Podcasts about turfgrass

Former golf course superintendent and self-proclaimed "Turf Head" Moe Robinson brings her passion for turf management and technology to this conversation. Now serving as Customer Success & Agronomy Advisor with turfRad, Moe shares how this innovative moisture mapping system is helping superintendents make smarter irrigation decisions through data instead of guesswork.Mounted on a utility vehicle or other course equipment, the turfRad system collects thousands of moisture readings across the turf in a single pass, creating detailed maps that identify exactly where water is needed and where it is not. Armed with this information, turf managers can fine-tune irrigation, improve consistency, conserve water, and reduce unnecessary applications.Moe explains how the technology first gained traction in regions where water is limited and expensive, but also discusses why courses in wetter climates are finding tremendous value by identifying overly saturated areas and improving overall moisture management. She also talks about turfRad's partnership with Toro and how the system is helping superintendents better understand what is happening below the surface.Moe's enthusiasm for turf management and emerging technology shines throughout this conversation, making this an informative and engaging episode for anyone responsible for growing and managing high-quality turf.Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/ EW Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

The FIFA World Cup has officially started and the 2026 event is being held in Canada, Mexico and the United States. For the past 5 years, the turfgrass team at the University of Tennessee has been working to ensure optimal playing conditions for each of the 16 stadiums.

