August 8, 2011
We had a great turnout (over 200!) for our Field Day last week, which is pretty remarkable considering the 100 degree plus temperatures that arrived before lunchtime. Our turfgrass science team truly appreciates the support of the Arkansas turfgrass industry and the large number of folks who made the trip to Fayetteville to attend Field Day. Below are links to a summary article and a slide show recapping the big day. Also below is survey information for anyone who attended the 2011 Field Day but did not submit a survey. If you did not attend Field Day, but would like more information on what was presented, click the Field Day program icon to view or download a copy of the entire 2011 Turfgrass Field Day Program. We have our fingers crossed that the weather is about to “break” in NW AR and that cooler/wetter weather is coming. Hopefully, we will all get some relief from this unprecedented heat wave soon. Hang in there everyone!
Field Day Survey
If you did not fill out a survey on-site the other day, we would like to ask you to give us some feedback. An electronic survey is located at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XWYXLDH and only has 6 questions, so it will take less than a minute to complete: We really try to improve our field day each year, so we value your input in this process.
Field Day Summary
A complete summary of the 2011 University of Arkansas Turfgrass Field Day is available at: http://arkansasagnews.uark.edu/6245.htm
Field Day Slide Show
A slide show presentation of the 2011 UofA Turfgrass Field Day may be viewed at: http://turf.uark.edu/FieldDay2011/
Field Day Program
You may view or download a pdf copy of the 2011 UofA Field program by clicking here.
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Chris Stiegler Turfgrass Science Graduate Student Travel Award
March 3, 2011
On Dec. 24, 2010, the turfgrass academic community lost one of its brightest young scholars,
when James Christopher (Chris) Stiegler and his wife, Jenny, were killed in an automobile
accident in Texas while travelling to be with their family for the holidays. Chris received his B.S.and M.S. degrees in turfgrass management at Oklahoma State University and worked for a period of time as an assistant golf course superintendent in Wichita, KS and as a Cooperative Extension Agent in Oklahoma. Chris completed a PhD in turfgrass science at the University of Arkansas in May of 2010 and was an assistant professor of turfgrass ecology and physiology at Texas A&M University in College Station TX in August, 2010.
The C5 (Turfgrass Science) Division of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) has long recognized the importance of graduate students to the health and vitality of our organization and we have many programs in place to support and encourage graduate student participation in the meetings. Chris Stiegler actively took part in CSSA as a graduate student as he was readying himself for a promising career. Although the Long Beach meeting in 2010 was his first as a faculty member, his contributions, and those of other graduate students, to the C5 division and turfgrass science should never be underestimated.
As a way to honor Chris's major contributions to the C5 Division of CSSA as a graduate student and to further encourage future scholars to participate in our meetings, a fund has
been established that will be used to award travel grants each year to deserving graduate
students in the C5 Division of CSSA.
This will be an endowed fund and awards will be made to a minimum of two students each year (initially proposing $500 per student) to offset travel expenses to the meeting. Additional
awards will be made pursuant to appropriate funding.
The Next Step: Funding the Endowment
In order to make this award a reality, a minimum of $25,000 is needed in support to fully
endow this fund. All members and supporters of the tri-societies are encouraged to support
efforts to reach this milestone in a timely fashion. Although Chris was primarily affiliated with CSSA, Chris's father, Jim Stiegler, has been a long-standing member of ASA and SSSA and has many friends and supporters within our communities. If you would like to support this activity, donations can be submitted either by check or through a secure, online form.
To submit a check:
- Make checks out to ASF
- Note Chris Stiegler Fund on the memo line
- Send to:
ASF
5585 Guilford Rd
Madison, WI 53711
To submit a secure, online donation, select the Chris Stiegler Graduate Student Travel Fund
from the dropdown list on the CSSA foundation website at: https://www.crops.org/foundation/donate.
There are likely many sources of funding within our academic community that might want to
contribute to this fund. It would also be appropriate to approach turf industry associations, corporate entities, and private individuals, among others, to donate to this fund. If desired, portions of gifts can be earmarked as "available for immediate award", such that awards can be made prior to the fund reaching an endowed level.
If you need any assistance in discussing this program with potential donors, please contact Dr. Mike Richardson (mricha@uark.edu), Dr. Richard White (rh-white@tamu.edu), or Dr. Greg Bell(greg.bell@okstate.edu).
