TN Turf Tuesdays

In this episode we are joined by Chris Hurley with Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. As a sports field manager at Gillette Stadium, Chris is responsible for preparing high quality surfaces for both the National Football League and Major League Soccer. We'll discuss the process of optimizing turfgrass quality and minimizing pest invasion at the professional level, balancing non-sporting events (e.g., concerts) with turfgrass maintenance practices, and more.

In this episode we are joined by Brad Jean from Crossroads Sod in Belvidere, TN. Brad shares his experiences working in sod production over the past two decades and speaks to the growth of the industry across the state. Additionally, we delve into new turfgrass cultivars being produced that offer reduced pest management inputs.

In this episode we are joined by Mitchell Mote, from UT Extension – Rutherford County. Mitchell has over 30+ years of turfgrass management experience in Tennessee. We'll discuss changes in pest management that have occurred over his distinguished career in Extension, particularly those pertaining to lawn care.

The 23nd FIFA World Cup will be coming to North America in 2026 and UT researchers are actively working behind the scenes to prepare fields for play. In this episode we are joined by Drs. John Sorochan, Kyley Dickson, and Rhys Fielder to learn more about on-going research in advance for the 2026 World Cup. They'll discuss agronomic and pest management challenges associated with growing sod on plastic, maintaining turfgrasses in reduced light conditions and more.

The world of golf visited Valhalla Golf Club for the PGA Championship in May and UT alumnus, John Ballard was at the center of the action. John is the Course Superintendent at Valhalla Golf Club and lead the facility through a multi-year renovation project in advance of the PGA Championship. In this episode, he'll discuss the agronomic practices and pest management interventions deployed in advance of the event to produce surfaces for the highest level of competition.

In this episode we are joined by UT alumnus, Andy Perry. In recent years some of the largest golf course properties in the region have undertaken major re-sodding projects and Andy has played a key role in getting zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, and more from the farm to the field. He'll discuss the agronomic and pest management practices that surround these re-sodding decisions and also provide an update on the “Vols in Turf” alumni association.

Originally designed by C.B. McDonald, The Lido Golf Club opened in 1914 off the coast of New York but was demolished during World War II. In 2023, the course was rebuilt at Sand Valley Resort in Neekosha, WI and is currently being maintained by UT alumnus, Jimmy Humston. In this episode, we will discuss the environmental hurdles faced during construction as well as the agronomic and pest management challenges associated with managing fine fescue surfaces on sand dunes.

In this episode we are joined by two of the newest turfgrass scientists in the southeastern region, Dr. Wendell Hutchens and Dr. Hannah Wright-Smith with the University of Arkansas. Researchers actively working in the fields of turfgrass pathology and weed science, they'll share updates on their current programs relevant for those managing cool- and warm-season turfgrass. Additionally, we will touch on the effect the Endangered Species Act may have on pesticide registration in the future.

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Frank Rossi of Cornell University. A pioneer in using podcasts to share turfgrass research findings, Dr. Rossi will discuss his latest work on sustainable turfgrass management, particularly practices that reduce nutrient use and pesticide inputs. Learn about how Dr. Rossi's research practices have helped golf courses, cemeteries, and everything in between.

In this episode we are joined by Eddie Harbaugh, CSFM. Eddie is a Sport Field Manager for the Philadelphia Eagles. A leader in the sports field industry, Eddie will discuss his use of alternative grasses at Lincoln Financial Field and how integrating optimal agronomic practices on his fields has affected pest management strategies. We touch on a number of topics in this session. Eddie can be reached with additional questions at EHarbaugh@eagles.nfl.com.  

“The incredible, edible egg….” “Meat, it's what's for dinner….” These slogans were born in part from checkoff programs within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Casey Reynolds from Turfgrass Producers International to discuss the turfgrass sod checkoff being discussed within the USDA, how it will affect pest management, turfgrass production, and more. Learn the details of this program and why it's important to you.

Supply chain is a term that everyone in turfgrass has become familiar with since the pandemic. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jeff Marvin from PBI Gordon Corporation to discuss supply chain issues affecting pesticide products used for turfgrass management.

Diseases are a problem for everyone in turfgrass. Whether it's brown patch on tall fescue lawns, anthracnose affecting Poa annua, or spring dead spot of bermudagrass, there are many pathogens to control. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jesse Benelli from Envu Environmental Sciences to discuss the latest fungicide technologies available for disease control in the transition zone.