June 12, 2026 ~ Matt Elliott and Lloyd Jackson speak with Trey Rogers, Head of Turfgrass at Michigan State University about his involvment with the World Cop and they find out how to grow grass indoors! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to The Turf Zone Podcast. This episode features the article “How Variability Within and Between Natural Turfgrass and Synthetic Athletic Fields Impacts Athlete Safety and Performance” written by Ava Veith, Dr. David McCall, Dr. Chase Straw, Dr. Daniel Sandor, Dr. Jay Williams, Elisabeth Kitchen, Kevin Hensler, Aaron Tucker and Dr. Caleb Henderson Authors Note and Context Ava Veith is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Plant Science at Penn State University under the advisement of Dr. Chase Straw, where her research focuses on studying within-field variability and athlete–surface interactions. However, the research presented in this article was conducted during her master's program at Virginia Tech under Dr. David McCall. This study served as a foundational investigation into how variability within and between natural turfgrass and synthetic turf athletic fields influences athletes. The findings from this work have shaped the direction of subsequent doctoral research. Building on this foundation, the planned Ph.D. project aims to examine athlete lower-limb joint biomechanics across natural turfgrass, synthetic turf, and hybrid (natural turfgrass reinforced with synthetic fibers) surfaces using multi-segment inertial measurement units. At the conclusion of this article, the next phase of research will be briefly outlined to demonstrate how it has grown from the master's study. In this way, the Virginia Tech study presented here represents both a completed project and the starting point for a broader, ongoing effort to better understand how the playing surface can affect athlete movement and injury-relevant mechanics. Introduction A safe playing surface is essential for athletic competition. Natural turfgrass and synthetic turf are common playing surfaces used for field sports, and extensive research has been conducted to compare these two surface types. However, limited attention has been given to within-field variability and its impact on athlete safety and performance. Studies often classify athletic fields broadly as synthetic or natural, overlooking critical surface metrics that fluctuate both within and between fields. Key field characteristics such as surface hardness, rotational resistance, soil moisture, thatch depth, and infill depth (for synthetic fields) play a crucial role in assessing field quality. Variability in these factors can be influenced by environmental conditions, management practices, and field usage patterns. Despite the known importance of these factors, current research often fails to account for field-specific inconsistencies, limiting the effectiveness of broad comparisons between surfaces. To improve field safety and optimize athlete performance, interdisciplinary collaboration among turfgrass scientists, sports scientists, and sports medicine professionals is necessary. Evidence-based field management strategies must be developed to ensure more consistent playing conditions, reducing the risk of injury. Wearable technologies such as STATSports GPS trackers (STATSports, 2025) and ankle inertial measurement units (IMUs) (IMeasureU, 2019) provide critical insights into athlete biomechanics, load monitoring, and more. These technologies allow researchers to quantify how different surface conditions influence athletes during performance, offering valuable data for injury prevention strategies. Beyond data collected by wearable technologies, athlete perceptions of field conditions also play a role in performance and injury risk. Unpredictable surface variability can affect player confidence, movement efficiency, and risk-taking behaviors, making perception-based data collection essential. Understanding how athletes experience and perceive different playing surfaces can inform future improvements in field construction and maintenance. The objective of this study is to quantify the impact of surface variability on athlete safety and performance, both within and between natural turfgrass and synthetic turf surfaces. This research will quantify how variations in key surface metrics, including surface hardness, rotational resistance, soil moisture, thatch depth, and infill depth, affect athletes utilizing data from wearable technologies, such as STATSports GPS trackers and ankle IMUs. Additionally, to further understand the influence of field surfaces, athletes will be surveyed before and after performing drills to gather insights into their perceptions of how surface variability impacts their performance. Methodology Athletic Fields Tested This research was conducted in August of 2024, where four athletic fields on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia were studied. Two of these fields were natural turfgrass (bermudagrass), while the other two fields were synthetic turf. For both field types, one field was classified as ‘low usage', while the other was classified as ‘high usage'. This was determined based on traffic frequency, field age, and management practices. Preliminary Data Collection Before live athletes were introduced, surface hardness was assessed on all four fields using a Clegg hammer, with 100 measurements collected per field. The data were then analyzed using ArcGIS Pro to generate surface hardness heatmaps, highlighting variability between and within each field. These maps allowed us to identify specific locations for the athletes to perform drills, where one selected area within each field was slightly harder than the rest of the field, and the other being slightly softer. Additionally, 20 measurements of rotational resistance (using Deltec's rotational resistance tester), thatch depth (using a soil profile sampler), soil moisture (using a TDR 350 Soil Moisture Meter), and infill depth (using a Turf-Tec Professional Model Infill Depth Gauge) were taken in both the softer and harder areas to further characterize each field and understand the relationship between surface conditions and athlete performance. Data Collection During Athlete Involvement Fourteen female athletes participated in the study, equipped with STATSports GPS devices (to measure running speed) and ankle IMUs (to measure lower limb impact intensity) to quantify their movements during drills. The athletes were each given new Nike cleats prior to participation to eliminate variation based on cleat configuration. They completed three drills, including a drop landing or drop jump drill, a T-drill, and a modified acceleration-deceleration drill, which were designed to replicate common athletic movements. Each drill was performed three times in both the softer and harder areas identified within each field. Additionally, each athlete completed pre- and post-performance surveys designed to capture their perceptions of field quality before and after completing the drills, providing insight into how different surfaces may have influenced their performance. Results and Discussion Surface Hardness Data Heatmaps highlight surface hardness variability within each studied field. Surface hardness data (n = 100 per field) were analyzed using analysis of variance, and means were separated using Fisher's protected least significant difference (LSD) test at α = 0.05 to evaluate statistical differences between locations. Both synthetic turf fields had significantly harder surfaces than the natural turfgrass fields (p < 0.0001), and for both surface types, the high-usage field had a significantly harder surface than the low-usage field (p = 0.0029 for the natural turfgrass fields and p < 0.0001 for the synthetic turf fields). Both synthetic fields tested in this study were not constructed with a shock pad, which is typically placed beneath the layer of material that supports the synthetic fibers and utilized to help replicate the cushioning effect of natural turfgrass. The absence of a shock pad, along with the tendency of synthetic turf to harden over time due to infill material compaction from athlete foot traffic, may explain the harder surface values observed on the synthetic fields compared to the natural fields. Further, increased use or foot traffic on both natural turfgrass and synthetic turf leads to compaction, which causes the playing surface to harden over time. Therefore, it is anticipated that the high-usage fields exhibited higher surface hardness compared to the low-usage fields. Data Within Each Hard and Soft Area Resulting rotational resistance, thatch depth, soil moisture, and infill depth (synthetic fields only) measurements taken within each hard and soft area on all four fields are presented in Table 1 (available in the Spring 2026 issue of Pennsylvania Turfgrass magazine). These measurements (n = 20 per both hard and soft areas within each field) were analyzed using analysis of variance, and means were separated using Fisher's protected least significant difference (LSD) test at α = 0.05 to evaluate statistical differences between locations. Although the fields tested in this research were not professional-level fields, it is insightful to compare the results with the FIFA natural-pitch rating system (FIFA, 2022). All rotational resistance values fell within FIFA's ‘excellent quality' and ‘satisfactory quality' thresholds, which is important because excessive rotational resistance has been linked to increased lower extremity injuries due to the foot becoming entrapped in the surface during pivoting movements, and too little resistance can increase the risk of slipping. However, soil moisture values exceed 35%, which FIFA classifies as ‘unacceptable quality'. This elevated moisture is likely the primary cause of the low surface hardness values observed on the natural turfgrass fields, which were lower than FIFA's 70-85 Gmax ‘excellent quality' range. Additionally, FIFA considers thatch depths over 25 mm as unacceptable, and 10–15 mm satisfactory. Excessive thatch can cause athlete's cleats to become caught within the surface, increasing knee ligament stress. The low-usage natural turfgrass field had more thatch despite regular maintenance, while the high-usage natural turfgrass field had less, likely due to recent sprigging the summer before. Soft areas in both natural turfgrass fields exhibited higher thatch levels than the hard areas, consistent with previous findings that core cultivation reduces both thatch and surface hardness (McCarty et al., 2007; Atkinson et al., 2012). This supports the understanding that increased thatch can act as a cushioning layer, absorbing impact and thereby reducing surface hardness. The high-usage synthetic turf field exhibited significantly less infill and greater surface hardness compared to the low-usage synthetic turf field, and the soft areas within both synthetic fields had more infill than the hard areas. This aligns with previous research indicating that infill depth decreases with use, which in turn leads to higher surface hardness (Dickson et al., 2022). Additionally, the low-usage synthetic field exhibited greater variability in infill depth between the selected hard and soft areas, likely due to its relatively young age (only one year old at the time of the study). Compared to the older high-usage field, which was approximately ten years old, the infill in the low-usage synthetic field had less time to settle, making it more susceptible to displacement from foot traffic (Fleming et al., 2016). STATSports GPS Unit Data In our study, STATSports GPS units were securely attached to each athlete's upper back. These devices were used to determine if athlete running speed varied based on field type (natural turfgrass or synthetic turf), field usage level (high or low), or hardness (hard or soft areas within each field). However, no statistically significant differences were found. This consistency in speed across conditions is important because running speed can directly affect impact forces and biomechanical measurements. Prior studies have shown that faster running increases the ground reaction force and ultimately lower limb impact load (Leatham, 2004; Jiang et al., 2024). If athletes had run at different speeds on one field type compared to another, it could have affected the reliability of our ankle IMU data. However, since no significant speed differences were found across field types, usage, or hardness, we can confidently attribute the observed differences in the resulting ankle IMU data to the playing surface. Ankle IMU Data Ankle IMUs were utilized to record a metric called average intensity, which is defined as the mean impact intensity derived from every impact propagated into both limbs (IMeasureU, 2022). This metric is recorded in units of gravitational force (g). These devices were securely attached to each athlete's ankle and recorded data as they performed drills on all four fields studied. After running statistical tests that accounted for individual differences between athletes, significant differences were found based on field, field usage, and hardness. Across all three drills, field type had a noticeable impact (p < 0.0001) where athletes showed higher average intensity on synthetic turf fields compared to natural turfgrass. For the drop jump drill, the average intensity was 19.73 g [standard error (SE) ± 1.88] on natural turfgrass and 22.73 g (SE ± 1.82) on synthetic turf, placing the synthetic turf value within the IMU Step ‘high intensity' foot strike range of 21.5–26.7 g (Wong and Finch, 2018). A similar trend was seen in the t-drill, with average intensities of 15.84 g (SE ± 1.20) on natural turfgrass and 18.07 g (SE ± 1.16) on synthetic turf. For the modified acceleration-deceleration drill, average intensity was 17.72 g (SE ± 1.15) on natural turfgrass and 21.35 g (SE ± 1.10) on synthetic turf. Field usage also made a difference in the t-drill (p < 0.0001), where the average intensity on high-usage fields was 18.14 g (SE ± 1.24), compared to 16.49 g (SE ± 1.24) on low-usage fields. Hardness played a role as well, especially in the t-drill (p = 0.0073) and the modified acceleration-deceleration drill (p < 0.0001). In the t-drill, hard areas resulted in an average intensity of 17.43 g (SE ± 1.22), slightly higher than the 17.05 g (SE ± 1.22) on soft areas. For the modified acceleration-deceleration drill, intensity averaged 20.38 g (SE ± 4.28) on hard areas and 18.85 g (SE ± 3.81) on soft areas. Overall, the synthetic turf fields, high-usage fields, and hard areas within fields exhibited higher average intensity values than the natural turfgrass fields, low-usage fields, and softer areas within fields. This aligns with our surface hardness findings, as synthetic turf fields were significantly harder than natural turfgrass fields on average. Additionally, hard areas within synthetic turf were harder than those on natural turf, and high-usage fields were harder than low-usage fields for both surface types. Thus, our data suggest that harder surfaces may explain the higher average intensity values recorded on the athlete's lower limbs compared to softer surfaces. This trend has been heavily supported, as running on harder surfaces increases impact stress, which can ultimately contribute to lower limb injuries. However, all surface hardness values in this study were below 100 Gmax, which is the threshold deemed unsafe by the National Football League (NFL) guidelines (Sports Turf Managers Association, 2019) and unacceptable by FIFA. Yet, a potential positive correlation between surface hardness and impact was observed, as recorded by the ankle IMUs. While further research is needed, it is hypothesized that surface hardness exceeding 100 Gmax could significantly increase injury risk over time due to excessive impact on athletes' lower limbs. Additionally, establishing threshold values for ankle IMU metrics is crucial to determine the point at which these values may lead to injury. Survey / Athlete Perception Data Athletes completed pre- and post-performance surveys to assess field quality and its impact on their performance. Individual responses were recorded and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance to assess statistical differences between fields. Post-hoc comparisons were conducted using Fisher's protected least significant difference (LSD) test at α = 0.05. The low-usage natural turfgrass field received the highest quality rating for both pre- and post surveys, while the high-usage natural turfgrass field, hindered by weeds and poor maintenance, scored the lowest. Synthetic turf fields ranked in between the two natural fields (with the high usage synthetic turf field being ranked lower than the low-usage synthetic turf field), indicating a preference for synthetic surfaces over a poorly maintained natural field. Conclusions Considerable variation in surface hardness was observed both within and between fields, with synthetic turf fields generally being harder than natural turfgrass fields. High-usage fields, regardless of type, were significantly harder than low-usage fields. Other metrics, such as rotational resistance, soil moisture, thatch depth, and infill depth, also showed variability. For natural turfgrass fields, higher soil moisture led to lower surface hardness, while synthetic turf fields exhibited a negative relationship between field usage and infill depth, where frequent foot traffic reduced infill and increased surface hardness. Although achieving perfect field uniformity is not possible, these findings emphasize how field usage and maintenance impact surface variability. Additionally, our data suggest a potential link between surface hardness and the mechanical load on athletes' lower limbs. While this trend was observed, further research is needed to investigate its long-term effects on athlete health, particularly on surfaces that exceed acceptable hardness thresholds. Survey data revealed athletes rated the quality of the low-usage natural turfgrass field the highest, likely due to its softer surface and better aesthetics. In contrast, the high-usage natural turfgrass field, which suffered from poor maintenance and weed pressure, received the lowest ratings, underlining the importance of field condition in shaping athlete perceptions. These results highlight the role of field management and athlete feedback in optimizing field quality. Overall, this study offers valuable insights into how different sports surfaces impact athletes. Our findings suggest that harder surfaces, such as synthetic turf or high-traffic areas, can increase impact and loading on the lower limbs. These results highlight the critical importance of effective field management, maintenance, and consideration of field conditions prior to athletic competition. Next Phase of Research: Ph.D. Project Overview Building on the findings of the Virginia Tech study, this doctoral research at Penn State expands the investigation from impact loading to full lower-limb joint biomechanics during sport-specific movements. While the Virginia Tech study demonstrated that harder surfaces were associated with increased lower-limb impact intensity, the next question is whether different playing surfaces subtly alter how athletes move at the joint level during high-risk tasks such as cutting and decelerating. The planned Ph.D. project uses a multi-segment inertial measurement unit (IMU) configuration placed on the athlete's dominant limb, including sensors at the foot, shank, thigh, and pelvis. Positioning sensors closer to the ground improves sensitivity to surface-related differences, allowing evaluation of not only impact but also ankle, knee, and hip joint kinematics derived through inverse kinematics workflows. Female athletes will perform sport-specific movements, including a single-leg drop-landing followed by a 90° cut, as well as an acceleration to deceleration drill, on four playing surface types: natural turfgrass, synthetic turf, carpet-type hybrid reinforced turfgrass, and stitched fiber hybrid reinforced turfgrass. Each athlete will complete multiple trials on each surface in a within-subject, repeated-measures design, allowing direct biomechanical comparisons across surface types. Female athletes are of particular interest given they experience substantially higher rates of non-contact ACL injury compared to their male counterparts, highlighting the importance of understanding how the playing surface may influence movement. Joint angles of interest include knee flexion and frontal-plane knee motion (dynamic valgus), as well as hip and foot orientation variables commonly discussed in the context of non-contact ACL injury mechanisms. Because hybrid systems are increasingly used in elite stadium environments and are required for upcoming international competitions (e.g., the FIFA World Cup), understanding how live athletes respond biomechanically to these surfaces is of particular interest. To date, most hybrid research has relied primarily on mechanical testing devices rather than human movement data. An additional component of the project involves comparing human biomechanical responses to mechanical surface testing metrics, including measurements from the fLEX testing device (Dickson and Sorochan, 2022; SGL System, n.d.). If consistent relationships are identified between device measurements and athlete joint mechanics, field managers may ultimately be able to more confidently use standardized mechanical testing tools as practical indicators of athlete–surface interactions. Collectively, this progression advances a more comprehensive framework that integrates both the playing surface and athlete biomechanics. By focusing on human movement responses within real field environments, this work strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration across field management, kinesiology, and sports medicine. Ultimately, it aims to generate practical knowledge that supports both performance and safety in sport. A full list of references as well as accompanying figures, photos and tables are available with this article in the Spring 2026 issue of Pennsylvania Turfgrass magazine available on www.TheTurfZone.com. You have been listening to The Turf Zone Podcast. Follow The Turf Zone on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for all things turfgrass, featuring podcasts, magazines, events and more. The post How Variability Within and Between Natural Turfgrass and Synthetic Athletic Fields Impacts Athlete Safety and Performance appeared first on The Turf Zone.