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Turfgrass Science Students Shine in National Competition
March 3, 2011
The University of Arkansas Turfgrass Science Team placed in the top 20 of 87 teams at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America's 17th Annual Collegiate Turf Bowl competition Feb. 10 in Orlando.
Team members are Nic Brouwer, Scott Hendrickson, Nathan Tompkins, Kory Crews, Lee Gatlin and Conor Cummings. Coaches are doctoral students Joey Young and Dan Strunk.
The competition consists of an exam on the science and business of managing turfgrass for lawns, sports fields, golf courses, parks and other landscapes.
Coach Joey Young, a Ph.D. student, said, "The team maintained the University of Arkansas' dominance among schools in the Southeastern Conference." The team was within 14 points of the top 10 teams, which divided $10,000 in prize money provided by John Deere.
Young said, "Our students were scheduled to travel to Orlando on Wednesday, Feb. 9, the day of the monster blizzard that dropped 18+ inches of snow on Fayetteville. Our flights were cancelled, and after reluctantly releasing a couple of our students, five of us loaded into a Honda Accord and drove to Orlando. We left Fayetteville at 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, and 18 hours later we arrived at our destination in time to get some rest before the students took the test the next morning. I would be remised not to mention our two students who did not make the trip. Both Lee Gatlin and Conor Cummings proverbially "took one for the team" by staying back and allowing the rest of the students to participate in the test. These guys all worked incredibly hard throughout the fall semester and the first few weeks of the spring semester preparing and studying for this competition."
"The majority of these students will be graduating in May or December 2011, so this was their last opportunity to compete. We will have Nathan Tompkins back on the team next year for sure, and we hope to add a few more sharp individuals to build on the success the University of Arkansas has had in this great competition. I look forward to working with some new students next year, and hope to take a strong group of contenders to Las Vegas, NV for the GCSAA's annual conference in 2012."
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Members of the University of Arkansas Turfgrass Science Team study samples of grass in preparation for the Collegiate Turf Bowl in Orlando. Team members, all undergraduate students, are, from left, Scott Hendrickson of Nixa, Mo.; Nathan Tompkins of Edmonton, Okla.; Lee Gatlin of Springdale; Nic Brouwer of Fayetteville; Conor Cummings of Tulsa; and Kory Crews of Farmington.
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Turfgrass Graduate Students Compete Well (Again) at Crop Science Meetings
November 5, 2010
Long Beach, Cal. — Several current and former University of Arkansas graduate students presented their research in the Turfgrass Science division at the Crop Science Society of America 2010 International Annual Meeting this week in Long Beach, CA. Over 150 presentations on recent turfgrass research projects were made at these meetings by faculty and graduate students. Graduate students participated in presentation competitions and were judged based on the quality of the science, clarity of presentation, and skill with which the presenters answered questions posed by the judges.
Joey Young (PhD student with Dr. Richardson) won first place in his session with a poster titled, "Evaluating Ball Mark Severity and Recovery Using Digital Imaging Analysis". Josh Anderson (MS student with Dr. Karcher) also won first place in his session with a poster titled, "Planting Method Affects the Establishment Quality of Sports Turf". Former graduate student Jon Trappe (recent MS graduate with Dr. Patton; now both at Purdue) won second place in his session with an oral presentation titled, "Divot Resistance Varies Among Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass Cultivars".
In addition, Dan Strunk (PhD student with Dr. Karcher) gave an oral presentation titled, "Golf Shot Quality Is Affected by Ball Lie", which generated a lot of interest from the audience. Finally, Dr. Chris Stiegler, a recent PhD graduate (with Dr. Richardson) who is now on the faculty at Texas A&M presented a poster on a portion of his PhD research titled, "Influence of Leaf Cuticular Wax Amount and Composition On Foliar-Applied Nitrogen Absorption by Creeping Bentgrass".
This is the fourth consecutive year in which graduate students from the University of Arkansas have given award-winning presentations. |
From left: Joey Young, Josh Anderson, and Dan Strunk.
