DR. J. BRYAN UNRUH RECEIVES THE TPI TURFGRASS EDUCATOR AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
production questions and in conjunction with other turf research faculty on issues that were industry- wide. He has been the “go-to guy” for questions and help from a scientific perspective as we’ve worked with regulators and policymaking on pressing challenges like water use, fertilizer best management practices, and landscaping ordinances which have often included turf reductions and fertilizer blackouts. He’s also been a tireless advocate for sound turf management and for the practical value of turfgrass to both policymakers, and often, to the University itself, when opinions differed. And he’s been personally available as a consistent advisor to our association, as well as other committees and associations statewide.
He’s never too busy to answer a question, visit a farm, or check on a golf course (in fact, we suspect he’s triplets, but we haven’t been able to confirm it).”
Te following narrative is drawn directly from the nomination packet. Dr. J. Bryan Unruh works in one of the most diverse and environmentally sensitive regions of the United States: Florida. In his Extension program, he develops materials that educate Floridians about the environmentally correct application of nutrients and water to turfgrass.
Dr. J. Bryan Unruh has received the TPI Turfgrass Educator Award of Excellence for his outstanding contribution to the turfgrass industry in multiple areas, including academics, public outreach, involvement with turfgrass associations and direct support of turfgrass producers, golf course superintendents, in fact, all those maintaining turfgrass across the state of Florida.
Dr. Unruh is a Professor/Extension Turfgrass Specialist with the University of Florida/IFAS (Institute of Food and Agricultural Services) and Associate Director of the UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center in Jay, Florida. He earned his BS degree in Horticulture - Turfgrass Management in 1989 and his MS degree in 1991, both at Kansas State University; and his PhD in Horticulture - Turfgrass Science at Iowa State University in 1995.
Among the multiple nominations supporting this award in the nomination packet, Betsy McGill, executive director of the Turfgrass Producers of Florida (TPF), wrote of Dr. Unruh’s “Direct Support of our Growers and TPF: Dr. Unruh has been a tireless resource for our sod producer members and for the association. He has worked directly with our growers on individual
TPI Turf News March/April 2019
Te use of water for landscape and turfgrass sustenance is a hotly debated topic and much of Florida has restrictions on outdoor water use. Dr. Unruh operates in this critical area of agriculture: understanding the interface between the positive attributes of turfgrass and the common perception of the impact of urban landscapes on water quality and quantity. He developed some of the first educational materials to help people understand the importance of turfgrass, and his programs have been the first line in turfgrass education in Florida, helping government officials understand why not all fertilization may be ‘bad’ and why proper use of water in a landscape can actually lead to protected water quality.
In response to an increase of guidelines, rules, and ordinances related to fertilizer use, Dr. Unruh partnered with colleagues to publish a fact sheet discussing the unintended consequences of severely restricting fertilizers on turf during their most active growing period (“blackouts”). Dr. Unruh and his team have also developed a mobile web application for geolocating fertilizer ordinance boundaries that will help fertilizer applicators mitigate jurisdictional confusion regarding these ordinances.
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