CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 08/28/24

Turfgrass Research Field Day draws hundreds to UGA-Griffin

By Ashley N Biles
A UGA researcher holding a sign reading "4" leads a large crowd to a presentation station
The 2024 Turfgrass Research Field Day, held Aug. 7 at UGA-Griffin, began with a guided research tour. Visiting eight stations, attendees received CAES expert advice to improve precision irrigation management, disease control, soil testing and fertility management for turf. (Photo by Ashley Biles)

More than 650 turf industry professionals, golf course superintendents and local homeowners gathered at the University of Georgia Griffin campus on Aug. 7 for the 2024 Turfgrass Research Field Day. Participants learned about turf-related issues from College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) researchers and UGA Cooperative Extension specialists from all three of the university's campuses. 

Opening the field day, CAES Associate Dean for Research Harshavardhan Thippareddi, Griffin Mayor Doug Hollberg and CAES Professor Clint Waltz offered an overview of the UGA Turf Team's ongoing work to address the needs of the state's turf industry.

Attendees visited eight sites on the guided research tour, during which participants learned recommendations for improved precision irrigation management, disease control, soil testing and fertility management for turf. Presenters also covered an introduction to skyseed — a new weed species in Georgia lawns — breeding and evaluation of turf-type tall fescue, cutting-edge techniques to determine sports field safety, and germplasm improvement. Attendees were able to interact directly with researchers and ask follow-up questions after each presentation.  

During the afternoon session, attendees viewed displays and demonstrations of the latest turfgrass industry equipment before participating in a self-guided research tour. Tour stops around campus focused on graduate student research, turfgrass problem solving, diagnosing turfgrass diseases, the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, new and upcoming cultivars of seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum), grasses as a pollinator food source, and information on how industry can use the irrigation training center on campus. 

Clint Waltz speaks to a crowd from under a Georgia Grown tent
UGA Extension Turfgrass Specialist Clint Waltz speaks to a group about a new weed species in Georgia lawns. “It is our hope that sharing those with others will lead to improved practices and stewardship within the industry,” said Waltz. (Photo by Ashley Biles)

Continuing education units (CEUs) for pesticide recertification were available for pest control professionals attending from Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.   

Research-based field days are an ideal way for researchers to share their knowledge and expertise with industry members and the public.  

“Turfgrass Field Day gives us the opportunity to highlight new research and techniques,” said Waltz, also an Extension turfgrass specialist in the CAES Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. “It is our hope that sharing those with others will lead to improved practices and stewardship within the industry.”  

Waltz is already looking forward to hosting the next Turfgrass Field Day in August 2026. “I am excited to see what our turf team discovers in the two years leading up to our next field day. I don’t always get to interact with my colleagues and learn about their research as much as I would like, and through this event, I am able to learn as much as the participants do,” he said.

Learn more about the interdisciplinary research out of the UGA Turf Team at turf.caes.uga.edu. Refer to the 2024 Turfgrass Research Field Day Guide for the latest information about turfgrass research studies, products and turfgrass Extension programs.

 

Authors:
Ashley N Biles
Experts/Sources:
Clint Waltz
TiftonCampusSunset2 CAES News
CAES Transfer Pathways Program expands enrollment access for rural students 11/12/24 Emily Cabrera
The Transfer Pathways Program is opening new doors for rural students who dream of attending the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). In partnership with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Southern Regional Technical College, students who complete required coursework at these institutions can transfer to CAES to complete bachelor’s degrees in one of three majors — agribusiness, agricultural education, and agriscience and environmental systems. 
Kelvin Awori and Brooke Stefancik, UGA graduate students, attended the 2024 Borlaug Dialogue, a global agriculture conference, through the CAES World Food Prize Travel Award. Todd Applegate, Assistant Dean for International Programs, accompanied the student on the trip. CAES News
CAES students gain global insights at 2024 Borlaug Dialogue 11/11/24 Claire Sanders Kinnard
Every October, top leaders in food security and agriculture come together for the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, the premier conference on global agriculture. Attendees participate in sessions covering the current state of agriculture around the world, new technologies being deployed in the field, and projects in the works to ensure a safe and sustainable global food supply.
Nathan Tesfayi on the roof of the Geography Geology building. CAES News
NASA internship launches student’s exploration of novel solutions to water and climate issues 11/07/24 Cole Sosebee
Nathan Tesfayi’s story is about resilience and big ambitions. Born in State College, Pennsylvania, to Ethiopian parents, his life journey has taken him from studies at the University of Georgia to research with NASA and more.
GMREC CAES News
North Georgia hub fueling agricultural research at UGA 11/06/24 David Mitchell
Research in the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences runs the gamut — from plants, animals and dairy science, and crop and soil sciences to entomology, food science and technology, and more. It’s an expansive agenda, too broad to be housed on the university’s 760-acre main campus. For that, CAES turns to its eight off-campus research and education centers located all over the state.
University of Georgia startup CytoNest Inc. released its first commercial product this year, a fiber scaffold that optimizes cell manufacturing and tissue engineering. (Photo by Lauren Corcino) CAES News
UGA again ranks No. 1 in new research-based products 11/04/24 Brandon Ward
The University of Georgia once again ranks No. 1 among U.S. universities for the number of commercial products to market based on its research, according to an annual survey conducted by AUTM. For nine straight years, UGA has placed in the top two and has never appeared out of the Top 5 in the 11 years the survey has been reported by AUTM. UGA industry partners and startups released a record 66 new products developed from the university’s research in fiscal year 2023, on which the AUTM report is based.
At the 2024 Georgia Life Sciences Summit held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta, Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences received the Golden Helix Innovation Award for his research in technologies to mitigate “forever chemicals” in water resources. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker) CAES News
Georgia Bio awards recognize UGA inventor, corporate partners 10/25/24 Carson McAfee
University of Georgia Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang, Delta Innovation Hub resident Dalan Animal Health, and Athens manufacturer Meissner Corporation were recognized for their achievements in the life science industry at Georgia Bio’s Georgia Life Sciences Summit, held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta. The Golden Helix Awards celebrate the contributions of Georgia legislative, academic, corporate, and advocacy leaders working to grow the life science industry and foster strategic partnerships that create a healthier world.