2014 Turf Research Call For Proposals

Canadian Allied Turfgrass Research (CATR) annual Call for Proposals

The Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation (CTRF), Western Canada Turfgrass Association (WCTA), Atlantic Turfgrass Research Foundation (ATRF),Quebec Turfgrass Research Foundation (QTRF) and the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation (OTRF) have formed a research funding alliance for an annual call for proposals for turfgrass research grants. With a single submission researchers have the opportunity to have their proposal considered for funding by all groups and funded either separately or collaboratively. A national wide grant application eliminates application duplication while giving regional researchers more national exposure.

The OTRF will be accepting proposals for 2014 Canadian turfgrass research grants on behalf of itself, CTRF, ATRF, QTRF and WCTA.  You are invited to submit your application considering the following turfgrass research priorities:

• Development and evaluation of effective alternatives to conventional pesticides (biological, micronutrients)

• Marketing and communicating the benefits of turfgrass and addressing the public issues about the turfgrass industry

• A systems approach to sustainable turfgrass management

• Economic impact of turfgrass management decisions (IPM, synthetic, inputs)

• New instrumentation, robotics and software technologies

• Nutrient management and nutrient sources

• Water conservation and water quality

• Emerging Pests - Better diagnostics for new pests (e.g., summer patch and Waitea patch), new diseases in Canada, invasive insects that have migrated or started to establish in Canada with no alternatives or solutions available

• Improved turfgrass species and varieties that exhibit desirable traits.  For example, have wear and drought tolerance, that require lower inputs or are pest resistant, or are alternative species for putting surfaces (e.g., fescue  or superior Poa annua) or are fast-maturing species for sod production

• Modernize best practices for sports fields (construction and maintenance; scheduling of play, irrigated and non-irrigated fields) and putting greens.

• Basic research (economics, environment, playability) of synthetic turf and comparison to natural turf

• The nutrient composition removed when sod is harvested; to achieve the default value for sod crops

• Effects of climate change on turfgrass and pests

• Investigate the environmental benefits of golf courses to flora and fauna or research of specific cultural management practices on golf courses to improve the environmental benefits

• The development of educational materials about the environmental impact of golf courses

To apply for consideration for funding with the CTRF, WCTA, ATRF, QTRF and/or OTRF, complete the 2014 Canadian Turfgrass Research Grant Application form and submit it by November 15, 2013 to the OTRF office.

Funding decisions will be announced March 1 2014.  For questions contact:

Debbie Conrad - OTRF  d.conrad@otrf.ca        

Jerry Rousseau - WCTA  exec.director@wctaturf.com

Ken Cousineau - CTRF kcousineau@golfsupers.com

OTRF | G.M. Frost Research Center | 328 Victoria Road S | Guelph | ON | N1L 0H2 | Canada