TURF INDUSTRY NEWS


Project EverGreen, Exmark and STMA Sponsor "Our Winning Green Space" Contest Project EverGreen, in partnership with Exmark Manufacturing, the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and Te Foundation for Safer Athletic Fields for Everyone (SAFE), launches its second annual “Our Winning Green Space” contest. Te contest runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 15, 2017. Municipal parks and recreation departments, public works departments and non-profit agencies can enter the contest to have a chance at winning a top-of-the-line Exmark commercial mower package including Lazer Z X-Series zero- turn and Commercial 30 walk-behind mowers – valued at approximately $15,000 – as well as a “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” ™ renovation project for their city. Te online submission process requires an essay and photos


explaining why their city deserves the new equipment and renovated playing field, and how it will assist them in maintaining a healthier, safer area for kids to play. Submissions can be made on the Project EverGreen website at http://bit.ly/2wOY4DF from October 1 through December 15, 2017, and the winner will be announced in January 2018. Additional information can also be received by emailing Project EverGreen Executive Director, Cindy Code at cindycode@projectevergreen.org.


Horticultural Researchers Recognized for CollaborativeWater Quality and Conservation Work A USDA Multi-State Working Group with research focused on water conservation and improved water quality within the ornamental crops industry is the national recipient of the 2017 Experiment Station Section Award for Excellence in Multistate Research. Te collaboration includes 31 researchers and 22 institutions across the nation. Nineteen members have served as principal investigators on 41 grants totaling more than $21.6 million from USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and other sources. Many of these efforts started with seed grants from the Horticulture Research Institute. Te award, given by the Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy, recognizes researchers who are conducting sustained, exemplary multistate activities and enhance the visibility of the multistate program. Te working group is made up of researchers and extension agents from leading land grant universities and USDA-ARS units throughout the United States. Water conservation and water quality are high priorities in the national ornamental plant industries because nearly all greenhouse crops and roughly three-quarters of nursery crops rely on irrigation.


Landmark Turf and Native Seed Joins the A-LIST Landmark Turf and Native Seed has joined the Alliance for Low Input Sustainable Turf. Landmark joins the A-LIST ranks to help further promote sustainable turf nationally. Landmark is a leader in the reclamation, native and rangeland segments of the seed industry and brings a wealth of knowledge to the group and a history of promoting “green” products. Landmark Turf and Native Seed, founded in 1996, has been on the cutting edge of change and has led the introduction of new genetics and production into new regions. Today, Landmark is a leader in the global trend toward increased environmental responsibility. Tis sustainable movement, deeply rooted in its heritage, reinforces the Landmark belief that everyone must be good stewards of the environment. From production, to formulating, mixing and marketing, Landmark Turf & Native Seed provides industry- leading agro-economic solutions. “Tis is the right group for us to be a part of at the right time,” said Ray Brubaken, Landmark President. “Te A-LIST has a good reputation and is interested in promoting great varieties. Tat suits us well.” In addition to Landmark, the A-LIST members include DLF Pickseed, Mountain View Seeds and Lebanon Seaboard.


Turf Connection Assists in EPA Cleanup TPI Member, Turf Connection, located in Cheraw, SC, and owner Marc Marsh were called on in August to assist with an EPA cleanup site. PCBs were found in a drainage ditch bordering more than a dozen homes and a playground. Te contamination was probably caused between 1961 and 1972 when the town of Cheraw did not have a sanitary sewer system in place. Te town was not aware of any environmental contamination discharge, but levels were discovered to be high enough to require lawns to be torn up, contaminated soil removed down to a safe depth and soil to be replaced and covered with new grass. When the contamination was discovered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and the EPA, both departments almost immediately acted to address the situation. Te EPA on-site coordinator for the project was Matthew Huyser from Atlanta, GA. He supervises EPA projects in an eight-state region from Kentucky to Mississippi to the Carolinas. Huyser knew that they needed to plant a grass that would stabilize the new topsoil, root down quickly and survive with little irrigation once established. He said, “We have used zoysiagrass before on other residential projects with success and it’s on my own home lawn.” Huyser consulted with Marc Marsh, whose farm is only five miles from the jobsite, and they decided on Palisades Zoysia as it met all the project’s criteria for drought tolerance, low fertilization requirements and appearance. Marsh said it meant a lot to him to be a part of a project that helped his neighbors and highlighted that natural turfgrass sod can solve an issue.


108 TPI Turf News November/December 2017


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