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Recent Graduate Takes Faculty Position at Texas A&M
August 27, 2010
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —Dr. Chris Stiegler, a Ph.D. graduate from the turfgrass program at the University of Arkansas, recently began a new position as an assistant professor at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. Chris’s responsibilities at Texas A&M will include both conducting research and teaching classes in their turfgrass management program as well as providing support to the turfgrass industry in Texas.
Chris completed his Ph.D. in May 2010 under the direction of Dr. Mike Richardson. His research at Arkansas was focused on the uptake and volatilization of foliar-applied nitrogen to creeping bentgrass and bermudagrass putting greens. While at Arkansas, Chris was an active member of the turfgrass program and gave many presentations to industry groups such as the Arkansas Turfgrass Association and the annual turfgrass field day. “Chris will be missed by our program as he really brought a high level of professionalism and a strong work ethic” said Dr. Richardson. “He was a very bright student, a meticulous researcher, and a good teacher. I am confident he will be successful at Texas A&M”.
Commenting on his program at Arkansas, Stiegler said “I will always look back fondly on the time I spent at the University of Arkansas. These positive feelings are directly attributable to the quality faculty, staff, students, and turf industry folks I was able to interact with during my Ph.D. program. I cannot thank Dr. Mike Richardson enough for his excellent advisement and mentorship along the way and am very grateful for the opportunity to begin my career at a research-intensive institution as highly regarded as Texas A&M University.”
Chris was raised in Stillwater OK, where his father was a soil science faculty member and department head at Oklahoma State. Chris received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in turfgrass management from OSU and worked as an assistant golf course superintendent at Wichita Country Club. Prior to beginning his studies at Arkansas, Chris also worked as a horticultural agent for the OSU extension service. In addition to his recent academic and work successes, Chris and his wife, Jenny, are the proud new parents of their first daughter, Emily Grace, who joined the world on April 27, 2010. The entire UofA turfgrass program extends their best wishes to the Stiegler family!
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From left: Dr. Chris Stiegler and Dr. Mike Richardson.
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Horticulture Students Represent the University of Arkansas at GCSAA
March 9, 2010
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —Five University of Arkansas Horticulture students participated in the 16th annual Turf Bowl Competition at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s (GCSAA) annual conference in San Diego, CA on February 11, 2010. The students were divided into two teams, a team of four and an individual who took the exam alone. Our team of four finished 11th and the individual student finished 26th out of 67 teams from universities throughout the country. The Turf Bowl competition is a written test that assesses the students’ knowledge on a comprehensive range of turfgrass management subjects including: plant physiology, soils, mathematics, business, weeds, entomology, plant pathology, and turfgrass identification. Students also are required to write an essay response to one of four real world scenarios. The students’ responses are then graded by superintendents from around the country that have knowledge on the selected subject area. In addition to taking the exam, the students also create contacts in the industry through a student-superintendent networking reception.
These students prepared for the Turf Bowl competition by enrolling in HORT 402V. This one-hour credit course requires students to meet once a week beginning in September to learn about each of the general subject areas tested on the exam. These students worked diligently each week completing numerous assignments and learning materials up until the point of participating in the exam.
The five students who represented the University of Arkansas are all Horticulture, Landscape, and Turf Science students in the Department of Horticulture. The students competing for the University of Arkansas were Nic Brouwer, Lee Gatlin, Scott Hendrickson, Nathan Tompkins, and Scott Wasser. The students were coached by graduate students Jon Trappe and Joey Young.
The competition builds camaraderie among those competing, strengthens their knowledge of their career field, and builds industry contacts and networking skills. As this was a young team of competitors, the students are looking forward to next year’s Turf Bowl Competition in Orlando, FL., where they plan on bringing continued recognition to the University of Arkansas Department Of Horticulture.
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From left: Nathan Tompkins, Scott Wasser, Nic Brouwer, Scott Hendrickson, and Lee Gatlin.
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Arkansas Student Wins Watson Fellowship
December 16, 2009
Ronald Calhoun, Paul Koch and James Stiegler each have been awarded $5,000 postgraduate grants by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) as winners of the 2009 Watson Fellowship Program.
The Watson Fellowship is funded by a partnership between The Toro Co. and The Environmental Institute for Golf. It is named after James R. Watson, Ph.D., a retired vice president for Toro who pioneered turfgrass research. The winners, students working toward postgraduate degrees, have been identified as promising future teachers and researchers in the field of golf course management. They also receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2010 GCSAA Education Conference <http://www.gcsaa.org/conference/> (Feb. 8-12) and Golf Industry Show <http://www.golfindustryshow.com/> (Feb. 10-11) in San Diego.