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest one yet, and FIFA is trying to make it the most high-tech, too. The federation has partnered with tech giant Lenovo to launch Football AI Pro, which is designed to analyze over 2,000 different metrics and deliver real-time insights to coaches, players, and analysts. Guest Host Jane Lindholm chats with ESPN writer Ryan O'Hanlon about how AI analytics actually play out in soccer. Plus, how a team of researchers grew 16 stadiums' worth of FIFA-class turf. Turfgrass scientist Jackie Lyn Guevara breaks down the importance of perfectly uniform turf, how the turf was designed, and what she'll be looking out for during the matches. Guests:  Ryan O'Hanlon is a staff writer at ESPN and the author of “Net Gains: Inside the Beautiful Game's Analytics Revolution.” Dr. Jackie Lyn "Jack" Guevara is an assistant professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University. Other episodes you may enjoy: We're All Being Played By Metrics The Surprising Science Of Why Sneakers Squeak Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Follow our show on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Bluesky @scifri and sign up for our newsletters. Got a science question that's keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to The Turf Zone podcast. This episode features the article “Advancing Precision Weed Management in Turfgrass Systems with Machine Vision-Guided Targeted Spraying” Written by Brooke Heikkila – Graduate Research Assistant Navdeep Godara – Assistant Professor of Turfgrass & Forage Weed Science, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, North Carolina State University and Pawel Petelewicz – Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Weed Science, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Agronomy Department Turfgrass managers are facing increasing weed challenges due to evolving regulatory framework and growing incidence of herbicide-resistant weeds. The release of the first turfgrass-specific commercial machine vision-guided sprayer (ALBA, Ecorobotix Inc.) enables automated and localized herbicide applications in turf. Although often referred to as “spot spraying” in marketing materials, “targeted spraying” is a more accurate description as it distinguishes this system from manual spot treatments and other existing precision weed management approaches. Such targeted application systems have already been successfully deployed in other crops using platforms such as the John Deere See and Spray, Agritech America WEED-IT, Verdant Robotics Sharp Shooter, Ecorobotix ARA. Using See and Spray technology, comparable weed control was observed between the broadcast and targeted spraying methods, but the targeted spraying reduced the treated acreage by up to two-thirds. In turfgrass, this technology not only offers significant herbicide savings but also opens the door for practitioners to combat herbicide-resistant weeds by incorporating alternative chemistries, including nonselective herbicides or herbicide tank mixtures combining multiple modes-of-action which are not typically feasible in broadcast applications. Overall, spot spraying is not a new concept, as many turfgrass managers already employ it to control weed escapes following broadcast herbicide applications or where selective chemistries are not an option. Manual spot spraying involves individuals walking the golf course or other turfgrass areas with a sprayer loaded with herbicide to make localized applications directly to weeds. Traditional spot spraying is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and requires applicators to accurately identify weeds, necessitating additional training and expertise. It ultimately increases application costs and is also prone to human error, often resulting in overapplication and missed weeds. However, targeted spraying systems such as ALBA, utilize artificial intelligence combined with machine vision to detect problematic weeds within turfgrass canopy in real-time to apply herbicides only to those small areas where individual weeds are present. ALBA is a tractor pull-behind unit that can operate at speeds up to 4.5 miles per hour and uses an enclosure to block ambient light and to create consistent lighting conditions to continuously scan the turfgrass canopy with its cameras to detect weeds. When a weed is spotted, an individual nozzle – one out of 108 – activates to directly target the weed with a 1.2 × 1.2-inch spray resolution per nozzle. As targeted application systems continue to advance and competing platforms emerge, it is critical to understand how to effectively integrate and leverage these sprayers within turfgrass weed management programs. Several preliminary field experiments using ALBA and its ARA-based predecessor research platform were conducted by the NC State Turfgrass Weed Science Program and the UF/IFAS Turfgrass Weed Science Program to understand the applications of this technology. Preliminary studies showed that machine-vision guided targeted spraying substantially reduces herbicide usage and treated acreage while maintaining weed control efficacy, offering both economic and environmental benefits while targeting wide variety of problematic weeds with high accuracy. Reduction in Herbicide Volume Used – In a study focused on controlling false-green kyllinga in bermudagrass fairways, machine vision-guided targeted spraying with ALBA reduced herbicide spray volume by 77% compared to broadcast treatments. False green kyllinga cover was 17% at the experimental sites during study initiation, triggering significant savings due to the weed-specific, localized targeted treatments compared to broadcast herbicide applications. Broadcast applications of standard kyllinga control products typically cost around $190 to $240 per acre, but targeted treatment can lower the cost by more than $145 per acre even when dealing with moderate level of weed infestation (~15% weed cover). Similarly, in another ongoing study, when annual bluegrass weed cover was 10% in bermudagrass fairways, targeted applications achieved a 66% reduction in herbicide spray volume compared to conventional broadcast treatments. Sulfonylurea herbicides for postemergence control of annual bluegrass cost around $140 to $185 per acre and targeted spraying can reduce the cost by at least $92 per acre when weed cover is 10% or less. Practitioners can expect greater savings at turfgrass sites with lower weed infestations, which are typical of intensively managed surfaces and when applying expensive herbicides such as PoaCure or organic herbicides during winter dormancy of warm-season turfgrasses. Targeted application system was also evaluated for control of broadleaf weeds, dallisgrass, smooth crabgrass, and tropical signalgrass in studies conducted independently or in collaboration between Mississippi State University, NCSU, Virginia Tech and UF IFAS, and observed a 53% to 95% reduction in spray volume. In all the aforementioned cases, weed control levels achieved with targeted spraying were no different from broadcast applications. Thus, these studies demonstrate that, across various problematic weed species, this novel application system can substantially reduce the herbicide volume required, lowering costs without compromising weed control efficacy. Lower Treated Acreage – During broadcast herbicide applications, substantial areas without weeds are often treated unnecessarily. Targeted applications can reduce the treated acreage, enabling practitioners to use herbicides such as MSMA, which are currently restricted to spot treatments on less than 25% of the total golf course acreage per year. Targeted spraying systems are particularly useful for herbicides with limited or no residual activity, as it allows localized treatments to weed instead of broadcast applications to turfgrass. Targeted spraying for false-green kyllinga control (17% weed cover) in bermudagrass fairways resulted in 85% reduction in treated acreage compared to broadcast spraying. In a similar study, an 80% reduction in treated acreage was found when only treating annual bluegrass in dormant bermudagrass at 10% weed cover. A study conducted by UF/IFAS Turfgrass Weed Science Program using circular, non-overlapping targets of varying patch sizes (4-10 cm diameter) to simulate random different weed densities and dispersions within the 1-20%, 21-40%, and 41-60% coverage, indicated total spray deposition of approximately 40%, 64%, and 74%, respectively. This corresponded to estimated herbicide savings of 60%, 36%, and 26%. Spray deposition increased with rising weed pressure, while the non-sprayed area, directly reflecting herbicide savings declined accordingly. These results confirm that variation in herbicide savings with targeted applications is driven primarily by weed density, with dispersion playing a secondary role, exerting stronger effects at low weed densities but negligible influence at higher densities. The reduction in treated acreage can potentially diminish the environmental impact of herbicides by minimizing overall pesticide load released into the environment, limiting off-target movement, reducing the risk of groundwater contamination, and lowering the risk of human exposure associated with pesticide applications. Targeted approaches permit treatment to a limited portion of turf, enabling the effective use of chemistries with area-use limitations. Effective reduction in area treated with targeted spraying will become increasingly important as new regulations come into effect, particularly in the context of upcoming Endangered Species Act-imposed changes. Therefore, research projects funded by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina will focus on investigating the agronomic and environmental benefits of targeted application systems for managing problematic weed species. Alternative Herbicide Options for Resistance Management – Targeted spraying also enables selectivity at the sprayer level rather than relying only on selectivity of the herbicide used. This potentially allows turf managers to use nonselective herbicides that were previously not an option for broadcast treatment due to severe injury to actively growing turfgrasses. Broad spectrum herbicides like glyphosate, glufosinate, or flumioxazin are highly effective against a wide variety of weeds, but practitioners often wait for turfgrass to go dormant before spraying nonselective herbicides, while in some geographies, such as Florida, achieving full dormancy is not even possible. However, with this new technology, practitioners will have the option to incorporate nonselective herbicides year-round with minimal collateral damage to turfgrass. Glyphosate (Roundup Pro Concentrate) applied via broadcast application at 12 fluid ounces per acre rate reduced bermudagrass green cover significantly, but targeted spraying had similar level of green cover as nontreated plots as documented in our recent study. Likewise, glufosinate applied at 41 fluid ounces per acre (as Finale XL T&O) reduced bermudagrass cover drastically after broadcast application but had minimal effect on turfgrass after targeted spraying. Targeted spraying technology also allows use of novel admixtures that are not currently being used during regular turfgrass maintenance. Rotating or tank mixing herbicide from different modes of action are crucial for sustainable turfgrass management, as selection pressure for herbicide resistance continues to increase. For instance, practitioners can use tank mixtures of herbicides like pyridate + sulfentrazone or bentazon + halosulfuron + sulfentrazone for targeted spraying without compromising efficacy on false-green kyllinga. These novel admixtures contain multiple modes of action in a single application that could reduce selection pressure and combat herbicide-resistant kyllinga. Similar admixtures should be explored for the management of other herbicide-resistant or difficult-to-control weeds. Limitations – Like with any new technologies, there are limitations to consider when adopting a machine vision-guided sprayer. Currently, only one commercial unit (ALBA by Ecorobotix Inc.) is available, providing managers with a single option for this turfgrass-specific targeted spraying technology. Additional machine vision-guided sprayers need to be developed specifically for turfgrass systems, as interest in these technologies among turfgrass managers continues to grow and the needs across different turfgrass industry segments will vary. The cost of the equipment and the annual model subscription will be a major barrier for many turfgrass managers. Offering incentives, such as reduced subscription fees for the first few years, could help increase adoption of this technology. Alternatively, with ALBA being an example of a high-end solution maximizing performance and system sophistication, other developers may consider trade-offs to reduce equipment production and maintenance costs to improve accessibility. Although ALBA seems to demonstrate high detection accuracy on key problematic weeds, further research is needed to understand its year-round performance, considering changes in visual characteristics of weeds and turfgrass across growth stages and under varying environmental contexts. In our preliminary work, a few false positives occasionally led to herbicide applications to weed-free turfgrass. Also, we observed that in situations where weed presence (particularly grassy weeds) in the camera's path exceeded that of turfgrass, the detection system became confused, effectively reversing target and background and treating turfgrass instead of the weed. However, developers are actively addressing these shortcomings and performance of targeted applications systems by continuing to improve imagery databases, training and validation across diverse geographical regions and management contexts. There is no doubt that machine vision-guided sprayers will have a transformative impact on the turfgrass industry, however, extension efforts will be critical for adoption. Also, as this technology is still novel for turfgrass systems, ongoing research and development is critical to improve performance, reliability, and to meet industry needs. Among others, further research is needed to evaluate performance under varying travel speeds, expand applications to targeted residual treatments, and refine application thresholds to maximize herbicide savings. Authors acknowledge the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina for sponsoring ongoing research projects focused on leveraging targeted application devices for weed management in NC turfgrass systems. The authors also thank Ecorobotix Inc. for providing a commercial unit for evaluation. You have been listening to The Turf Zone Podcast. Follow The Turf Zone on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for all things turfgrass, featuring podcasts, magazines, events and more. Visit www.theturfzone.com for more. The post Advancing Precision Weed Management in Turfgrass Systems with Machine Vision-Guided Targeted Spraying appeared first on The Turf Zone.

