2018 Schedule (2019 Schedule Forth-coming)
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Session Descriptions
Keynote
The Edge of Order and Chaos: What the Green Industry Can Do to Attract and Retain the Next Generation (Vance Crowe)
Vance Crowe, will talk about how he was first attracted to the complex world of agriculture and share insights into what the green industry offers the next generation of talent. Vance will discuss how the green industry offers an opportunity to build upon the skill and wisdom of industry leaders and also offers a chance to adventure into the unknown with the goal of balancing between the wild, beautiful, chaos of nature and the pristine order of purposeful cultivation. Vance will also highlight ways in which the industry can better share their story even when talking about controversial topics like GMOs and glyphosate.
Water Management
Sell Your Knowledge - The Water Expert (Matt Bruns)
Combine your industry experience and knowledge with practical solutions for installing Smart Water products. 1) Show What You Know - demonstrate your expertise.
2) Use The Tools - EPA Water Sense, IA, cost of water analysis, sell sheets and more. 3) Be the Solutions Expert from now on - the Man with the Plan.
2-Wire Update - What's New with 2-Wire and Troubleshooting (Jon Miller)
Decoder based Two-Wire systems are becoming more commonplace in irrigation installations. Proper training and technical understanding of the products available ensure correct installations and the tools needed to maintain them. You will learn the basics of Two-Wire and how to go through the troubleshooting process.
Get Your Head in the Cloud and Manage Your Irrigation Systems Efficiently! (Lynda Wightman)
Review of new and upcoming Irrigation Control Systems that operate from the Cloud and WiFi connections. What is available? What are the options for connections? Sensor compatibility and more. 3 Main Bullet Points of Talk: 1. What's available and how does it work 2. Connection versatility 3. Weather management for scheduling the run times of the controller
Keeping the Water Flowing: An Overview of Water Supply Systems (Derek Nees)
Joint session with Golf track
This presentation covers the basics of where and how water is recovered from either ground or surface water reservoirs. The anatomy of a well is outlined. We will discuss, what makes a well produce less water or fail over time and how to prevent it. Pump types will be covered and how to use a pump test and pump curve to budget for repair costs. Simple electrical controls and motors will be on the agenda also. The overall theme will be preventative maintenance on water supply before the water gets to the irrigation systems.
Sports Fields
Sports Field Construction (Matt Anderson)
Matt will discuss various topics relating to synthetic turf management including: Construction, Maintenance practices and painting. Will also discuss issues associated with an aging synthetic surface.
Positive Coaching for Sports Fields Managers (Josh McPherson)
Positive Coaching is a new way to think about building a better team. You will learn how to invest in your co-workers and find out what is important to them. This presentation will help you discover what you and your co-workers strengths are and use those to guide your short-term and long-tern goals.
Grassy Weed Control in Transition Zone Athletic Fields (Matt Elmore)
Synthetic Turf (Matt Anderson)
Matt will discuss various construction and renovation projects over his career and lessons learned from those projects.
Golf
Down Low and Dirty; Soil-borne Diseases (Lee Miller)
Numerous soil borne diseases walked through the large door opened by a tough 2018 growing environment. We will discuss ways to minimize stress on putting greens and prevent damage from root and crown diseases in 2019.
Golf Course Master Plans (John Daniels)
Every golf facility should have a written Master Plan that incorporates not only architectural design elements, but infrastructure components such as the irrigation system and drainage.
A Master Plan provides the framework for current and future decision makers so that individual projects are aligned and priorities can be established.
Keeping the Water Flowing: An Overview of Water Supply Systems (Derek Nees)
Joint session with Water Management track
This presentation covers the basics of where and how water is recovered from either ground or surface water reservoirs. The anatomy of a well is outlined. We will discuss, what makes a well produce less water or fail over time and how to prevent it. Pump types will be covered and how to use a pump test and pump curve to budget for repair costs. Simple electrical controls and motors will be on the agenda also. The overall theme will be preventative maintenance on water supply before the water gets to the irrigation systems.