Calhoun is working toward a doctoral degree in weed ecology at Michigan State University. He holds dual bachelor's degrees in horticulture and crop and soil sciences, and a master's degree in crop and soil sciences from Michigan State. His dissertation aims to develop an understanding of annual bluegrass germination, flower induction and flower suppression in Michigan. Calhoun also will present in three different seminars at the 2010 GCSAA Education Conference as an instructor.
Koch is pursuing a doctorate in plant pathology at the University of Wisconsin. He earned a bachelor's degree in production systems and a master's degree in plant pathology from Wisconsin. His dissertation is about integrated strategies for disease control on Wisconsin turfgrass.
Stiegler is working toward a doctoral degree in plant science at the University of Arkansas. He has a bachelor's degree in horticulture and agronomy and a master's degree in horticulture from Oklahoma State University. His dissertation is an assessment of foliar nitrogen uptake by two turfgrass species – creeping bentgrass and ultradwarf bermudagrass.
Watson is a leading authority on turfgrasses and was vice president for customer relations and chief agronomist for Toro. The winner of the USGA Green Section Award in 1976 and the 1977 Agronomic Service Award by the American Society of Agronomy, Watson was named a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America in 1979. He also won the 1991 Harry Gill Memorial Award of the Sports Turf Managers Association and GCSAA's highest honor in 1995, the Old Tom Morris Award. Over the course of five decades at Toro, Watson conducted research on adaptability of species and strains of turfgrasses, fertilization practices, snow mold prevention techniques for the winter protection of turfgrasses, etc. He has authored more than 400 popular articles on turfgrass cultural practices and water conservation.
GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 20,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org <http://www.gcsaa.org> .
The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA, is a collaborative effort of the environmental and golf communities, dedicated to strengthening the compatibility of golf with the natural environment. The Institute concentrates on delivering programs and services involving research, education and outreach that communicate the best management practices of environmental stewardship on the golf course. For more on The Institute, visit www.eifg.org <http://www.eifg.org> .
The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of turf and landscape maintenance equipment, and precision irrigation systems. With sales of nearly $1.9 billion in fiscal 2008, Toro's global presence extends to more than 140 countries through its reputation of world-class service, innovation and turf expertise. Since 1914, the company has built a tradition of excellence around a number of strong brands to help customers care for golf courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties, and agricultural fields. More information is available at www.thetorocompany.com <http://www.thetorocompany.com> .
Turfgrass graduate students claim prizes at National conference
November 30, 2009
A turf student in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas won an award for his research presentation at the Crop Science Society of America meetings in Pittsburg. Chris Stiegler won third place in the graduate student poster competition with a poster on "Foliar absorption of N by creeping bentgrass putting green turf utilizing select 15-N-labeled inorganic and organic sources." His adviser is Mike Richardson.
August 30, 2009
GCSAA awards 12 collegiate scholarships
GCSAA has awarded scholarships to 12 college students as part of the GCSAA Scholars Program administered by GCSAA's philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf.
Sean Elverd is the first place winner in the competition. He receives a $6,000 scholarship and is honored as the Mendenhall Award Winner. Elverd, a senior from Chattanooga, Tenn., is a turfgrass science and management major at the University of Tennessee.
The second place winner, Thomas Ham, receives a $5,000 award and is designated as the recipient of the Allan MacCurrach Award. The MacCurrach Award is funded by the PGA Tour. Ham is from Jenison, Mich., and is in his final year of a golf course turfgrass management certificate at Michigan State University.
Both Elverd and Ham also will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the 2010 GCSAA Education Conference (Feb. 8-12) and Golf Industry Show (Feb. 10-11) in San Diego.
