June, world-wide, was the hottest month ever recorded. Historic low rainfall levels accompanying the heat have hurt crops throughout Europe. It's also been hot in the US with temperature averages for June and July at or near record-high levels across the Eastern Seaboard and in the Midwest.
The Irrigation Association has refined its mission statement and strategic initiatives. This includes the addition of "standards" that will focus on establishing product and practice standards that drive efficient irrigation.
A new study of artificial turf fields containing crumb rubber infill conducted by four state agencies shows that health risks are not elevated from playing on the fields. However, higher contaminant levels at one indoor field indicate that ventilation of indoor fields should be considered.
New football coach Derek Dooley called for a "field turf" to be installed at the University of Tennessee's Neyland Stadium. Apparently his goal is to allow more football to be played there, specifically by high schoolers, which might assist in recruiting.
Seattle hosted some sports turf VIPs last week as the Sports Turf Managers Association partnered with the Intermountain, Northern California, Oregon, and Pacific Northwest chapters to produce a Conference that featured sports turf specific education, trade show, hands-on demonstrations, and tours of some of the city's major league facilities.
"Sleepy grass," common in many Western states, got its name for a reason. When livestock graze upon it, they go to sleep. More accurately, they freeze in place. Some animals even can die.
Since we're among the skeptics on [global warming] we're also skeptical about [this study] and its motives. Nevertheless, water shortages have been a fact of life for Oklahoma and most Western states.