Virginia Turfgrass Journal - November / December 2017

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

November/December 2017

Best Management Practices for Turf Insecticides and Pollinators

A Fond Farewell to Virginia Tech’s

DR. ERIK ERVIN

Plus, Program for the Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo, January 29 – February 1

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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | November/December 2017

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16 10 Upcoming Event Program for the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo, January 29 – February 1

16 Cover Story Industry Friends Say a Fond Farewell to Virginia Tech’s Dr. Erik Ervin

22 Feature Story BMPs for Turf Insecticides and Pollinators

4 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2017 www.vaturf.org

22 DEPARTMENTS 6 Directorʼs Corner

from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

8 VTF Report

from Betty Parker

14 VTC Membership Invitation 24 Index of Advertisers 26 Turfgrass Calendar 26 Virginia Tech Turf Team

VA’s LARGEST LANDSCAPE TRUCK DEALER 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

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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

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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

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Director’s Corner

Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director

Many Thanks

To Erik!

I

first met Erik Ervin in 2001 at a Virginia Beach restaurant. He had just been hired by Virginia Tech, and Dave Chalmers was introducing him to industry professionals across the commonwealth. Nearly two decades have elapsed since that first meal at Denny’s; many other meals followed.

During those years, Erik has steadily advanced, both in professional stature and as a great friend to Virginia’s turf industry.

Regarding the former, many persons in this Journal have superbly commented on the important work he has done at Virginia Tech (see

pages 16–20). I will not repeat their well-deserved accolades of Erik.

Instead, I will add my voice to the myriad of industry persons who have benefited from him.

Many times, I have relied on Erik’s expertise, wisdom and eagerness to assist. He has always been accessible — readily taking my phone calls or emails and consistently providing great counsel and leadership.

The Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo is just one of the many industry endeavors that has a foundation established by Erik’s input. During the formative years

of this regional conference, Erik provided perspective and guided its development. Take a look at the 2018 program in this issue of the Journal. 2018 marks the third year of this event. Remember, all profits go to turfgrass research!

I’m not out of line when I say the strength of both the VTC and Virginia’s turfgrass industry is directly attributable to Erik. I wish him the very best at the University of Delaware (photo below), and I predict we will see him again very soon as a guest at VTC events and as a speaker at future Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expos.

Photo by Parkpay2000 / CC BY-SA 3.0

6 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2017 www.vaturf.org

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VTF Report

The Virginia SEED LAW S

everal years ago, I wrote an article that highlighted some of the discussions from the Turfgrass Summit held in Wintergreen in November 2013. The overriding consensus from the members of this summit was our need to be more unified as an industry. In 2017, the VTC and the VGCSA joined forces to put on the most successful research golf tournament to date. It raised more than $45,000 for Virginia’s turfgrass research. This is such a positive step and reflects what can be done when we are all unified in common goals.

The other point that was highlighted at the Summit was our need to more closely monitor the Seed Law to ensure that all those who should be contributing to it are doing so. It is an honor-system venture with precious few checks and balances.

In 2012, we were successful in securing a spot on the Virginia Agricultural Board, which reviews agricultural research and awards dollars from the research fund it monitors. Part of this pot is the money acquired from Virginia’s Seed Law that must be used for turfgrass research. We still need to look into the possibility of expanding the law to include fertilizer sales as North Carolina does. Our fund currently provides about $40,000 to $60,000 each year for turfgrass research. We believe it should be considerably more.

At the right-hand side of this page is the section of the seed law as it pertains to the funding of turfgrass research. The Virginia Turfgrass Foundation has been charged with reviewing and recommending those projects we feel would most benefit the needs of Virginia’s turfgrass Industry.

Betty B. Parker VTF Manager

§ 3.2-4004. Seed Fund; established.

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Seed Fund, hereafter referred to as the “Fund.” The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All fees and assessments paid pursuant to this article shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for carrying out the purpose of this article, except that the Commissioner shall deposit 50 percent of the inspection fee to the credit of the Virginia Agricultural Foundation Fund.