Niels Dokkuma, an international student at Penn State University, was awarded a $2,500 Ambassador Award. The following students were awarded stipends ranging from $2,500 to $500:
- Joshua Lewis, Oregon State University, $2,500
- Steven Hutzell, University of Maryland, $2,500
- Scott Wasser, University of Arkansas, $2,000
- Glen Obear, University of Wisconsin, $2,000
- Diego Penapareja, Michigan State University, $1,500
- Brian Ervin, Colorado State University, $1,500
- Robert Pray, Michigan State University, $1,500
- Manuel Gonzalez, Michigan State University, $500
- Matt Carstens, Washington State University, $500
The GCSAA Scholars Program, funded by the Robert Trent Jones Endowment, was developed to recognize outstanding students planning careers in golf course management. Winners were selected to receive scholarship awards based on the final ranking in a competition judged by GCSAA's Scholarship Committee. Factors considered were academic achievement, potential to become a leading professional, employment history, extracurricular activities, and recommendations from a superintendent with whom the student has worked and a current academic advisor.
Applicants must be enrolled in a recognized undergraduate program in a major field related to golf/turf management and be a GCSAA member. Undergraduate applicants must have successfully completed at least 24 credit hours or the equivalent of one year of full-time study in an appropriate major.
Turf crowd turns out for field day at Division of Agriculture center
August 7 , 2009
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It’s a turf crowd that scientists and their graduate students perform for at the Turfgrass Field Day, but attendance has grown each year of the annual event at the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center 2.5 miles north of the University of Arkansas campus on Hwy. 112.
The turfgrass research area includes the largest putting green in Arkansas. It’s used for bentgrass research and is part of a horticultural research, extension and teaching complex provided by the University of Arkansas System’s statewide Division of Agriculture.
Assistant Professor Aaron Patton, who coordinates the event, said most of the approximately 260 field day visitors work in the lawn care, golf course, athletic field and sod farm industries. The field day was held every other year until 2007 when it became a yearly event.
“I think we are meeting a real need by providing updates on research, demonstrations of recommended practices and new technology, and a trade show, which had 20 vendors this year,” Patton said. “It’s also good for networking with other turf people, vendors and university people.”
The field day includes pesticide recertification training for turf managers in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
A tour of research projects and demonstrations included a range of topics, such as grass variety trials, variety selection for various purposes including drought tolerance, managing putting greens, fertilization, and control of plant diseases, insect pests and weeds.
Reports on turf research and extension projects are provided in the “Arkansas Turfgrass Report” published annually by the division’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station. To see the report online and event announcements, visit the Turfgrass Science Web site at turf.uark.edu.
Results of turfgrass variety trials in Arkansas and other states in the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program are online at www.ntep.org.
Bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in “horticulture, landscape and turf science” are offered by the horticulture department (hort.uark.edu) in Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
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Horticulture Students Continue to Build on Early Success
February 16, 2009
Last week, a group of University of Arkansas students placed 7th out of 83 teams at the 15th annual Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Turfbowl competition in New Orleans, LA. The competition is a written exam created by university professors and industry professionals and is designed to challenge the students’ knowledge of turf science and golf course management. Students are responsible for information about turf science across the nation, not just issues pertaining to the Southern United States.
The three-hour turf bowl competition included material such as: identification of soils, seed, grasses, diseases, insects and weeds. The competition also covers mathematics, plant physiology, growth and development, soil fertility, business, and an essay response to a case study of real-life scenarios that golf course superintendents experience. In order to prepare for the Turfbowl competition, students were enrolled in HORT 402V, a one credit hour class that met once a week beginning in September.
All four students representing the university were students majoring in Horticulture, Landscape, and Turf Sciences within the Department of Horticulture. The Turfbowl team was comprised of Miles Carlson, Brian Cornett, Scott Wasser and Emma White. In addition to competing in the exam the students also had opportunities to advance their academic and professional careers.
The turfbowl competition is put forth by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the leading turfgrass management organization within the golf course industry. Students had the opportunity to network with professionals in the turfgrass industry and build contacts for future job opportunities. This is just the second time that the University of Arkansas has been represented by students at the Turfbowl competition. Last year’s team was able to place 17th, a feat within itself. Following up with a top ten performance in just the second year has brought great respect within the turfgrass industry for the Horticulture Department here at the University of Arkansas. The students are already looking forward to next year’s competition in San Diego, CA. and are excited about improving on this years finish. The team’s goal for next year is to place in the top five. Based on the early success of this program, the team is confident that next year they will bring continued recognition to the program and establish it as a serious contender for the Turfbowl competition title. Please commend these students on their performance and hard work the next time you see them.
