President's Message

The VTC Has Your Back!

A question for our members: What is the VTC doing for me? To coin a term, The VTC has your back.

First: Let’s start with the issue of the delay of getting your applications processed for Pesticide Registered Technician Exam and grading them. Dr. Tom Tracy, along with VTC Board Members and VTC Members representing the turf industry, met with VDACS to find solutions to the delay and emphasize the effect it is having on the turf industry. At the time of the meting there was a backlog of 700 applications. VDACS, like the rest of us, is experiencing a shortage of labor. They have been working overtime to help catch up, but we all know that is not the best answer.

You should see some relief by this fall as new online solutions are put in place. It’s not an immediate answer, but they are aware of the effect the delay is having on the turf industry and understand that we are concerned with environmental issues by ensuring qualified pesticide applicators are in the field.

Second: We get important news out to you immediately. As soon as we were aware of the biggest invasion of fall armyworms in the history of Virginia, Dr. Tracy made sure that you received the latest information and solutions from Dr. Tom Kuhar and Dr. Mike Goatley from Virginia Tech. Timely and correct information is critical to your success in this industry. This might be one of your greatest benefits as a VTC member, making sure you are aware of issues that could affect your day-to-day operations.

I know you may not be thinking about this because you are so busy, BUT education for you and your staff is still very important and opportunities are just a few weeks away. Last year Virginia Tech created for the first time the Virginia Tech School of Turfgrass Ecology and Management (VT-STEM) online introductory course that replaced the VT Short Course. VT‐STEM is designed to serve as an introductory course detailing the principles in environmentally responsible turfgrass ecology and management for all segments of the turfgrass industry, whether you grow cool‐ or warm‐season turfgrasses. Inclusive dates are November 7th – February 27th. The course is broken down into weekly pre-recorded presentations with a Virginia Tech instructor hosting live 2-hour Zoom question and answer sessions on Wednesdays at 7:00pm. Students who pass all quizzes and Certified Fertilizer Applicator testing will have the opportunity to participate in the Virginia Tech Certified Turfgrass Professional program in February. Enrollment is at https://tinyurl.com/VT‐Turfgrass‐School. Contacts for more information are Dr. Mike Goatley goatley@vt.edu, @vaturf; Dr. Dan Sandor dsandor@vt.edu, @vtturfteaching; Ms. Whitnee Askew waskew@vt.edu

The 2021 Horticulture Short Course will start on Tuesday, December 7th and end on Thursday, December 9th. It will be held in Henrico County at the Belmont Recreation Center (1600 Hilliard Road, Henrico, VA 23228). The VTC understands you do more than just turf maintenance so with this course you will receive education that will help you in the non-turf areas. The course will cover from Botany 101 all the way to pruning, planting, and mulching. Go to the VTC website, vaturf.org for more information and to sign up. Just remember the VTC is here for you.

Mike Skelton

VTC President