DR. John Sorochan, associate professor of turfgrass and management at
the University of Tennessee, will lead two education sessions at the
23rd annual field day of the Sports Turf Association, Sept. 23 in
Cambridge, Ont.
The field day activities, which begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m., will take place at Hespeler Beehive Hall Optimist Park in Cambridge.
Sorochan will speak in the morning about best management practices for optimizing athletic field playing conditions, and will return in the afternoon when he speaks about root zone selection and management for athletic fields.
His morning session will focus on the basics of the primary cultural practices for optimizing turfgrass growth and minimizing wear from athletic field traffic. Emphasis will be placed upon cultural practices, turfgrass species selection and management.
In the afternoon, Sorochan will look at determining optimal root zone materials based on agronomics, engineering properties and playability for sports.
Also slated to speak in the morning is Dr. Katerina Jordan, assistant professor of turfgrass science at the University of Guelph, whose presentation is called “Putting IPM into action.” She will talk about the principles of integrated pest management as they relate to athletic field management, emphasizing scouting and recognizing pests and stressors before they become unmanageable. She will list and describe the various pests commonly found on athletic fields, and suggest tricks for recognizing symptoms. Her address will also cover cultural practices for sound management and the promotion of healthy turf.
Speaking in the afternoon after Sorochan’s presentation will be Dr. Eric Lyons, associate professor in the department of plant agriculture at the University of Guelph, who will speak about new pesticides and what they look like. The session will provide an overview of some of the new pest control products on the market as well as provide background as to what they look like when they are working so that the field operator can report on their effectiveness.
Attendees at the field day will be given an opportunity to meet with outdoor exhibitors from 2 to 3 p.m. following the education sessions.
For more information about the field day activities or to register, visit http://www.sportsturfassociation.com or call (519) 763-9431.
Pre-registration is required by Sept. 15.
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