Turfgrass graduate students claim prizes at National conference
October 15, 2008
Three turf students in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas won awards for research presentations at the Crop Science Society of America meetings in Houston. Jay Richards won first place in the graduate student oral competition with a paper on "Putting green mowing frequency and height and rolling effects on ball roll distance." His adviser is Doug Karcher. Jon Trappe won first place in the graduate student poster competition with a poster on "Successful bermudagrass overseeding is dependent on species selection and pre-plant cultivation technique." His adviser is Aaron Patton. Will Jellicorse won a tie for second place in the graduate student poster competition with a poster on "Dormant seeding bermudagrass into an overseeded ryegrass turf." His adviser is Mike Richardson.
Turfgrass scientists focus on drought tolerance
August 12 , 2008
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Some grass varieties can go without water in the summer for up to 60 days with no damage and even retain some green color, says turfgrass scientist Mike Richardson, a horticulture professor with the University of Arkansas System’s Division of Agriculture.
Drought tolerance was one of many topics at the Turfgrass Field Day Aug. 6 at the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville. Most of the 190 visitors were turf industry professionals from throughout Arkansas and adjoining states, said Aaron Patton, assistant professor and extension specialist.
Richardson said turf scientists conducting drought tolerance research nationwide hope to provide the basis for a “water star” seal that the public can rely on to signify superior drought tolerance. “It’s the same idea as the ‘energy star’ for appliances,” Richardson said. “We haven’t worked out all the details, but I think we’ll get there.”
Drought tolerance research is conducted in a new 35 x 130 ft. “rainout shelter” at the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Plastic sheeting over a 17-foot-tall frame and open sides allow sunshine in but keep rain off the test plots.
The first year of rainout shelter tests revealed significant genetic differences in drought tolerance, but additional data are needed before publicizing results, Richardson said. Results will help plant breeders develop varieties with superior drought tolerance.
Richardson sees several other big reasons for documenting drought tolerance in turfgrass varieties. One is that most people tend to over-water, which sets turf up for disease and pest problems.
A second reason is that when water is in short supply, the first restrictions are often on watering lawns, golf courses and athletic fields.
A third reason is to reinforce the idea that turfgrass is “green,” meaning environmentally friendly. The balance of environment benefits versus the water and other inputs required, when properly managed, add up to a positive impact, Richardson said.
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Read the full article.
August 7, 2008
Field day features tips for golf course care
Even if a professional in the landscaping, sports field or golf course business came away from the Turfgrass Research Field Day on Wednesday with just one thing to help with his or her business, it was a success, said Mike Richardson, horticulture professor at the University of Arkansas.
“ It’s a day to really show off what we’re doing, ” Richardson said of the field day, which is sponsored by the Department of Horticulture of the UA System’s Division of Agriculture.
The event, which featured turf research and educational demonstrations, was conducted at the Horticulture Field Lab at the research and extension center north of Agri Park in Fayetteville. It attracted 190 participants, mostly lawn care and landscaping professionals as well as golf course superintendents and people involved in sales related to the turf industry.
The field day was conducted every other year for 10 years. It now is an annual event.
New features this year included a trade show that featured 14 exhibitors, said Aaron Patton, turfgrass specialist for the UA Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
“ That seems to be very popular, ” Patton said.
There was also a putting contest this year, he said, and “ everything’s just bigger this year. ”
Last year, there were two tours. This year, there were five, he said.
“ Every year, we try to vary the topics, ” he said as he prepared to give a presentation titled “ Primo in Paint, ” detailing the different aspects of painting sports fields.
Other sessions covered golf issues such as controlling weeds around putting greens and green speed, lawn and landscaping topics such as tree and shrub selection, and sports turf subjects such as painting logos and seeding Bermuda grass on athletic fields.
Amy Matthews of Springdale attended the event as an exhibitor and to learn more about different seeds. She was representing Pennington Seed Inc., which is based in Greenfield, Mo., and sells all types of grass seed.
She said she likes the relaxed atmosphere of the field day, which she said was full of practical information that people “ can really use on the golf course. ”
Richardson has been involved with the turfgrass science program since its beginnings in the mid-1990 s. He said most major land-grant universities in the nation have turfgrass programs.
