Contact Us!
Jim Nix
Executive Director, AGSA Inc.
571 Willow Avenue, Unit 1
New Glasgow, NS B2H 2A1
(902) 483-5931
1967agsa@gmail.com
Topic:
Turf Disease Management in the era of reduced fungicide use.
Description:
The increasing restrictions on the use of conventional
synthetic fungicides show a need for effective alternatives. Some of
these alternatives include cultural controls, low-risk products,
biological control agents, and activated resistance against diseases.
Attend this seminar to learn about viable strategies for turf disease
management with reduced use of conventional fungicides, and to assess if
you would suffer withdrawal symptoms. This presentation will also
provide application rates and safety information of some of the
alternatives.
Topic:
Wholistic Greenkeeping
Description:
This seminar will delve into the complex relationship between having a successful career as a golf course Superintendent and a personal life filled with meaning and presence. We will discuss the following:
- The various pitfalls and traps that foster poor decision making and lead to burnout
- Ways to build resilience and promote well being
- How these factors influence one's leadership style
- How these factors in turn work to build a workplace culture that thrives.
This will be an interactive afternoon where the attendees will be encouraged to reflect on their own journeys, discuss themes in a group setting, and share if they feel comfortable doing so.
Topic:
The Bayer Necessities of Application 2.0
Description:
Efficacy Foundations 2.0. The curriculum will focus on how Superintendents can extract the most value out of the chemical component of their Integrated Pest Management programs. The content of the seminar is very comprehensive while being delivered at a grass roots level that is grounded in science. Participants will be introduced to Fungicide Phyto mobility, correct product placement with emphasis on understanding different formulation technologies and Buffer zone management. Tips and tricks will be shared with the goal to maximize efficacy of plant protection products in an environmentally responsible manner.
Topic:
What is golf architecture relative to improving your course
Description:
With two decades of experience working to improve aged courses, golf architect Jeff Mingay talks about how he sees/analyzes existing layouts relative to making recommendations for improvement. Jeff also explains how golf course superintendents can employ the same lense and criteria to determine what's required to genuinely make their own golf courses better. Jeff will discuss opportunities at the teeing areas and why short grass always trumps rough, while also explaining that sand bunkers are overrated and only trees in the right places are necessary.
Topic:
Sharing for Strength: What’s Working Around the Maritimes?
Description:
The best part of this industry is superintendents willingness to share information. As a sales representative, I get a unique opportunity to see successes, and sometimes failures, during my travels. This session will aim to share some of those stories with the hopes of helping attendees leave with some new ideas that they can put to use at their own facilities.
NS:
NL:
NB:
Topic:
Nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) fertilization strategies and considerations
Description:
Nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) fertilization strategies and considerations. Attendees will learn about the N cycle, fate of soil K, understanding different formulation chemistries and when to apply, including correct doses based on time of year. The seminar will focus on fall nutrient application strategies that offer increased turf vigor the following spring with less winter damage. In addition, pest interactions with these nutrients will be covered.
Topic:
Managing for soil biology in golf: Lessons learned over the years.
Description:
The biological approach to managing fine turf has been gaining momentum over the last few years. Taking theoretical concepts and applying them practically can sometimes be a challenge, with success not always being always a straight line. Alan will share the successes and setbacks he has seen out in the field, why he believes these things are happening, and what you can expect to see if you begin to implement some of these practices at your facility.
Topic:
Seed Supply Issues: Causes and where do we go?
Description:
Topic:
Back to the Basics: How to Optimize Your Fungicide Program
Description:
This talk will cover the primary aspects of developing a successful fungicide program by getting back to the basics. Fungicide programs can quickly become very complex with numerous products on the market and various disease management strategies to consider. Getting back to the basics of disease management with foundational principles like fungal biology and how fungicides work can simplify this process and help you optimize your fungicide applications and management strategies. This talk will also include other important components of building fungicide programs such as fungicide selection, target pathogen(s), application timing, pre- and post-application strategies, integrated pest management, and more.
Topic:
Alternative Approaches of Suppressing Microdochium patch
Description:
This presentation will cover the research performed by the Oregon State University team over the past decade to suppress Microdochium patch in the absence of traditional fungicides.
Topic:
Wetting agent chemistry for turfgrass management
Description:
Wetting agents (soil surfactants) have been a component of turfgrass management for several decades. After it was discovered that wetting agents improve water distribution though soil, wetting agent chemistries have been used to reduce hydrophobicity on golf greens, reduce water use in irrigation, distribute nutrients and pesticides, and reduce dew formation. During this presentation we discuss the chemistry behind wetting agents and how you should be using them for turfgrass management.
Topic:
Turfgrass Insects- Preparing for this year and beyond.