The Virginia Agricultural Council shall administer all funds received from this section for the exclusive funding of lawn and turf research.

Jack Hall served on this board for the past seven years and championed our efforts to ensure that we received our just portion. He has recently resigned from the board and will be missed for his incredible knowledge of turfgrass research as well as his ability to work congenially with all of us! We currently have two nominations for this position and will ensure that we have a new representative for the board’s March research review meeting.

The founding members of the VTF believed there was a need to establish an endowment that would be used for the support of turfgrass research in Virginia.

We still believe it! We are set up as a non-profit, tax exempt, scientific and educational organization 501©(3); therefore contributions are tax deductible. Our endowment fund now stands at $673,139.41!

8 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2017 www.vaturf.org

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Upcoming Event

MID-ATLANTIC TURFGRASS EXPO (M-A-T-E) January 29 – February 1, 2018 Fredericksburg Conference & Expo Center • Fredericksburg, VA Monday, January 29 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Golf Session Selecting Bermudagrass Control in Creeping Bentgrass John Brewer, Graduate Student, and Shawn Askew, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Panel: Real-World Pros and Cons to Bermudagrass Putting Green Conversion Dan Taylor, CGCS, Independence Golf Club, and Jordan Booth, CGCS, Willow Oaks Country Club USGA 2017 Year in Review Darin Bevard and Elliott Dowling, United States Golf Association Direction of Golf and the USGA Darin Bevard and Elliott Dowling, United States Golf Association Interactive Rapid Fire: Turf Disease Management Joe Roberts, Ph.D., University of Maryland; Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., University of Tennessee; and David McCall, Ph.D., Virginia Tech 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Understanding Turf Insecticides Tom Kuhar, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Practices that Enhance Turfgrass Microbiology Joe Roberts, Ph.D., and J.R. Doherty, Graduate Student, University of Maryland

Topdressing Lawns: When It Works and When It Doesn’t Mark Carroll, Ph.D., University of Maryland The Grim Reaper: Mechanisms of Turfgrass Death Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Virginia Tech

Tuesday, January 30 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Sports Field Management Making Cultivation a “Core” Part of Your Maintenance Plan Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D., University of Kentucky Thinking Outside the Box on Your Sports Fields Mike Skelton, Culpeper P&R; Charlie Fultz, Strutter Turf; and Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Virginia Tech

General Session MTC and VTC Annual Meetings Keynote Address: Growing Weeders into Leaders Jeff McManus, Director of Landscape Services, University of Mississippi 9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Golf Session Pythium Diseases: Root Rots, Foliar Blights and Dysfunction of Both Warm and Cool Season Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Siduron Programs for Crabgrass and Goosegrass Control in Greens Shawn Askew, Ph.D., Virginia Tech

Pros and Cons in Organic Sports Turf Management Jason Bowers, Virginia Tech 9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Lawn and Landscape Session Developing Your Crew Jeff McManus, Director of Landscape Services, University of Mississippi A New Look at Reduced Input Lawn Care — Is There a Market?

Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D., University of Kentucky Controlling Sedges and Doveweed in Turf and Landscape Plantings Jeff Derr, Ph.D., Virginia Tech 9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Spring Dead Spot Management: Many Ways to Cook an Egg, Even Some That Taste Terrible David McCall, Ph.D., Virginia Tech

10 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2017 www.vaturf.org

Sod Production Session Programs to Optimize Spring Seeding Success of Tall Fescue Adam Nichols, Hampton Roads AREC, Virginia Tech

Brown Patch Management: Options for Both Fungicide and Non-Fungicide Control Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Weed Control and Identification Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D., University of Kentucky 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Mechanic’s Seminar Day One of Three (See below)

12:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Lunch and Tradeshow

Wednesday, January 31

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Tradeshow and Lunch 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Fellowship Breakfast

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

God’s Promises When Life Is Hard Danny Allen, Camden Country Club

Sod Growers’ Meeting

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

W.S. Connelly Graduate Student Oral Presentation Contest

Thursday, February 1 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Mechanic’s Seminar

Innovation Corner

Day Three of Three (See below)

See the latest in turf science!

