OTF News - Ohio Turf & Golf Trust

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A HAPPY TURFGRASS PATHOLOGISTIt’s only the first week of May and Joe and Todd are smiling, almost giddy while using words like “great” and “wonderful” to describe things we are seeing in the field. Although these words usually mean positive things in most circumstances, in this case, it does not for turf managers.

TO NARROW BAND OR NOT TO NARROW BAND?While the language spoken over the radio is timeless, the actual radio frequencies that carry the transmissions are changing rapidly. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been working on a program for "reframing," or reorganizing the radio frequencies available to our industry.

THE TEACHER AND THE STUDENTI’m a believer that as long as we can breathe, we can learn. Although at 22 years old, I thought I knew everything, it didn’t take long in the real world to understand that there is always more to learn. This is a lesson for both the teacher and the student.

DO YOU HAVE PASSION?You better have passion because the environmentalists that are lobbying against your options to use pesticides in your business and earn a living sure have passion. I know many of you who are passionate about how you maintain your golf course, sports field or customers’ lawns. But, do you have the passion to advocate for your choice to use fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides while conducting your business?

TURFGRASS DISEASE MANAGEMENT NOTESOk, so we didn’t have much of a winter to speak of. Temperatures are in the middle 70’s to low 80’s the middle of March. Shouldn’t this be good news for my golf course, sports field, lawns?

SOIL TEMPERATURES AND CRABGRASS GERMINATIONSoil temperatures are one of the best guides for determining crabgrass germination in the spring. I checked the OARDC weather site for Columbus and nighttime soil temps...

UNUSUAL EARLY SPRING AND CRABGRASSAs everyone has probably noticed, it’s unusually warm right now. But, how warm is it? Consider this: If the forecast holds up, by the end of this week (Friday March 23), the monthly mean temperature in Columbus, OH will be 53.5 degrees, which is the normal monthly mean for April. Also, we will have had 9 days in the 70’s, two of which were at or just above 80 degrees, which is similar to what we saw in the whole month of April last year.

ARE YOU READY?This isn't news to any of the turf managers in Ohio, but spring is FAST approaching. Average soil temperatures in Columbus are about 46* F and the prostrate knotweed has begun to germinate.

Central Region Climate Outlook and Summary for February 2012 and the Spring of 2012The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center is calling for enhanced probabilities of above normal temperatures and precipitation this spring.

KASICH APPOINTS DANIELS TO LEAD DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREGovernor John R. Kasich announced the appointment of Sen. David Daniels (R-Greenfield) to serve as director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA).

Tee-Off and Short Course Just Around the CornerThe OTF/OSU Sports FIeld Short Course and Golf Turf Spring Tee-Off is less than one week away. The OSU Science Team and some of the industry's leading professionals will provide tips to make your 2012 a success.

Sports Turf Managers Fighting Bugs By Going GreenNot surprisingly, more turf managers are interested in going green.
That's why Dave Shetlar, Ohio State University Extension, will present “Cost Effective and Earth Friendly Insect Control” at the 15th annual Ohio State Sports Field Short Course, Feb. 9-10 in Columbus.

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