TURFGRASS INDUSTRY NEWS
EPA Suspends All Uses of DCPA Effective Immediately A TPI email to members issued on August 12, 2024, stated: We wish to inform you of an important regulatory development that may impact your operations. On August 7, 2024, Te Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an Emergency Order directing the suspension of all registrations issued under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) for pesticide products containing the active ingredient Dimethyl Tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), also marketed under the trade name Dacthal. Dacthal Flowable and Dacthal W-75 are both registered for annual grassy weed and broadleaf control in turfgrass production. However, they are more heavily relied upon in vegetable production (broccoli, cabbage, onions, and others) where this ruling will likely have a more significant impact. It is important to note that Dacthal has been immediately suspended for use on all crops, not just turfgrass sod. TPI is working with the Environmental Protection Agency to learn more about this recent action and will communicate any future updates. You can see the full announcement at the link that follows. ederal Register :: Pesticides; Emergency Order Suspending the Registrations of All Pesticide Products Containing Dimethyl Tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA) If you have questions or concerns about this issue, please contact Casey Reynolds, PhD, at
CReynolds@TurfgrassSod.org or 847-737-1846.
MSU Researchers Develop Low-Cost Sensors to Help Farmers Irrigate More Efficiently Editor’s note: Te following is taken from an August 14, 2024, article by Cameron Rudolph on the MSU website. Uunpredictable precipitation is one of the most challenging elements of being a farmer. Not enough moisture and plant growth is hindered. Too much can saturate the soil while setting the stage for diseases to thrive. Recently, Michigan growers have experienced both extremes. Some of the driest and wettest months on record have occurred in the last few years. For plant diseases, during periods of high moisture are particularly problematic. Some diseases can go from a few infected plants to entire fields in a short timeframe. Once they’re present, growers are mostly relegated to mitigation rather than eradication. In drier times, when diseases may be less prevalent, farmers often look to irrigation to supplement lagging rainfall. But fine-tuning these systems can be tricky, and too much added water can lead to unintended disease consequences. To address this, MSU researchers have developed and are testing an irrigation technology called Low-Cost Monitoring System (LOCOMOS). Te work is led by Younsuk Dong, an assistant professor and irrigation specialist in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. With LOCOMOS, the in-field sensors measure soil moisture, leaf wetness and other environmental conditions. Te data is then analyzed by software that generates precise irrigation recommendations and delivers them to growers via an easy-to- use smartphone app. Te development of the system and app was facilitated through a partnership with the MSU Innovation Center. While the testing was conducted on a variety of farm crops the process can prove very useful for any crop, including turfgrasses. Read the full article at the link that follows in the next column.
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MSU researchers develop low-cost sensors to help farmers irrigate more efficiently, manage diseases - AgBioResearch Michigan State University AgBioResearch scientists discover dynamic solutions for food systems and the environment. More than 300 MSU faculty conduct leading-edge research on a variety of topics, from health and climate to agriculture and natural resources. Originally formed in 1888 as the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU AgBioResearch oversees numerous on- campus research facilities, as well as 15 outlying centers throughout Michigan. To learn more, visit
agbioresearch.msu.edu.
More Projects on Using Sensors to Aid Agriculture Funded by Partnership Editor’s note: Te following is taken from an August 7, 2024, article on NC State’s Plant Sciences website. A new partnership among NC State University’s Institute for Connected Sensor Systems, N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative and Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science has provided seed funding for two interdisciplinary research projects aimed at using sensors to advance agriculture. One project involves creating a system that would overcome obstacles for generating solar energy on crop fields, and the other involves using field robots, sensors and stereo imaging to detect and measure vegetables that grow underground without disturbing them. Raj Narayan, the Kenan Institute’s associate director, said the projects “will bring together scientific experts from various disciplines at NC State working collaboratively to improve the vitality and sustainability of our agricultural resources. Te research supported exemplifies NC State’s ‘Tink and Do’ approach toward addressing enduring problems and will have a positive impact on our environment and economy.” Trough one of the winning projects, Agrivoltaics Synergy: Maximizing Agricultural Potential and Energy Harvest Via Solar Splitting, five researchers are exploring a solution to challenges that come with using solar farms in crop fields. Conventional solar panels impede plant growth because they block the sunlight that plants need to convert carbon dioxide into water and plant nutrients. Te researchers, led by principal investigator Ricardo Hernandez of the Department of Horticultural Science, plan to build and test devices that allow plants to get the photosynthetically active radiation they need while capturing near infrared wavelengths to generate electricity. If successful, their system would allow farmers to produce both crops and clean energy at the same time, in the same fields. Tese two projects and the one in the piece above are just three examples of the nearly unlimited research projects that could help all facets of agriculture become more friendly to the environment, more profitable and provide products needed for healthier lifestyles that could provide for a sustainable planet. All of which are extremely important. What would you like to know that could help you meet any of these objectives? And, where is the funding going to come from to make these findings attainable?
TPI Turf News November/December 2024
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