Lawn care and landscape professionals and hobbyists will have access to experts and the latest science-based information about the management of turfgrass during the annual Texas A&M Turfgrass and Landscape Field Day Oct. 6 in Dallas.
The turfgrass field day will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Water and Land Resources Building, 17360 Coit Road in Dallas. The annual event is held in a different location each year by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, alongside a number of public and private event sponsors.
Cost is $55 through Sept. 29; $65 Sept. 30-Oct. 4; and $75 onsite. Cost is $25 for Texas A&M AgriLife employees and $15 for students. Register online at https://tx.ag/TurfgrassFDReg21.
Chrissie Segars, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension turfgrass specialist, Dallas, said the event caters to professionals, but hobbyists interested in turfgrass research and trials ongoing at the Dallas center are also welcome.
The field day typically provides attendees detailed information on turfgrass varieties and how they perform under various conditions, including shade, drought, and disease and pest tolerances.
“It gives anyone interested a chance to see what we do and the results we are seeing for established and experimental turfgrasses in this region,” she said. “It’s a firsthand look at how to best choose grasses for Dallas and to see what happened to this variety or that variety as it relates to the variety of environmental stresses.”
Field Day all about turfgrass, variety maintenance
Segars said many of the trials at the Texas A&M AgriLife center in Dallas have been ongoing for three or more years, which provides researchers and ultimately consumers a wealth of applicable knowledge regarding establishing and maintaining varieties.
The field day allows attendees to see and learn about those varieties in person, she said. The program also provides a wealth of knowledge on subjects ranging from irrigation audits to grasses for sports fields and golf courses.
Concurrent programs and field tours are scheduled until 12:30 p.m., followed by lunch, a sponsor trade show and poster session.
There are also opportunities to earn continuing education units from the following: Texas Department of Agriculture, TDA, Texas Turfgrass Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association and Sports Turf Managers Association.
Five TDA continuing education units, including three general and two integrated pest management, will be available. The Texas Turfgrass Association can grant one credit point toward certified professional turf manager certification.
Topics include:
- Native and Introduced Ornamental Grass Water Management.
- Turfgrass Selection and Management.
- Turfgrass and Ornamental Pest Management: Weeds, Diseases, Insects.
- Turfgrass Technology Update.
- Turfgrass Breeding Update.
- Irrigation Auditing and Management.
- Abiotic Stress Management: Drought, Shade.
- Golf Course and Sports Field Research Update.
Attendees should arrive by 8 a.m. to the Water and Land Resources Building for check-in and to pick up program materials. Participants are advised to prepare for weather conditions, wear proper footwear and bring sun protection.
The field tour area is large, so attendees should prepare appropriately for the rain-or-shine event. Golf carts will be available for those needing assistance between stops. Attendees are encouraged to wear a mask indoors when not eating and/or drinking.
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