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Mechanic’s Seminar 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Day Two of Three (See below)

Corn Hole Tournament and Reception

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Limited Pesticide Recertification

Pesticide Recertification and Certification (2, 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10 and 60)

Certified Fertilizer Applicator Recertification and Certification

(3A, 3B and 60 only) Includes Lunch and Tradeshow

During the MID-ATLANTIC TURFGRASS EXPO January 29 – February 1 Tuesday, January 30 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Reel Cutting Unit Optimization: A class to cover reel setup to improve quality of cut

Wednesday, January 31 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Light Maintenance, New Products and Discussion from Floor

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Basic Electrical: Schematic Review, Light Theory and Trouble Shooting

Kenneth Glass from Stihl

Cort Rash and Greg Womble

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch and Tradeshow

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch on your own

Included with Registration

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Basic Hydraulics: Schematic Review, Components, Diagnostics

Chris Langley from Bernhard

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch and Tradeshow Included with Registration

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Maintenance and Preventative Maintenance on Landscape Equipment Charles Coonradt from Mortons Power

Thursday, February 1

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Update on Tier 4 Engines: Revisit the maintenance that technicians can do on these engines Cort Rash and Greg Womble

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

“KIS” — Keep It Simple — Record Keeping Nick Hamner

Cort Rash and Greg Womble

Registration Details Only $95 for VTC Members $120 for Non-Members Register online at

www.turfconference.org Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Registration Form

MID-ATLANTIC TURFGRASS EXPO (M-A-T-E) January 29 – February 1, 2018 • Fredericksburg, VA • Fredericksburg Conference & Expo Center Program and lodging information: www.turfconference.org Full Name: ___________________________________________ (First name for badge): _______________________________ Company/Organization: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Preferred Mailing Address: __________________________________________________________________________________ City: _________________________________________________ State: _____________ Zip/Postal Code: __________________ Telephone:(______) ___________________________________ Fax:(______) ________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ CONFERENCE FEES 1. Registration Fees MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY One Day Two Days Three Days Mechanic’s Seminar ONLY THURSDAY

MTC OR VTC MEMBER Member Rate Non-Member Rate $115 $150 $195 $230 $275 $310 $95 $120 FREE

$85

WHEN ARE YOU ATTENDING? Circle the day(s).

Monday; Tuesday; Wednesday; Mechanics Seminar (ONLY); Thursday COST:

$ _________________________

2. Attend Trade Show ONLY ($10 per Day, includes Lunch and Tuesday Reception) WHEN ARE YOU ATTENDING? Circle the day(s): Tuesday or Wednesday

$ _________________________

3. JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

$ _________________________

VTC Regular Membership (January 1 – December 31) $85 MTC Regular Membership (February 1 – January 31) $50 Further membership options at http://turfconference.org/registration.html Total Enclosed

$ _________________________

PAYMENT METHOD: Check to: Mid-Atlantic Turfgrass Expo (or MATE). Registration confirmation/receipt will be mailed.

Please check appropriate box: Check AMEX VISA MasterCard Card #: ______________________________________________ Print Cardholder Name:_______________________________ Card Security Code Number: ___________________________ Expiration Date: _____________________________________ Please mail, fax, or scan and email completed registration form with payment to: M-A-T-E P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471

Phone: (757) 464-1004 FAX: (757) 282-2693 Email: vaturf@verizon.net

For up-to-the-minute updates and to register online, visit www.turfconference.org

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VTC Membership Cover Story

JOIN THE

TODAY!

