationships with individuals. Here is an abbreviated list: • We partner with Maryland to produce the Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo.

• We partner with Virginia Tech and Henrico County to produce the Turfgrass Short Course.

• We partner with Pennington Seed to distribute seed to members of the General Assembly.

• We partner with arborists and environmental groups to produce the Come to Bay conference.

• We partner with James Madison University to produce the Come to the Valley conference.

• We partner with Virginia Tech and the Virginia Golf Course Superintendent’s Association to produce the Turfgrass Research Classic.

• We partner with Virginia Cooperative Extension to produce the Student Career Day. • We partner with several cities, counties and colleges to produce regional educational seminars.

• We partner with Virginia Tech to produce a turfgrass education day for decision-makers and homeowners.

The death of a friend is a shock. But the numbness fades, and I take another look at my priorities and renew my focus on people. As I close this column, please join me in offering prayer and assistance to persons in need — especially to widows and to children who have lost their fathers. c

VTF Report

We’re Just

Better

Together

The

Virginia Turfgrass Foundation was the brainstorm of some of the most revered leaders in our industry. Dick Fisher and Bob Ruff were instrumental in penning the articles of incorporation and bylaws. They believed there was advantage and pertinence in separating research dollars from the other financial facets of the Virginia Turfgrass Council. They wanted to have a separate clearinghouse, as it were, for tax-deductible contributions to grow, untouched until we could use a designated amount each year and not affect the principal.

We are still not there, but we are getting excitingly close. The biggest reason for this, quite honestly, is because of the incredible performance of our investments. But, make no mistake, without the investments, there would be no performance. Organizations like Virginia’s Turfgrass Association and the Shenandoah Valley Turfgrass Association and companies like Harmon Turf Services, Chantilly Turf Farms, Brookmeade Sod Farm and, in fact, the whole lot of the Virginia Sod Growers Association, have been exemplary. These are just some of our very faithful contributors who make the difference in being able to grow our Endowment Fund.

Now, you might ask that if all the contributions each year are going

toward the endowment fund, how can we fund $100,000+ in turfgrass research, too? The answer is, once again, the work of some big names in the turfgrass industry. I don’t know how many of you had the pleasure of knowing Gus Constantino before his death in 1999. He was a bigger-thanlife, gregarious individual who was an absolute bulldog for things he was passionate about — and turfgrass research was a passion of his. Gus was able to successfully navigate a new seed law bill into place that allowed fees and penalties collected on turfgrass seed to benefit Virginia’s turfgrass research. Distributors of such seed in Virginia had to be on board with this, since they were ultimately paying for the success of it. Half, of all revenue collected through Virginia’s turfgrass seed law goes to the state for administrative costs, and the other 50% goes to turfgrass research.

We do pay to have a representative sit on the Virginia Agricultural Council, which is the mechanism for allocating funds for agricultural research. After everyone gets their share, the Foundation is awarded between $50,000 and $70,000 dollars each year to endorse turfgrass research. This avenue of industry-directed research dollars should be much more, but the means for policing it and the appropriate persons charged with policing it are a fuzzy science.

10 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal May/June 2017 www.vaturf.org

Betty B. Parker VTF Manager

We just need to find a better way to do it. Optimistically, as an industry, we should be policing ourselves.

I encourage everyone to look at who should be contributing under this law: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/ reg-seed.pdf. We are a very a good group, a close group, and I know that our best effort for maximizing the benefits of this law is to do it ourselves. The government will reap more than 50% of what is collected, just by being the government. There’s really no personal gain in increasing the revenue. The turfgrass industry, on the other hand, has a huge stake in expanding the seed law revenue.

We are investigating ways now to do just that.

Lastly, I want to touch on the importance of revisiting the wisdom and direction of our forefathers of the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation. They saw a need and an advantage in establishing a single fund that would benefit Virginia’s turfgrass industry. They recognized that the whole is always bigger and better than the sum of its parts. Let’s all work together, as we have seen witnessed in the recent Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Classic & Field Day at Country Club of Virginia. Thanks to the VTC and VGCSA for coming together on this incredible opportunity to benefit Virginia’s turfgrass research! c

VTC Membership

Join the

Today!

Membership Benefits For ALL members include:

ree pesticide recertification training at the oneF day regional seminars.

Free Certified Fertilizer Applicator training at the Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo in January (M-A-T-E) and the Come to the Bay (February) and Come to the Valley (May) regional conferences.