He said some of the East Coast universities have had programs in place for several years, including the University of Rhode Island, which has a program dating to the 1920 s, The Pennsylvania State University and the University of Massachusetts.
Turfgrass science programs have expanded in the past 15-20 years because of growth in the golf course, landscape and sports field areas, Richardson said.
He said the recent housing market issues have affected the landscaping industry in terms of new landscape installation, while landscaping maintenance has not been affected.
Golf is seen as a luxury, he said, and some people may stop playing it during weak economic times.
But he said the sports field side of the industry “ has just been growing like crazy. ”
He said most cities and school districts want to have safe playing fields both for children and to help attract tournaments that can stimulate local economies.
Read the full article.
July 28, 2008
Field day to feature turfgrass research, tips, exhibits
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Anyone who grows grass for fun or profit, or just because it came with the house, will find something of interest at the Turfgrass Field Day Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
The field day will include tours of research projects, educational sessions and commercial exhibits. It is sponsored by the horticulture department of the University of Arkansas System’s Division of Agriculture and Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the U of A in Fayetteville.
The location is the Horticulture Field Lab at the research and extension center on Cassatt Street north of Agri Park on Garland Avenue (Hwy. 112). Directions and a registration form are online at http://turf.uark.edu/education/field.html.
Registration fee is $30 in advance or $35 on-site and includes lunch, a “Turf Science” cap and handouts. A morning session begins at 8 a.m. Lunch will be provided for those who register by July 30 and others as long as it lasts. An afternoon session will be from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Aaron Patton, assistant professor in the horticulture department of the Division of Agriculture and Bumpers College, said exhibits will feature equipment, chemicals, services and professional associations.
“The field day is mainly for professionals, but homeowners could also learn something about managing their lawn or landscape,” Patton said. Three tour options will focus on golf course management, lawns and landscapes, or athletic fields.
Turfgrass research on display will include evaluation of grass varieties for drought tolerance. Other topics of general interest will include tips on irrigation, weed control, plants for home landscaping and pesticide safety.
The horticulture department conducts statewide Division of Agriculture research and extension programs and provides the B.S. degree curriculum for the “Horticulture, Landscape and Turf Sciences” major, an M.S. degree in horticulture and a Ph.D. degree in plant science.
Read the full article.
July 1 , 2008
Graduate student captures 2nd place in 2008 GCSAA Essay Contest
Mark Brotherton, Jon Trappe and Patrick McCullough are winners of the 2008 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Student Essay Contest.
Brotherton, from Oak Ridge, N.J., and a fourth-year undergraduate student at Penn State University, won the first place scholarship of $2,000 for his essay: “How Well Do You Know Your Topdressing Sand?"
Trappe, from Fayetteville, Ark., is a first-year graduate student at the University of Arkansas. He earned the second place grant of $1,500 for his paper: “Implications of Genetically Modified Turfgrasses."
McCullough, from Hoboken, N.J., and a graduate student at Rutgers University, claimed the third place award of $1,000 for his writing: “Roughstalk Bluegrass Control: Do New Herbicides Offer Long-Term Management Solutions in Cool-Season Turf?"
Open to GCSAA members who are undergraduate or graduate students pursuing degrees in turfgrass science, agronomy or any field related to golf course management, the GCSAA Essay Contest accepts entries with a focus on golf course management. The scholarship funding is provided by The Environmental Institute for Golf through the Robert Trent Jones Endowment.
Judges from the GCSAA scholarship committee select winners to receive scholarships and the first place entry may be published or excerpted in the association's official publication, GCM.
The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of GCSAA and is a collaborative effort of the environmental and golf communities, dedicated to strengthening the compatibility of golf with the natural environment. The Institute concentrates on delivering programs and services involving research, education and outreach that communicate the best management practices of environmental stewardship on the golf course. For more on The Institute, visit www.eifg.org.
GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 21,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.
For more information contact:
Mischia Wright, GCSAA senior manager, development, at 785-832-4445 or mwright@gcsaa.org
April 15 , 2008
The 10th annual U of A Turf Classic raises money for scholarships, research
Read more: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Sports/64185/print/
Pictured: From left are head football coach Bobby Petrino, women's head golf coach Shauna Estes, extension turf specialist Aaron Patton, women's assistant coach Mike Adams, associate professor Doug Karcher and professor Mike Richardson. |
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February 21, 2008
At the 2008 Galaxy Extension conference in Little Rock, Dr. Mike Richardson was recognized as the 2007 researcher of the year by the Arkansas Association of Cooperative Extension Specialists.