I've updated my recommendation for the sand quantity to apply for every unit of clipping volume harvested, if your goal is to keep surface organic material constant. Bjarni and I discussed topdressing by this method and the new equation that finds this sand amount.We discussed this post: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/sand-topdressing-ratios-clipping-volume/The PACE Turf table of sand rates based on surface organic material is at https://www.paceturf.org/public/sand-and-clipping-volumeBjarni and I discussed the spring green-up and growth from adding sand: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/turfgrass-mystery-the-case-of-the-greener-grass/Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

This is about partitioning the growth flush after a rain. What's causing that growth flush? I made some calculations, using New Forest GC in the UK as an example. The increased soil water content from a 20 mm rain, in this example, would increase daily clipping volume from 10 mL/m2 to 22 mL/m2, a 12 mL increase.The blog post discussed is https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/nitrogen-in-rain-or-nitrogen-from-the-soil/See also https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/how-much-n-is-in-rain-and-snow/ for information on atmospheric deposition of NRead more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

It sounds counterintuitive at first, that you can maintain a lower average water content in the soil, and a higher air content in the soil, by applying irrigation every day. Once upon a time, I thought the way to keep soils drier and with more air was to implement deep and infrequent irrigation. The blog post discussed is: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/deep-and-infrequent-or-light-and-frequent-irrigation-which-is-better/I also mentioned John Jordan's research, see: https://tic.msu.edu/tgif/flink/RECNO/59354Paul Johnson article about irrigation frequency: https://usgatero.lib.msu.edu/v02/n06.pdfRead more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

Brian Whitlark joined me to talk about sand topdressing of putting greens and especially about sand amounts.The blog post we discussed is: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/standard-sand-amounts/Listen to Brian's recent appearance on the Frankly Speaking podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/lt/podcast/firm-fast-desert-with-brian-whitlark/id1793571091?i=1000743219832OM246 calculator web app with sand quantity conversion calculator: https://asianturfgrass.shinyapps.io/om246/How to measure topdressing rates: https://youtu.be/6LurONpyg5M?si=LW4IPwzzXbVAOn-mManaging salinity in putting greens article by Brian: https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/course-care/green-section-record/64/issue-08/managing-salinity-in-putting-greens.htmlTerminology of turfgrass organic matter: https://youtu.be/tMfby5xR2IM?si=8aOQ-Ju6A_cLib8MWhitlark and Thompson article from 2019 on topdressing: http://gsrpdf.lib.msu.edu/ticpdf.py?file=/article/whitlark-thompson-light-5-3-19.pdfRead more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Joe sits down with Bill Carraway of The Turfgrass Group. Bill shares his unconventional path—breaking away from a family of doctors and lawyers to find his calling in the dirt. After being kicked out of his home at 17, he built his first landscaping empire from scratch using nothing but a lawnmower and a credit card to becoming the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at The Turfgrass Group, focusing on the development and licensing of high-performance proprietary cultivars.From golf courses to turf farming across the globe, Bill dives into the evolution of the industry, the power of innovation, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.www.lawnsolutionsaustralia.com.auwww.facebook.com/lawnsolutionsaustraliawww.youtube.com/@LawnSolutionsAustralia

Welcome to The Turf Zone podcast. This episode features the article “Influence of Management on the Microbiome of Turfgrass Systems” By Benjamin Snell, Graduate Student at North Carolina State University. Home lawns, golf courses, and athletic fields account for the majority of the turf industry. A considerable amount of research has been conducted within these areas of the industry, with a primary focus on management strategies. Improving management strategies is crucial for turf managers to produce high-quality turf that is economically and environmentally sustainable. One area within the turfgrass industry where knowledge is limited is the impact of these management strategies on the soil microbiome. Previous research has demonstrated the benefits and importance of these microorganisms for plant health. Multiple claims have been made that organic products promote microbial growth, whereas traditional products, such as pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, can negatively affect these microorganisms. With the development and release of new molecular tools, more scientific conclusions can be drawn. Understanding whether and how turf management affects the soil microbiome is crucial for turf managers to sustain high-quality turf and maintain a beneficial soil microbiome. To understand the influence of different management practices on soil microbiomes, a trial was designed to simulate a typical home lawn management plan, with treatments using traditional synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and others using OMRI-approved organic products. This trial was conducted at Lake Wheeler Turfgrass Research and Education Center in two popular homeowner grasses, zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp. Willd.) and tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.)). Turfgrass quality, soil physical and chemical properties, and the soil microbiome have been measured for each treatment over the last year and will be measured for the final time two years after the initial sampling. The soil microbiome was characterized by extracting DNA from soil samples and submitting it for 16S/ITS sequencing. Using the raw sequencing reads, Qiime2 was used to identify the fungi and bacteria present in the trial. Soil samples were also collected from golf courses and athletic fields to determine how these management styles affect microbial communities. These samples include looking at creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) putting greens and athletic fields in North Carolina. The samples from these have been collected once and will be collected again one year after the initial sampling for comparison. Visual data from the trials, focusing on the differences between organic and conventional management strategies, have been analyzed. After one year of treatments, a significant difference in turfgrass quality was observed among treatments in the tall fescue trial under disease pressure. Turfgrass quality is rated on a scale of 1-9, with one being the lowest and nine the highest. The highest turf quality was observed in the treatment that received both synthetic fertilizer and pesticides, which was significantly higher than the organic treatments, the synthetic fertilizer-only treatment (no fungicide applied), and the non-treated control. In the presence of disease, organic treatments, synthetic fertilizer-only treatments, and the non-treated control all resulted in decreased turf quality. Based on this preliminary data, organic treatments will begin to fail or have little effect on disease presence. In addition to turf quality, initial sequencing data from the tall fescue and zoysiagrass trial have been analyzed. This data was collected before any treatments were applied. These preliminary results indicate that microbiome communities differ significantly between tall fescue and zoysiagrass. These findings are expected, given how different environmental factors can impact these communities. More sampling, analysis, and evaluation will help determine whether and how these management practices affect these communities. Golf course and athletic field samples are currently being analyzed to identify further how various cultural practices influence these microbial communities. Understanding how management practices influence soil microbiomes will encourage managers to promote a more diverse microbial community while maintaining a highly acceptable turf stand. You have been listening to The Turf Zone Podcast. Follow The Turf Zone on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for all things turfgrass, featuring podcasts, magazines, events and more. Visit www.theturfzone.com for more. The post Influence of Management on the Microbiome of Turfgrass Systems appeared first on The Turf Zone.