Free entry to the research tour of turfgrass studies in June at the Hampton Roads AREC. Free subscription to our bi-monthly Virginia Turfgrass Journal, offering research and industry updates.

Valuable assistance on state and local legislative and bureaucratic issues. Do you know that every member of Virginia’s General Assembly receives our bi-monthly Virginia Turfgrass Journal? Several Delegates and Senators have said how much they appreciate being on our mailing list.

Monthly email of job postings.

Discounts to every one of our activities.

Join as a Group or as an Individual Individual Membership One Year — $85 Individual Membership Two Years — $150

Platinum Group Membership Membership fee of $1,250 includes: 11 to 20 members.

Send up to 100 of your employees to one of our Regional Pesticide Training Classes — AT NO COST. Year-round membership listing and link from VTC website.

Fertilizer Certification Training and Recertification Training (3A, 3B 60) at your site.

Gold Group Membership Membership fee of $800 includes: 6 to 10 members Silver Group Membership Membership fee of $400 includes: 1 to 5 members

12 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal May/June 2017 www.vaturf.org

Membership Application Complete this application form and —

OR Join/Renew online at

www.vaturf.org

• Mail it to the address at the bottom of this page.

• Or fax it to 757-282-2693

Member Information First Name____________________________________________ Last Name___________________________________________ Company or Organization____________________________________________________________________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________________________________________ City__________________________________________________ State__________ Zip____________________________________ Phone________________________________________________ Fax__________________________________________________ E-Mail_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Payment Select One Platinum Group Membership (11 or more members + Year-round listing and link from VTC website)...................$1,250 Gold Group Membership (6 – 10 members)...................................................................................................................$800 Silver Group Membership (1 – 5 members)....................................................................................................................$400 Individual for Two Years...................................................................................................................................................$150 Individual for One Year....................................................................................................................................................$85

Pay by Check or by Credit Card Please check appropriate box:

Check

AMEX

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Card #:_______________________________________________ Print Cardholder Name:_______________________________ Security Code:_________________________________________ Expiration Date:_ _____________________________________ Dues may be deductible as a business expense but not as a charitable contribution. Based on 2013 activity, one percent (1%) of dues are not deductible in accordance with IRS Section 6033.

Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 • Phone: 757-464-1004 • Fax: 757-282-2693 Email: vaturf@verizon.net • Web: www.vaturf.org Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 13

Cover Story

A Collaborative

On-Site Research Project Between Independence Golf Club and the Virginia Tech Turf Team

By Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech

The

Virginia Tech turf team has established a unique cooperative research partnership with Independence Golf Club (Midlothian, VA) through the support of owner Giff Breed and superintendent Dan Taylor. Independence has a nine-hole executive golf course, and Mr. Breed has offered the Virginia Tech turf team full access to this property for turfgrass and environmental research, along with the commitment to the regular maintenance of the course under the direction of Independence superintendent Dan Taylor and his staff.

Independence Golf Club was the first course to install Champion bermudagrass greens in the Richmond area, and the success they have realized to date with these greens warrants further research efforts to evaluate the potential for expanded use of bermudagrass or zoysiagrass for putting

green turf in the Mid-Atlantic. A focal point for the research at Independence is the evaluation of new varieties and management strategies for warmseason putting greens.

To our knowledge, this will be the most northern research site for warmseason putting green turf research in the United States, and definitely in the Mid-Atlantic. In addition to the research opportunities on putting greens, Breed has offered us the remaining acreage to modify as needed for additional golf and sports turf research, with one specific request being the installation of a bermudagrass soccer pitch.

The grasses that have been selected for the putting green trials were chosen based on their performance in the ongoing NTEP warm-season putting green trial (directed by Dr. Erik Ervin and maintained by Dave Rathke, Christian Sain and team at Country Club of Virginia-Tuckahoe Creek). A

14 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal May/June 2017 www.vaturf.org

Photo

1

Photo

2

Sprigging Champion bermudagrass on the practice putting green at the Independence Golf Club Executive Course in Midlothian, VA.

The bermudagrass sprigs are rolled and topdressed as part of the establishment program at the Independence Golf Club.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Cover Story continued

selection of standard ultradwarf bermudagrass varieties (Champion and TifEagle), soon to be released varieties (experimentals from Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas) and zoysiagrasses (commercially available L1F and the experimental M85) have been identified as the grasses that will each be installed as a putting green at the Independence executive course.

