News from JoCoPlants » JoCo Plants

2010 NCSU Turfgrass Field Day

Ruth — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:22:32 +0000

2.5 NCDA & CS Pesticide Credits Available
0.25 GCSAA Educational Points Available

The 2010 NCSU Turfgrass Field Day is being held at the Sandhills Research Station in Jackson Springs, North Carolina on Wednesday August 11th. The Turfgrass Field Day at the Sandhills Research Station is only offered EVERY OTHER YEAR and offers the industry and general public a chance to view the NCSU Turfgrass Program’s ongoing research trials at this unique site.

Attendees will see research plots and speak directly with NCSU’s faculty and staff. Each session offers the researcher’s insight and findings for current turfgrass demands and on-going studies. Topics are inclusive of the NCSU research program covering IPM, cultural practices, irrigation technologies, disease, insect, and weed control, and more.

LOCATION
The NCSU Turfgrass program maintains two turfgrass research field labs, Lake Wheeler Turf Field Lab (Raleigh) and The Sandhills Research Station (Jackson Springs). The geographic separation between these two sites permits a better understanding of maintaining turf in the transition zone. Cool-season grasses-such as tall fescue- thrive during cooler temperatures, so are best adapted in the North and western portions of the state. Warm-season grasses benefit from warmer temperatures and sandy soils found in the coastal and southern piedmont regions of the State.

While many portions of North Carolina enable BOTH cool-season and warm-season turf cultivars to grow, it is beneficial to see growth under more ideal conditions. This year’s location in Jackson Springs allows you the chance to see warm-season grasses (bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, and St. Augustinegrass) in their adapted area of NC. Conversely, you can also see cool-season grasses under the stresses of the Southern summer’s heat.

TURFGRASS BREEDER PLOTS
Open for the first year, are the NCSU turfgrass breeding program’s plots. Current research includes evaluation of advanced Zoysiagrass materials for adaptability to North Carolina, evaluation of Bermudagrass germplasm collected from South Africa for their ability to grow under shade, and selection for drought tolerance in tall fescue. Dr. Susana Milla-Lewis will provide a tour of the plots, and also give a general overview of the program while detailing what has been initiated during year one.

ACCOMODATIONS
The NCSU Turfgrass Field Day registration includes water and drinks sponsored by STI (Smith Turf & Irrigation), an onsite catered luncheon, complete with home-made ice-cream. The annual putting contest will provide prizes, fun, and a chance to “out putt” dignitaries like Dean Johnny Wynne and Agricultural Commissioner Steve Troxler. The bragging rights from winning the putting contest are good for a life-time!

SHOULD YOU COME IF YOU’RE NOT A TURFGRASS PROFESSIONAL?
Yes. Extension events such as Turfgrass Field Day are designed to welcome AND inform the public of important topics and research that affect them directly. Coming to a turf field day event allows YOU the opportunity to speak directly with the top research scientists in the nation AND see, touch and feel the types of grass available to North Carolina.

Even if YOU don’t maintain your own lawn, coming to turfgrass field day enables you to better understand the inputs and maintenance demands your lawn needs….making you an informed buyer. It also offers you the chance to meet PROFESSIONALS in the industry that care enough to enhance their turfgrass education and better serve you!

*This article adapted from the 2010 Turfgrass Field Day website. Please visit this site for further information.

Sizzling Summer Specials at McLamb’s Nursery

Ruth — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:30:47 +0000

We, at McLamb’s Nursery, are pleased to announce that we are offering 20% off of container plants and up to 20% off of field-grown trees. Very limited exclusions do apply, so do not hesitate to call us for further details and availability – (919) 894-3709 or toll free (800) 900-3709. .

Interactive Pesticide Day (March 12: 1:00-3:00 pm)

Ruth — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:04:22 +0000

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension is inviting all applicators to interactive pesticide training on March 12th, 2010 beginning at 1:00 pm in Smithfield, NC. The training will be held at the Johnston County Livestock Arena, 520 County Home Road, Smithfield, NC. County Home Road is about 2 miles West of the Johnston County Ag Center on NC 210 Highway. At this event there will be some hands on activities to help emphasize and enhance skills needed for applying pesticides correctly including; reviewing software for wind prediction, drift management, sprayer calibration, and PPE. The training will provide 2 credit hours are available for pesticide applicators in categories A, B, G, H, I, L, N, O, D, X.

Event Location
Johnston County Livestock Arena
520 County Home Road
Smithfield, NC 27577

Contact
Tim Britton at (919) 989-5380

Fruit Tree Training and Pruning Demonstration: Moved to March 6, 2010 due to Inclement Weather

Ruth — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:10:12 +0000

There will be a Fruit Tree training and pruning demonstration at The Central Crops Research Station in Clayton, NC on Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 10am until 12pm. Dr. Mike Parker will be presenting information on training and pruning fruit trees at the workshop at the research station. Pesticide credits of 0.5 hours have been approved for codes L N O D X.

NCSU Turfgrass Short Course – Feb. 22-26, 2010

Ruth — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:00:42 +0000

The 2010 NCSU Turfgrass Short Course is scheduled for the week of February 22, so mark your calendars! This event provides 4½ days of comprehensive turfgrass education and is appropriate for anyone interested in turf, including homeowners, career-changers, and professionals needing a refresher. Lectures are presented by faculty in NCSU’s award-winning Turfgrass program, and cover all aspects of turfgrass management. Successful completion prepares attendees for the Turfgrass Professional Certification program. The McKimmon Center State of the Art Classroom settings are intimately sized to allow focused instruction and maximize individual and group learning success. Turf and weed samples, fertilizers, insect identification and control methods are closely examined in the hands-on sessions. The NC State Turfgrass Short Course program is a key building block to any turfgrass or lawn care professional’s career. Covering topics from turfgrass selection, weed identification, best management practices to protect available resources, and much more. Whether you’re just starting out in the lawn care profession, or you’re a home-owner who is tired of looking at that straggly patch of mud you call a lawn, the NCSU Turfgrass Short Course is the best PRACTICAL how-to education you can get in a one week study program. This program is held ONLY ONCE a year and sells out quickly. Contact Dr. Dan Bowman (919-515-2085) to reserve your seat now.

Eastern NC Landscape Conference and Trade Show

Ruth — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:00:42 +0000

On Feb. 2nd, 2010 from 8:00 am – 3:30 pm, educational programs, pesticide recertification credits, and trade show will be offered at the Eastern NC Landscape Conference and Trade Show at the Wilson County Agricultural Center in Wilson, NC .

Hands on Scouting Techniques & Weed Identification Workshop

Ruth — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:40:06 +0000

This best management practices workshop is designed with landscapers, sod growers, nurserymen and other horticultural professionals in mind. Anyone needing to brush up on their scouting techniques or ability to identify and control weeds is encouraged to attend at the Johnston County Agricultural Center. The cost of the program is $15.00, which includes a guidebook and other scouting materials. Two hours of pesticide credit has been applied for in the following categories: D, H, L, N, O and X. Contact Amie Newsome or Shawn Banks at (919) 989-5380 or amie_newsome@ncsu.edu for more information. Registration fees need to be received before January 29, 2010. Sponsored by the Johnston County Nurserymen Association.