Behind The Turf brought to you by Nadeem from Colin Campbell Chemicals

In this episode I speak to Steve Smith an ex superintendent I've known for 15 years running his own premium maintenance turf business. However, I am talking to him about his podcast, “The Golfing Greenkeeper.” The podcast has 2 themes to it. The first is Steve gives updates on the Australian golfing world and works happening on golf courses. As well as reporting on new projects being developed in Australia. The other theme is he speaks to current superintendents on their career and life as a greenkeeper. I have been an avid listener and wanted our friends to know more about the podcast and Steve. We speak about his time as a super and what got him into doing the podcast. Please have a listen to this episode.In this episode I speak to Steve Smith an ex superintendent I've known for 15 years running his own premium maintenance turf business. However, I am talking to him about his podcast, “The Golfing Greenkeeper.” The podcast has 2 themes to it. The first is Steve gives updates on the Australian golfing world and works happening on golf courses. As well as reporting on new projects being developed in Australia. The other theme is he speaks to current superintendents on their career and life as a greenkeeper. I have been an avid listener and wanted our friends to know more about the podcast and Steve. We speak about his time as a super and what got him into doing the podcast. Please have a listen to this episode.

I had the pleasure of a chat with 3 very smart people today. This episode introduced a graduate student of Dr Jim Brosnans, Devon Carroll who is working on a her PHD. We firstly speak about her research about women in turf and the findings she has found on why and why not women work in the turf industry. We then dive into her latest research on poa overseen by Jim Brosnan on poa lifecycle. UT is at the forefront of poa research in turf. John Neylan joined me again and contributed nicely to the discussion as poa is his speciality and I appreciate him taking his time to be a part of it.

In todays episode I have 2 guests who I have been wanting to get onto the show. John Neylan is very well known in Australia and worldwide with his research and agronomy services. John has been lead the AGCSA (now ASTMA) for a number of years and also worked independently. He is now with SportEng in developing and designing sportsturf facilities. He also continues to conduct research in turf and lately has been doing work got the VGCSA (Victorian Golf Course Superintendents). My other guest is Shane Greenhill who is the superintendent of Sorrento golf club located on the southern part of the Mornington Peninsula. Shane is also the VGCSA president. We speak on a  number of topics including the history of the industry and where both Shane and John came from as well. We continue on a topic John discussed with Dr Frank Rossi on the turfnet podcast and the expectations of golfers and how turf managers deal with this expectation. We also speak about our favourite weed poa and the research the VGCSA has undertaken.

This episode features Dr Brandon Horvath from University Tennessee. Brandon is a turf pathologist with the university and a teacher and conducts turf research. We catch on COVID and how he has adapted with teaching and life. This discussion really gives some great information as we dive deep into the topics of diseases and fungicides. We speak about nematicides and diseases and the work that is being taken place there. We also speak about getting the best out of your products and what you need to do to achieve those results. I speak specifically to him on Pythium and the 3 main types they see in the US and what the differences are. We also look at application methods and what works and what doesn't work as well as discuss newer chemistries on the market.

In today's episode I speak to De Ben McGraw a entomologist from Penn State University. Ben has been on the podcast before on episodes. We catch on COVID and how he has adapted. Again I speak to him about weevils as this insect is the most troublesome insect on cool season grasses in the US as it is here in Australia particularly in NSW. Even though in Australia we have the Argentine stem Weevil the characteristics and behaviour is very similar to the Annual Bluegrass Weevil in the US.

This episode we welcome back Dr Scott McElroy from Auburn university. Scott appeared in episodes 1 and 22. We have an entertaining chat with a lot of humour and sarcasm just to lighten the mood. Scott was aware of our situation and wanted to bring some joy to the listeners. We talk about what he has been up to and the work he has done with the resist poa working group. We also dive into poa control with resistance and speak on crowsfoot (goose grass) and paspalum control.

In this episode I finally get to sit down and have a chat with john. John is a good friend and was one of the first people I met through the use of social media back 10 years ago. He was instrumental in leading the way social media could be utilised for turf. Dr. Kaminski now serves as the Director of the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program (2-Year Program) at Penn State. John continues his research which focuses on optimization of chemical and cultural management strategies for turfgrass diseases and weeds.

Today we have one of my favourite and most popular guest ls back Ben Gibson from The Toolbox Team. However this episode is a little different as Ben has just finished his first book which is being printed as we were recording this episode. The name of the book is called “People First.” We speak about the idea behind it and how it came about. Ben also shares the support he received from his family but also many in the turf industry.

