Purdue News
Purdue News
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April 16, 2004 Purdue Turf Science Team to receive award on May 11WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's Turf Science Team will receive the 2004 Agriculture Team Award on May 11 for its education, outreach and research impact on the state's turf industry. The award will be presented at an event from 3-5 p.m. in the Whistler Agricultural Research Building, Room 116, and will include a 15-20 minute presentation by the team. Team members are Zac Reicher, associate professor and Extension turfgrass specialist; Richard Latin, professor of plant pathology; Ron Turco, professor of soil microbiology and agronomy and director of the Environmental Sciences and Engineering Institute; Cale Bigelow, assistant professor of turfgrass science; Fred Whitford, director of Purdue Pesticide Programs; and Tim Gibb, insect diagnostician and turf specialist. Team members have done research in managing the weed known as rough bluegrass, on disease severity and turf damage, and the use of biological agents for disease control, among other projects. "The team has greatly impacted Indiana's turf industry," said Victor Lechtenberg, dean of Purdue's School of Agriculture. "Through research, education and outreach efforts, our turf team has helped solve problems and improve the environment." The turf science program serves groups that include golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, professional landscape operations, sod growers, cemetery managers, homeowners and Extension educators. The team publishes a newsletter, Extension bulletin and maintains a Web site. In addition, the program partners with the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation to put on four annual seminars to educate and train participants in application practices, identification and management. The turf program has had an average enrollment of 80-90 undergraduate student majors since 1990. There are currently seven graduate students pursuing advanced degrees with research projects in turfgrass science. There are a variety of courses offered to students covering all aspects of turfgrass science from problem-solving skills to real-life management. The turf industry provides more than 10,000 jobs and contributes more than $1 billion annually to the state economy. Through the partnership of the turf science program and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation, turfgrass managers and industry representatives benefit from problem-solving research and modern, effective educational programs. The Purdue Team Award was created in 1995 to honor faculty and staff achievements for those collaborating on interdisciplinary teams. The award is composed of individual plaques for each team member, a team plaque displayed in the Agricultural Administration Building and a $10,000 cash prize to be used for program support. Writer: Julie Douglas, (765) 494-8402, douglajk@purdue.edu Sources: Victor Lechtenberg, (765) 494-8392, vll@purdue.edu Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu
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