Among his nine books already in print is a previous Oberly Award winner, Turfgrass Bibliography from 1672 to 1972, which he edited along with Harriet and David P. Martin.

Jim and Harriet currently are working on the tenth book, the history of the turf and soils of St. Andrews, the world- renowned golf course in Scotland. Jim says, “It’s strictly history rather than science based as all the other books have been. St. Andrews’ records go back to 1750. I was the first person to be given access to the greens committee minutes which I’m using to try to determine why they did what they did when they did it.

“One string of entries in those minutes covers correspondence between the spokesperson for a group of ladies and the chairman of the greens committee. Te ladies wanted to play some golf and started using the caddies’ putting green on some abandoned land. Tat made the caddies unhappy, creating a difficult situation. So the ladies sent a letter to the greens committee requesting a date to play the old championship course. Te chairman responded with sorry no opening—expressed in precise and proper language, of course. Te women kept pursuing it and getting the same response. Finally, the chairman wrote back, we do have a date available—December 24.”

Honors and

Awards Honors and Awards always are meaningful and perhaps even more so in the academic arena. Turfgrass scientists know what they’ve done and what others have done, and the level of study, research and plain old hard work it takes to reach those achievements.

Dr. Beard received the 2014 Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) Presidential Award, its highest honor, “given to persons who have influenced the science or practice of crop production so greatly that the impact of their efforts will be enduring on future science.” He also has been the recipient of CSSA’s Turfgrass Science Award and its Crop Science Research Award.

This professional photo of Dr. James B Beard was taken by Michigan State University. Photo courtesy of the Dr. James B and Harriet Beard Collection

Agronomy (ASA), and CAST: Te Science Source for Food, Agricultural and Environmental Issues, and has been honored as a Fellow of CSSA, ASA, and AAAS. He has also served on many national committees.

Jim says, “Te awards are humbling and much appreciated. Sometimes they are a complete surprise, such as the honorary Doctor of Agriculture degree from Purdue University. Usually when you’re nominated for something like that it’s a very thorough process with four of five inches of documents that they review. Te first I heard about the Purdue honorary degree was the contact telling me I would be receiving it.”

Industry Challenges Now

and into the Future Sod producers stepped up to the challenge on water issues ten years ago when no one was listening, Jim reports. “Doug Fender, representing TPI and TLI, took a stand with Water Right—Conserving Our Water, Preserving Our Environment.” A statement in that publication, declared TPI recognizes “both the global need to use water efficiently and the benefits of public and private green spaces.” TPI continues to play a leading role in education and promotion of that reality.

“For a long time I was the only turfgrass specialist doing research on water use and conservation,” says Jim. “Now it’s incorporated into most turfgrass research programs— and we’re beginning to reap the benefits from it. Tat research will need to continue to meet the challenges of weather issues, population growth, governmental restrictions and environmental activist attacks.”

Activists typically take the single-issue approach, notes Harriet. “Tey generally don’t consider research or don’t care about it and have little concern for the results of their actions besides eliminating something they don’t like. You need a knowledgeable person with a broad perspective to analyze the impact of actions that exclude certain things from the use of society.”

Dr. Beard was the first president of the International Turfgrass Society (ITS). Harriet says, “Jim also was the first full-time turfgrass specialist elected president of the CSSA.” Jim adds, “A former student of mine, Dr. Bob Shearman, University of Nebraska, was the second, about ten years after me.” Dr. Beard has served on the Board of Directors of ITS, CSSA, the American Society of

Jim adds, “Turfgrass is the prime target because it’s not a necessity, such as food and fiber, and it has less governmental and organizational support—and less aesthetic appeal to the general public—than flowers or trees. It’s the weakest of the links, so that’s where activists start their attack. Along with water, attack points will continue to include fertilizer, pesticides, native versus non-native plant species, noise, emissions, and maintenance expense.”

Another major challenge for natural turfgrass is artificial turf. “Te financial selling points of artificial turf don’t reflect the actual maintenance and replacement costs,” says Jim. “To date, crumb rubber research has been more focused on single issues than the multiplicity of potential problems related to toxicity, exposure and disease.”

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