Around The Industry

Publications from the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Michigan State University Turf and Landscape Extension, the Michigan State University Extension/ Water Quality Digest and the USGA Green Section have been recently released.  The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is proud to share recent news and support these exceptional turf related programs at Michigan State University and turf related organizations throughout our industry.

Careers in Agriculture & the Green Industries is ideal for employers who seek MSU’s top talent for Summer 2022 Internships and Entry-Level Opportunities. This event is a unique recruiting event – we encourage you to recruit for all functional areas in your organization.   Students that attend are there to explore opportunities for internships and full-time employment in agribusiness, sales, marketing, logistics, research & development, technical roles. production agriculture or the green industries. Employers represent all aspects of Agriculture & Horticulture such as agronomy, dairy, equine, livestock, poultry, companion animal, fruit & vegetable, landscape & turf grass industries. MSU two-year Agriculture Technology certificate students, bachelor’s degree students (BS, BA, BLA) and advanced degree students (MS and PhD) attend this fair.

Date:  Tuesday, September 28

Time:  3:00 – 6:00 pm EST

Location:  Virtual on Handshake

Register online:  https://app.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/24869/employer_preview?token=GJ8Njz16VyxP6B9tYcx_0Wug7YBUtwZd8ZlE05jKgZXiTpqJSsg2fQ

Questions – contact Jill Cords, CANR Career Consultant at jcords@msu.edu

USGA Green Section Record

The Ins and Outs of Managing Poa Annua Putting Greens

By Zach Nicoludis, agronomist, Central Region

Although Poa annua putting greens sometimes face criticism, this grass can provide excellent conditions and is the preferred putting surface at some of the most famous courses in the country. There are also many courses where Poa annua greens are the reality regardless of superintendent or golfer preferences. Whatever the case may be, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of this grass is necessary for successful management. As is an in-depth understanding of the agronomics needed to optimize turf health and playing conditions.  

Read more at USGA.org

The Growing Impact of Women in Golf Course Maintenance

By Bradley S. Klein

Women make significant contributions to course care and their impact is growing. There is still more progress to make, but the future of women in turf science and golf course maintenance keeps getting brighter.

Read more at

usga.org

Legislators Learn of Golf's Community Impact

“Members of the Michigan Golf Alliance, a cooperative body of five state golf associations, shared its message of economic, environmental and human impact of the game with face-to-face talks over lunch and a program that included presentations by Renee Fluker, the founder and president of the Midnight Golf Program in Detroit, Gilda Johnson, the owner of Lake Forest Golf Club and the Michigan Golf Course Association president, and a video featuring Dr. Brian Horgan of the Michigan State University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.” Dr. Brian Horgan, Department Chair of Plant Soils and Microbial at MSU was unable to attend. However, in his absence he provided an informational video to attendees regarding Golf Courses and their importance in the ecosystem with relation to Urban areas.   To view the informative link – click here Read more at mgcoa.org

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Welcomes Paul Kuhna to Board of Directors

Paul Kuhna Head Groundskeeper - Lansing Lugnuts (Oakland Athletics High A Affiliate) Representing:  Sports or Institutional Turf Home town: Grosse Pointe, Michigan How did you get interested in turf?   “My parents had season tickets to the Detroit Tigers, so I went to about 20 or 30 games a season growing up.  So I really just like being at the ballpark a lot, being around the field, running the bases after games, when I was a little kid I thought that was awesome.   What made you decide to attend Michigan State University?   “Michigan State has a great turf program, but I would have gone there for anything.  My dad went there, uncles went there, I grew up a Spartan fan my whole life.  I grew up going to games there, baseball, football, basketball.  There was no other school I was looking to go to. How did you end up with the Lansing Lugnuts?     “I started an internship with the Detroit Tigers my junior year. I actually had to miss a semester of college, because the internship went from March all the way through November, so I had to take an extra semester to do that.  That helped me be able to start here with the Lugnuts the following spring as the Assistant Greenskeeper in 2017.  I really like being in Lansing, so when the Head Groundskeeper job opened up, I applied and was excited to get the job and be able to come back here!   What are your thoughts on being a board member with the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation? “I’m really excited to be a part of it.  While attending Michigan State I learned about the foundation, but to be a part of it, I’m really excited.  I’m excited to learn from some great colleagues in all parts of the industry.