Welcome to The Turf Zone Podcast. This episode features the article “Turfgrass Research, Partnership, and Progress: 10 Years of the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Classic & Field Day” Many of Virginia's turfgrass industry professionals will gather at Independence Golf Club on Monday, May 18, 2026, to celebrate a major milestone: the 10th anniversary of the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Classic & Field Day. The inaugural event was held on May 15, 2017 across the James at the Country Club of Virginia's Tuckahoe Creek and James River courses, during establishment of the VT Turf Team's partnership with leadership at Independence Golf Club. In fact, sprigs were spread on Independence Golf Club's Bear Short Course that evening in what has turned into a decade-long partnership that has reshaped on-site research in Virginia. Hosted in Midlothian, VA, this year's event is designed to bring together golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, lawn care specialists, sod producers, landscapers, vendors, and other green-industry professionals for a full day of learning, networking, and support for turfgrass research. At its heart, the event showcases the strong partnership that has powered a decade of progress. For the past ten years, the Virginia Golf Course Superintendents Association (VGCSA) has been the driving force behind the Turfgrass Research Classic, providing leadership and support that have helped raise more than $500,000 for Virginia Tech turfgrass research through the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation (VTF). Beginning in 2026, VGCSA will continue this role as the Title Partner of the Turfgrass Research Classic & Field Day, working in partnership with the VTF, Virginia Tech, and our allied associations to expand the event's reach and impact across the broader turfgrass industry. This anniversary year also marks an important evolution in how the event is organized. Beginning in 2026, the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation is taking the lead in coordinating both the Field Day and the Research Golf Tournament, in close collaboration with VGCSA, the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Team, and industry partners. Centralizing sponsorships through the Foundation streamlines the process for supporters, maximizes nonprofit benefits, and ensures that contributions are tax-deductible and directed to Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research. The result is a more efficient, aligned effort that benefits the entire turfgrass community and strengthens the future of research and education in Virginia. The day will begin with the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Field Day from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., featuring a dynamic walking tour around the Independence Golf Club's Bear Short Course. Multiple research stations will be set up across the property, where attendees can hear directly from leading researchers and industry experts. While this event is held on a golf course, most of the topics covered apply across a variety of turfgrass uses. These topics include updates on winterkill and spring recovery strategies, water-use efficiency, sensing tools and technology, targeted application strategies, turfgrass pathology and disease prevention, turfgrass weed management, and turfgrass entomology and pollinator protection. Breakfast and lunch, hosted by the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation, will give participants time to connect with colleagues and continue discussions beyond each station. The afternoon will shift to the Turfgrass Research Classic golf tournament, with a shotgun start at 12:00 p.m. Participants will tee off alongside fellow professionals, sponsors, and researchers in a fun, friendly competition that directly supports turfgrass research and education. All proceeds benefit the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation and the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Program, meaning every round played helps fuel the science that drives the profession forward. Whether attendees are competitive golfers or simply enjoy a day on the course, the tournament offers camaraderie, networking, and the satisfaction of investing in the industry's future. Vendors and sponsors will also play a central role in this year's celebration. The 10th anniversary format offers expanded opportunities for engagement and visibility, including vendor tables, on-site demonstrations, high-visibility sponsorship packages, and broad promotional reach across the turfgrass industry. For the first time, all sponsorships and donations will flow through the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation, providing charitable tax deductions. These contributions help fund essential research, student scholarships, needed equipment, and educational programming that strengthen Virginia's turfgrass sector and support the next generation of leaders. As the event marks ten years of partnership, innovation, and shared commitment, organizers emphasize that this is more than just another field day or golf tournament. It is a celebration of the industry's collective achievements and a strategic investment in the continued advancement of turfgrass science in Virginia. Those interested in attending, sponsoring, or exhibiting are encouraged to register or secure their support by visiting www.vaturfgrass.org or contacting Brandyn Baty, at brandyn@vaturfgrass.org or 757-585-3058 for details on registration, sponsorship packages, or vendor opportunities. Presented by the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation in partnership with Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research, the VGCSA, and the VTC, the 2026 Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Classic & Field Day promises to be a milestone event the entire turfgrass industry can rally behind. You have been listening to The Turf Zone Podcast. Follow The Turf Zone on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for all things turfgrass, featuring podcasts, magazines, events and more. Visit www.theturfzone.com for more. The post 10 Years of the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Classic & Field Day appeared first on The Turf Zone.

High maintenance turf often requires a high disturbance and high stress environment. Grime's CSR theory says there are "no viable strategies" for plants in such an environment. I discuss the implications of this.Blog post discussed is https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/competition-stress-disturbance/Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

This week, Nathan tackles a few gardening topics including grouping your vegetable plants by family, effectively watering in drought times, and just a touch of turf grass thoughts.

Construction is booming across Florida, and for Director of Agronomy Nate Maurer, the clock is ticking toward a major course reconstruction set to begin next year. After years of planning and finalizing a partnership with golf course architect Andy Staples, the project will kick off with a full turf removal in late spring.When asked what advice he'd offer superintendents considering a renovation, Nate didn't hesitate: communication is everything. Years before breaking ground, he began educating members on the “why” behind the project. He led tours across the course, highlighting problem areas and even using a soil profiler to reveal the real challenges beneath the surface.From drainage improvements and earthmoving to a much-needed irrigation upgrade, Nate shares how transparency and preparation helped align expectations and build support for change. Coming off one of Florida's toughest winters in recent memory, he's also hoping for a little cooperation from Mother Nature as the work begins.Nate brings clarity, energy, and real-world insight to this conversation, offering valuable takeaways for any turf manager facing the challenge of reconstruction.Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/ EW Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

What Is the Real Water Problem Behind AI Data Centers - and Where Is the $1.3 Billion Opportunity? AI Water seems to concern everybody, while data center water treatment is the fastest-growing industrial water vertical in the world - $1.35 billion in 2025, growing at 13.3% per year. But the media is chasing the wrong story. The real problem isn't consumption volume — it's the concentrated industrial wastewater that cooling towers produce. This episode maps the opportunity most investors are missing. A

Clint Waltz from UGA answers your lawn questions and poses solutions for potential battles between homeowners and their HOAs

In this episode, Jack Higgins sits down with Zach Holm of the Central Park Conservancy to explore what it takes to manage one of the most iconic landscapes in the world. From high-traffic turf challenges to long-term soil health strategies, Zach shares how his team balances performance, sustainability, and aesthetics in a demanding urban environment.The conversation dives into practical approaches to building resilient turf systems, the importance of soil-first thinking, and how thoughtful inputs can support both plant health and playability under constant pressure. It's a behind-the-scenes look at managing turf where expectations are high and the margin for error is slim.Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/ EW Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

Welcome to The Turf Zone Podcast. This episode features the article “Penn State Researcher Turns Decades of Turfgrass Work into Startup Success” written by Katie DeFiore read from Pennsylvania Turfgrass magazine. David Huff, professor of turfgrass breeding and genetics at Penn State, recently earned the Research Innovator Award through the College of Agricultural Sciences for the research and entrepreneurial leadership that led to the founding of his startup, PennPoa. PennPoa aims to transform the turfgrass industry through the commercialization of highly cultivated Poa annua, or annual bluegrass, seed varieties for the golf course industry. To launch his turfgrass startup, Huff utilized Penn State entrepreneurial resources including the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central & Northern Pennsylvania and the Office of Technology Transfer. When Huff came to Penn State in 1994, his goal was to breed and improve varieties of Poa annua for the golf course industry. This strain has desirable traits, Huff said, such as high shoot density and dwarfism, which allows the grass to tolerate extremely low mowing heights — an important characteristic for golf course turfgrass, where mowing heights can be less than one-tenth of an inch. Huff said he quickly realized there was no commercially available seed for this top-quality grass, forcing golf courses to either use lower-quality grass species or rely on bluegrass that naturally emerges as a weed. However, when Poa annua establishes itself as a weed, it can take 50 to 100 years of golf course maintenance for it to naturally evolve into the highly sought-after strain, according to Huff. “There was no one out there helping the golf industry with this problem, and so I decided it would be a good project to work on,” Huff said. “I collected seeds from a lot of places across the U.S. and Europe, bred them, and after 13 years I had a top 10 — they were just beautiful grasses.” However, when Huff moved into the seed production process with those 10 strains, he lost the dwarfism trait that made the grasses so valuable. The plants reverted to weedy grasses, prompting another 13 years of research and the additional support of three graduate students to understand why this was happening and how to ensure the seeds retained their dwarf perennial traits. After a total of 26 years of research, Huff's new seeds were finally ready for beta testing. “I ran those beta tests on five golf courses, covering the east coast, west coast and the northern and southern United States regions, and everything looked good. So, in the meantime, that's when I started the company,” Huff said. “I had no idea I'd be doing a startup. When I first started, I thought this grass was going to behave like all grasses and that I would be able to license it to a seed company.” Huff said he was already familiar with the licensing process at Penn State, as he breeds other grass varieties that are released to seed production companies. However, because of the complex and novel seed production technology he and his team developed to maintain Poa annua's favorable traits, he realized he could not simply hand off the process to a seed company. The Penn State Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) suggested that he launch a startup. “To be honest, when OTT suggested launching a startup, I thought, ‘I can't do that, I'm faculty, I'd be using the product I'm researching, it's a conflict of interest,'” Huff said. “And they said Penn State has a support system in place to help manage that for you.” OTT connected Huff to the Office for Research Protections, where a team helped Huff navigate the research commercialization process. He later entered the Ben Franklin Technology Partners Big Idea Contest, where he won the People's Choice Award. Through that experience, Huff learned more about the entrepreneurial ecosystem at Penn State and in State College, and he began attending entrepreneurial events, meetups and competitions hosted by Ben Franklin, the Penn State SBDC and other local community organizations. At one of these events, Huff met Martin Brill, a business consultant and coordinator for the Pennsylvania SBDC Agriculture Center of Excellence, who became a long-term mentor. “Martin and everyone else that I've met has just been very encouraging, and that was very important to me,” Huff said. “Starting a new company like this was very scary — I wasn't planning on it, and I haven't been trained for it. But Martin, Ben Franklin, OTT, the individuals in the Office for Research Protections, they all encouraged me, and that's what propelled me forward. I followed their advice, and I never really hit a roadblock. I hit a lot of hurdles, but everyone helped me get over those. Before I knew it, I had a license agreement, I had a formal company and we started sales.” Huff said 2025 marked his first year of sales, and he sold out of both his 2024 and 2025 crops. He already has received orders for 2026 and 2027. He added that the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences has also been critical to his startup success. Huff received funding through the College's Research Applications for INnovation (RAIN) grants program and has been able to lease college-owned land to support seed production. “One of the other things that helped me was that, at all these various workshops and seminars provided by the SBDC, there were all sorts of other folks just like me — people with ideas who live in this area who were starting their own businesses,” Huff said. “Talking with them helped me, because they are in the same boat I'm in — they don't know what they're doing either, but they're doing it, and you learn as you go.” Most recently, Huff entered the Invent Penn State Startup Leadership Network Board of Advisors program for 2026, which provides Penn State startups with industry-specific advisory boards to guide founders as they enter the market. “I've just been impressed by the entrepreneurial ecosystem that's here at Penn State, both on and off campus,” Huff said. “It has helped give me the confidence to know that I can do this. Everybody has been so helpful and has given me their time and their interest. They really are passionate about helping people, and with that kind of help, you just go forward.” About the Penn State SBDC Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers are funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community & Economic Development, through support from Penn State, and by other sources of state and federal funding. Full disclosures available at: https://www.pasbdc.org/funding-sources SBDCs are hosted by leading universities, colleges, state economic development agencies and private partners, and funded in part by the U.S. Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. There are nearly 1,000 local centers available to provide no-cost business consulting and low-cost training to new and existing businesses. The Penn State SBDC services Centre, Clinton, Lycoming and Mifflin counties in central Pennsylvania. You have been listening to The Turf Zone Podcast. Follow The Turf Zone on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for all things turfgrass, featuring podcasts, magazines, events and more. Visit www.theturfzone.com for more. The post Penn State Researcher Turns Decades of Turfgrass Work into Startup Success appeared first on The Turf Zone.

