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The National Turfgrass Research Initiative

Learn about the benefits of turfgrass, its applications, and ongoing research initiatives. Get insights into key turfgrass issues and sustainable management practices. Discover the history of turf research and the collective efforts to improve turf quality.

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The National Turfgrass Research Initiative

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  1. The National Turfgrass Research Initiative A Cooperative Effort of the Turfgrass Industry and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

  2. Benefits Of Turf • Beautifies tens of millions of home lawns, parks, and landscapes • Provides safe playing surfaces on athletic fields, recreation in parks and on golf courses • Provides safety and dust control along highways and runways • Provides environmental protection and enhancement of water, soil, and air

  3. Where is Turf Found? 50 million acres nationwide, $40 billion industry Home Lawns, Roadsides, Airports, Commercial/Institutional Facilities, Military Bases, Schools, Parks, Golf Courses, Churches, Cemeteries

  4. Water Supplies Limited Effluent, Saline Sources Used Drought Tolerant Grasses Needed Better Management Practices Needed Pesticide Use Extensively Scrutinized Re-registered of Pesticides Limited Disease, Insect Resistant Grasses Needed Alternative Systems Needed Turfgrass Issues Water Pesticides

  5. Facilities Overused Athletic Field Safety Scrutinized Traffic Tolerant Grasses Needed Better Management Practices Needed Fertilizers & Pesticides Restricted Watersheds – Groundwater and Surface Water Protected Improved Management Practices Needed Turfgrass Issues Excessive Use Regulations

  6. History of Turf Research in USDA-ARS 1920Drs. Piper & Oakley, Arlington Turf Gardens, VA, grant from USGA, USGA Green Section started 1940’s Turf program moved to Beltsville, MD 1950’s Dr. Fred Grau – Beltsville developed Merion KY Bluegrass, Meyer zoysia, USGA splits with ARS 1950’s Tifton, GA turf breeding, Dr. Glenn Burton Tifway, Tifgreen, Tifdwarf bermudagrasses 1988 Jack Murray – Beltsville, only full-time turf position in ARS, retired & position abolished 1990’s Dr. Wayne Hanna – Tifton, develops TifEagle, Tifsport bermudas, Tifblair centipede 2001 Full-time turfgrass position re-established by Congress Beltsville/National Arboretum (Scott Warnke, Research Plant Geneticist/Physiologist)

  7. Turf Industry Organization Support USGA US Golf Association (750,000 members) GCSAA Golf Course Superintendents Assoc. of America (21,000) TPI Turfgrass Producers International (1,000) PLCAA Professional Lawn Care Assoc. of America (1,000) NTEP National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (950) STMA Sports Turf Managers Association (2,300) IA The Irrigation Association (3,000)

  8. Turf Customer Workshop • January 22-25, 2002, Dallas, Texas • 112 attendees (62 customers, stakeholders & partners) Outcomes: • Developed an understanding of the broad range of Turf issues important to ARS customers, stakeholders, and partners • Identified high-priority Turf-related research issues responsive to customer, stakeholder, and partner needs • Identified major research activities that cut across ARS locations to address key elements of Turf research needs

  9. Turf Customer Workshop Six research priority areas were identified: • Collection, Enhancement and Preservation of Turfgrass Germplasm • Enhancement of Soil and Soil Management Practices • Improvement of Water Management Strategies and Practices • Improvement of Pest Management Practices • Understanding and Improvement of Turfgrass’ Role in the Environment • Development of Integrated Turf Management Systems

  10. Turf Customer Workshop National Program Presence within Priority Areas: • Collection, Enhancement and Preservation of Turfgrass Germplasm (NP 302, NP 205,NP 301) • Enhancement of Soil and Soil Management Practices (NP 202) • Improvement of Water Management Strategies and Practices (NP 201) • Improvement of Pest Management Practices (NP 303, NP 304) • Understanding and Improvement of Turfgrass’ Role in the Environment (NP 201, NP 202, NP 203, NP 207) • Development of Integrated Turf Management Systems (NP 207)

  11. Follow-up to Workshop Additional Meetings – Turf Industry reps and ARS • October 9-10, 2002, Beltsville, MD • December 11-12, 2002, Phoenix, AZ • Feb. 20-21, 2003, Hunt Valley, MD • May 14-15, 2003, San Diego, CA

  12. Map of Turfgrass Regions Developed by the Turfgrass Industry and USDA-ARS

  13. Current ARS Locations Matched with University Strengths ARS locations noted are those that may have the potential to conduct turfgrass research

  14. National Turfgrass Initiative Research Proposal - $32.4 Million • New funding by program thrust ranges from $4.5M (soil management) to $6.3M (environmental impacts) • New resources by regions ranges from 8 to 10 Scientists/region • New resource distribution and research program management clarified with collaborators and partners

  15. Why A Turfgrass Initiative? • Partnerships developed considering “strength-on-strength” of the partnering entities • ARS research program management (e.g., funding levels, fund control, project planning, peer review) clarified up-front with collaborators and partners • Research needs clearly identified by stakeholders, customers, and partners • Research program carefully coordinated and strategically planned to respond to the national research needed

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