Turf Program Receives New Tractor

On Thursday (6/10), a new John Deere tractor was delivered to Jesse Sholl,  Turf Research Center Manager at the MSU Hancock Center.  The tractor was funded, in part, with funds provided by the Founders Society Endowment.  Learn more at michiganturfgrassfoundation.org

CONSUMER ADVISORY: Invasive box tree moth detected in Michigan nurseries, greenhouses

MDARD, USDA taking immediate action to safeguard against invasive pest LANSING, MI - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has identified box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) in nurseries and greenhouses in the United States, including Michigan. This is the first detection of this invasive species in the nation. Box tree moth is not considered a forest pest because boxwood is not native to Michigan forests. However, if left unchecked, it could cause significant defoliation and death of boxwood in the landscape. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is advising anyone, including landscapers, who purchased boxwood plants within the last two months to inspect their plants very closely for the invasive pest. Signs of infestation include silky webbing and possibly caterpillars located deep inside of the plants. Box tree moth caterpillars are green and yellow with white, yellow, and black stripes and black spots. The caterpillars feed only on boxwoods making them easy to spot. Adult box tree moth has two color forms. The most common form has white wings with dark brown borders, while the dark form has solid brown wings with a white streak or spot on each forewing. Both forms have a distinctive white dot or mark in the middle of each forewing. “Boxwoods are commonly planted in North America as ornamentals with the largest plantings occurring in urban areas. In 2014, boxwood made up 15 percent of broadleaf evergreen sales in the United States with an estimated value of $126 million,” said Robin Rosenbaum, Plant Health Section Manager of MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. “Ensuring this pest is quickly contained is crucial to protecting the state’s boxwood.” To further prevent the introduction of box tree moth into the United States, USDA APHIS issued a Federal Order on May 26, 2021, prohibiting importation of all boxwood (Buxus spp.), euonymus (Euonymus spp.), and holly (Ilex spp.) plants for planting from Canada. If you see signs of box tree moth on your boxwood plants, please contact MDARD’s nursery program at MDARD-NurseryCE@michigan.gov with your contact information, photos, and when and where you purchased the plant. You may also contact Michigan State University Diagnostic Services at pestid@msu.edu. Visit the Michigan Invasive Species website to find photos and information about invasive plant pests in Michigan and contact information to report pests in your community. For more information on MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pesticide Management Division, visit Michigan.gov/MDARD.

Michigan State University Extension News Turf & Landscape Digest

Current News Stories

If you planted boxwood shrubs this spring, check them for box tree moth

By David Smitley Box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, is a destructive pest of ornamental boxwoods (Buxus spp.) in Europe, where it was introduced from Asia. It was first discovered in North America in Toronto, Canada, in fall of 2018. It has not been previously found in the United States. Unfortunately, a few infested shrubs may have been sent to Michigan nurseries during spring 2021, despite being inspected and confirmed as free of boxwood tree moth by the source. Read More

Help me save my blue spruce

ByJan Byrne, Bert Cregg, Jill O'Donnell and Monique Sakalidis The Michigan State University Plant & Pest Diagnostics lab receives roughly 75 spruce samples a year from those looking to right all that is wrong with their spruce trees. There are also countless phone calls and emails made to the lab, Michigan State University Extension educators and specialists. The reality is not all ailing spruce trees can, or should, be saved. In most cases, there is no silver bullet to cure the affected tree. Read More

Michigan State University Extension/ Water Quality Digest

Is your water garden having a RIPPLE effect on Michigan's waterways?

By Paige Filice  Wildlife sightings, soothing sounds and scenic beauty are a few benefits of backyard water gardens. While exotic fish such as koi can be attractive and friendly additions, and non-native ornamental plants such as water hyacinth add vibrant color to your yard all summer long, neither are native to Michigan. If they are let loose into our lakes and streams, they can have long-lasting, detrimental impacts. Read More

Help make a difference on Michigan’s inland lakes. Join the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program today!

By Erik Elgin  The MiCorps Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) is back and seeking volunteers who want to enjoy and protect Michigan’s 11,000 inland lakes. Read More

Paul Kuhna
Head Groundskeeper - Lansing Lugnuts (Oakland Athletics High A Affiliate)
Representing:  Sports or Institutional Turf

Home town: Grosse Pointe, Michigan

How did you get interested in turf?

  “My parents had season tickets to the Detroit Tigers, so I went to about 20 or 30 games a season growing up.  So I really just like being at the ballpark a lot, being around the field, running the bases after games, when I was a little kid I thought that was awesome.  

What made you decide to attend Michigan State University?

  “Michigan State has a great turf program, but I would have gone there for anything.  My dad went there, uncles went there, I grew up a Spartan fan my whole life.  I grew up going to games there, baseball, football, basketball.  There was no other school I was looking to go to.

How did you end up with the Lansing Lugnuts?  

