UF Scientist to Study Ways to Combat Nematodes, Diseases in Turfgrass

Jim Rogers Turfgrass

Lawns, playing fields, golf courses, parks and many other outdoor areas are part of the multi-billion-dollar turfgrass industry. That industry provides aesthetic, environmental and economic benefits to Florida. Valued at $14.3 billion and planted on 3.9 million acres in Florida, that same industry struggles with parasitic nematodes and fungal diseases that prove costly for growers, homeowners and commercial industries. “Sting …

Less Availability, Higher Transportation Costs Lead to Increase in Sod Prices

Jim Rogers Turfgrass

By Maria M. Lameiras Prices for sod, including rolls of University of Georgia-bred turfgrass varieties, will be higher for homeowners and landscapers this year. Low inventory of some varieties, combined with economic pressures exacerbated by supply chain and global issues, are pushing the price of a manicured lawn higher this spring. Depending on the specific variety, it might be more …

Controlled Environment Agriculture: Future Growth Expected in Industry

Jim Rogers Environment, Horticulture, Research

By Eric Butterman for CAES News Next time you partake of a crisp, green salad, think about where your leafy greens come from. Many producers of high-value crops are shifting from field production to controlled environment agriculture. That is where the University of Georgia’s Marc van Iersel comes in. Van Iersel, the Vincent J. Dooley professor of horticultural physiology in …

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Nematode Control Important for Turf Producers

Jim Rogers Disease, Research, Turfgrass

By Clint Thompson The booming housing market in Florida means a spike in sod sales for the turfgrass industry. But it also means increased risk for nematode damage. Billy Crow, University of Florida professor of nematology in the entomology and nematology department, discusses the importance of nematode control. “You’ll have slower growth in which increases the amount of time the …

South Florida Turfgrass Field Day Scheduled for March 31

Jim Rogers Florida, Research, Turfgrass

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Turfgrass research will be highlighted as part of the 33rd Annual South Florida Turfgrass Field Day and Exposition, scheduled for March 31 at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center in Fort Lauderdale. The event is organized in partnership with the South Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. The field day will include tours …

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Registration Ongoing for N.C. State Extension Turfgrass Short Course

Jim Rogers Research, Turfgrass

The N.C. State Extension Turfgrass Short Course will be held April 11-14 at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, North Carolina. Landscape managers, golf course personnel, sports turf managers, master gardeners, homeowners and residents seeking more information are encouraged to attend the four-day course. Faculty in N.C. State’s turfgrass program will cover all aspects of turfgrass management. Topics include …

UF Research: Mixing Turf Varieties Helps Lawns Last Longer

Jim Rogers Florida, Research, Turfgrass

University of Florida research has determined that lawns containing a mix of turf varieties maintained their aesthetic quality longer than lawns with just a single variety. They are better at managing disease and pests. This reduces the need for pesticides, which lowers the environmental impact and financial cost of maintaining turf, said Adam Dale, senior author of the study and …