Looking Back at Field Day 2025
MSU Turfgrass Field Day, Aug. 13, 2025 - Hancock Turfgrass Research Center
The event on Wednesday, August 13th took place at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center at Michigan State University. The day's clouds offered a pleasant respite from the high temperatures earlier in the week, creating an excellent atmosphere for networking among turfgrass professionals.
Welcoming Dinner
The Welcoming Dinner was held on August 12th and the event was a wonderful opportunity to introduce and honor our new Turf Team Professor, Dr. Ruying Wang, and the new MSU Plant, Soils, and Microbial Sciences Chair, Dr. Sydney Everhart. We were delighted to have the MSU Turfgrass Information File Administrators, Andrew Lundeen and Elisabeth Mabie, as well as the USGA Davis Research Committee. The MTF thanks SiteOne for sponsoring this dinner!
Full Welcome Dinner Gallery
Opening Remarks
Brad Lazroff, President of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, kicked off the event by expressing gratitude to the presenting professors, attendees, and MTF Board Members for their participation. Adam Palmatier, Field Day Chair and MTF Board Member, emphasized the significance of the event and acknowledged the presence of USGA members and new Turf Team Professor, Dr. Ruying Wang.
Additionally, Dr. Matt Daum, Associate Provost and Dean of the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, along with Dr. Sydney Everhart, Chair of the MSU Plant, Soils and Microbial Science Department, addressed MTF members about the vital contributions of the MTF and MSU Turf Program to the industry, as well as the value of offering internship and mentoring opportunities to MSU students.
Dr. Kevin Frank then outlined the day's agenda and tour stops, signaling that the event was officially underway!
Morning Research Tours
Golf Turf Research Tours
- Disease identification and management strategies – Dr. Wrennie Wang and Nancy Dykema.
- Rolling and turfgrass nutrition as a critical component of IPM – Dr. Thom Nikolai
- A quarter century of monitoring nitrogen fate – Dr. Kevin Frank.
- The temporary tee box - Dr. Trey Rogers.
- Hydroponic and variable depth putting greens – Mike Rabe
- WinterTurf and turfgrass physiology research update – Dr. Emily Holm
- Moss control ; P&K Research – Dr. Kevin Frank.
Lawn and Athletic Fields Turf Research Tours
- Testing Herbicide on multiple turfgrass species and aerial herbicide applications. Dr. Thom Nikolai and Eric Galbraith
- Plant diagnostics: Tour the Weed Garden – Dr. Erin Hill
- World Cup shallow turfgrass profile update – Evan Rogers.
- Programmatic approach to PGR applications – Ryan Bearss.
- Soil surfactants for Shallow Turf Profile System – Dr. Jack Guevara.
- Disease Management – Dr. Wrennie Wang and Nancy Dykema.
Full Gallery
Afternoon Program
1. Disease and Weeds Diagnostic Tour Stops
Disease and Weed Diagnostic walk toured the plots at HTRC.
2. Lasch Family Golf Center Tour
The cutting-edge Lasch Family Golf Center offers the Michigan State golf teams one of the best-equipped facilities in the country. Head Women's Golf Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll and MSU Golf Course Superintendent Ben Keeler gave MTF members an exclusive tour of the facility, which plays a vital role in driving success for both the MSU men's and women's golf teams.