Membership Benefits For ALL members include:

FREE pesticide recertification training at the oneday 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

14 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 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:

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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

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Cover Story

INDUSTRY FRIENDS SAY A FOND

Farewell TO VIRGINIA TECH’S

DR. ERIK

ERVIN

16 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2017 www.vaturf.org

Compiled by Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech

Editor’s note: At the end of this year, Dr. Erik Ervin will leave Virginia Tech to become the head of the Plant and Soil Sciences Department at the University of Delaware.

Erik Ervin spent 17 years as a professor and turfgrass physiologist at Virginia Tech, advancing in his academic career to the level of Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and interim head of the Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences Department. Several of his university and Virginia turfgrassindustry colleagues offered a few memories of Dr. Ervin’s tenure at Virginia Tech, and they join countless others in saying thanks to Dr. Ervin for his years of service. Erik, we wish you great success as the head of the Plant and Soil Sciences Department at the University of Delaware.

Dr.

DICK FISHER, CGCS

Superintendent, Lake Chesdin Golf Course Erik and Stacey Ervin joined the Vessells and us for a great ski vacation a few years ago in Park City, Utah. The first day, Erik showed up with telemark skis, like you see in cross-country ski racing. He proceeded to bust some new trails through the trees in deep powder at breakneck speed. We were suitably impressed until we saw him ski faster and jump higher the next day on regular skis. We asked him how he learned to ski so well while growing up in sorta-flat Iowa, for crying out loud. He said, “Well, we did have a place in Colorado, too. And there was that graduate-school stint at Colorado State, as well!” If you think he’s competitive on a golf course, you ain’t seen nothing ‘til you’ve seen him on skis. Those mountains in Delaware are going to take quite a beating!

DAVE CHALMERS, PH.D. former Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech

I have enjoyed keeping in touch with Erik through the years at meetings and in my occasional visits to Blacksburg.

And yes, there have been a number of rounds of golf together along the way with mutual friends and colleagues; eight of us in Scotland for a great week in 2015 was a highlight! Erik is a good friend. I was pleased to play a small part in bringing him to Virginia Tech and pleased to be asked by Dr. Goatley to express my good wishes to Erik as he departs VT after 17 years.

I first met and interacted with Erik during his Ph.D. program at Colorado State University while I was there on sabbatical leave during the summer of 1997. I was impressed with Erik as a graduate student, and we kept in touch as he started his academic career at the University of Missouri as the state turf Extension specialist. During that time, those of us at Virginia Tech knew that Dr. Dick Schmidt was soon to retire. Erik was early in his career at Missouri, and the search committee invited him to apply.

Well, the rest (from 2001 on) is “in the books.” Erik focused on continuing and further developing Dick Schmidt’s work in biostimulant-type research as well as in many other areas. He has been good for the turf program (undergraduate and graduate students) and the turf industry, and he has been a productive and respected scientist and colleague. More recently, he was able to “kick the tires” in administrative roles as Assistant Dean of Academic Programs in the College of Agriculture

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 17

Cover Story and Life Sciences and as Interim Department Head of Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences.

It does not surprise me that Erik was the successful Department Chair candidate for the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Delaware. University of Delaware faculty, students and allied industry clientele will certainly benefit from having Erik as Chair. He has demonstrated a talent for administration and has the academic and administrative experience/perspective necessary to have meaningful and relevant impact to advance the University of Delaware’s Land Grant missions in teaching, research and Extension. I wish Erik all the best as he takes on his new position, and I thank him for his many contributions during his time at Virginia Tech.

MIKE GOATLEY, PH.D.

Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech Erik did a great job doing just about everything for the agronomic side of the turf program after Dr. Chalmer’s departure, and he kept all aspects of the teaching, research AND Extension programs going until Virginia Tech was able to refill the Extension position (the one I eventually filled). For that, I am very thankful.

