Your GCSA peers will thank you!
Be a hero for your local GCSAA chapter by registering to win a Dell Vostroâ„¢ laptop and presentation projector.

Use it to help your chapter educational events better illustrate the latest in disease and weed research, among other educational topics. All superintendents are welcome to register. To see the full BASF GIS booth schedule click here.

Meet Dr. L.B. McCarty and Dr. Joseph Vargas and receive a complimentary turf book

Golf course superintendents and assistant superintendents who visit the BASF booth will have an opportunity to meet Dr. L.B. McCarty of Clemson University and Dr. Joe Vargas of Michigan State University and receive complimentary, signed turf textbooks.

Quantities are limited to 60 books for each of the two signings so plan ahead.

Book signings 11 a.m. Thursday and Friday
Dr. McCarty will sign his book, “Color Atlas of Turfgrass Weeds,� at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5. This book has been called a must-have reference tool for superintendents and their crews.

Back by popular demand, Dr. Vargas will sign his book, “Management of Turfgrass Diseases,� at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6. An industry-favorite, Vargas’s book provides practical, easy-to follow solutions for everyday maintenance issues.

Note you must be a golf course superintendent or assistant superintendent to receive a book.

Come by the BASF booth to learn more. Read the BASF T&O Golf Industry Show schedule here.

Hello again from Alabama!
Canadian golf course superintendents visit FarmLinks

Golf Course Superintendents fled the chilly regions of Canada and came to FarmLinks earlier this month. The majority of these superintendents were from Ontario, where the Ministry of the Environment has been “making waves” with the passage of Bill 64. This bill essentially bans the use of all cosmetic pesticides in homeowner and consumer areas. At the present time, golf courses, forestry, and agriculture are exempt to this ban, but there is a great deal of anxiety over what the future may hold for pest solutions in this province and Canada as a whole. The Canadian Golf Course Superintendents Association has developed a grass-roots effort to educate the public on this subject. More info can be found on their Web site here.

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Give your feet a rest and learn about agronomic issues from BASF Technical Experts and receive a FREE Acu-Rite soil thermometer

BASF technical specialists Dr. Kathie Kalmowitz, Kyle Miller and Todd Burkdoll, will share technical trends in turf management from presentations titled:

• New Herbicides from BASF (Thur., noon)
• Weed Control in Naturalized Areas (Fri., 10 a.m.)
• Understanding Product Labels (Fri., noon)

Audience members will receive a free Acu-Rite 00661 Soil Thermometer from BASF. The thermometer has a 7-inch stainless steel probe and a stainless steel case. The white dial is 1-3/4 inches in diameter and protected by a shatterproof plastic lens. The numbers and markings on the dial are black, and the pointer is red. This thermometer indicates soil temperatures in °F.

Supplies are limited to the first 30 attendees per session. Don’t miss it. All part of BASF and Turf University at GIS 2009.

Happy New Year! Golf course greens in New England frozen and icy
Could someone please explain to me why I live in New England? Ice, snow, rain, cold, sun, wind and that is just for one day! As if that is not enough, we are expecting highs between -2° and 5° for Thursday this week. The cold rain and ice are beginning to build on local golf courses, which makes for great sledding but many courses’ greens have been under ice for several weeks and we really need a January thaw to help these greens breathe a little.

Speaking session about Controlling Turf Diseases for New York DEC
I spoke at a New York DEC distribution training meeting last week. The talk was to last more than three hours! Can any of you imagine listening to me for three minutes, much less three-plus hours! Needless to say there was some lively Yankee/Red Sox dialogue to pass some time. And I used a few of the Dr. Joe Vargas video segments on “Controlling Turf’s Toughest Diseasesâ€? to great effect. I only saw three people fall asleep, so I guess it was somewhat of a success, and yes, there were more than three people in the room.

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