  “I started an internship with the Detroit Tigers my junior year. I actually had to miss a semester of college, because the internship went from March all the way through November, so I had to take an extra semester to do that.  That helped me be able to start here with the Lugnuts the following spring as the Assistant Greenskeeper in 2017.  I really like being in Lansing, so when the Head Groundskeeper job opened up, I applied and was excited to get the job and be able to come back here!  

What are your thoughts on being a board member with the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation?

“I’m really excited to be a part of it.  While attending Michigan State I learned about the foundation, but to be a part of it, I’m really excited.  I’m excited to learn from some great colleagues in all parts of the industry.

Around The Industry

Publications from the Sports Turf Managers Association, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Michigan State University Turf and Landscape Extension and the USGA Green Section have been recently released. The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is proud to share recent news and support these exceptional turf related programs at Michigan State University and turf related organizations throughout our industry.

Sports Turf Managers Association Releases: Best Management Practices for the Sports Field Manager: A Professional Guide for Sports Field Management

Click the image for information and to view the guide

As you may know STMA just completed a year-long project– Best Environmental Management Practices for the Sports Field Manager - A Professional Guide. The Guide is presented in two formats: the national document in a PDF and a customizable Word template that can be edited to fit the needs for a specific region, state or organization. This Guide is available to all in the green industry at no charge.

New podcast helps Michiganders prepare for mosquito season "If you can prevent mosquito bites, you can prevent mosquito-borne diseases. The message seems simple enough-and it holds true for both humans and animals-but aside from spray-on repellant, what other tactics are there? And what are the dangers of not taking precautions? In the latest edition of the "Fresh from the Field" podcast series from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), four experts discuss several strategies Michiganders can use to prevent or reduce the threat of mosquitoes when enjoying the beautiful outdoors." Learn More

Michigan State University Extension News Turf & Landscape Digest

Featured Events Michigan Beekeeping Webinar 6/14 Native Bees of Michigan: How to Identify and Support Our Native Pollinators 6/17 Current News Stories

Forecasted temperatures give a green light for planting

Frost and freezing temperatures and ways to protect plants

2021 status of herbicide-resistant weeds in Michigan

What are those dead grass tips in my lawn? 

Stop the spread of invasive species with a few simple practices

USGA Green Section Record Looking Ahead to the Next 100 Years Looking Ahead to the Next 100 Years Restoring Bethlehem Golf Club with Help from a USGA Agronomist Restoring Bethlehem Golf Club with Help from a USGA Agronomist What Are Your Ball Marks Telling You? What Are Your Ball Marks Telling You? Practice Tee Setup and Management Practice Tee Setup and Management

Colleagues and friends,

It's my pleasure to personally invite you to this year’s LaFontaine Golf Outing. As the former Executive Director of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, I’m proud of the work we've done together to support the Turf Program at Michigan State University.  This golf outing is part of the continuing efforts to fund Graduate Student work in the program, work that is so vital to the success of the department and the turfgrass industry.

In addition to a relaxing day on the links, this event is a chance to network with some of the great colleagues in our industry and to discuss the future of the program at MSU. We’re all excited to be back amongst friends, celebrating and supporting turfgrass research. I hope you will have a chance to join us!

Gordie LaFontaine

Past President, Executive Director - Michigan Turfgrass Foundation

DETAILS

$125 Per Golf Registration (includes continental breakfast, box lunch and awards/cocktail hour after golf)

$1,000 Corporate Sponsorship (includes foursome)

$150 Tee Sponsorship

$1,250 Lunch Sponsorship (includes foursome)

$250 Breakfast Sponsorship

$500 Cocktail Hour/ Prizes Sponsorship

Format: Scramble with Skins

SCHEDULE

8:00 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start

Box Lunches provided

3:00 - 4:00 (approx.) Social Hour comments by Mr. Gordon LaFontaine and members of the MSU Turf Team

Recent publications from the turf industry as well as newsletters from the Michigan State University Turf and Landscape Extension have been recently released.  The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is proud to share recent news and support these exceptional turf related programs at Michigan State University and turf related organizations throughout our industry. 