We have had the opportunity to share the advising responsibilities of several graduate students over the years, and Erik is a far superior advisor to the students than I am. Erik’s research expanded upon Dr. Dick Schmidt’s program, and between Erik and Dr. Zhang, they became the first group of researchers that actually explained why things were or were not happening with certain biostimulant products.

Erik has been preparing for the next stage of his academic career for a few years now, and he is primed and ready for this next stage of his professional life in Newark, DE. I hope he will continue to take my questions, but I know that he is well suited for this next opportunity as a department head

at the University of Delaware. Good luck, Erik!

KEHUA WANG, PH.D.

Associate Professor, China Agricultural University I was pleased to learn of this opportunity for Dr. Ervin and happy to write my thoughts about Erik. This effort immediately brought me back to ten years ago, the very memorable Hokietime during my six-and-half-year stay in the U.S. Dr. Erik Ervin was my advisor when I was a Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech.

I still remember the first time when I drove to Blacksburg all the way from Indiana. My wife Lu and I arrived late, and Erik and Stacy waited for us and invited us to a Thai restaurant at downtown Blacksburg. The food was delicious, and their hospitality was even more memorable.

As a graduate student, I learned a lot from Erik, not just the knowledge of turfgrass science and how to be a good researcher, but so much more.

Erik is always willing to help students.

One time, I told him that I would like to learn more practical skills of turfgrass management. He kept that in mind and helped me find a summer internship at the Blacksburg Country Club soon after. In addition, he took me and several other students to a U.S. golf tournament to learn the process of tournament preparation, such as mowing, raking the bunkers, divot repair and watering greens, etc.

Those experiences are very useful now, especially for me in China.

I left Blacksburg in 2010 after graduation. I email Erik about turfgrass research and issues once a while, but I hadn’t had a chance to see him again until last month when I went to Tampa for the 2017 ASA-CSSA-SSSA annual meeting. When we met at the convention center, we hugged and shook our hands tightly! I am very thankful for having a great advisor like Erik, and I wish him and Stacey all the best at Delaware in the future!

18 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2017 www.vaturf.org

JEFF HENDERSON

James River Course Assistant Superintendent, The Country Club of Virginia As a 2012 Virginia Tech graduate, I spent all four years of my college career interacting with Dr. Ervin. I remember that he was one of the first people I met as a young, scared freshman and one of the last people I said goodbye to as I received my degree and headed off into the real world.

Dr. Ervin wore many hats during his tenure in Blacksburg. Just a few of them included: professor, researcher, golfer, speaker, advisor, boss, friend and caretaker of six goats. As my advisor, he made sure my very first semester started off great by enrolling me in 18 credits. Maybe he had faith in me, or maybe it was a cruel joke, but either way, I learned quickly that college was much more difficult than high school.

Freshman biology and chemistry were a rude awakening, but as time went on and I began taking elective courses, school became more enjoyable.

Dr. Ervin’s Turfgrass Management and Golf and Sports Turf Management classes were easily my two favorite classes. He was a great professor because he could make the material interesting and teach us about his own turfgrass research. In his G&STM class, we had a superintendent from the Country Club of Virginia visit as a guest speaker. Dr. Ervin helped me secure an internship with that superintendent, and I have worked for The Country Club of Virginia ever since.

Dr. Ervin, thanks for your guidance and friendship, and good luck at the University of Delaware.

LOUIS BROOKING JR.

Owner, Brookmeade Sod Farm When Dr. Dick Schmidt and Dr. Jack Hall retired from the Virginia Tech turf program, I was concerned that the program might experience a decline.

Cover Story continued

However, Dr. Erik Ervin came in with new enthusiasm and took the program to a new level of national prominence, keeping with the research and teaching that had come before him.

Dr. Ervin has been a great supporter of the Virginia Turfgrass Council and the Virginia Sod Growers Association.

We will surely miss him! However, we wish him the very best in his new endeavor in Delaware, and if I can ever be of any assistance, I hope he will call on me.