Welcome to The Turf Zone Podcast. This episode features the article “Building the Turfgrass Manager Pipeline: A Call for Industry-Academic Partnership” written by Jay McCurdy. The larger turfgrass and landscape industry has a labor issue—mainly that there's not a reliable pipeline for accessing young and capable employees. I have this conversation almost weekly when discussing the state of the industry and how my role in a “turfgrass program” relates. I'm now in my 12th year at Mississippi State University, so I no doubt have some ownership of the problems. But I also wanted to relay to a wider audience just what some of the solutions might be to solve this problem. Yes, higher industry pay might help, but there's more to the story than just that. Our landscape management industry includes a broad range of job titles, but most of us reading this magazine are either boots-on-the-ground landscape managers (ex. superintendents, lawn care professionals, sports field managers, sod producers, equipment managers, etc.) or are somehow involved in the industry/supply side (sales, accounts, research and development, chemical, equipment, etc.). We know the technical mastery and skill required to do this job. We know the rewards and challenges. Nevertheless, I find the perspective from academia is often a little different from what it was when I was a practitioner. We are all concerned about a shrinking pipeline of new professionals entering our field. Turfgrass academic programs are often criticized for producing too few graduates, and those graduates are said to be underprepared for the demanding, multifaceted roles that await them. The same is said for students fresh out of high school. There's always a debate about whether it's generational or whatnot. Maybe there's something to that, but what, pragmatically, can we do to figure all this out? The issue is more complex than a simple academic shortfall. The challenges facing turf programs reflect deeper structural and cultural dynamics within the larger society, as well as within the green industry and our academic institutions. I think we need to embrace a new model of mutual investment between academia and industry in order to restore vitality and sustainability to the profession. Whatever the model, it must redefine recruitment, enhance the talent pool, and demonstrate that green-industry roles are both professionally rewarding and personally sustainable. This essay outlines a vision for such a partnership, built on five key principles: shared recruitment, broader inclusion, job-quality reform, experiential learning, and a mutual commitment to long-term workforce development. The Myth of the One-Way Pipeline Turfgrass academic programs are too often viewed as workforce development pipelines. In this paradigm, universities are expected to “turn out” graduates who are job-ready, immediately employable, and long-term loyal to the industry. These are ambitious goals that can only be achieved through industry partnerships. Universities cannot solve structural labor shortages in isolation. For starters, the looming demographic cliff, where student enrollment drops due to fewer babies having been born ~18 years ago, is self-evident. We have to reframe the relationship as a two-way street: industry leaders and employers must engage as co-investors in the success of the next generation. The declining number of turfgrass students is not solely a turf problem—it mirrors trends across many science, technology, engineering, agriculture, and mathematics (STEAM) disciplines. Yet in turf, the impact is more acute. Fewer students are entering, and those who do are frequently drawn away by careers with higher salaries, greater mobility, and more stable work-life balance—fields like wildlife biology, ecology, food science, and agricultural engineering. If return on investment (ROI) for college interests you, I highly recommend Preston Cooper's Is College Worth It? A Comprehensive Return on Investment Analysis article. If the green industry wants to retain talented, committed professionals, it must work with academic programs to create clearer, more appealing, and more stable career pathways for students entering the field. Recruitment: A Shared Responsibility One of the most common critiques from green industry professionals and hiring managers is that turf programs are not doing enough to recruit students into the field. In truth, recruitment cannot be the sole responsibility of faculty or universities. Few high school students grow up dreaming of becoming a golf course superintendent, especially if they've never been exposed to the role or the science behind it. Lots of kids grow up mowing lawns, but do they view that as a stable profession? How many golf course superintendents leave the industry for better working hours or more stable family lives? The stories of our profession are not always positive. How do we improve that? Meaningful recruitment requires visibility, storytelling, and early engagement. That means: Hosting and organizing Golf Course Superintendents Association of America's (GCSAA's) STEAM program, First Green. Industry professionals visiting high schools, FFA programs, and 4-H events to talk about careers in turf and to give hands-on help managing facilities. Hosting youth days, career shadowing, or field trips in coordination with FFA, agricultural teachers, 4-H, and Extension educators. Alumni sharing their stories, not just of agronomic challenges overcome, but of career development, family stability, and lifelong learning. Academic programs can support these efforts with marketing materials, introductory coursework, event production, and advising. Industry partners can develop their own materials, and my academic colleagues and I would be happy to collaborate. But unless the industry is willing to support or do the work, recruitment will remain a leaky pipeline. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America has promoted its First Green program and has invested heavily in promoting the profession to kids in FFA. This is a good example of how we might target youth to entice them into our profession. Reaching the Future of the Profession A second issue compounding recruitment challenges is the profession's lack of demographic diversity (this isn't a DEI discussion!). This is not simply a turfgrass issue; it reflects broader underrepresentation across many STEAM fields. However, the profession's visual and cultural homogeneity isn't always inviting to those from different socioeconomic or cultural backgrounds. That's to say very little of the lack of female representation—it's improving. Still, it lags considerably behind many other attractive career fields for the same candidate pool we are competing for. If we want to build a workforce that reflects the broader demographics of our society, the turfgrass industry must actively recruit from historically underrepresented communities, including women, students of color, and first-generation college students. Many turf programs sit within land-grant institutions with a mission to serve all citizens of their state. Partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges, and community colleges offer promising avenues for talent development. Additionally, the industry must take steps to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds are not only recruited but also retained. That means: Paid internships with real mentorship, not just summer labor. This is something our industry does well. Though pay and working conditions could always be improved, I understand the financial realities for most businesses—margins matter, and you can't pay a 20-year-old more than your loyal long-time employees. Scholarships and travel support to attend GCSAA and regional turfgrass conferences. GCSAA and our regional events have done a great job supporting our students. Our state and regional associations have covered almost all the costs for our students attending events like Deep South. GCSAA allows students and academic advisors to attend the Golf Show for free. They allow students to be members for free. We just have to cover flight and meal costs—sell more hats and pullovers! Storytelling campaigns that highlight successful professionals in our industry. Barry Stewart hosts MSU Turf Seminar speakers, and I'm sure he'd love to hear from those of you who can share your secrets to success and happiness. If the profession remains perceived as culturally insular or exclusionary, we will continue to miss out on a generation of bright, capable professionals who simply chose other welcoming fields. Career Quality: The Hidden Cost of Turnover Recruitment efforts alone are not enough if the jobs themselves are perceived as undesirable. One of the most pressing challenges facing the green industry is career sustainability and burnout. Even for students who graduate from turf programs and enter the profession, the early-career reality can be discouraging. Starting roles are often physically demanding, geographically isolating from home, and poorly compensated relative to the skill and responsibility required. I won't disagree: early careers are hard in many professions, and ours has a history of heartiness and resilience that we pride ourselves on. And that's great, but let's face it, positions frequently involve long hours, especially in golf and sports fields, weekend shifts, and high turnover. Relocation is common, placing strain on young professionals with families or community ties. Burnout is not only likely, but it's also all too often expected. In many cases, internships play a decisive role. While some students have transformative experiences, others emerge disillusioned. Internships are often where students determine whether they see a long-term future in the profession. Unfortunately, too many internships treat students as temporary labor rather than future colleagues. Our profession must take a hard look at its entry-level roles and ask: Are we investing in mentorship or extracting labor? Are we helping build careers or merely filling seasonal gaps? Are we creating a profession that values work-life balance and career advancement? Until the industry addresses these questions honestly, retention will remain low, and turf programs will struggle to retain students who see more stable options elsewhere. Experiential Learning and Academic Alignment To ensure that students are prepared for professional success, universities must evolve as well. Turfgrass programs must incorporate not only plant science and weed control, but also: Business management and budgeting Communication and conflict resolution Human resources and leadership Sustainability, data analytics, and emerging technologies Faculty must engage in continuous dialogue with industry professionals to align curricula with real-world expectations. This can happen through advisory boards, curriculum reviews, and co-developed experiential learning opportunities. Meanwhile, the industry must treat internships and co-ops as educational experiences, not just temporary employment. Golf courses that offer structured mentorship, performance feedback, and leadership development will not only see better short-term productivity, but they'll also help shape the long-term workforce of the profession. The Role of Associations The Sports Field Management Association (SFMA), GCSAA, and other professional landscape associations have a unique opportunity to lead systemic change. Many in the industry look to them for guidance, advocacy, and professional standards. But as organizations, they can: Develop and promote best practices for internship mentorship Recognize organizations that invest in student development Partner with academic programs on workforce development grants Support early-career professionals through networking and continuing education Just as importantly, associations must continue to help shift cultural expectations within the profession. That means promoting superintendent and field manager roles as executive leadership positions, not just agronomic technicians. It means celebrating the intellectual and managerial skills required to succeed in this career, and advocating for compensation, stability, and respect commensurate with those demands. Learning from Other Industries Much can be learned from adjacent fields. Engineering, for example, has long faced similar challenges: rigorous academic programs, intense internships, and high attrition. Yet leading companies and associations in that field have invested heavily in university partnerships, student engagement, and early-career support. Top manufacturing and technology firms fund campus recruiting, sponsor capstone projects, offer paid site visits to facilities, and offer career ladders with clear promotion timelines. These students, like our own, are not afraid of hard work. They are attracted by clear career outcomes and structured support along the way. There is no reason the green industry cannot offer the same. But doing so requires a shift in mindset: from “you have to earn your place” to “we will invest in you as the future of our profession.” A Vision for the Future In many places, these goals are already occurring, but here are just a few to imagine as being widespread: High school students attend “turf career days” hosted by their local superintendent and Extension agent. Universities and employers co-design internships that develop not just technical skills, but leadership and confidence. Interns feel welcomed and valued from their first day on a golf course. Assistant superintendents are mentored, paid fairly, and see clear paths to advancement. Associations and turf programs work side by side to tell the story of a modern, rewarding profession. This future is not only possible but also essential. The alternative is the status quo, or worse, decline: fewer students, fewer assistants, more burnout, and an aging workforce with no one ready to take the reins. Conclusion: A Call to Shared Action The challenges facing the profession are real, but they are not insurmountable. What is required is not blame, but shared responsibility. Universities must modernize curricula and deepen student support. Turfgrass managers must invest in mentorship and help reshape early-career roles. Our industry associations must lead with vision, coordination, and advocacy. Ultimately, this is about stewardship of the profession itself. The same care, foresight, and commitment that turfgrass managers bring to managing turf must now be brought to cultivating the future of the workforce. The author would like to thank Barry Stewart for his suggestions and edits to this article. You have been listening to The Turf Zone Podcast. Follow The Turf Zone on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for all things turfgrass, featuring podcasts, magazines, events and more. Visit www.theturfzone.com for more. The post Building the Turfgrass Manager Pipeline: A Call for Industry-Academic Partnership appeared first on The Turf Zone.

