SFMA’s Conference Education Committee has put together an exciting and informative education program for the 2023 Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Each month, speakers presenting at the conference will be featured. The SFMA Featured Speakers of the Month for November are Dr. Gerald Henry and Pamela Sherratt.
Dr. Gerald Henry is an Athletic Association Endowed Professor at University of Georgia. He will be presenting three times at the conference:
> Restoring Performance: Getting at the ROOT of the Problem
> Weed Control Strategies for Warm-Season Athletic Fields (presented with Erick Begitschke)
> Student Career Preparation Panel (presented with John Sorochan, Ph.D., Wes Ganobcik, Nick McKenna, CSFM, and Tony Leonard)
Restoring Performance: Getting at the ROOT of the Problem
The application of biological substances, microorganisms, and plant growth enhancers has increased throughout the turfgrass industry over the past decade. Many of these products are applied to increase nutrient absorption, boost tolerance to environmental stress, and improve overall growth and aesthetic appearance. However, not all of these products are created equal and manufacturer claims often go unverified. This presentation will examine the impact of these products alone and in combination with cultural practices for the increase of turfgrass rooting and field performance.
Weed Control Strategies for Warm-Season Athletic Fields
Developing an effective weed control program is a skill that is becoming increasingly important for sports field managers. Similar to what is implemented with disease management, an effective weed control program allows turfgrass managers to maintain weed-free turfgrass (or as closely as possible) of optimal quality from January to December. Successful programs not only make use of different herbicide technologies varying in mode of action, but also implement effective cultural management practices such as fertilization, aerification, irrigation, and mowing. This session will teach attendees how to build effective weed control programs for the southern United States.
Panel Discussion – Student Career Preparation
The panel will focus on professionalism, interviewing, negotiating, choosing an internship, grad school options, and other topics. Attendees will gain insight into skills and areas of focus that will benefit and help prepare them for their future careers.
Pamela Sherratt is a Sports Turf Specialist at The Ohio State University. She will be presenting “Seed to Play in 4 Weeks.” This session will take place on Tuesday January 17 and repeated on Thursday January 19.
This session will focus on establishing playing surfaces in a time crunch. Topics will include species selection, pest control, and water and nutrient management.
Attendees will:
- Learn about agronomy practices that can be undertaken to facilitate faster grass establishment.
- Discuss ways in which to accomplish this using natural organic and conventional methods.
- Interact with colleagues & share ideas on this topic during the Q&A portion of the session