University of Maryland Turfgrass Pathology Survey

This survey is designed to assist the UMD turfgrass pathology program to identify the most important problems in the state and develop projects to solve issues faced by the industry and help to manage turfgrass more efficiently. Please contact Dr. Fereshteh (Angel) Shahoveisi at fsh@umd.edu or call 3014054355 if you have any questions.

CLICK FOR SURVEY AND TO SHARE YOUR INPUT: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1y27OqGd5Y6D35iylA_CifSv_lEkd9Q17j_zcrSYU1hY/edit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Roanoke, Virginia— W.S. Connelly & Company (“WSC”) and Walker Supply (“WSI”), leading providers of seed,  fertilizer, and plant protection solutions, announced today the merger of both companies. WSI and WSC will begin  integrating business operations in the months to follow, however, both companies will maintain their brand equity in  the marketplace and continue to deliver on exceeding customer and supplier expectations.  

“We celebrate this new milestone today as we formally join these two independently owned and operated companies,” Kevin Connelly comments. “As we went through the due diligence process, it is the culture of each company that  excites us most. This partnership will be most successful because we share the same passion to serve both our staff  and customers. Simply put, we are merging two incredible family driven businesses.”  

For over 30 years, WSI has delivered some of the most innovative and successful T&O solutions, growing to a  household name in the golf, lawn care, and sports turf industries. Keith Perl, Mike Sekula, and Bob Windsheimer, owners of WSI had the vision to create a true family driven business. WSI drove the market as a locally owned and  operated supply house. By merging with WSC, WSI will continue to operate independently, yet will draw on decades  of experience to push the boundaries of service, innovation and customer-focused solutions. 

Bob Windsheimer, owner of WSI states: “Our obsession with customer service led us to look for additional partners  in the industry. WSC is a natural fit for WSI to continue our path towards growth and customer focus. Being a part of  this family owned business allows our employees to have access to better opportunities. By combining our business  strengths, we will provide our customers a one-stop shop with over ten acres of warehouse space and a family of team  members passionately focused on earning our customer’s trust.”  

*** 

About W.S. Connelly & Company, Inc.  

Founded in the 1950s as a simple feed ‘n’ seed business, W.S. Connelly expanded across the decades to parent  multiple companies, all serving the agriculture and professional green industries. While the family business model is  increasingly rare in today’s business world, it is a third generation, family-owned and operated business. Through  years of hard-work this humble business has grown into one of the most well-respected turf, ornamental and  construction supply businesses in the country. 

About Walker Supply, Inc.  

Walker Supply Inc. is proud to have serviced turf and ornamental markets with quality products and  professional services for more than 30 years. Walker Supply is committed to providing customers with  dedicated service, product expertise, and local agronomic insight. Walker’s solution driven model has  proven to set the industry standard when it comes to agronomy planning, logistical service, and business  partnerships. 

The University of Maryland has officially announced the long awaited Turfgrass Pathologist for the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. 

Following is the official announcement to the University and industry professionals from Professor and Chair, Dr. John Erwin.

Thank you for everyone involved in this processes as I am sure we are excited to see what the future will hold for the Turfgrass Industry. 

Fereshteh Shahoveisi to Join PSLA as the New Turfgrass Pathologist

Dr. Shahoveisi will be joining our department by May 1.  She will be accompanied by her husband, Seyedali Hosseinirad.  Seyedali is currently finishing his PhD at NDSU in wheat breeding and will be joining Dr. VJ Tiwari’s research program in our department as a postdoc after graduation.

Dr. Shahoveisi is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Plant Pathology at North Dakota State University (NDSU).  She received her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Plant Pathology from Tehran University and her PhD in Plant Pathology from NDSU.  She also holds a College Teaching Certificate.  Her thesis title was “Characterizing genetics of host resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and epidemiology of the disease in Brassica napus L.”  In addition to her strong plant pathology background, she brings unique expertise in epidemiology statistics and nematology to our department. She has taught coursework in both Plant Pathology and Plant Disease Epidemiology. She has published in several refereed scientific journals, written extension bulletins, and has given numerous scientific and extension presentations.  She has worked on various issues in plant pathology across a wide range of plant species, including grasses, on different continents.

Other areas of expertise/areas of interest Dr. Shahoveisi has include a) statistical analyses (using multiple software including R and SAS), b) conducting Verticillium wilt disease field trials for NDSU and companies such as Bayer and Syngenta including field map proofing, assessment of temporal disease progress, processing the samples, conducting qPCR assays, and statistical analyses, c) analyzing sequencing data and conducting genetic (QTL) mapping studies including GWAS and bi-parental mapping, d) conducting population genetic analyses on black dot disease of potato to study the emergence and adaptation of the pathogen in different continents, and evaluating the application of image processing and deep learning in the detection of plant diseases using rust disease as a model, and e) advising the scientific team of SafteySpect Inc. in plant disease management practices and co-investigator in SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Phase I proposals to study the application of UVB and UVC lights along with machine learning algorithms (CSI-D+ technology) in the detection and management of plant diseases. 

The great work of the Turfgrass Pathology Search Committee needs to be acknowledged.  They did an exceptional job attracting a number of great candidates, organizing a search process and presenting a thorough evaluation of candidates and summation of input that they received.  Thanks to all those that participated in the department.  