T-Jay Creamer is the golf course superintendent at Olympic View Golf Club on Vancouver Island. He's seen a steady decrease in OM2 in response to his N and sand rates, along with substantially more consistent OM2 values green to green. We discussed the results and what he does to accomplish this.The blog post we discussed is https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/gvx-and-sand/The OM246 calculator Shiny app is https://asianturfgrass.shinyapps.io/om246/Exact sand topdressing rates https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/sand-topdressing-measurement-by-exact-methods/Three ways to measure sand https://youtu.be/6LurONpyg5MRead more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

Jason Haines is the Links Superintendent at Cabot Cape Breton. We had a wide ranging conversation about blog posts from 2025, a new #MLSN article,  controlling snow mold, things that look easy but aren't easy, and more.The blog post we discussed is https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/ten-posts-no-one-read-in-2025/The spring 2026 article in GreenMaster about MLSN: https://online.flipbuilder.com/gbcmagazine/rpae/#p=16Video with Jason that shows the control of snow mold on greens in BC with minimal pesticides: https://youtu.be/L8Q8v5SAzSo?si=Jm8Vinz6fKZImH3PRead more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

Stewart Naugler is the Director of Agronomy at Loraloma in Texas. We talked about zoysiagrass as a golfing surface, playability, and maintenance requirements. We started by discussion my "Achieving the warm-season links" article, available here: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/publication/woods-2013-gca/Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Thailand GCSA Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia conference: https://stmia.asianturfgrass.com/Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

Thatch and mat at the top of turfgrass rootzones are removed from soils prior to testing for soil organic matter. Total organic material (OM246) testing is designed to measure the soil organic matter plus the thatch and mat.The blog post discussed is https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/organic-matter-and-screens/Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Thailand GCSA Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia conference: https://stmia.asianturfgrass.com/Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

Discover the secrets to achieving a lush Kentucky Bluegrass lawn. From mowing height and watering techniques to disease prevention and the value of professional expertise, this episode reveals practical tips that turn your yard into the envy of the block.Info: https://turfgrassexperts.com/nky TurfGrass Experts City: Milford Address: 5400 Dupont Circle Website: https://www.turfgrassexperts.com

This gives an overview of the seminars I presented at the GCSAA Conference in 2026 and discusses updated PACE Turf site analyses of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR).Seminar handout page: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/seminar/gcsaa-2026/Example PAR site analysis in the PACE Turf gallery: https://www.paceturf.org/gallery/detail/site-par-analysisRead more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Thailand GCSA Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia conference: https://stmia.asianturfgrass.com/Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

Maggie Reiter joined me to discuss her "Finding Turf Twitter" analysis, her analysis of current turf research topics at the ASA-CSSA-SSSA meetings, tropical grasses, and irrigation water requirements.We discussed: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/a-brand-new-turf-twitter-analysis/https://maggiereiter.com/https://www.asianturfgrass.com/tag/carpetgrass/https://www.paceturf.org/gallery/detail/five-year-maphttps://www.paceturf.org/public/university-research-location-climate-appraisalsRead more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

Scientific writing is not always as clear as this. There's an article I really enjoyed that stated right at the start, in the abstract, that core aeration "might not be worth doing." The blog post discussed in this episode is https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/core-aeration-lucid-abstract/Full text of the article is available at https://doi.org/10.4141/S05-073Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

Dr. Kaminski joined me from his sabbatical in Australia to discuss flights, turf photos, and what he's been doing on his sabbatical.The blog post we discussed is: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/flights-favorite-turf-photos-2025/Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/

This episode answers that question with how I recommend doing this. For today, we don't need to add N. But the soil nutrient levels decrease with time, we can predict how much the grass will use, and I make fertilizer recommendations looking into the future, rather than waiting to test again before making a decision to apply. The blog post discussed in this episode is: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/we-only-need-to-apply-n/Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/See GCSAA Conference seminars at https://gcsaaconference.com/

Joe Gulotti joined me to give the doublecut treatment to the top posts of 2025 on the ATC blog, plus a bit of holiday extravaganza.Blog post discussed is: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/top-10-posts-2025/National Links Trust updates: https://www.nationallinkstrust.org/whats-happening-nowPetition to keep D.C.'s publich courses out of political control: https://www.change.org/p/keep-dc-s-public-golf-courses-out-of-political-control2022 Talking Greenkeeper Holiday Extravaganza: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/micah-woods-phd-iv/id1435947281?i=10005907006182023 Talking Greenkeeper Holiday Extravaganza: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-micah-woods-annual-holiday-special/id1435947281?i=10006392223562024 Talking Greenkeeper Holiday Extravaganza: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-micah-woods-phd-annual-holiday-extravaganza-episode/id1435947281?i=1000680710300Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/See GCSAA Conference seminars at https://gcsaaconference.com/

When grass clippings are returned to the turf, the quantity of nutrients required as fertilizer is decreased. In this episode I discuss how I handle the clippings returned situation.Blog post discussed is: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/clippings-removed-or-returned/Also discussed how to get a quick estimate of grass nutrient use: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/how-to-arrive-at-that-number/Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/See GCSAA Conference seminars at https://gcsaaconference.com/

