UT Turf and Ornamental Field Day set for Aug. 29

College football season is fast approaching, but for turf and athletic field professionals, the August countdown is for a different event.

In Knoxville, August 29 is the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture Turf and Ornamental Field Day, an annual event that hundreds of turf professionals look forward to attending year after year. This year’s event will be held at UT’s East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center on Alcoa Highway in Knoxville.

UT experts and scientists will present the latest research and science-driven data in several categories and will be available for questions throughout the day. Seminar topics include:

• Weed management
• Fungicide management
• Field testing
• Management of Ultradwarf Zoysiagrass greens
• Granular herbicide carriers
• Tall fescue lawns
• Synthetic turf management performance and safety
  

In addition to a landscape pest update, this year’s event boasts a new interactive pest identification test. Attendees can walk through a diagnostic booth and attempt to identify 20 common pests of turfgrass and ornamental plants. Once the correct answer is revealed, attendees will be provided with UT Extension materials outlining how to control each pest in the landscape.

Additional activities will include a session on addressing questions of glyphosate issues with UT Plant Sciences department head Scott Senseman, an equipment trade show with live demonstrations, and a weed control walk.

Several continuing education options will be available to guests. Attendees will be able to receive multiple recertification credits in various categories depending on their state of residence/employment. Details are available on the field day website. International Society of Arboriculture credits will be provided and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America? will be offering 0.5 continuing education credits to members who attend.

Register online through August 15 for $65, or $75 on-site the day of the event.

Follow @UTturfgrass on Twitter to watch select sessions live from the Turf and Ornamental Field Day.