I would also like to thank the Dean for approving the refilling of this position and participating in the search process (as well as the Associate Deans).  The Turfgrass industries also need to be acknowledged for their longstanding support of UMD and their participation in the search process.  I am sure Fereshteh will be a welcome addition to the turfgrass team.

John Erwin

Professor and Chair

Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

(We grow the food you eat and design the landscapes we live in.)

University of Maryland - College Park

Register Here

Topic: Brood X: Billions of cicadas may be coming soon to trees near you

Description

Billions of cicadas may be coming soon to trees near you! One of the largest groups of 17-year cicadas, Brood X, last emerged from underground in 2004. The next generation will begin arriving in April 2021.

Join W.S. Connelly Companies and Stanton Gill; University of Maryland's IPM and Entomologist to learn how one of the largest broods of 17-year cicadas will emerge from underground in a dozen states, from New York west to Illinois and south into northern Georgia.

These events raise many questions for entomologists and the public alike. What do cicadas do underground for 13 or 17 years? What do they eat? Why are their life cycles so long? Why are they synchronized? And is climate change affecting this wonder of the insect world?

Time

May 4, 2021 02:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Attention All Members of the MTC,

It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the passing of Eugene "Gene" Bowie Roberts, Jr. (October 16, 1939 - April 18, 2020).

Gene was honored to have been involved in the Maryland Turfgrass Association representing Fairwood Turf Farm, serving the entire turfgrass industry as a member of the Maryland Turfgrass Council Board as a Directors, and was one of the early Turfgrass Representatives on the Maryland Agriculture Commission.
As a member of what ever organization he was involved in, Gene always provide an insightful and beneficial decisions, thoughts and actions.
Gene was a good friend to the Turfgrass industry and was friends with his fellow Turfgrass Professionals, even his competition.

A small private family service is planned for Tuesday, April 28. A "Celebration of Life" will occur once it is safe together.

Condolences by e-mail may be sent to Gene's lovely wife Lynn Roberts at Antiquelynn@hotmail.com Or his daughter Anne C.B. Roberts at anne.cb.roberts@gmail.com

Cards and U.S. Mail can be sent to 4700 Old Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Vernon

Vernon W. Cooper

Turfgrass Agronomist

Executive Director, MTC

Maryland Turfgrass Council

303 S. Talbot St.  #389

St. Michaels, MD 21663

410-745-9643 office/home

410-745-8867 fax

443-742-6618 cell

ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com

www.MDTurfCouncil.org

Maryland Department of Agriculture

For official updates on the state’s response to COVID-19, please visit governor.maryland.gov/coronavirus/.

A full list of current executive orders and interpretive guidance is available at: governor.maryland.gov/covid-19-pandemic-orders-and-guidance/.

Dear Maryland Turfgrass Council Members,

By now I am sure everyone has been effected in some way or another by the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Many of us in Maryland have had businesses closed, hiring freezes for employees, and revenue reduced by the government mandated quarantine. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who is effected both directly and indirectly by the Coronavirus.

Unfortunately, the MTC and University of MD combined Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator Recertification class scheduled for March 27 at MDA has been postponed due to concerns for everyone’s health and Governor Hogan’s directives and closures. We have tentatively rescheduled this class to occur on Friday, May 15 at the Maryland Department of Agriculture. If the emergency crisis is still active at that time, we will postpone once again and find the next logical date.

Governor Hogan has declared a 30-day grace period after the crisis ends to complete all Professional Licenses. That is not a long period of time considering the number of license holders that must recertify; thus we are trying to stay proactive by scheduling recertification class dates so you can plan accordingly. 

The May 15^th Recertification class has a maximum capacity of 100 people which we hope you can attend. We will also be offering a recertification class on June 26^th at the Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Farm (maximum 30 people) and on August 19^th at the Talbot Agriculture and Education Center in Easton Maryland. 

We hope that everyone remains safe while we work through the Coronavirus epidemic.

Sincerely,

Ben Ellis

Maryland Turfgrass Council, President

 

Turfgrass Professionals,

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) has recently received grant funding from the American Association of Community Colleges to establish a Landscape Management Technician Apprentice Program. Over the next three years, AACC has committed to partner with local and regional landscaping, nursery, lawn care, and greenhouse wholesale and retail employers to train 150 new and incumbent workers for a career in the industry and we are actively recruiting businesses to:

•    Provide recommendations during the curriculum development process;

•    Refer and enroll current employees in the apprenticeship program; and

•    Provide paid apprenticeship opportunities for program participants.

Apprentices will receive 200+ hours of training at no cost to them or their employer. However, employers will be required to pay a materials fee of approximately $400 for each participant. Employers will also commit to paying participants an apprentice wage while they are actively working during the apprenticeship. 

Join us on Thursday, November 14th at 11:00 am for a webinar to learn how you can become involved in this exciting opportunity. Please register for the webinar at https://bit.ly/2JopPr9. 

I look forward to meeting you on November 14th.

Thanks,

Dawn Carter

AACC’s Landscape Management Technician Apprenticeship Program website: https://bit.ly/2VKwMaI

 

Dawn D. Carter, PMP

Director, Strategic Initiatives

School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development

Anne Arundel Community College

101 College Parkway, CALT 116

Arnold, MD 21012

Office: 410-777-2928

Fax: 410-777-4928

Email: ddcarter@aacc.edu

Wor-Wic Community College is offering Concepts of Turfgrass Management. 

Continuing Education and Workforce Development

Wor-Wic Community College

32000 Campus Drive

Salisbury, MD 21804

www.worwic.edu