Description:
“The 2021 season revealed that insect management in turfgrass is changing rapidly. This presentation will briefly discuss factors driving this change and keys to identifying insect damage in turfgrass, specifically around white grubs, European cranefly, and annual bluegrass weevil, and their respective life cycles. Additional emphasis will focus on preventing damage through scouting and properly timed insecticide applications.”
Presentation Outline:
Topic:
Organic matter monitoring in golf greens
Description:
Topic:
Developing a holistic insect management plan for turf pests of the Maritimes
Description:
Atlantic Canada’s turf insect pest landscape has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. During this period, turfgrass managers have seen the arrival of annual bluegrass weevils and European chafers, as well as the resurgence of pests like leatherjackets (European crane flies), ants, and chinch bugs. Within the same period, the insecticide landscape has changed greatly as key active ingredients have been deregistered and the new ones discovered and developed. In this presentation, Dr Ben McGraw of Pennsylvania State University will provide a comprehensive overview of the most devastating turfgrass insect pests affecting golf courses in Atlantic Canada and their management. This presentation will emphasize the importance of understanding pest biology and ecology to identify weaknesses in pest lifecycles and develop strategies that will increase the turfgrass manager’s probability of successful control. An update on Penn State’s biological, biological, and chemical efficacy trials will be provided for each pest species or complex. Finally, we will examine what a year-long pest management strategy would look like from a budgetary standpoint, then look to see where multiple pests may be controlled simultaneously or where inputs may be reduced.
Objectives:
Topic:
New (and new-ish) chemical and biological insecticides for turf insect pests of the Maritimes
Description:
In this presentation, Ben McGraw, Ph.D., of Penn State University, will present an overview of some of the more recent chemical, biological, and biorational insecticide products that have become available in Canada. Several new reduced risk insecticides have been registered in the last few years, but still confusion remains surrounding their optimal use and target pests. The talk will focus on the use of these products for control of Atlantic Canada’s major pest complexes. The impact of these products on control programs as well as the latest research that is being conducted at Penn State University and other universities on these products will be discussed.
Specific objectives:
Topic:
Using Data to Guide Maintenance Decisions
Description:
New tools from the USGA leverage data and superintendent’s knowledge to help guide the decision-making process to help ensure timely applications for improved efficacy efficiency.
Topic:
New Trends in Cultivation
Description:
Cultivation is an often scrutinized process on golf courses. New tools and trends in this realm have given superintendents more options to maximize the effects of the process with less impact on the playing experience.
Topic:
Optimized fertilization for golf turf
Description:
This talk will talk about the latest research on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilization for golf turf. You'll walk away with a better understanding of how to use soil tests and clipping volume to make fertilizer decisions that maximize your functional goals while protecting the environment. We will also discuss the economics and performance of the many different fertilizer options available today.
Topic:
Soil organic matter measurement and management
Description:
This seminar will cover the fundamentals of measuring soil organic matter in putting green root zones, including some of the newer techniques like #OM246 and the methods that the USGA are working on. The seminar will also cover the latest research on sand topdressing and cultivation techniques that are used to manage soil organic matter in turfgrass root zones.
Topic:
Sports Field Seminar
Description:
Sports field managers provide a place to play. Safe and useful sports fields are crucial for children and building community. In conjunction with Sports Turf Canada, this half day seminar will provide methods for planning best management practices for maintaining natural sports fields including mowing, fertility and pest control. The seminar will also provide information about understanding the current inventory of sports fields and better understanding the management needs and use patterns of the current sports field inventory including a brief synopsis of the use of synthetic sports fields and their required management. The seminar is designed to be useful to managers, lead hands and sports field technicians giving them insight into how they can be more efficient at providing a safe place to play.
Topic:
Building Links - A look into equality, diversity & inclusion
Description:
Community agreements, level setting and context, opportunities to embed ED&I.
Intended Learning Outcomes:
Topic:
What is new at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute
Description:
In 2022 Guelph Turfgrass Institute held the grand opening of the new Frost Research Centre although research has been active at the site since 2020. The new facility and activities of the Guelph Turfgrass Institute will be highlighted. In addition, the research at the site will also be highlighted including information on new plant regulators for the Canadian market, the effects of wetting agents on new root zones, and new products and uses for existing products for weed control. The research will be delivered for best adoption of these new technologies to best management practices and integrated pest management programs.
Topic:
Biological Thatch Management: Can it really be done?
Description:
Why is thatch so challenging to break down, and is there scientific backing for methods that promote non-disruptive thatch degradation? This presentation delves into the complexities of thatch composition and explores research-driven strategies for a comprehensive and gentle approach to breaking down thatch, while maintaining playability and improving the soil ecosystem.
Topic:
Split Talk
Description:
“Importance of the quality of water that is being used in spray applications”
Water makes up over 95% of the solution that is being applied but is often overlooked. Why this is important, nutrient antagonisms that can arise and reduced efficacy of expensive inputs. As well as common issues found with pond or well water and how to improve it.