XUNZHONG ZHANG, PH.D.

Research Scientist, Virginia Tech First of all, I’d like to thank Dr. Ervin for his great leadership, support and friendship. I have enjoyed very much working with Dr. Ervin at Virginia Tech for the past 17 years. He has great insight and a wonderful personality, and he works very hard for the excellent turfgrass research program.

He has made great contributions to Virginia’s turfgrass industry.

Dr. Ervin clearly defines the direction and focus of our research, oversees all research activities and works hard to achieve the goals. He often said that the important thing is to ensure the quality of our research work and provide strong support to our turfgrass industry. I found that all research efforts he led have focused on solving the problems facing our turfgrass industry. For example, he initiated research projects using innovative approaches to control thatch and Poa annua for golf course putting greens. Turfgrass sod production is a major part of the Virginia turfgrass industry, and sod quality decline after harvest is a major concern of sod growers. To solve this problem, we carried out research on sod farms to improve sod shelf life using an integrated-management approach.

I really appreciate Dr. Ervin’s great support, and I have enjoyed our pleasant communications and great relationship over the years. As he will

Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Cover Story

leave us soon, I have mixing feelings.

I wish that he could continue to be with us at Virginia Tech, but I also sincerely wish him all the best in the new position at Delaware.

MARK VAUGHN, CGCS Superintendent, Goodyear Golf Club

When I came to Virginia as a young superintendent, there was a towering redhead present in the turf program at Virginia Tech. As I grew old(er), another redhead assumed a prominent position within the Virginia Tech turf family. So, despite being the rarest of the rare, ginger-mania (I can use that term since I too am MCR1 recessive) has rocked Blacksburg over nearly FORTY years. Yeah, baby! Take that, all you ordinary people.

And although they couldn’t be much more different in terms of physical stature (think Mutt and Jeff), they have much in common — namely, a passion for turf, golf and the folks involved in this great industry. I speak, of course, of Dr. David Chalmers and Dr. Erik Ervin. One moved on to greener pastures quite a few years

ago, and now we face the same with the other. For the FEW of you who may not know (after all, this IS a relatively small industry, and the grapevine is pretty tight), Dr. Ervin will be heading to the University of Delaware at the end of the year.

Erik came to Virginia Tech in 2001 from the University of Missouri, where he was an assistant professor and Extension specialist. He began his career in Virginia as an assistant professor within the Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences Department. In 2005, he became an associate professor, and in 2010 a full professor. He has also served as Coordinator of the Turfgrass Research Center since his arrival at Tech. In 2013, he assumed duties as the Associate Dean of Academic Programs for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and in 2016, he added Interim Department Head for CSES to his growing list of duties. Which begs the question, how the heck did he find time to play all that golf?

We all know the redheaded stereotypes, and none of us more than those of us wearing the carrot top. Let’s take the most cited one: temper. That might be the way you see it, but we prefer “fiery emotional competiveness.” If you ever played golf with Erik, it’s nothing personal — he just wants to kick your butt. OK, maybe he let you know about it while he was kicking it.

It’s possible he COULD be that way, skiing the steeps, trees and bumps (which he handles rather easily), but I was never good enough to find that out.

Jokes aside, as I alluded to earlier, Dr. Ervin has been a passionate supporter of the industry, the VTC, Field Days, the annual Conference and Tradeshow and research at Virginia Tech. He’s not only a professor, researcher and administrator but, more importantly, a friend to many.

His departure leaves a rather large hole to be filled, and in this day and age of academia, we can only hope that it will be.

Safe travels, my friend, and I hope we’ll get together some day on one of the great golf courses of the Northeast.

20 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2017 www.vaturf.org

MATT HERRMANN VT Turf Club President

On behalf of the VT Turf Club and all the turf students that have come through Virginia Tech over the past 17 years, I thank Dr. Ervin for all the time that he has given us as a teacher and mentor.

