After COVID-19 forced the 2020 Clemson University Turfgrass Research and Education Field Day to go virtual and cancelled the 2021 field day, organizers report it’s back in person this year.
There is no charge for the 2022 Turfgrass Field Day, which begins at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Walker Golf Course Maintenance Facility, 412 Cherry Road, Clemson, S.C. 29634.
“Anyone interested in attending the field day can just show up,” said Bert McCarty, Clemson turfgrass professor, certified professional agronomist and field day organizer. “It will be warm, so attendees are encouraged to dress accordingly.”
A host of topics will be covered, including updates on a Poa annua project, a leaf and sheath blight – mini-ring – biology and control project, native plant selection for out-of-play areas on South Carolina golf courses, diseases and fungicides, as well as control and management strategies for bermudagrass stunt mites.
Field tours include stops at research greens to discuss Virginia buttonweed, crabgrass and controls of spurge and bermudagrass off-types. Information about new greens grades for ultradwarf bermudagrasses and ultradwarf zoysiagrasses for pest resistance and puttability also will be provided.
Additional educational stops will provide participants with information about using Samurai herbicide to control Cock’s Comb Kyllinga, controls to use for post-Cock’s Comb Kyllinga, as well as new bermudagrass for fairways, sports fields and home lawns for maximum pest resistance, new zoysiagrasses for fairways and home lawns with inherent pest resistance, St. Augustine grass cultivar evaluation trial for turf performance and copper tolerance of Tifeagle Bermudagrass. McCarty will provide an evaluation of herbicide safener Recognition on zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, and St. Augustine grass.
Following lunch, participants will travel to Clemson’s Death Valley to learn about sting nematodes and fraze mowing for thatch removal and turf recovery. Self-guided tours of Clemson turfgrass research facilities will be available.
Pre-registration is not required. Lunch will be on-your-own. Participants who plan to play a round or two of golf can call the Walker Golf Course Pro-Shop at (864) 656-0236 for tee times.