UT Turf and Ornamental Field Day to Show off Industry Advances
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will host a Turf and Ornamental Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 11, at its East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, Plant Sciences Unit, beginning with registration at 7:30 a.m.
The event, which is becoming one of the largest such events in the United States, is expected to attract more than 500 turf and ornamental horticulture professionals, including golf course and athletic field managers as well as professionals managing both residential and commercial landscapes. It will feature current research on managing weeds, diseases and insect pests of warm- and cool-season turfgrasses as well as strategies for maximizing the quality of athletic field playing surfaces. The field day will also provide education on managing ornamental plants in landscape settings. Featured talks will include crabgrass control, environmental buffers to protect water quality, new tools for managing ornamental pests, common ornamental diseases and insect pests in Tennessee, refurbishing residential lawns and managing putting greens.
Registration in advance is encouraged as lunch and a copy of the proceedings are guaranteed to advance registrants. The cost to attend is $60 with advance registration or $75 for on-site registration. Additional pricing structures are available for registrations for multiple employees of the same organization, students and others. Advance registration closes Aug. 28. Student rates are also available. Those with limited mobility should call 865-974-7201 to request an accommodation for accessibility.
Educational sessions begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 3:30 p.m. A light breakfast and BBQ lunch will be provided.For more information or to register online, visit the website: http://www.
In addition, participants may sign up for an inside look at Neyland Stadium. This tour will be Friday, September 12, and is limited to a maximum of 50 people. The registration cost is $20 per person. Tour will begin and end at the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, Plant Sciences Unit (3215 Alcoa Highway Knoxville, TN 37996). Patrons will be bused from this location to UT campus and back. Bus departs the site at 9:00 a.m. and returns at approximately 12:30 p.m. Register for the tour at www.
A total of 6 pesticide recertification points are available in categories C3, C6, C10and C12for Tennessee attendees. Pesticide recertification credits for attendees from Virginia, Georgia,Kentucky, North Carolina, Alabamaand Mississippi also will be available, as will International Society of Aboriculture continuing education credits. A total of 0.40 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) continuing education points also will be awarded.
Interested participants can follow the event via social media on Twitter by following @UTTurfgrass and using the hashtag #UTTurfFD2014; on the UT Turfgrass Facebook page; or by following the UT Turfgrass Instagram account @UTTurfgrass. Turf Republic will also host the 2014 UT Turfgrass Field Day Social Media Experience on TurfRepublic.com. The Social Media Experience, which debuted in 2013, will feature videos, photos, live blogs and interactive maps of the event.
The UT Institute of Agriculture provides instruction, research and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, including its system of 10 research and education centers, and UT Extension offices in every county in the state.