Dr. Ervin, while we hate to see you leave, we are very happy that you have this opportunity. Thanks for the hours outside the classroom that you have given so many of us students during your time at Virginia Tech.

Our loss is Delaware’s gain.

JACK HALL, PH.D.

former CSES head and Extension turfgrass specialist, Virginia Tech Erik Ervin always struck me as a soft-spoken, but wise individual who independently had the courage to pursue areas of research that were initially risky in terms of providing valuable information to turfgrass managers. His leadership in the area of biostimulant research was nationally recognized and significantly improved the chances of turf survival under difficult environmental situations, thus saving many turfgrass managers’ jobs across the nation. In his teaching, research and Extension experience, he conveyed important characteristics of leadership like dependability, integrity, knowledge, endurance, tact, understanding, initiative and enthusiasm. His impact on the turfgrass industry will continue to reap benefits for many years to come through the students he guided and the use of biostimulants and management skills he promoted.

His new job as a department head at the University of Delaware will be challenging, but it will magnify his ability to promote coordination and maximize productivity of the faculty in a way that will benefit all of the recipients of their teaching, research and Extension expertise.

Cover Story continued

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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Feature Story

Best Management Practices for

Turf Insecticides and Pollinators

By Jonathan Larson, Ph.D., Extension Entomologist, University of Nebraska–Lincoln; David Held, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Entomology, Auburn University; and R. Chris Williamson, Ph.D., Professor, Extension Specialist, Turfgrass and Ornamentals, University of Wisconsin–Madison

P

ollinating insects are valuable organisms that we rely on for pollination services for crops, backyard vegetable gardens and certain ornamental plants. In the last decade, there has been concern about declining populations of bees and other pollinators. A general decline in pollinator numbers has been driven by the combined negative effects of habitat loss, diseases, parasites and misapplied insecticides. All of these issues must be addressed if we are to help pollinators recover and mitigate future impact.

In the turfgrass industries, managers must be aware of these issues and be proactive to ensure that their methods

do not contribute to losses in pollinator populations. To that end, researchers have developed rational, scientifically based recommendations for best management practices (BMP) that promote healthy landscapes, while conserving and enhancing pollinator health.

Follow label precautions, and practice insecticide stewardship.

Turfgrass stands are rarely devoid of weeds. Flowering weeds, such as the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and white clover (Trifolium repens) among others, provide an

22 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2017 www.vaturf.org

important food source for pollinators, particularly as early season forage for bees that emerge in spring. Weeds in cool-season grass (bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass) lawns host 50 to 100 different species of bees, butterflies and flies. This demonstrates the need for us to consider the hazards to these insects from insecticide applications in turf.

There are simple ways to reduce pollinators’ exposure to insecticides.

First and foremost, read and follow the label instructions on the insecticide you have selected. The wording on many insecticide labels has changed recently relative to pollinator conservation.

Pictured above: Coneflower. • Pictured Below: Bee Balm.

The most common precaution is to avoid using insecticides on areas of turf with actively blooming weeds. This recommendation is the best way to minimize hazard from liquid insecticide applications that would coat flowers and taint pollen and nectar with insecticides.

This is particularly important if you have a weedy patch of turf that needs an insecticide application.

Maximizing the surrounding landscape for pollinators Habitat loss is one of the biggest contributors to pollinator decline. Bees

need flowering plants for both food and spaces to nest. As natural habitats disappear, so do food and nesting resources. To help combat this problem, provide the best possible habitat for these important insects by planting a diversity of flowering plants in your landscape. This ensures that pollinating insects with differing food preferences will have a variety of shapes, colors and sizes to choose from and that there will be plants in bloom throughout the growing season.

Past research has shown that plants like New England aster, bergamot, black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, plains coreopsis, prairie coneflower and

lanceleaf coreopsis can be quite attractive to a diverse array of pollinators.

