OHIO TURFGRASS FOUNDATION

Thanks to our host, Todd Voss and the team at the Double Eagle Club for the educational tour of one of America's highest ranked facilities.

Attendees ranged from superintendents, sports field managers, suppliers, students and educators. Lessons learned were applicable for all turfgrass managers; including poa annua management, soil profiles and more.

Check out some photos from the event by clicking here.

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS IN EXCELLENCE

BEST SAND
SILENCE SAYS IT ALL IN BUNKER MAINTENANCE
Proper sand can "make or break" a bunker project. Learn how Best Sand's Tour Grade Signature Blend helped Crooked Stick Golf Club superintendent, Jake Gargasz provide superb aesthetics and playability during their recent renovation.
Click here to learn more

SYNGENTA
REGISTER FOR WEEVILTRAK TODAY
The key to successful ABW control is not only choosing the best products - it's equally important to use them at the right time.
Visit WeevilTrak Home Page

GREEN VELVET SOD FARMS
GREEN VELVET TIMES
News and updates from the Green Velvet Sod Farms team. Check out issue 195 for spring of 2017.
Read the newsletter

CENTURY EQUIPMENT
TORO WORKMAN GTX UTILITY VEHICLES
The Workman GTX is the first vehicle in its class to provide the comfort, control and versatility that you have been asking for. The all-new GTX is Simply Superior.
Watch the video to learn more

BASF
ON THE MONEY
Staying the course with Xzemplar Fungicide.
Click here to learn more

SITEONE LANDSCAPE SUPPLY
STAYING ON THE SAME PAGE WITH YOUR BUSINESS
No matter what part of the green industry you work in, SiteOne has the products for you.
View the SiteOne catalogs

TURFWARE
THE TURFWARE HILL TEST
See how the TurfWare TR360 ride-on-spreader passes up the competition on hills and slopes. No more slipping or roto-tilling your customers' lawns!
Watch the video to learn more

Learn more about our other Partners in Excellence by visiting them online:

Ag Design | www.agriculturaldesign.net
Baker Vehicle | www.bakervehicle.com
Reynolds Golf & Turf | Reynolds Golf & Turf
Target Specialty Products | www.target-specialty.com

The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation was recently recognized by the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) with three awards for excellence in communication.

Designed to acknowledge the wealth of outstanding communications generated by the Green industry, the TOCA Communications Awards recognize outstanding writing, design, photography, videography and interactive efforts in Publishing and Marketing Communications.

Best Overall Design - Printed Newsletter
Spring 2016 OTF Turf News
View the newsletter

Best Mobile Application
OTF Conference & Show Mobile App

Merit Award -
Most Engaging Social Media Campaign
Tweet for Cash presented by Green Velvet Sod Farms
Learn more about the campaign

Thanks to all of our content contributors, partners and members for making this recognition possible. We're working to enhance these and other programs to improve the value of your membership.

About TOCA

The Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) is composed of editors, writers, publishers, photographers, public relations/advertising practitioners, industry association leaders, manufacturers and others involved in green industry communications.

From its beginnings in 1990, TOCA has been serving members of the green industry by fostering an open exchange of information regarding issues that affect how we communicate to our various audiences.

Dr. David Gardner of the Ohio State University offers suggestions for control of winter annuals, crabgrass and more in the latest OTF Turf Tips video!

Ready to overseed this spring and need quality weed control options?

Timing has as much to do with control as the type of product you use for control. Be sure to plan ahead when considering your options.

For a detailed review of weed control options during spring overseeding, read a recent article by Pam Sherratt of the Ohio State University featured in Sports Turf Online.

Click here to read

We would like to thank Target Specialty Products for their recent commitment to the Partners in Excellence program!

"Residex/Turfgrass has been a proud member of OTF for the past several years.  We have experienced tremendous growth as a company over that time which has lead to our joining forces with Target Specialty Products as one national company dedicated to serving the turf and ornamental markets. We believe by partnering with key organizations like OTF, we will ensure the future of our business is a bright one.  Target Specialty Products is dedicated to this business and is extremely proud to partner with OTF as a Partner in Excellence!"

Brett Garrard, Midwest Regional Sales Manager
Target Specialty Products

For more information about Target Specialty Products, visit them online:

www.target-specialty.com

Written by Dr. Jay Hobgood, Ohio State University

There will be a fast west to east flow in the upper levels during the first half of March.  That flow will carry weather systems quickly across the U.S.  Southerly winds ahead of each storm will transport unseasonably warm moist air over Ohio. 

After each storm passes northwesterly winds will transport cooler, but seasonable air over the state.  With no snow cover on the ground and mainly west to east flow, the potential for a period of very cold weather is very low.  So, we will see frequent shifts in the temperature, but the average temperature for the entire month of March should be above normal. 

Periodic flows of moist air over the state and a series of storms will likely produce above normal precipitation during the month.  Most of the precipitation will fall in the form of rain, but if a storm takes just the right track, it could bring snow.  There is almost no ice on any of the Great Lakes and so northwesterly flow across the lakes could produce lake effect snow in the usual parts of Ohio.

Jason Straka, partner at Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design and active industry proponent, is commencing his term as President of the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation’s (OTF) Executive Committee.  A long-time Trustee on the Foundation’s board, Straka just completed his one year term as the 2016 Vice President and has also served as Treasurer and member of the Foundation’s Education Committee.

“As a strong believer in the mission of the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, it is with great excitement that I begin my term as the Foundation’s President,” Straka said.  “It is an honor to be the first golf course architect to serve in this capacity, and I value the privilege to continue OTF’s legacy of supporting the turfgrass community.”

One of Straka's primary objectives for 2017 includes launching the Buckeyes for Environmentally Sustainable Turfgrass (BEST) program. BEST, which has been in the development stage for several years, will provide turfgrass managers an opportunity to earn recognition as environmental stewards by following industry best practices.

Once again, OTF is partnering with allied industry associations to promote the profession and discuss matters of importance to our members during Green Industry Advocacy Day. The event will take place on February 22, 2017.

As a partner of this event, we have room for 20 members to represent OTF. If you are interested, please complete and return the registration form by January 25th.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REGISTRATION FORM AND AGENDA

Wednesday February 22nd

 

Registration, coffee and breakfast snacks - 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Thanks to our breakfast partner, Green Velvet Sod Farms

 

9:00 -10:00 am:  Pam Sherratt, OSU – Selecting Turfgrass Mixes & Blends for Sports Fields

 

10:00 -11:00 am:  Dr. Ed Nangle, OSU ATI – The latest on turf pigments & dyes

 

11:00 -12:00 pm:  Dr. Dave Shetlar, OSU - Insect control for sport field managers: watch out for label changes!

 

LUNCH (provided)

 

1:00 – 2:00 pm:  Dr. Karl Danneberger, OSU – Timing plant growth regulator applications using growing degree day models.

 

2:00 – 3:00 pm:  Dr. Andy McNitt, Penn State – Athletic Field Drainage Concepts.

 

3:00 – 5:00 pm: Tips from the Professionals (Four 30 minute sessions)

 

 

5:30 pm: 
Evening reception at The Varsity Club, 

278 W. Lane Ave, Columbus

 

Thursday February 23rd

 

Registration, coffee and breakfast snacks - 7:30 - 8:00 AM

Thanks to our breakfast partner, Green Velvet Sod Farms

 

8:00 – 9:00am: Jim Belt, ODA – Pesticide regulatory update 

 

9:00 – 10:00 am: Dr. Dave Gardner, OSU - Environmental fate of fertilizer applied to turfgrass.

 

10:00 – 11:00 am: Jake Tyler, Toledo Mudhens - Hiring, training and scheduling - reaching new heights as a team.

 

11:00 – 12:00 pm: Britt Barry, Dayton Dragons – Seasonal Maintenance Plan

 

LUNCH (provided). Awards ceremony: “Sports Turf Student of the Year”

 

1:00 – 1:30 pm: Jim Scott, Knox County Career Center - My experience with the next generation

 

1:30 – 2.30 pm: Joe Rimelspach & Todd Hicks, OSU – Turfgrass disease update for 2017

 

Award Attendee Certificates & Adjourn

Registration Fees:
OTF/OSTMA Members = $90 for a two day registration; $50 for a one day registration
Non-Members = $140 for a two day registration; $75 for a one day registration

Click here to register