Homeowners found it was hard to keep up with water demands of turfgrasses during the 2011 drought even without water-use restrictions. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Dr. James McAfee)
OVERTON – Set Feb. 2 in Overton, the annual East Texas Turfgrass Conference will cover topics such as turfgrass drought recovery, weed, insect and disease management and more.
“The main part of my presentation will be to inform individuals how to best prepare their turfgrass for a drought in 2012 – if it occurs,” said Dr. Jim McAfee, Texas AgriLife Extension Service turfgrass specialist, Dallas.
The program is designed for professionals who maintain school district grounds, city parks and recreation facilities, as well as workers at commercial lawn and landscape companies, according to Randy Reeves, AgriLife Extension agent for Harrison County and one of the program coordinators.
McAfee noted that though professional managers of turfgrass have the option to irrigate, it was hard to keep up with water needs in 2011.
“And it’ll be harder in 2012 if we have another drought because of all the new water restrictions going in place,” he said. “And that’s another thing I’m going to talk about, all the different water restrictions, because everyone has a little different version of them.”
Held at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, private pesticide license holders will earn five Texas Department of Agriculture approved continuing education units, four hours in the general category, and a half hour each in integrated pest management and laws and regulations, according to Reeves.
Registration for the event is $30 and will include a fried catfish lunch. In addition to McAfee’s presentation, programming will include “IPM and its Role In Local School Districts,” “2012 Weed Control Management On Turf,” “Disease Management on Bermuda and St. Augustine,” “Turfgrass Insect Update,” “Irrigation Efficiency In Times Of Drought,” and “Laws and Regulation Update For Applicators.” The conference will adjourn at 3 p.m.
Instructors will be AgriLife Extension specialists in turfgrass, horticulture, plant pathology, and integrated pest control, Reeves said.
Registration for the program will begin at 8 a.m. and will be payable at the door on the day of the event. Credit cards will not be accepted; only cash or checks, Reeves noted.
The Overton center is located approximately two miles north of Overton in Rusk County on Hwy. 3053. For maps and detailed driving directions, go to http://overton.tamu.edu and click on “Info, Maps and History,” or call Randy Reeves at 903-935-8413 for more information.
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