If you want to learn more about how you can successfully create your own pollinator gardens, you can contact your local university Extension service to learn more about which flowering plants are suitable for planting in your area. In addition, the Pollinator Partnership offers free planting guides tailored to specific parts of the country at www.pollinator.org/guides.

Finally, be sure to include resources for pollinators to use as nesting sites.

For bees, you can construct domiciles out of pieces of hollow bamboo, or purchase pre-made “bee houses� to Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

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Advertisers Index

Feature Story

Agronomic Lawn Management ...... 19, 25 www.FertilizerWithALM.com Buy Sod ..................................................... 3 www.buysod.com Carolina Green Corp. ............................ 25 www.cgcfields.com Chesapeake Valley Seed .......................... 9 www.chesapeakevalleyseed.com Black-eyed Susan.

station in your gardens. Plans for building bee domiciles are available online. To help out butterflies and moths, you will need to include larval food resources such as milkweed for monarchs or parsley for black swallowtails. You can learn more online about caterpillar food preferences.

FAST FACTS • Populations of pollinating insects have been reduced by habitat loss, disease, parasitic mites and misapplications of insecticides. We can take proactive steps to conserve these beneficial insects.

• Avoid applying liquid insecticides to the blooming portion of flowering weeds like dandelions or clover. To accomplish this in turf, mow before application or use a granular product.

• You can provide foraging habitat and nesting spots for pollinators by planting a diversity of blooming plants that provide flowers at different times in the growing season.

• If you are treating for belowground pests, consider using a granular — or spreadable — insecticide formulation. Granular products ensure that the insecticide residues go into the soil rather than into the blooms of flowering weeds.

• If you must treat with a liquid insecticide formulation, mow the area you will be treating immediately before application. Mowing removes the majority of flowers, thereby reducing foraging pollinators. While some

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modern insecticides are systemic, current research for weeds in turf has demonstrated that any systemic transfer of insecticides into weeds poses no hazard to pollinators.

• Controlling flowering weeds prior to or post-bloom with an herbicide before the application of an insecticide will also reduce the chances of directly contaminating flowers with an insecticide.

Note to readers This publication was originally developed during the National Pollinator Summit for the Development of Best Management Practices to Protect Pollinators in Turf (August 21–22, 2016, Sheboygan, Wisconsin). The authors, in collaboration with more than 60 university researchers, Extension specialists, industry stakeholders (including lawn care professionals, golf course superintendents, managers and consultants) and product manufacturers have summarized and synthesized research and recommended management practices that protect pollinators in turf systems.

This work was supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Crop Protection and Pest Management Program through the North Central IPM Center (201470006-22486). For more information about the development of this publication document, contact Susan T. Ratcliffe at sratclif@illinois.edu or by phone at 217-333-9656.

To download an electronic version of this article, visit ncipmc.org/action/ fastfactsbmpturf.pdf.

24 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2017 www.vaturf.org

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For franchise information go to www.weedmanfranchise.com or call (888) 321-9333 Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council

| 25

Virginia Tech Turf Team

Turfgrass Calendar January 16–19 STMA Conference and Exhibition

Fort Worth Convention Center Fort Worth, TX

Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D.

May 8–9 VTC Come to the Valley

Staunton, VA

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

Fredericksburg, VA

February 3–8

Jeffrey F. Derr, Ph.D.

June 26 Virginia Tech Field Day

Hampton Roads AREC Virginia Beach, VA

Golf Industry Show

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center San Antonio, TX

February 12–15 TPI International Education Conference & Field Day

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

August 14 Lawn and Landscape Field Day

Virginia Tech Campus Blacksburg, VA

(Turfgrass Producers Intl.)

Westin LA Paloma Resort Tucson, AZ

February 27–28 VTC Come to the Bay

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

Virginia Beach, VA David McCall, Ph.D.

Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 (540) 231-9598 dsmccall@vt.edu WITH SUPPORT FROM: 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 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 ©2017 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.)

26 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2017 www.vaturf.org