Dr. Vargas starts the day with a turfgrass disease update

Dr. Nikolai discusses Crabgrass control

Jake Kilby discusses Sod on Plastic at stop 9

Mike Rabe presents Hydroponics and Variable Depth Putting Greens

Dr. Frank - Soil testing & Winterkill reestablishment 

Nancy Dykema presents Turfgrass Disease update 

Payton Perkinson discussing Winterkill reestablishment

Jackie Guevara - Sod on plastic station 12

Dr. Rogers fields a question

Dr. Holm discussing Turfgrass Physiology & Winterkill

Ryan Bearss presents Perennial ryegrass control in mixed stands of cool-season grasses

USGA golf ball reaction research update – Evan Rogers

MSU Athletic Turf Manager, Andy Flynn lead the Athletics Field Tour

Spartan Stadium!

McLane Stadium 

Secchia Stadium

DeMartin Stadium

Practice soccer field

A view from above

Go Green!

Coffee and Donuts Sponsor

Bus Sponsor

Breakfast Sponsor

Lunch Sponsor

Lanyard Sponsor

Bottled Water Sponsor

Congratulations to Peter Cookingham, Head of the Turfgrass Information Center, on his upcoming retirement.  Read More

Thank you to Jesse Sholl and the staff at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center for all they did to make this one of the most successful Field Days to date.

The 2021 Turfgrass Field Day was presented with the support the following sponsors:

Lanyard sponsor:  MeritHall Inc., Rep. Travis Goeski
Corporate Lunch Sponsors: NuFarm, FMC Professional Solutions, MTESP
Bottled Water Sponsor: Green Point Consulting
Breakfast Sponsor: Harrell's LLC

Lawn and Athletic Fields 7.  Turfgrass Weed Research
Dr. Thom Nikolai, Dr. T.O. Green, Eric Galbraith, Dr. Eric Patterson, and Ben Pritchard
Discussing results of a 3-year lawn HOC study and a walk over to a GDD crabgrass application study.

Golf 2.  The Effects of Soil Test Philosophy Recommendations on Creeping Bentgrass and Annual Bluegrass
Jackie Guevara and Dr. Kevin W. Frank
The study evaluated two soil testing philosophies and fertilizer recommendations, namely Sufficiency Level of Available Nutrients (SLAN) and Minimum Levels for Sustainable Nutrition (MLSN).

Lawn & Athletic Fields 8.  Disease Management in Lawns and Athletic Fields
Nancy Dykema and Dr. J.M. Vargas Jr.
Leaf Spot, Dollar Spot, Red Thread, Necrotic Ring Spot

Golf 3.  Abiotic Stress Physiology of Putting Green Species
Megan Gendjar and Dr. Emily Merewitz, Kailey Miller, Dr. Kevin Frank
Soil water content and plant growth regulator effects on Poa Annua acclimation to and survival of winter.
Mowing height effects on winterkill of Poa Annua putting greens.

Lawn & Athletic Fields 9.  The Long-Term Effect of Irrigation and Fertilizer Programs on Different Turfgrass Species
Dr. Kevin Frank and Jesse Sholl
The objective of the study is to demonstrate the interaction and performance of fertilization and irrigation on different turfgrass species and mixtures.

Golf 4.  Racecourse Athletic Field Systems, and Golf Ball Reaction and Soil Strength Studies
Dr. J.N. Rogers, III, Dr. J.R. Crum, and Dr. T.O. Green
The the golf ball reaction and soil strength study (2021-2022) will give insight to improving golf shots by allowing golfers the option of bouncing shots to gain distance while placing them nearer target putting green.

Lawn & Athletic Fields 10, Golf 5.  Outbreaks of Japanese Beetle Decline in Southern Michigan Due to Biological Control While Populations Increase in Northern Michigan
Dr. David Smitley
In 1999, with Japanese Beetle populations exploding in Michigan, a survey by Cappaert and Smitley (2002) revealed that the most promising biocontrol organisms were either absent or nearly absent in Southern Michigan.

Golf 6.  Turfgrass Weed Research
Dr. Thom Nikolai, Dr. T.O Green, Eric Galbraith, Dr. Eric Patterson, and Ben Pritchard
Attendees were encouraged to take ratings at two different studies.

Highlights from the Afternoon Workshops: