- Project No. and Title: OLD_SERA25 : Turf (IEG-16)
- Period
Covered: 10/01/2006
to 09/01/2007
- Date of
Report: 07/30/2007
- Annual Meeting
Dates: 06/03/2007
to 06/06/2007
Askew Shawn - Virginia Tech saskew@vt.edu;
Baldwin Christian - Clemson University cmbaldw@clemson.edu;
Beasley Jeff - Louisiana State University jbeasley@lsu.edu;
Bell Greg Oklahoma State University greg.bell@okstate.edu;
Brecke Barry Univesity of Florida bjbe@ifas.ufl.edu;
Bruneau Art North Carolina State University art_bruneau@ncsu.edu;
Cooper Richard North Carolina State University rich_cooper@ncsu.edu;
Frank Jason Univesity of Florida frank386@ufl.edu;
Gannon Travis North Carolina State University travis_gannon@ncsu.edu;
Goatley Mike Virginia Tech goatley@vt.edu;
Han David Auburn University handavi@auburn.edu;
Held David Mississippi State University dwh56@ra.msstate.edu;
Henry Gerald Texas Tech gerald.henry@ttu.edu;
Hixson Adam North Carolina State University achixson@ncsu.edu;
Hochmuth George University of Florida hoch@ufl.edu;
Hoyle Jared North Carolina State University jahoyle@ncsu.edu;
Karcher Doug University of Arkansas karcher@uark.edu;
Koske Tom Louisiana State University tkoske@agctr.lsu.edu;
Layton John Mississippi State University jml8@msstate.edu;
Liu Haibo Clemson University haibol@clemson.edu;
McCarty Bert Clemson University bmccrty@clemson.edu;
McElroy Scott University of Tennessee Mcelroy@utk.edu;
Miller Grady North Carolina State University grady_miller@ncsu.edu;
Milus Gene Univesity of Arkansas gmilus@uark.edu;
Munshaw Gregg Mississippi State University gmunshaw@pss.msstate.edu;
Patton Aaron University of Arkansas ajpatton@uark.edu
Perry Hunter Mississippi State University dhp8@msstate.edu
Philley Wayne Mississippi State University wphilley@pss.msstate.edu
Reynolds Casey North Carolina State University casey_reynolds@ncsu.edu;
Samples Tom University of Tennessee tjsamples@utk.edu;
Sladek Bradley Texas Tech bradley.s.sladek@ttu.edu;
Spurlock Terry Univesity of Arkansas terryspurlock@netscape.net;
Steinke Kurt Texas A and M ksteinke@tamu.edu;
Stewart Barry Mississippi State University brs40@msstate.edu;
Tamasso-Peterson Maria - Mississippi State University mariat@pss.msstate.edu;
Taylor Jim Mississippi State University jtaylor@pss.msstate.edu;
Totten Wes UT-Martin wtotten@utm.edu;
Trappe Jon University of Arkansas jtrappe@purdue.edu;
Unruh Brian Univesity of Florida jbu@ufl.edu;
Walker Harold Auburn University walkerh@auburn.edu;
Waltz Clint University of Georgia Cwaltz@uga.edu;
Warren Leon North Carolina State University leon_warren@ncsu.edu;
Wells Wayne Mississippi State University wwells@ext.msstatee.du;
Wherley Ben North Carolina State University ben_wherley@ncsu.edu;
Williams David University of Kentucky david.williams@uky.edu;
Woolsey Paul Western Kentucky University paul.woolsey@wku.edu
Yelverton Fred North Carolina State University fred_yelverton@ncsu.edu;
Young Joey Mississippi State University jry11@msstate.edu;
See attached Word file.
SERA-25 states generally reported strengths in student numbers in the turf programs on campuses and graduate students. States reported strong numbers in participation in numerous turf field days across the southern region. Several new varieties of turf grass were released and new educational materials were published. In addition several states reported new turf facilities for research teaching and extension, and several states reported hiring of new faculty and staff members.
Georgia- There were 1000 attendees at the summer 2006 field daynext field day will be in August 2008. The Georgia sod field day was held in November 2006 and will occur every 4 years. SeaIsle Supreme was released last year and Tift #4 will be released in the near future.
Kentucky- The Kentucky field day will be held on 12 July and they expect 400-500 attendees. Their annual conference will be held from the 22-26 of October.
Louisiana- LSU has just released a new sod manual as well as a C-4 grass manual. They hosted an athletic field seminar in winter 2007 with great success. They have recently completed a 4.5 acre turf research station in Baton Rouge. LSU currently has 13 undergraduates and 2 graduate students.
Mississippi-MSU has been given good support from administration to build a 26,000 ft2 research green. MSU is in the process of building a baseball infield and pitching mound for teaching and research. Gregg Munshaw won a College of Ag. teaching award in fall 2006. MSU currently has 74 undergraduates and 4 graduate students. Two new St. Augustinegrass cultivars have been released this year but are yet to be named. Field day is scheduled for 14 September, Conference October 28-30, and short course December 17-20.
North Carolina-Fred Yelverton. A survey conducted showed that turf had an $8.6 billion impact on the economy. NCSU is building a new golf course on campus. They currently have 70 4-year,102 2-year and approximately 14 graduate students. The NCSU field day is scheduled for 8 August in Raleigh. The NCSU field lab is expanding with 6 additional acres and they are looking to hire a new turf breeder in the next year.
South Carolina-Barry Stewart (for Haibo Liu). Darra Park has recently been hired at the Pee Dee Station. A new turf and ornamental entomologist has also been hired at the Pee Dee Station. The Clemson field day is scheduled for 21 August in Florence.
Tennessee-UT had a 2 day field day with 140 attendees The annual conference was held in Franklin in January and had 450 attendees. They have received support for the hiring of a new turf teaching and research position. UT currently has 45-50 undergraduates and 8 graduate students. The undergraduates won the STMA turf bowl in 2007. John Sorochan won a College of Agriculture teaching award during the past year. Extension plant pathologist Alan Windham recently won a turf award.
Texas-Gerald Henry. Gerald reported that he recently was hired by Texas Tech in a 100% teaching role. He will conduct research in weed science and plant pathology as time allows. Part time turf breeder Dick Auld released Shadow Turf zoysiagrass. They currently have 15 undergraduates and 1 graduate student.
Virginia-Mike Goatley. They currently have 45 4-year, 45 2-year, and 7 graduate students. They have had 3 graduate students graduate in the last year. The VT field day is scheduled for October 2 and 3 and they alternate this event from Blacksburg to the coast every year. The VT conference is scheduled for January 14-17.
SERA-IEG 25 Fred Yelverton volunteered North Carolina as the 2008 site. North Carolina as host site was moved by Barry Stewart and seconded by Maria Tomaso-Peterson. All were in favor. Wilmington NC will be the site for the meeting. Tentative dates are June 2-4 2008. The International Turf Society meetings will be held during in Chile during 2009 so there will not be Sera-IEG 25 meeting. Clint Waltz offered Georgia as a probable location for the 2010 meeting.