www.alaturfgrass.org Alabama Turfgrass Association 
 
Member e-newsletter January 2009
Greetings!

Happy New Year! 
 
The Alabama Turfgrass Association is planning a winter full of seminars and events just for you!  Our Turfgrass RoadShow Seminars will start next week. We have seminars scheduled for Montgomery, Birmingham, Dothan, Fairhope & Huntsville that are full of the most popular turfgrass topics. Check out the details below and register today for a meeting near you!
 
We also have our Sod Producers Field Day scheduled for Saturday, February 14th at the Woerner Turf Farm in Bon Secour, AL. All the equipment companies will be demonstrating their harvesters, planters, netting machines, forklifts and tractors. Be sure to register for this event and be there to see the latest innovations in sod production.
 
ATA has made a New Year's resolution to start a community service project. This project, named New Beginnings, will start this spring. This year's charity is the Gulf Coast Youth-Reach.  It is a facility for children needing a home and basic needs. Gulf Coast Youth-Reach had their grand opening earlier this month and we are excited to help them turn an open field into a multi-purpose sports field. This program will require many volunteers and we are asking you to dig into your heart and lend a helping hand.  Man-hours, equipment usage and material donations will be needed and very much appreciated.  Look for more details soon!
 
We look forward to seeing you on the Road!
 
Pat White, Southern TurfCare
ATA President
2009 Turfgrass RoadShow Seminars
 
Schedule of Events:
8:00 am   Registration
8:30 am   Plants Out of Place - An Overview
                of Weeds and Control Practices
9:30 am   Pesticide Safety - Here's Your Sign
10:45 am  Turf Math - Common Calculations
11:45 am  Lunch - included
12:30 pm  Environmental Check-Up - How Green
                 Are You?
1:30 pm   Turfgrass Troubleshooting - Identifying
                Common Problems
2:45 pm   Controlling Critters - An Overview of
                Common Turfgrass Bugs & Grubs
3:45 pm   Adjournment & CEU/Pesticide Sign-ups
 
Birmingham Breakout:
For the Birmingham seminar only, we will hold an afternoon breakout session for our Spanish-speaking attendees.  The afternoon breakout will cover turfgrass and landscape maintenance practices, safety and a cultural question and answer session.  Bring your crew and get training for everyone!
 
Dates & Locations:
January 21     Montgomery, Dept. of Agriculture
January 28     Birmingham, Birmingham
                      Botanical Gardens
February 4     Dothan, Troy University
February 11   Fairhope, Grand Hotel
February 18   Huntsville, Jaycees Building
 
 
Register on-line or contact the ATA Office:
1-866-246-4203 (toll free)
334-821-3800 (fax) 
 
 
ATA ANNUAL SPONSORS
  
Gold Sponsors
Ewing Irrigation, Golf & Industrial
Georgia Turf & Tractor
Kilpatrick Turf
Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation
 
Silver Sponsors
Agrium Advanced Technologies
E-Z-Go Textron
John Deere Landscapes
NaturChem
Syngenta T & O Products
 
Bronze Sponsors
Bayer Environmental Science
DuPont Professional Products
Harrell's, Inc.
Humphries Turf Supply
 
Sod Producers Field Day - Scheduled for Feb. 14th
 
The Alabama Turfgrass Association is hosting their 4th sod equipment field day at Woerner Turf Farm in Bon Secour, AL. This centipede farm is conveniently located on Highway 12, just minutes from The Grand Hotel and Highway 59 in Baldwin County.  Come see the newest technology and demonstrations in sod production immediately following TPI's Midwinter Conference! 
 
Field Day Schedule of Events
Friday, February 13th
9:00 - 5:00 pm  Vendor Move-in @  Woerner Turf-Bon Secour Farm
 
Saturday, February 14th
8:00 am       Registration @ Woerner Turf-Bon Secour Farm
9:00 am       Field Day Opens
12:00 pm     Lunch and Presentation:
  Eptam (EPTC) 7 EC: Pre-Plant Application for Warm-Season Sod Production for Weed Control
     Dr. Harold Walker, Auburn University
3:00 pm       Field Day Closes & Vendor Move-0ut
 
Field Day Exhibitors
All turf production equipment companies are encouraged to participate in the 2009 ATA Sod Producers Field Day. Equipment demonstrations will be conducted in your assigned booth space. Booths sizes will be 50 x 100 and will include an 8' table, two chairs and two nametags. 
 
Questions? Contact ATA 334-821-3000

2009 Schedule of Events

Turfgrass Traveling Road Show
January 21     Alabama Dept. of Agriculture,
                     Montgomery, AL
January 28      Birmingham Botanical Gardens,
                     Birmingham, AL
February 4      Troy University at Dothan, Dothan, AL
February 11    Fairhope, The Grand Hotel, AL
February 18    JayCees Community Building,
                     Huntsville, AL

Sod Producers Field Day
February 14    Woerner Turf Farms - Bon Secour, AL
Immediately following the TPI Mid-Winter Conf.
 
Mole Cricket Classic
March 30        Lakewood Golf Course, Pt. Clear, AL
How to Make the Most of Water Without Spending a Fortune, Mica Franklin, Aquatrols
 
Poa Annua Classic
April 20          FarmLinks Golf Club, Sylacauga, AL
 
New Beginnings - Sports Field Renovation
Late Spring - Summerdale, AL
 
Annual Conference & Tradeshow
Oct. 20-22       Auburn University Hotel &
                      Conference Center, Auburn, AL