No Me Goosta: Understanding and Controlling Goosegrass (Matthew Elmore)
This presentation will discuss integrated strategies to control goosegrass, a problematic summer annual weed of golf courses. This presentation will discuss the biology and environmental conditions that allow goosegrass to proliferate. It will also discuss the results of field research projects that have investigated pre and post-emergence herbicides for goosegrass control so that superintendents can develop integrated management programs for green, fairways and roughs.
Landscape Opportunities
Plants with Style (Kelly Norris)
Joint session with Landscape Management track
This presentation covers the basics of where and how water is recovered from either ground or surface water reservoirs. The anatomy of a well is outlined. We will discuss, what makes a well produce less water or fail over time and how to prevent it. Pump types will be covered and how to use a pump test and pump curve to budget for repair costs. Simple electrical controls and motors will be on the agenda also. The overall theme will be preventative maintenance on water supply before the water gets to the irrigation systems.
Native Bees of STL (Dr. Gerardo Camilo)
The majority of the 7.5 billion humans already live in a city. In another 30 years, when the human population reaches 9.5 billion, 66% of people will be living in a city. At the same time, the diversity and abundance of insect pollinating species are declining, threatened or endangered. That can place huge constraints on our food producing systems. The good news is that cities seem to work as a form of refuge for many of the bees species we need.
New and Improved Plants (Panel Discussion with Bill Spradley, Mike Rood, Micky Heimos, Jim Van Volkenberg, Bill Minford, Laura Tetley, Anne Murtens)
A rapid-fire series of presentations featuring the BEST of the BEST new, underestimated plant selections for use in professionally designed and managed landscapes. No wimps presented here - only plants that will thrive and endure the rigors of lower Midwest climate conditions!
Killing the Competition (Dr. Hannah Mathers)
Many landscapers and growers with herbaceous perennials (HP) still rely upon hand-weeding. The previous lack of herbicide registrations in HP crops (including ornamental grasses) has perpetuated fears that herbicides cause injury. These previous labor-intensive control programs have constrained growth in this industry sector. However, recent research efforts have expanded herbicide labels to include HP species. Dramatic improvements in HP weed control will be discussed.
Landscape Management
Plants with Style (Kelly Norris)
Joint session with Landscape Opportunities track
This presentation covers the basics of where and how water is recovered from either ground or surface water reservoirs. The anatomy of a well is outlined. We will discuss, what makes a well produce less water or fail over time and how to prevent it. Pump types will be covered and how to use a pump test and pump curve to budget for repair costs. Simple electrical controls and motors will be on the agenda also. The overall theme will be preventative maintenance on water supply before the water gets to the irrigation systems.
Worst of the Worst - Midwest Weeds (Dr. Hannah Mathers)
Winning strategies for landscape bed weed control include a fully amalgamated system of weed life-cycle knowledge, bio-rational approaches, traditional synthetic herbicides and optimum timings of application. We will also discuss control options for some of the “worst of the worst weeds” such as, Creeping yellow cress (Rorippa sylvestris L.); field horsetail (Equisetum arvense), and yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.). New research for successful controls will be discussed along with the characteristics that make them “the worst!”
MoIP Task Force Panel - Pledge and Implementation (Panel Discussion with Carol Davit, Pete Millier, Bill Ruppert and Nate Muenks)
Municipalities, organizations, campuses, etc. can take the MoIP Pledge to Stop the Spread of Invasive Plant Species and work to eradicate invasive species, gain positive PR, and save money in the long-term. A panel of Task Force members and the first signer of the pledge, Pete Millier of Mizzou Botanic Gardens, will discuss practical considerations for phasing out invasive plants and planting more native species. They will also update attendees on upcoming initiatives to fight the state's most threatening exotic invasive plant, including a statewide agreement to stop the sale, propagation and distribution of invasive plant species.
Setting the Standard for Greenway Design (Ben Grossman & Paul Toenjes)
Through a cooperative process, Great Rivers Greenway and SWT Design worked with regional partner agencies to review existing greenways, evaluate the built precedence and determine what worked and what could be done better. The result of this nearly year-long effort led to the development of the Greenway Design Guidelines.