The project was kicked off in late May with the sodding of M85 and L1F zoysiagrasses, and the sprigging of Champion, G12 and TifEagle bermudagrass greens (Photos 1 and 2). Still to come later this summer is the sprigging of the remaining experimental bermudagrass varieties.

For the future, a variety of research projects regarding weed and disease control, remote sensing for plant stress, plant growth regulation, cultural-management programs, the use of winter protective covers, etc., are already planned. Breed and Taylor have agreed to host the turfgrass industry for the VT Golf Turf Research Field Day in 2018 in order to showcase our efforts to a larger audience that often cannot attend our campus and/ or HRAREC field days.

The VT turf team is obviously very excited for this research opportunity.

Independence Golf Club will serve as a new location to fulfill all three missions of the University: teaching, research and outreach. The research conducted at this facility will be a combination of practical solutions to address immediate needs of our industry clientele and cutting-edge research to address larger global environmental concerns through USDA sustainability efforts.

The Virginia Turfgrass Foundation has already contributed $30,000 to support the establishment of the research plots at Independence, and numerous vendors have already donated (or are committing) products and services for the establishment and maintenance of the grasses! We hope you will take the time to visit Independence in the coming months to play the new putting greens and give us some feedback on what you like/ dislike about the grasses. c 16 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal

Eye on Business

Become One of the

Businesses for the Bay!

By Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech

O

ver half of the state of Virginia (15.3 million acres) is in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This amazing body of water is widely known for its beauty, its value for recreation and a variety of fresh and salt water fish and shellfish.

Far too often, turfgrass systems are deemed by the general public as being “bad” for the Bay, and of course, those of us that work in this industry argue (and rightly so) that a properly managed turfgrass is very beneficial for water quality.

While there will almost always be varying opinions about the value/ concern of turfgrass and the environment, it is very exciting to see the positive, collaborative relationship that has developed between the Virginia Turfgrass Council and its membership with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. One of those relationships involves Wes Bray and his Lawns and Gardens Plus company in Virginia Beach.

Corinne Stephens made a great presentation from the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay at the 2017 Come to the Bay Conference in Virginia Beach detailing an Alliance program called

Businesses for the Bay (B4B). The mission of the Businesses for the Bay membership association is to encourage businesses throughout the Chesapeake region to find voluntary, innovative and measurable solutions to improve water quality and the health of the Chesapeake Bay rivers and streams, and to raise public understanding of the valuable role these business members play in environmental restoration. This program provides businesses with a forum where they can make their voices heard, share best practices, facilitate environmental-stewardship volunteer opportunities for employees, save money, reach social and sustainability goals and promote environmental efforts that are important to them, their customers and their communities.

It was great to see four turfgrass management firms affiliated with B4B: Agronomic Lawn Management, Lawns and Gardens Plus, MowCow Lawn & Landscape and Project Green, but that means there are a lot more firms out there that might also get involved!

Craig Zeigler of Agronomic Lawn Management showed how a stream cleanup project not only made a

18 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal May/June 2017 www.vaturf.org

huge impact in the amount of trash removed, but it also turned out to be a lot of fun for the employees and a great team-building exercise. Wes Bray of Lawns and Gardens Plus echoed these thoughts for his business.

For those of you in the Bay watershed, I encourage you to consider becoming a member of Businesses for the Bay (http://businesses.alliancefor thebay.org/) and engaging your firm in some specified activities designed to promote Bay health. Again, turfgrass systems do some great things in environmental protection, but the general perception remains that our industry harms (worst case) or doesn’t care (best case) about the environment. There is a strong need for us to continue to be proactive in environmental protection rather than reactive, and what better way than to participate in a program with clearly defined strategies/activities in Bay protection that you can implement?

There are six general “themes” in Bay protection programs in B4B that turfgrass firms in the Bay watershed can enroll in, and many of these themes encompass sustainability/envi-

ronmental protection initiatives you are already engaged in, but perhaps not quantifying and reporting. These activities range in scope from relatively large, team efforts (stream cleaning/restoration) to small but still significant efforts (perhaps converting your bulbs or lamps to low-energy options?); each one of these endeavors has real value and makes a difference in the environment.

All partners with Businesses for the Bay receive their own webpage to document their activities on behalf of improving Bay water quality. The photo above (right) shows a screen capture for the Lawns and Gardens Plus webpage (http://businesses.allianceforthe bay.org/member/lawns-gardens-plus) provided by Businesses for the Bay. The webpage details the ways that L&GP is committed to protecting the environment and the projects that Wes and team signed up for through B4B. It is a win/win for L&GP AND the Bay, and it gives Wes and his team some very well deserved recognition for their efforts.

