Director’s Corner
Virginia Tech Turf Team Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-5807 askew@vt.edu
Our Work Continues
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
In
Massachusetts, politicians are seeking to ban pesticides on golf courses. Montgomery County, Maryland already forbids the use of many pesticides. On October 5, Baltimore City Council voted to ban some pesticides and restrict many others. I believe most of the politicians pushing these bans are not evil. They are misinformed. And they believe pesticides are harmful and that they are not being used properly. To their credit, the two Maryland bans do not exclusively target the industry — homeowners are included in the bans and restrictions. The need to educate decision makers and the need to fight for you led the Virginia Turfgrass Council’s Board of Directors to form the Virginia Turfgrass Council Environmental Institute. The purposes of the Institute are: 1. P roviding education for industry professionals and the general public on proper practices for environmental protection through various means, including seminars and workshops. 2. P roviding opportunities for industry professionals and the general public to restore environments. 3. Encouraging and providing support for environmental research. 4. E ducating decision makers about proper industry practices that protect the environment
The Virginia Turfgrass Council Environmental Institute was formed to enable us to work for our members on critical issues. Since the Institute is a 501(c)(3) non profit corporation, all donations you make are 100% tax exempt!
Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757-363-3900 adelpozo@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 Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D. Virginia Tech 420 Smyth Hall 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
Please give generously and help us continue the fight!
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
The VTC Congratulates Elton Nurmi of Newport News Waterworks. Elton is Virginia’s newest Certified Turfgrass Professional!
SAVE TH E S E DAT ES! January 19–22, 2021
February 23–24, 2021
Virtual
Virginia Beach
Mid Atlantic Turfgrass Expo
Come to the Bay
8 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL November/December 2020 www.vaturf.org
Dan Sandor, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 170 Drillfield Dr. 411 Price Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-9775 dsandor@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
