2013 WCTA Pre-Conference Seminars
Sunday, March 3, 2013  - 1:00pm-5:00pm
Taking place at the Penticton Lakeside Resort

• Space is limited for both pre-conference seminars
• Price reduced for 2013 - $99 first person and $79 for second person from same facility
Sign up using Conference Registration form – CLICK HERE

For Golf Course Superintendents…

Making Moose Mince Meat out of Granulars and Lesser Products
presented by: Dale Miller, Redox Turf  and the BC Golf Superintendents Association

Dale’s discussion will start with old and new fertility technology, chemical, soil, water and nutrient basics… all as they influence fertility management and efficiency. He will then move into soil / water analysis, and will discuss options, programs and products that provide solutions to fertility challenges.

This seminar is approved for 2.0 BC CEC points.

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For Sportsfield Managers…

Managing Turf in the NFL and Overcoming Challenges on High-Use Natural and Synthetic Turf
presented by:  Tom Serensits, Penn State University

Turf management in the NFL creates unique challenges along with many of the same challenges faced by turf managers at all facilities. This session will cover many aspects of the management of the turf at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles.  You will get an insider’s look at field installation, concert preparation and recovery, and tips and tricks used by NFL turf managers.  One of the biggest challenges shared at many NFL fields and athletic fields at all levels is heavy usage.  The second half of this presentation will focus on strategies for dealing with high-use fields including proper mowing,  fertilization, overseeding, aerification, and other techniques to help provide fields that maximize both safety and playability even under extreme conditions.

This seminar is approved for 2.0 BC CEC points.

Presentation Outline - Making Moose Mince Meat out of Granulars and Lesser Products
Dale Miller, Redox Turf

Discussion, opening comments         15 minutes
• Fertility concerns, science
• Current products/programs
• Cost vs Effect Efficiency           15 minutes
1. Ionic
• Non compound
• Cation, Anion
2. Solubility/Availability/Uptake       15 minutes
• Solution
• Equilibrium
• EC considerations, water considerations
• Mathematics 3. Reactions         15 minutes
• Soil
• Cations, Anions
• Biological
4. Leaching         10 minutes
• Sand, Silt, Clay
• Irrigation management, rainfall
• Root zone depth
5. Volatilization         5 minutes
• Nitrogen
6. Complexing, Chelation        15 minutes
• Amino Acids
• Organic Acids
• Old forms (EDTA, EDDHA, etc)
7. Frequency         5 minutes
• Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly
• Timing (seasonal)
8. Balance         5 minutes
• Cation to Anion ratios
9. Baggage         10 minutes
• Anion loads
10. Source, made for the plant/soil or bi product     15 minutes
• Product limitations vs plant/soil focused
• Compound requiring conversion vs ionic requiring no conversion
11. Water analysis         15 minutes
• Influence
• As the water is the soil will be
• Concerns
12. Soil analysis         40 minutes
• Chemical Extract vs Paste Extract
• Mathematics
13. Plant requirement/make up       5 minutes
• C, H, O, nutrient percentage
14. Soil type         5 minutes
• CEC
• Influence
• Micro pores vs Macro pores
15. Carbon input, soil OM        15 minutes
• Amino Acids
• Organic Acids
• CO2
• Microbial requirement, influence on nutrition    
16. Root depth, mass        10 minutes 
• Rhizospere
• Root vs leaf absorption
• Coverage of root zone relative to efficiency
• Exudates
17. pH management        10 minutes
• Calcium base saturation
• Hydrogen influence
• Hydroxyl influence
Products (Industry options)        15 minutes
• Lime and Gypsum       
• Other input options
Total time          240 minutes

 
Presentation Outline -  Managing Turf in the NFL and Overcoming Challenges on High-Use Natural and Synthetic Turf Fields
Tom Serensits, Penn State University

Managing Turf in the NFL
1. Summer training camp challenges (diseases, weather conditions)
2. Practice field design and maintenance  - Techniques to spread out wear areas
3. Field installation at Lincoln Financial Field  - Drainage system  - Heating system  - Rootzone selection  - DD Grassmaster installation
4. Dealing with non-football events  - Soccer  - Concerts
5. Field maintenance at practice facility and stadium  - Growth regulators  - Growth blankets  - Overseeding
6. Field painting tips  - How NFL fields are painted and tips

Managing High Use Fields
1. High use effects of soils  - Compaction
2. How Penn State amended Beaver Stadium field
3. Mowing  - How often?  - Striping
4. Fertilization  - How much and when?
5. Overseeding  - Species selection  - Rate  - Timing
6. Aerification  - Different options  - Managing cores  -Importance of organic matter  - Using compost on high use fields
7. Irrigation
8. Drainage
9. Plant growth regulators  - Primo use to increase divot resistance
10. Other strategies to help high use fields

Selecting Sand rootzone
1. Advantages and disadvantages of sand-based fields  - Irrigation  - Fertilization, etc.
2. Concept behind a sand-based field  - Perched water table
3. Sand-cap method
4. Components of rootzone blends  - organic matter (types and how much)  - sands
5. Characteristics of a quality sand  - shape  - Sizing  - Porosity  - Percolation rate
6. What to look for in a soil test report (soil physical properties)
7. Steps of a quality control program during construction
8. Sand and gravel matching
9. Reasons for failure of sand fields