The Mississippi Turf Grass Association hosted a research field day for turf professionals and vendors to help educate and promote better turf management on Tuesday.
Coordinator and Mississippi State Turf Extension Specialist Jay McCurdy said the field day is a culmination of its year-round research on maintaining turf.
McCurdy said the conversations range from disease management, lawn care management and cultural practices for safer and more playable surfaces on golf courses and sports fields.
With vendors set up, McCurdy said the field day allows people participating to interact and learn how to better maintain and manage their turf.
“The objective of this program is to grow our state’s turf industry and make it more resilient and more educated,” McCurdy said.
In Mississippi, McCurdy said people don’t realize how large and important the turf industry is for residents.
McCurdy said even though there is a smaller amount of golf courses due to population, there are over 2,000 sports fields in the state.
When managing turf, McCurdy said appearance is not the main goal, it’s safety. He said managers analyze both the turf on the top and the soil underneath by monitering the soil firmness.
The performance of the turf is studied by testing how a baseball or soccer ball will bounce with soil types. Also factored in is the height of the turf and weed control, which can interfere with a player’s traction.
“We are managing it so athletes don’t have entrapment with cleats and tear ACLs,” McCurdy said. With this field day, McCurdy wants participants to learn about new products, make connections and find ways to enhance their management.
“There’s new equipment here, new vendors and new people, it’s exciting,” McCurdy said.