Dr. Mike Richardson was nominated for his work on seeded bermudagrass establishment and for the service to extension that he has provided since arriving in Arkansas. |
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September, 2007
Aaron Patton, Turfgrass Extension Specialist, receives national turfgrass award. Read the full article .
August 3 , 2007
Sowing Green: Field day highlights turfgrass research, extension programs. Read the full article .
June 23, 2007
Turf farms growing business in state: Arkansas' 58 sod growers cultivate nearly 9,000 acres, up to $30 million. Read the full article from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
April 24, 2007
UA Turf Classic raises money for scholarships, research
Funds for turfgrass research and five partially funded scholarships for students studying horticulture at the University of Arkansas were raised Monday afternoon on the firm-and-fast track at Stonebridge Meadows Golf Club.
In its eighth year, the University of Arkansas Golf and Sports Turf Classic golf tournament raised close to $ 10, 000 for research and undergraduate scholarships, said Marilyn McCord of the UA Department of Horticulture.
The turf-grass industry — including seed and equipment companies, golfcourse superintendents and turf-grass and agriculture advocacy groups — was the primary patron of the event. Fifteen alumni of the horticulture department also participated in the tournament, McCord said.
Close to 30 students are part of the turf-grass management program in the department of horticulture, said Aaron Patton, and assistant professor and extension turfgrass specialist. The horticulture department is under the umbrella of the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food & Life Sciences.
Students with a horticulture degree can pursue myriad careers. Some aspire to be golf-course superintendents, charged with maintaining and improving playing conditions while minimizing the absorption of fertilizers and other forms of nutrients into the surface and ground water. Others will go into sports field management or landscaping. Working in sales for a turf management related business is also an option.
Patton, who earned his doctorate from Purdue University in December, is the newest addition to the horticulture department. Rather than teaching in the classroom, Patton said he spends most of his time working with county-extension agents and writing publications that help those agents answer the public’s questions about how to best cultivate their yards.
He’s also a resource for golf-course superintendents to reference. When a problem crops up on the course, such as the deterioration of bent-grass greens in the summer, superintendents can avail themselves of Patton’s extensive knowledge and expertise. In addition to his work with county-extension agents and golf-course superintendents, he conducts applied research such as evaluating what fertilizers work best on certain grasses and plants. Patton said questions about lawns can be answered by accessing the turf.uark.edu website.
Read the full article at http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Sports/52421
December 20, 2006
Patton joins Department of Horticulture as Turfgrass Extension Specialist
Aaron Patton recently joined the Department of Horticulture as Turfgrass Extension Specialist. Patton is originally from Bloomington, Indiana. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. at Purdue University and B.S. at Iowa State University. His research experience is in the area of bermudagrass and zoysiagrass establishment and the physiological aspects of zoysiagrass cold hardiness.
Patton will work in concert with extension, research, and teaching faculty to provide leadership in development of an interdisciplinary program to support the turfgrass industry and county extension agents. He will also be designing and developing innovative training programs and materials for the turfgrass and landscape industries, county extension agents, and home audiences, and interact with industry associations.
“This new position offers many great opportunities,” Patton said. “I work with a strong team and I am looking forward serving the turfgrass industry in Arkansas.”
Fall/Winter, 2006
Turfgrass Science a Growing Industry
September 18, 2006
Pat Berger featured on Houston Nutt show.
http://hort.uark.edu/video/video.html
April 6, 2006
JOHN W. WHITE OUTSTANDING TEAM AWARD
The University of Arkansas Turfgrass Program provides cutting edge research and extends new technology to turfgrass professionals. The team also has developed one of the finest undergraduate and graduate education programs in the nation. Graduates are recruited by prestigious golf courses and other turfgrass operations nationally. Work in weed control, pathology, nutrition and other cultural techniques are the basis for best
management practices used in Arkansas and the region. Team members are Dr. Michael Richardson and Dr. Douglas Karcher, Horticulture; Dr. Eugene Milus, Plant Pathology; and Dr. John Boyd and Dr. James A. Robbins, Cooperative Extension Service.