For more information on this great program, visit the website link provided above or contact Corinne Stephens at cstephens@allianceforthebay.org. c Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Water Feature

Debunking Myths: A Professional’s Take on Herbicides and Algaecides in Lake Management

By Trent Nelson, Aquatic Specialist at SOLitude Lake Management

W

hen managing ponds used for irrigation, it’s not uncommon to invest thousands of dollars on irrigation pumps, water testing, submersed aeration systems and fountains. It’s rare, however, to find a manager who establishes and uses a comprehensive lake-management plan. Often, this apprehension is based on a misconception that herbicides and algaecides could potentially have a negative impact

on the waterbody. I’m here to set the record straight and let you know that with the proper choice of a product and application methods and timing, algaecides and herbicides can greatly enhance the effectiveness of a pondmanagement program, even when irrigation is a consideration.

Many turf and golf managers fear that herbicide and algaecide treatments to their irrigation ponds could result in damage to their greens and the sur-

20 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal May/June 2017 www.vaturf.org

rounding ornamentals or put a hold on their irrigation water usage. These concerns are valid; shutting down an irrigation system for more than a day or two can be virtually impossible, especially during the growing season.

But without proper treatment, an irrigation lake could experience more harm than good. If algae and aquatic weeds are allowed to grow and mature, this vegetation can enter intakes, clogging pipes and pumps, and preventing

Proactive management strategies, like beneficial buffers and aeration, can help enhance the health and beauty of an irrigation pond and limit dependence on algaecides and herbicides.

When using algaecides and herbicides, a lake-management professional will also consider the timeframe in which they are applied.

Applications performed early in the growing season will have the least significant impact to irrigation systems.

irrigation systems from running properly. In the end, the headache of shutting down an irrigation system to fix a broken pipe or clear vegetation from a line will often outweigh the inconvenience of scheduled beneficial treatments. Algae buildup in the lines and irrigation heads can cause significant maintenance issues.

Product selection is critical when making the decision to treat any waterbody, especially if it is an irrigation

When applied properly, algaecides and herbicides can be very effective in solving or preventing algae and vegetation problems in irrigation ponds, which can take otherwise months to eliminate without proper attention.

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Water Feature continued

source. There are two common types of herbicides: contact and systematic.

Contact herbicides typically have short or even no irrigation restrictions since they quickly control the target species and are rendered inactive shortly after application. While very effective when used properly, improper use can result in a sudden and danger-

ous depletion of dissolved oxygen in the waterbody. Low oxygen levels can create a stressed environment for fish and other aquatic life.

Systemic herbicides, on the other hand, are translocated throughout the targeted plant, controlling the target plant from the inside out. Systemic herbicides utilized in a prescription-

22 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal May/June 2017 www.vaturf.org

based treatment plan developed by a lake-management professional can result in targeted species control and have little to no impact on other plant life. While these products usually take longer to target vegetation and can sometimes require extended irrigation restrictions, they are typically the best choice for overrun waterbodies when paired with a proactive management plan that includes aeration, buffer management and nutrient remediation.

When applied within label guidelines, these products have proven to be effective without altering water quality.

That being said, no two waterbodies are the same. Water chemistries and application styles can vary greatly from pond to pond, and not knowing how to alter application rates accordingly can have adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem.

It’s worth consulting a knowledgeable lake professional who is experienced in the process of algae and aquatic weed treatments. Before the application of EPA-regulated herbicides or algaecides, a professional will conduct water quality tests in order to fully understand the water chemistry, dissolved oxygen levels, pH, alkalinity and other important parameters. Water quality can be the deciding factor on what products are utilized, the rates at which they are used and specific application techniques.

Water testing should also be part of your annual maintenance plan in order to compile critical baseline data. Over time, this data will provide a better understanding of potential nutrient loading and other water quality parameters.

When using herbicides and algaecides, a lake-management professional will also consider the timeframe in which they are applied. If left unmanaged for too long, weeds and algae that have reached a mature size or growth stage may require more staggered treatments, using more herbicides and algaecides and, ultimately, causing longer restricted water-use periods. Much like preemergent weed treatments in a turf setting, successfully

Water Feature continued

treating weeds is much easier before they begin to present an issue or when they are young and just beginning to actively grow. Applications performed early in the growing season allow for limited impact to irrigation during a lower water-use period, and they can more effectively prevent clogged irrigation pumps throughout the rest of the season. Some systemic herbicides can be applied early enough in the growth stage that only low concentrations of herbicide are needed to effectively kill emerging plant tissue, and they may even have no irrigation restrictions.

