Jerad R Minnick
Head Groundsman
Maryland SoccerPlex
18031 Central Park Circle
Boyds, MD 20841
June 20, 2011,
The 5-week time period starting prior to Memorial Day week was the busiest time of the year at Maryland SoccerPlex. 2 regular league weekends, the MSYSA State Cup, the Adidas Potomac Memorial Day tournament, the TD Bank Mid-Atlantic Cup, the DC Scores Cup, and the USTC Lacrosse Nation’s Capitol Cup each took place at Maryland SoccerPlex during the time.
On behalf of Maryland SoccerPlex and the Maryland Soccer Foundation, I would like to give a special Thank You to the organizations and volunteers that have offered their support in preparing for these events:
Andrew Harrison- John Deere Golf
Dave Nehila- Genesis Turfgrass Inc
Ed Walker- Harrell’s
Everyone in the Service Department- Finch Services/ John Deere
Justin O’Connor- Finch Services/ John Deere
Larry Cosh- Finch Services/ John Deere
Reid Mitchell- Finch Services/ John Deere
Rick Cleland- Hydro-Tech Irrigation
Rob Larson- John Deere Golf
Paul Schultheis – Finch Services/ John Deere
The hard work of these individuals and the support from their organizations was essential in preparing for these events, just as their support is essential for preparing for every other single week. Thank You to each of them for taking time out of their busy schedules to help us. It is a true illustration of the commitment they have to supporting not only the Maryland SoccerPlex, but each and every one of their customers.
"Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."- Vince Lombardi.
Thank you for helping us work, from everyone in the Maryland SoccerPlex family.
Jerad R. Minnick
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thoughts about the Case Study- Environmental Madness or Does it Make Dollars and Cents?
We continue to explore other opportunities for success with this study, outside of environmental stewardship. This is the day and age of saving money at all costs due to a struggling economy, with sports and golf being hit hard. So add this to the "food for thought" for the week...
The basic fundamentals of turfgrass management are laid out to us early in our careers. Whether it be in an introductory botany class or turf management class, or from our first mentor during on the job training.. the message is always the same... Watering, fertilization, aeration, pest control.
We then are taught how all of these things work together and have a synergistic effect on each other. Watering is required, but can leach fertilizers. Aeration is required, but requires more watering and fertilizer. So on and so forth. Thus the concepts we are exploring here in this case study are not new discoveries.
With this study, we are attempting to take a deeper look at the relationship between the watering, fertilization, aeration, and pest control... each one in particular to be able to reduce the other 3. These reductions are in the name of environmental stewardship.
BUT.. now with more thought, they are much more than that! A friend of mine from the Institute of Groundsmanship in England made a fantastic point this week. He had the opportunity to work to reduce and actually eliminate pesticide usage as a former groundsman. But he didn't start the effort with the sole goal of environmental stewardship. He actually started because he was forced to reduce because of budget constraints.
So we can view this study as 1) forward thinking environmental stewardship, but also 2) creating a more efficient management approach in which each of us as turf managers get "more bang for our buck".
As we continue into the study, we will really begin to illustrate the efficiencies of the relationships between the basics of turf management. Less fungicide because of a healthier plant is goal #1. But that healthier plant will be created with the possibility of using less fertilizer because we are focusing more on what the plant needs, not what we want to give it. Less water because that healthy plant has deep roots. Less water equals less disease pressure because of shorter periods of moisture for fungi to thrive.
Interesting thought process added to an already interesting study. Thank You Ian Lacy!
JM
The basic fundamentals of turfgrass management are laid out to us early in our careers. Whether it be in an introductory botany class or turf management class, or from our first mentor during on the job training.. the message is always the same... Watering, fertilization, aeration, pest control.
We then are taught how all of these things work together and have a synergistic effect on each other. Watering is required, but can leach fertilizers. Aeration is required, but requires more watering and fertilizer. So on and so forth. Thus the concepts we are exploring here in this case study are not new discoveries.
With this study, we are attempting to take a deeper look at the relationship between the watering, fertilization, aeration, and pest control... each one in particular to be able to reduce the other 3. These reductions are in the name of environmental stewardship.