Welcome to the first podcast of Behind The Turf for 2021. This episode is slightly different as it is a webinar that was recorded in September 2021 on crowsfoot grass control (known also as goose grass). The webinar was run in partnership with Greenway Turf Solutions our national distributors. It was part of their online learning series they launched last year which can be viewed here. Greenway Turf solutions website The webinar featured Dr Jim Brosnan from university Tennessee who is an expert in weed science. Jim goes through everything you need to know about crows foot grass as well as control optiona dn getting the best out of those option. Many listeners would know Jim from our previous podcasts with him in episodes See here

Did you want a quick lesson on phosphites on what they are and how they work and how they are different? This episode is for you. I speak to Dr John Dempsey of Ireland who is a former superintendent Royal Curragh Golf Club and is now an independent turf researcher. John has recently published his work “Suppression of microdochium nivale by phosphite in cool-season amenity turfgrasses.” I hope you enjoy our chat.

We take a break from the agronomy side of turf to bring you Ben Gibson. After the feedback we received from Ben’s previous episode last year we thought it would be good to get him back and dive deeper this time. We speak this time on a couple of topics starting with conflict within the workplace and how to best manage it. The other topic is encouraging and attracting staff to your teams and the tools you can use to facilitate this with culture within the team. Ben again gives great precise examples and instructions what you need to do in different situations. The information Ben provides can be any organisation not just related to turf management. On a personal note its great to see Ben’s business grow throughout the industry for the right reasons. The services he delivers have been helping a large number of turf facilities around Australia.

After GIS in Orlando this year I headed up towards Gainesville Florida to the turf research station in Citra Florida (there are 3 in the state). Besides the tour of the facility I sit down with Dr Harmon and talk diseases warm season grasses and turf in Florida. For those not aware Florida is one of the biggest turf markets in the world with over 1200. Many are high end private clubs as well so research as you can imagine into issues is paramount to keep memberships happy.

Ben McGraw Penn State leading Turf entomologist. He knows insects. I sat down with ben again this year at GIS and spoke to him about insects issues we have here as well as new frontiers in managing pests with “microbiome”. This is a term that you will see more and more of but what is it and how does it relate to turf?

Cale is an all-round smart man with everything and anything to do with turf. I speak to Cale on the university and what Purdue is all about. We get into some of the work he does and the challenges he faces. Cale was kind enough to give me some time with such a busy schedule at GIS and I was able to sit down with him just before the closing ceremony where they announce the Turf Bowl winners. Purdue took 2nd place. A great achievement in itself. Purdue in fact is one of the strongest turf schools and is consistently in the top in of Turf Bowl.

A double act here to get two of the top weed scientists on a podcast together. Dr Yelverton is no stranger to Australia as he has visited our shores a few times as a keynote speaker for the Australasian Turfgrass Conference.

Stan is familiar with Australian audiences and has been in the surfactant game for over 25 years. Stan has invented and help develop some of the worlds most used surfactants over that time. I talk to Stan on his most recent work on surfactants (also known as wetting agents) at Penn State with Dr Mike Fidanza. We work through different definitions being spoken around and put things straight. This episode delivers a quick surfactant education discussion.

Today’s episode was again at GIS 2020 where I had a chat with Dr Scott McElroy. Many Australians would know Scott from when he was out in Australia for the walk and talks we did as well as the Turf Conference in New Zealand. We speak on herbicides and herbicide resistance and what hold in the future for controlling weeds. Scott does research on the work he is doing with genetics of poa and the Resist Poa working group. We speak not just on poa but other problematic weeds such as crowsfoot grass.

In this episode I have mashed together the 4 days at GIS. These recordings were posted on our YouTube channel and now can be listened to in on episode. Please enjoy. 

In the first episode for 2020 I discuss the extreme weather in Australia with the bushfires. At the time of recording good rain was forecast and its implications for turf managers.  I also talk about the GIS the golf industry show and my plans for the week with podcast guests.

This episode is quite a bit different to previous charts I’ve had as its not agronomic based. Ben Gibson is the head of The Toolbox Team providing not just products and services but partnerships to turf teams across the country with safety, WHS Leadership auditing and compliance just to name a few. In this chat we have open discussions around volunteering, leadership, culture moving up the turf ladder and taking the next step.

Again very excited to have Pat Jones on our podcast for the second year in a row. Pat at the time of the interview was still running GCI Magazine however he has since moved on to Harrell’s to look after marketing digital side. He is till involved heavily in turf and is a great asset to the industry. Also joining us is Dr Paul Koch from University Wisconsin. Paul is an expert in all thing’s diseases from the cold snow mould and fusarium to destructive summer diseases. We talk about research in the US and the changes it has undergone. Pat gives us an insight into the future of turf with automation and the advantages for the industry.