The #MLSN method for nutrient recommendations involves an MLSN value that the soil is not supposed to drop below. But what does this value mean, when converted from the usual units of ppm (mg/kg) to how many years it would take grass to use that much of the element? The blog post discussed is https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/soil-nutrients-and-extra-beer/Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/See GCSAA Conference seminars at https://gcsaaconference.com/

This episode explains the steps I'd take to change greens from too hard (surface hardness and ball bounce, not hard as in difficulty) to just right. It follows that the opposite steps could be taken to move greens from too soft to just right.The blog post discussed is https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/to-keep-green-soft/The ball bounce video from Dan Dinelli is at https://youtu.be/r1LV77z_ZiwRead more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/See GCSAA Conference seminars at https://gcsaaconference.com/

Expressing sand quantities as a depth makes communication easier. But to know the depth, you need to know how much sand was applied to begin with. I've been surprised at how many turf managers don't know the exact amount applied. This short episode explains why I think you should measure sand amounts.Blog post discussed was https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/sand-topdressing-by-depth/Sand rate unit conversion calculator at https://asianturfgrass.shinyapps.io/om246/USGA video on measuring sand https://youtu.be/7tPilHP5QiAATC video on measuring sand by exact methods https://youtu.be/6LurONpyg5MRead more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/See GCSAA Conference seminars at https://gcsaaconference.com/

According to Lawrence Mayhew, the EarthWorks chemist, calcium is the most important nutrient in plant production. While that may be debated, Lawrence makes a strong case for why calcium deserves top billing in any fertility program.This episode begins with a discussion about ammonium sulfate and how it can release calcium from the soil colloid, making it more available to plants. Lawrence also explains how the presence of calcium in the soil triggers the release of root exudates, helping the element move into the plant.The conversation explores different calcium sources, such as various forms of limestone and gypsum, and how they behave differently in the soil. Lawrence dives into the redox chemistry of calcium, explaining its true function in the soil and why it does not directly affect pH the way many assume.The discussion wraps up with a look at how calcium operates within the plant and practical ways to improve calcium bioavailability.If you are a fan of soil chemistry and Biological Soil Management, this is a must-listen. Whether you are already a believer in the power of calcium or still skeptical, you will find this episode both informative and memorable.Visit EarthWorks at: https://www.earthworksturf.com Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/ 2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

I explain how I answered a couple questions about how much N and how much sand a particular grass might require. Specifically, I recommend adjusting N based on #ClipVol and sand based on #OM246.Blog post discussed: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/sand-nitrogen-measuring-guessing/OM246 calculator: https://asianturfgrass.shinyapps.io/om246/Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/See GCSAA Conference seminars at https://gcsaaconference.com/

The New York Golf Economic & Environmental Impact Report has interesting results for MLSN and ClipVol usage in New York. 58% of golf courses measure clipping volume and 47% interpret soil tests using MLSN.Blog post: https://www.asianturfgrass.com/post/survey-says-mlsn-clipping-volume-golf-courses-new-york/Full report: https://www.newyorkgolfimpact.org/Read more about all kinds of turfgrass topics at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/Find a suite of decision-making tools at https://www.paceturf.org/Get free ATC newsletters at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/newsletter/ Find out more about soil tests with ATC at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/project/soil-tests/See GCSAA Conference seminars at https://gcsaaconference.com/

Turfgrass talk with Clint Waltz - shade tolerant grass, and use of fungicides, preemergence herbicides and winterizers

This week on The Turf Today Podcast, we're rolling through some memorable moments from past episode. Sit back and listen to some of the stories, laughs, and lessons that have stuck with us throughout the years. From early mornings on the course to behind-the-scenes insights from the people who keep the turf world running, this highlight reel cuts together the voices that define our industry. Hosted by Adam, This a fun look back at what makes turf life so unique and this show is for everyone in the industry.  This is a video podcast so check out the video version on Youtube  Want to Support us? Download the show, rate it 5 stars and leave a review if you can!  You can also visit www.turftodayshop.com for all your TT merch. We appreciate all our listeners around the world and the companies that we are proudly supported by. Thank you to our sponsors: The Toro Company, The Andersons, Standard Golf, Green Nature, Flash Weather Ai and The USGA.  

This week Adam and Brian sit down with Scott Bordner, Director of Agronomy for the Union League of Philadelphia, to talk about his work overseeing one of the most dynamic organizations in golf. Scott shares insights into managing multiple properties, upcoming projects, and how he balances it all while staying connected to the game on a personal level.  He also discusses his involvement with the Super Scratch Foundation and the annual golf tournament, along with his passion for introducing students and young professionals to the turf industry through working with the First Tee of Philadelphia. It's a great conversation about leadership, mentorship, and finding purpose in the work we do on and off the course. Want to Support us? Download the show, rate it 5 stars and leave a review if you can!  You can also visit www.turftodayshop.com for all your TT merch. We appreciate all our listeners around the world and the companies that we are proudly supported by. Thank you to our sponsors: The Toro Company, The Andersons, Standard Golf, Green Nature, Flash Weather Ai and The USGA. Outro Music- Wilde Things - Let You Down

This week on Turf Today, Adam and Brian sit down with Eric Van Gerwen, Superintendent at Black Bear Ridge Resort, one of Canada's Top 100 golf courses. Eric's journey is a blend of turf and business. After completing two years at the University of Guelph's Turf program, he went back to school to study business, giving him a unique edge as a modern superintendent. He's sharp, passionate about the game, and already showing the makings of a great leader in the turf industry. Tune in to hear his story, insights, and what drives his approach to managing one of the country's premier courses. Want to Support us? Download the show, rate it 5 stars and leave a review if you can!  You can also visit www.turftodayshop.com for all your TT merch. We appreciate all our listeners around the world and the companies that we are proudly supported by. Thank you to our sponsors: The Toro Company, The Andersons, Standard Golf, Green Nature, Flash Weather Ai and The USGA.

In this week's EarthWorks Podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Grant McKnight, President & CEO of DuraEdge, and Eric Blanton, Western Region Manager for both DuraEdge and 4Most Sport Group. We explored the story behind DuraEdge—how Grant's early work in mining and aggregates eventually led to the creation of specialized root zone materials for golf courses, and how that expertise evolved into serving the sports turf industry at the highest level. One of the highlights of our conversation was their new product, Fusion, a root zone material that could transform not just sports fields, but the turfgrass industry as a whole. Beyond product development, we talked about the science-driven approach that DuraEdge takes to solving real problems in the field—helping turf managers, superintendents, and facility operators achieve consistent, high-performance results. Whether you're a sports turf professional, a golf course superintendent, or just passionate about the science of soil and turf, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss.Visit EarthWorks at:  https://www.earthworksturf.com Podcasts: https://www.earthworksturf.com/earthworks-podcasts/ 2 Minute Turf Talks: https://www.earthworksturf.com/2-minute-turf-talks/

This week on Turf Today, Adam Courchaine and Brian Laurent sit down with Owen Singer, a 22-year-old Canadian making waves in the turf industry as one of the youngest Superintendents in the game. Owen's journey runs through the University of Guelph, countless hours on the course, and volunteer stints at the Canadian Open. All experiences that have sharpened both his skills and his perspective.  Young, driven, and grounded in a strong turf background, Owen brings fresh energy and big-picture thinking to the superintendent role. Tune in for a conversation about leadership, opportunity, and the future of turf through the eyes of the next generation. Thank you to everyone inside and outside the turf world that helps spread the good word of golf course maintenance and it's wonderful community.     

This week on Turf Today, Adam and Brian sit down with Brian Chapin and Todd Saganiec from Labar Golf to talk about their paths into the industry and the many projects that have had them racking up a ton of airline miles. They also played a big part in the golf course construction of Happy Gilmore 2. From the challenges of building golf courses to the opportunities available for those looking to join the team, Todd and Brian share stories, insights, and a real passion for the work they do. We appreciate all the love, keep reaching out!  Thank you to our partners: Toro, USGA, Standard Golf, The Andersons, Flash Weather AI and Apex-10  Outro Music- MAJORS- Thinkin' Bout

Ready to change the way you look at football fields forever? It's not as simple as managing an acre of grass.   In this episode of The Dirt, Dr. Bryan G. Hopkins joins Mike Howell to break down the art and science of sports turf management. From irrigation timing and mowing height, paint and shade, to compaction and crowns, you'll hear what really goes into the fields our athletes play on.   Explore why natural grass has become the turf of choice, how stadium layouts affect growth and uncover innovative technologies that have changed the turfgrass management game for NFL and college football consultants like Dr. Bryan Hopkins.   Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com   Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics  

This week on Turf Today we host episode 3 of Rolling with the Green Section. Join Ross Niewola and Mitch Leininger, two front-line agronomy experts from the USGA, as they demystify the science behind championship level maintenance. Ross explores the cutting-edge shift toward output-guided maintenance, where metrics like green speed, firmness, clipping volume, and soil moisture guide decisions on fertilizer, irrigation, mowing frequency, and more. Meanwhile, Mitch dives into the art and science of bunker health, discussing how site-specific fertility, precise sand depth, routine raking, proper drainage, and strategic renovation keep bunkers both playable and resilient. Whether you're a Superintendent looking to optimize resources, a new student of the indusrty or simply curious about how agronomy shapes your golf experience, this episode delivers a master class in modern, data-driven turf management. To learn more and sign up for free visit the USGA's website and look for the Green section record. You can also find the link in the Turf Today linktree on instagram.