2012 OTRF Update
By Corrie Almack, OTRF Research Chair
As part of our commitment to collaborate with the CTRF and the other provincial turfgrass foundations, we would like to share with you our plans for turfgrass research funding in 2012 and provide you with a copy of the new OTRF Turfgrass Research Priorities.
Upon recommendation of the OTRF Research Committee, the OTRF Board of Directors has approved six turfgrass research projects to fund in 2012 for a total of $111,000. A cross section of turfgrass research projects will be of value to the golf industry as well as of interest to sod farming, lawn care and sports field managers. These six projects will be lead by turfgrass researchers at McGill University, Vineland Research & Innovation Centre, University of Guelph and Olds College with interim and final results available later through our website.
Once every five years, the OTRF hosts a turfgrass research priority setting workshop to determine current turfgrass research targets. This document is used as a guide annually in our selection of relevant research projects to fund. This past January, we hosted a workshop involving thirty individuals representing various turfgrass sectors, industries, associations and researchers. The industry expert panel arrived prepared with research ideas relevant to their sector and then were later joined by active turfgrass researchers to discuss the practicality of these new initiatives. The resulting OTRF Turfgrass Research Priorities 2007-2012 document captures ranked targets that are of value to the turfgrass industry today. The OTRF would like to share with you these priorities to use if you wish when reviewing your own research submissions.
OTRF Turfgrass Research Priorities 2012 - 2017
Over the course of the next five years, the OTRF will strive to support research projects based of these ranked priorities established by industry representatives at the January 25, 2012 Research Priority Setting meeting.
1. Development and evaluation of effective alternatives to conventional pesticides (biological, micronutrients)
2. Marketing and communicating the benefits of turfgrass and addressing the public issues about the turfgrass industry
3. A systems approach to sustainable turfgrass management
4. Economic impact of turfgrass management decisions (IPM, synthetic, inputs)
5. Future technology
6. Nutrient management and nutrient sources
7. Water conservation and water quality
8. Emerging Pests
9. Improved turfgrass species and varieties (wear tolerant, drought tolerant, low input, pest resistant, alternative putting surfaces, Poa annua and fast maturing)
10. Modernize best practices for sports fields (construction and maintenance; scheduling of play, irrigated and non-irrigated fields) and putting greens.
11. Basic research (economics, environment, playability) of synthetic turf and comparison to natural turf
12. What nutrients are removed when a turf crop (sod) is harvested 13. Effects of climate change on turfgrass and pests