Michigan State University Extension News Turf & Landscape Digest

Featured Events Plant Quest 2021 - “Nearly Natives—Plants of Merit with Deep Roots” 5/17 Plant Quest 2021 - “Smart Landscape Trees and Shrubs for Midwest Gardens”5/24

Current News Stories

Oak Wilt Awareness Month in Michigan

The best sampling procedures for accurate oak wilt testing

Smart waterfront plants to enhance your shoreline

MSU turf students expand skills through spring internships

Smart lake gardening; Planning your nearshore garden

On behalf of the Michigan Golf Alliance, we invite you to join us on the Capitol Lawn Thursday, June 3 for the “Economic, Environmental and Human Impact of Golf in Michigan”. The Michigan Golf Alliance is happy to resume our long standing legislative day event. This socially distanced presentation will be held under two tents on the Capitol Lawn. As we all know, golf is much more than a game. The business of golf benefits our state both economically and environmentally. In addition, the Michigan Golf Alliance wants to show how the golf industry is a leader in charitable giving and outreach programs for all generations. We are inviting you to RSVP for one of the program presentation time slots below as well as an additional time to meet that day with members of the Michigan Golf Alliance.

Learn More

Turfgrass Disease Update with Dr. Joe Vargas for May 7, 2021

Dr. Joe Vargas joins Dr. Kevin Frank to discuss current turfgrass disease activity.

Weather Update with Dr. Jeff Andresen for May 11, 2021

Cool, frosty conditions persist but a gradual warming is on the way.

Join Us For One Of The Best Events Of The Year! The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is excited to announce the date for one of our favorite events of the year, the LaFontaine Golf Outing.  Join us on Wednesday, June 23rd at Coyote Preserve Golf Club in Fenton, Michigan for a great day of golf while helping us raise funds for the Graduate Student Assistantship Fund. Scramble Format with Skins 8:00 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start Box Lunches provided 3:00 - 4:00 (approx.) Social Hour comments by Mr. Gordon LaFontaine and members of the MSU Turf Team Corporate, Tee, Breakfast, Lunch, cocktail hour and prize sponsorships available. $125 per golfer (includes continental breakfast, box lunch and awards/cocktail hour after golf)

Learn More & Sign Up

Join the MTF Board

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is currently seeking candidates for the Board of Directors to represent Sports or Institutional Turf. Interested candidates should contact Dan Lucas, head of the Nominating Committee.

We would also like to thank Kelly Rensel (Great Lakes Loons) for the tireless work, dedication and the knowledge he shared during his time as a Board Member with the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation.

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is a non-profit organization which arose from the need for better turfgrasses and better methods of turfgrass maintenance. Since its incorporation in 1957, the MTF has achieved success in fulfilling these needs through research and education. Located at the Robert W. Hancock Turfgrass Research Center on the Michigan State University campus, the MTF continues its success in these areas by working closely with the University.

MTF members are representative of homeowners, golf courses, seed, sod and stolon growers, municipalities, parks and recreational areas, school boards, landscape contractors, lawn maintenance contractors, custom lawn applicators, athletic associations, cemetery associations and other facets of the industry.

The business affairs and the activities of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation are governed by a Board of Directors composed of twelve (12) members plus the Executive Director. The Board of Directors is composed of representatives from each of the following organizations or groups:

Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (4)

A Commercial Turfgrass Supplier's Representative

A Cemetery, Park, Sod or Sports Turf Representative

A Lawn Care Representative

A Lawn Maintenance Representative

A Lawn Applicator Representative

At Large Representatives (3)

Register today for our online golf auction benefiting turfgrass research. Some of the best Midwest and Michigan golf courses are up for grabs starting April 25th!

The MTF would like to thank our newly registered TeeTimes4Turf golf courses, superintendents and others for their support of the MSU Turf Program.  Course donations can be accepted all the way through the end of the auction on May 9th.

The Foundation appreciates all courses participating in this years event and thank those who are part of the process.  Registering your course can be done quickly online or with a printable form mailed back to the Foundation.  Click a link below and join the list of supporters!  

ONLINE FORM

PRINTABLE FORM

Register today for our online golf auction benefiting turfgrass research. Some of the best  Midwest and Michigan golf courses are up for grabs starting April 25th!

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation extends congratulations to our recent 

2021 MSU Student Scholarship Awardees:

Ms. Payton Perkinson – The Norman Kramer Scholar Award

Mr. Colin King – The Kenyon T. Payne Outstanding Student Award

Mr. Keith Koch – Sports and Commercial Turf Award

The MTF is also pleased to congratulate the following students for their exemplary efforts during the interview process and recipients of scholarship funding.

Mr. Spencer Cole

Mr. Clayton Hoekwater

On behalf of the MTF the Scholarship Committee Congratulates all awardees.

Mr. Dan Lucas

MTF Scholarship Chairperson

MTF 2020 Annual Meeting Minutes 

2020 LaFontaine Golf Outing

Membership Report 

By-Laws Committee Report

Research Committee Report

TT4T Committee Report

2021 Annual Meeting Agenda

Executive Director Report