MSU December Turf School

Dr. Kevin W. Frank
Michigan State University

The MSU Turf School is an intensive four-day course designed to teach the basics of turfgrass science as well as the practical techniques of managing turfgrass.  The school will be "team taught" by MSU turfgrass faculty and staff.  The curriculum is designed to deliver a wide range of turfgrass management topics including basic soils and soil management, turfgrass species identification, selection and physiology, turf establishment and renovation, fertilization, proper pesticide use, and environmental stewardship.  A significant portion of the school is dedicated to weed, insect, and disease identification and management.  The pest management section is delivered in lecture and laboratory settings with hands-on learning emphasized.  The strength of the school lies within the depth of the turfgrass faculty at MSU. This will provide an excellent opportunity for one-on-one interaction between participants and the MSU turfgrass faculty. This is your chance to get to know the MSU Turf Team - all team members instruct, that includes.....Vargas, Rogers, Crum, Frank, Nikolai, Merewitz, Gilstrap, Smitley, Hathaway, Dykema, & Davis - if you know the name but not the face, this is your chance to meet and greet for an entire week!


Who Should Attend?

Anyone looking to add to their turf knowledge - the school starts with the turf basics and expands from there throughout the week. Past attendees include golf course employees without formal training, lawn care company employees, turfgrass mechanics, industry sales representatives, and school employees responsible for grounds and athletic fields.

What is Covered?

All things turf will be covered. Topics include: turfgrass species and cultivars including a hands-on identification lab, establishment and renovation, nutrition and fertilizers, weed, insect, and disease management including hands-on identification labs, 
turfgrass soils, cultivation, compaction, and thatch including a hands-on soils lab, and Poa annua management.

Where and When


This year's school will be held December 15-18, 2014 at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center (4444 Farm Lane Rd.) on the campus of Michigan State University.  The school begins at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. It is recommended that lodging arrangements be made in the Lansing/East Lansing area to avoid long commutes each day. Local lodging information will be forwarded upon request.

Credits!
Need some MDA credits or GCSAA CEU points? Turf school is the place to clean up. At past Turf School’s we were awarded 20 MDA pesticide recertification credits available in categories Commercial Core, Private Core, 3A, and 6. In the past, turf school was also awarded 3.15 education points from GCSAA.

How Much?
Cost for the school is $600.00 and includes all class materials and lunches each day. Please register by Dec. 1 to ensure your spot.
 

Contact Kevin Frank at 517-355-0271 x 1147 or frankk@msu.edu for any questions.