Fairy ring is one of the most difficult diseases to control. There hasn’t been as much research on this disease as others. I sit down today at GIS to talk to Dr Mike Fidanza from Penn State and discuss this troublesome disease and he gives some insights in the best way to control this disease. Mike is the fairy ring gurus he has spent a lot of his career working on the disease and developing best techniques to help control it and recover from it.

I was lucky enough to sit down with Jim again this year and get an update on turf research into weeds. We especially spoke about Poa and the research group setup to deal with this troublesome weed. He gives good insights into resistance management and where we are as this is still the biggest issue facing turf as and agriculture markets. There has been more awareness of weed resistance and can only be a good thing with more tools being used as well as mixing between chemistries. We also talk about trying to control couch grass in bentgrass greens.

In today’s episode I talk with Dr Ben McGraw from Penn State University. Ben is an entomologist and has unbelievable knowledge of insects. He has done a plenty of research into the bluegrass weevil which is similar to our Argentine Stem Weevil so there is a lot to learn here. Ben is really entertaining as well and I think could have been a stand up comic in another life.

I was lucky enough to catch Peter at the recent Australasian turfgrass Conference in Brisbane after his session on the work he has done in resistance testing in turf. Peter works at the University of Adelaide as well as managing Plant Science Consulting where turf managers can send samples of their turf for herbicide resistance testing. Peter was very open about the challenges the industry faces with herbicide resistance. I hope you enjoy this short chat with Peter. I will also endeavour to head to Adelaide to visit Peter in his home state.

Disease testing- everyone knows it but not everyone utilises it as much as they should. I give some thoughts on why its important and what benefits there are in confuting disease testing.

This is just my thoughts on social media and the use in the turf industry. Many of you now I am very active on social media and have presented a number of talks at various conferences in Australia. These are just some of the reasons why I love it so much.

In this podcast these are my thoughts on best use of fungicides in turf. There is some confusion in what to use and when abnd how each product works. I hope this short episode helps with understanding fungicides.

From time to time I will be putting my thoughts out there on certain topics and hoping to give some help in dealing with agronomic aspects of turf management. In this episode I am talking about ERI management and some things to think about in helping to control this disease.

Bruce Williams is known in a lot of turf circles worldwide and has been a regular visit to Australia with his work with Grigg Brothers through Globe Australia. Bruce has been on the GCSAA board and president of 4 GCSAA chapters. However one of his specialities that I wanted to talk to him about was his consultancy he does. He is involved in not just the agronomic side but the human side as well teaching turf managers to be better in all aspects in including, project management, budget and equipment analysis. I hope you enjoy this quick chat. 

This is a discussion I was apart of with some superintendents in Sydney from a while back. We were lucky enough to have Micah on the line. He talks about summer stress and experience in the Asian region as well as how to best manage turf in the summer. We also talk about new verities coming onto the market. I apologise if the audio is a bit week as we were in a board room. 

Conferences- there are plenty to choose from and a lot of turf managers attend them however there are many that don’t I am a big believer in them small or large. These are my thoughts and I hope it gives you some guidance in looking to attend a few in the coming months.

John Cisar may not be know to many Australians however John has had a distinguished career been in turf management at a university level He is now a retired professor from University of Florida. His knowledge is first class and has been on the board of the International Turfgrass Society. His expertise is broad including nutrition, wetting. Agents, water quality, turfgrass physiology and plant Heath product evaluations. We have general chat about the industry. I hope you enjoy. John can be found on twitter @CisarTurfDoc

Dr Jim Brosnan is from University of Tennessee. Jim’s work focuses on weed management and herbicide resistance. Recently Jim was awarded his work on resistance management has been world leading and the development of a rapid herbicide test has been helping turf managers deal with problematic weeds. Jim is now a working group looking at resistant Poa along side his research projects.

In this episode I speak to Pat Jones head of GCI magazine, Pat has been around the turf industry a long time. He has worked for GCSAA in the past and now runs a very successful magazine. But that’s only half of it. He is knowledgeable and is well respected throughout the US. He was kind enough to give me his time during the week which is always flat out for him. We discuss all aspects of the industry as he has some great insights. I really enjoyed this episode and went a lot longer than I thought.

Rutgers University is world renowned turf school and is a leader when it comes to turf diseases. The work Bruce and Jim have done on anthracnose is amazing and has given turf managers the tools to best control this disease. Please enjoy.

Scott is a good friend of mine and I was lucky to spend some time with him before the GIS conference in 2018. Many Australian met Scott on our walk and talk tours and at the Australian Turfgrass Conference in Wellington. I toured the Auburn university grounds where his turf research was taking place. This conversation was recorded on the way to the airport. We discussed turf management in regards to weeds and herbicides. I hope you enjoy the episode.