BUT.. now with more thought, they are much more than that! A friend of mine from the Institute of Groundsmanship in England made a fantastic point this week. He had the opportunity to work to reduce and actually eliminate pesticide usage as a former groundsman. But he didn't start the effort with the sole goal of environmental stewardship. He actually started because he was forced to reduce because of budget constraints.
So we can view this study as 1) forward thinking environmental stewardship, but also 2) creating a more efficient management approach in which each of us as turf managers get "more bang for our buck".
As we continue into the study, we will really begin to illustrate the efficiencies of the relationships between the basics of turf management. Less fungicide because of a healthier plant is goal #1. But that healthier plant will be created with the possibility of using less fertilizer because we are focusing more on what the plant needs, not what we want to give it. Less water because that healthy plant has deep roots. Less water equals less disease pressure because of shorter periods of moisture for fungi to thrive.
Interesting thought process added to an already interesting study. Thank You Ian Lacy!
JM
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Case Study- Reducing Fungicide Usage
The discussion of environment and conservation is an extremely emotional topic for people and interest groups around the world. The discussion also seems to be divided along political or professional lines, depending upon one's political party or field of employment. We at the Maryland SoccerPlex are on a mission to erase all emotion and lines of divide and base the ideas of environmental protection and conservation on sound science and progressive thinking. This science and way of thinking then puts a solid foundation under a positive message working to prepare our world for a bright future.
In 2009, the Maryland SoccerPlex proctored the first year of a case study on efficiency and reduction of fungicide usage. The study began as an effort to create efficiency with currently used fungicide products through proper cultural practices such as aeration, mowing, and watering.
In the study, we also began to explore the phenomenon of "plant health" through proper nutrient management. The plant being a living and breathing organism just as humans, the comparison used for the study model was that of a human who maintains a poor diet, does not exercise at all to stay in shape, does not keep proper water intake, and gets too little sleep. A human living like this would be un-healthy and prone to sickness and would require medications and prescription drugs to deal with this illness. In science, this is no different than a plant that gets excess or insufficient fertility and nutrients, doesn't get proper aeration for root growth and development, receives too much or too little water at improper times, and is mowed at the incorrect height and/or with dull reels or blades. Thus we has turf managers are required to turn to fungicides to protect the plant from disease and turf loss.
Using this comparison, our case study focuses on all aspects of a turf management program in order to keep the plant as healthy as possible, thus reducing the need for fungicide. It is not our goal to eliminate fungicide use, but rather cut the use to the minimum threshold to maintain a proper turf stand. We may find this threshold is so low that we can eliminate fungicide use, but that is still an unknown. Any and all ideas and hypotheses are on the table at this point as we try to be as open minded and progressive as possible with this study.
In 2009, the Maryland SoccerPlex proctored the first year of a case study on efficiency and reduction of fungicide usage. The study began as an effort to create efficiency with currently used fungicide products through proper cultural practices such as aeration, mowing, and watering.
In the study, we also began to explore the phenomenon of "plant health" through proper nutrient management. The plant being a living and breathing organism just as humans, the comparison used for the study model was that of a human who maintains a poor diet, does not exercise at all to stay in shape, does not keep proper water intake, and gets too little sleep. A human living like this would be un-healthy and prone to sickness and would require medications and prescription drugs to deal with this illness. In science, this is no different than a plant that gets excess or insufficient fertility and nutrients, doesn't get proper aeration for root growth and development, receives too much or too little water at improper times, and is mowed at the incorrect height and/or with dull reels or blades. Thus we has turf managers are required to turn to fungicides to protect the plant from disease and turf loss.
Using this comparison, our case study focuses on all aspects of a turf management program in order to keep the plant as healthy as possible, thus reducing the need for fungicide. It is not our goal to eliminate fungicide use, but rather cut the use to the minimum threshold to maintain a proper turf stand. We may find this threshold is so low that we can eliminate fungicide use, but that is still an unknown. Any and all ideas and hypotheses are on the table at this point as we try to be as open minded and progressive as possible with this study.
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