As an aquatic specialist and former assistant golf course superintendent, I’ve found that being proactive — not reactive — in the industry will provide better playing conditions and increased turf, lake and pond health. When your livelihood is on the line, why wait until an obstacle presents itself to address

the source of the problem?

A proactive, long-term management plan provides solutions that can help reduce the ongoing reliance on pesticide treatments and enhance the beauty of the surrounding area. Such a plan will include alternative ways to combat nutrient loading and nuisance aquatic-vegetation growth. Beneficial buffers and the addition of native wetland plants along the shoreline can help stabilize and reduce erosion, as well as filter available nutrients on which algae and nuisance weeds thrive.

If water-quality testing shows that nutrients are an issue, nutrient remediation can be achieved by the addition of flocculants such as Alum or a unique lanthanum-modified clay that permanently locks phosphorous, reducing available nutrients in the water column and sediment of your waterbody.

Aerators and fountains combined with

biological augmentation can also aid in nutrient remediation, as well as muck reductions.

No matter your budget, location or intended waterbody use, it is possible to develop a safe and effective management plan for your lake or pond that includes the use of herbicides and algaecides. When working with a lake-management professional, lake and pond managers should rest assured that herbicide and algaecide applications will enhance, not harm, their waterbody and surrounding ecosystem.

Trent Nelson is an experienced aquatic specialist with SOLitude Lake Management, an environmental firm providing a full array of superior lake, pond and fisheries management services and solutions.

He can be reached through the website, www.solitudelakemanagement.com. c

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Virginia Tech Turf Team

Industry News

VDCR to Hold Turf and

Landscape Training School and Nutrient Management Exam

The

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation will hold its Turf and Landscape Training Schools and the Nutrient Management Exam soon.

The Soil Science, Soil Fertility and Turf Production School will be July 12–13, 2017, and the Nutrient Management Turf and Landscape Plan Writing School will be July 19–20, 2017. Both schools will be located at John Tyler Community College, 800 Charter Colony Parkway, Midlothian, VA 23114. Registration for each school is required. The fee for each is $150, if you register by June 29.

After June 29, the fee increases to $175, so please register early.

The next Nutrient Management Certification exam will be Friday, August 4, 2017, at the Frontier Culture Museum, 1290 Richmond Road, Staunton, VA, 24401. Applications for the exam must be submitted by July 5, 2017, 30 days before the exam date. Please note that the last day to submit your application for certification is before the training schools occur. Therefore, do not wait to apply for certification until you have attended the training schools. If you need to attend the schools to meet the education requirement, or if you are attending as a refresher for the exam, noting that you will be attending the schools on your application is sufficient information to evaluate your eligibility.

Becoming a certified planner enables you to serve your industry in two ways. First, you will bring integrity to the industry, as nutrientmanagement plans are recognized as setting a standard for efficient management of nutrients within any landscape. As your clientele grows, you will be bringing the experience you gain working with many varied operations to advising each client with recommendations based on that broad base of knowledge. You will meet a standard of continuing education to enhance your knowledge in the plan-writing services you offer. Secondly, the plans you write will be used to document the turf industry’s commitment to meeting clean-water goals at the local and state level.

Through the contribution of many Virginia agency programs directly related to nutrient management and conservation programs, Virginia is well on its way to meeting the nutrient-reduction goals set forth in the Watershed Implementation Plan. This plan was developed to outline how Virginia is going to meet the reduction goals for nutrient and sediment into the Virginia waterways that run through our landscapes to eventually feed the Chesapeake Bay. However, there is still a significant need for planned turf acres, so there is still plenty of planning that needs to be done to meet the turf-acres goal.

Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D.

Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-5807 saskew@vt.edu

Jeffrey F. Derr, Ph.D.

Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 (757) 363-3912 jderr@vt.edu

Erik H. Ervin, Ph.D.

Virginia Tech 339 Smyth Hall, CSES Dept.

Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-5208 ervin@vt.edu

Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D.

Virginia Tech 420 Smyth Hall, CSES Dept.

Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-2951 goatley@vt.edu

David McCall, Ph.D.

Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-9598 dsmccall@vt.edu

With Support from:

For information about registration for the training schools and requesting an exam application, contact Susan Jones at susan.jones@dcr.virginia.gov or 804-443-3803.

For more information about becoming a certified nutrientmanagement planner, visit the DCR Nutrient Management Planning website at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/soil-and-water/nmtrain, or call David Kindig at 804-471-8095. c 24 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal May/June 2017 www.vaturf.org

Thomas P. Kuhar, Ph.D.

Virginia Tech Dept. of Entomology 216 Price Hall 170 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-6129 tkuhar@vt.edu

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Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC) serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Virginia Turfgrass Journal, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or VTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright Š2017 by the Virginia Turfgrass Council. Virginia Turfgrass Journal is published bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of VTC. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to VTC, P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471. Postage guaranteed. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Virginia Turfgrass Journal allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to VTC. 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, Franklin, TN 37068-0142, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524. Deadlines are the first of the month prior to the following month’s publication. (Example: August 1 for the September issue.)

Advertisers Index

Turfgrass Calendar July 12–13

September 26–28

VDCR Soil Science, Soil Fertility and Turf Production School

NRPA Congress and Expo

John Tyler Comm. College Midlothian, VA (see page 24)

July 16–18 NALP Legislative Day on the Hill

(National Association of Landscape Professionals) Washington, D.C.

July 19–20 VDCR Nutrient Management Turf and Landscape Plan Writing School

John Tyler Comm. College Midlothian, VA (see page 24)

July 19–22 TPI Summer Program

(Nat. Rec. and Park Assn.)

New Orleans, LA

Buy Sod....................................................... 3 www.buysod.com

October 18–20

Carolina Green Corp............................... 25 www.cgcfields.com

LANDSCAPES 2017

(formerly the PLANET Green Industry Conference) Kentucky Epo Center Louisville, KY

October 19–20 GIE+Expo — Green Industry Equipment Expo and School of Grounds Management

Kentucky Expo Center Louisville, KY

October 20–23 ASLA – Annual Meeting & Expo

(American Society of Landscape Architects) Los Angeles, CA

(In conjunction with the 2017 International Turfgrass Research Conference) The Heldrich New Brunswick, NJ

December 11–14

July 28–30

January 16–19, 2018

Arbor Fair

(International Society of Arboriculture) National Arboretum Washington, DC

August 4 Nutrient Management Certification (VDCR)

Frontier Culture Museum Staunton, VA (see page 24)

August 15 Lawn and Landscape Field Day

Blacksburg, VA

Agronomic Lawn Management.............. 25 www.FertilizerWithALM.com

Turfgrass Short Course

Belmont Recreation Center Henrico, VA

STMA Conference and Exhibition

Fort Worth, TX

Central Sod Farms of Maryland, Inc...... 25 www.centralsodmd.com Chesapeake Valley Seed.......................... 23 www.chesapeakevalleyseed.com Collins Wharf Sod Farm.......................... 22 www.collinswharfsod.com Colonial Farm Credit............................... 25 www.colonialfarmcredit.com Daniel Sod Farms..................................... 25 www.danielsodfarms.com Engage Agro USA..........Inside Back Cover www.engageagro.com Fisher & Son Company, Inc.................... 11 www.fisherandson.com Luck Ecosystems...................................... 19 www.luckstone.com McGill Premium Compost...................... 25 www.mcgillcompost.com Mid-Atlantic STIHL, Inc................... Inside Front Cover www.stihldealers.com Modern Turf, Inc..................................... 22 www.modernturf.com

January 29 – February 1, 2018 M-A-T-E: Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo

Fredericksburg, VA

February 3–8, 2018 Golf Industry Show

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center San Antonio, TX

August 27–31 StormCon 2017 Conference The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Conference

Meydenbauer Center Bellevue, WA

PBI Gordon Corporation.......................... 9 www.pbigordon.com Progressive Turf Equipment, Inc............ 12 www.progressiveturfequip.com Smith Seed Services................................. 25 www.smithseed.com Smith Turf & Irrigation............ Back Cover www.smithturf.com The Cutting Edge of VA............................ 8 www.tce-va.com The Turfgrass Group........................... 7, 17 www.theturfgrassgroup.com Virginia Sand & Stone............................... 5 www.virginiasand.com Weed Man................................................ 25 www.weedmanfranchise.com

26 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal May/June 2017 www.vaturf.org