We are joined by Dr. Becky Bowling, the newest addition to the UT Turfgrass Team. Dr. Becky Bowling will be taking over for the legendary Dr. Tom Samples who retired in 2022. In this episode, we will learn about Dr. Bowling's background in the turfgrass industry and how she plans to engage with turfgrass managers on pest management issues in the future.

Dollar spot is a common pathogen of both warm- and cool-season turfgrasses worldwide. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Paul Koch for a discussion of all things dollar spot. Learn about the latest research regarding the relationship between nitrogen and dollar spot incidence, predictive modeling, new fungicides, and more.

The 22nd FIFA World Cup came to a captivating conclusion in the summer of 2022. In this episode, we are joined by agronomists to discuss pest management and agronomic challenges associated with playing surface setup in Qatar, as well as what is in store for the 23rd edition of this tournament heading to the Americas in 2026.

Pesticide products used for turfgrass management are regularly re-evaluated by the Environmental Protection Agency using the latest information available. In this episode, we are joined by Chava McKeel, Director of Government Affairs for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. She'll provide an update on the latest regulatory changes affecting active ingredients such as oxadiazon, PCNB, and more.

The growing season may be slowing down but there is still work to be done. Shoulder season weed and disease pests commonly invade warm-season turfgrasses during autumn and turfgrass managers need to prepare accordingly. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Dave McCall (Virginia Tech) and Jordan Booth (United States Golf Association) to discuss the latest strategies for controlling spring dead spot, as well as large patch, Poa annua, and more.

The growing season may be slowing down but there is still work to be done. Shoulder season weed and disease pests commonly invade warm-season turfgrasses during autumn and turfgrass managers need to prepare accordingly. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Dave McCall (Virginia Tech) and Jordan Booth (United States Golf Association) to discuss the latest strategies for controlling spring dead spot, as well as large patch, Poa annua, and more.

Early order programs (EOP) are often used by turfgrass managers to acquire herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and other crop protectants. If you're not familiar with these programs, this episode is for you! We are joined by two industry veterans — Jason Frank (Harrell's) and Steve Ellis (Simplot Partners) — to discuss the basics of EOP programs, how they've evolved over time, and where they are headed in the future. For more information on the Harrell's EOP program mentioned in the show, visit: https://www.harrells.com/Products/EOP For more information on the Simplot EOP program mentioned in the show, visit: https://partners.simplot.com/early-order-programs 

It's soon to be football time in Tennessee and the team at Neyland Stadium has been hard at work getting the playing surface ready for the upcoming season. In this episode, we are joined by Bryan Ogle, CSFM, to learn about strategies used to optimize turfgrass quality and minimize pest invasion while preparing turfgrass for use at the highest level of NCAA football.

Several new cultivars have made their way into the turfgrass industry in recent years including those with reduced irrigation requirements, improved turfgrass quality and performance, as well as reduced susceptibility to pest invasion. In this episode, we're joined by Drs. Becky Grubbs-Bowling (Texas A&M University) and Adam Thoms (Iowa State University) to talk about advancements in cultivar development and how facilities can make best use of this new plant material when renovating in the near future.

Increased heat and humidity mean that summer diseases are on the way. In this episode, we are joined by Drs. Joe Roberts (Clemson University) and Paul Koch (University of Wisconsin) to talk about the latest strategies for controlling summer diseases of cool-season turfgrass, particularly brown patch and dollar spot.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Ben Hamza and Mr. Joe Krum. Ben was with TruGreen for over 18 years, including serving as their director of technical operations. Joe has been with TruGreen for the past 11 years and currently serves as a regional technical manager covering Tennessee. This episode will cover a wide array of lawn care topics including how the pandemic has affected the lawn care business, as well as strategies to control pests that align with modern business models in 2022.

In this episode, Drs. Jim Brosnan and Brandon Horvath are joined by Dr. Joe Roberts (Clemson University) and Lee Butler (North Carolina State University) to discuss diseases affecting warm and cool-season turfgrasses during the 2021 growing season. Special emphasis is placed on nematodes pre-disposing turfgrass to disease infestation.

Drs. Jim Brosnan and Brandon Horvath discuss strategies for controlling weeds and diseases affecting warm-season turfgrass during autumn and winter. Current research on Poa annua and large patch is presented in detail to guide turfgrass managers with controlling these issues on golf courses, sports fields, and lawns.