“All things carbon”: What is carbon, why its important to have it as part of your spray programs and what types of carbon to use and when. (soil applied vs foliar applications, time of year, nutritional applications vs pesticide applications)
Topic:
The Affect Heuristic / Pest Management Strategies / Maximizing your Control Intervals
Description:
The Affect Heuristic - The facts behind your Pesticide ban.
Objectives:
- Realize legislative purpose
- Identify the true risks of exposure
- Consider public perception
- Articulate poisoning data
- Approach forward
Pest Management Strategies
Purpose:
- Avoid incorrect pesticide application (misdiagnosis, ensure control)
- Avoid environmental risk
- Avoid turf loss
- Save money
Maximizing your Control Intervals
Topics:
- Equipment selection variables
- Type of application
- Formulations
- Rate risks and output
- Nozzles
- Technology advances
- Research update
Topic:
Golf Club Management - Trends, Metrics and Profits / ATRF New Turfgrass Research Update
Description:
Golf Club Management - Trends, Metrics and Profits
Objectives:
- Add value in the boardroom
- Contribute beyond maintenance department
- Understanding club profit centres
- Become active participants in the success of your club
ATRF New Turfgrass Research Update
Topic:
Developing fungicide programs that perform, manage fungicide resistance, and are environmentally sound!
Description:
This talk will center on how one thinks thru, plans, and then executes on a fungicide program to deliver high quality turfgrass surfaces while also being mindful to address fungicide resistance concerns and environmental safety concerns. This is no small task, and thinking about the season before you're in the thick of it can help you understand what you're trying to do when the going gets tough. Attendees will take away an appreciation for where the industry has gone with regards to fungicide development, how to problem solve and create high performing fungicide programs all while keeping mind fungicide resistance concerns and environmentally sound practices as part of a comprehensive agronomic management plan.
Topic:
Using modern golf data to inform how to employ agronomic practices for turfgrass performance.
Description:
This presentation will focus on data-driven developments that have occurred at the professional and amateur levels of playing this sport, and how these insights can be used to have conversations with your clientele regarding agronomic practices that need to be employed. Attendees will take away from this presentation how to consider data from the playing of the sport informs such practices as tree management, cultivation practices, and bunker management to name a few. We will also discuss how data on how we deliver these agronomic practices can be collected to further refine these processes.
Topic:
“Back from despair”, Hurricane Fiona cleanup and the changes at Abercrombie Golf club.
Description:
Some of the Tree removal work started at Abercrombie and the effect it had on the property as Hurricane Fiona hit the province in fall 2022. We will share some of the details of how the club responded to the occurrence and the impact of our tree removal program.
NB:
NS/NL:
T2419 _AGSA: Developing fungicide programs that perform, manage fungicide resistance, and are environmentally sound (Horvath):
3.0 points in Pest Management
T2420 _AGSA: The Affect Heuristic-The facts behind Pesticide Bans/Pest Management Strategies/ Maximizing your Control Intervals:
0.5 points in Environmental
0.5 points in Pest Management
1.0 points in Application Technology
Topic:
Winterkill: Lessons Learned for Mitigating Damage, Reestablishing Greens, and Current WinterTurf Research Efforts.
Description:
This presentation will focus on factors that cause winterkill, cultural practices such as fertilizer applications, sand topdressing, mowing height, core aeration, and the use of covers to minimize or prevent winterkill, and reestablishment techniques following winterkill. Preparing turf for winter extremes is a critical component to the golf course IPM program as a healthy turfgrass stand is more resistant to pest pressures the following year than a turf that has been weakened by winterkill injury. An update on the WinterTurf research project will provide attendees with the current state of knowledge on winterkill on cool-season turfgrass and describe novel approaches that are being used to identify new solutions to reduce winter stress injury.
Topic:
Comparing Soil Testing Philosophies: SLAN vs. MLSN
Description:
There are several different soil testing philosophies that are used to make nutrient recommendations for turfgrass. Sufficiency Level of Available Nutrients (SLAN) is the oldest and most established method for determining fertilizer recommendations but due to its foundation in agriculture is often criticized as being out of touch with modern turfgrass performance objectives. The Minimum Levels for Sustainable Nutrition (MLSN) method is a newer philosophy that aims to match fertilizer recommendations with turfgrass growth and performance. Research comparing the effects of nutrient recommendations from both methods on annual bluegrass and putting greens over 3 years will be presented.
Topic:
Soil, air, water and BMP
Description:
The past 30 years turfgrass management has changed considerably due in relatively equally parts to increased technology, research results, and pressure from environmental activists. Over that time period we have transitioned from IPM, to sustainability, to BMP. This class will equally cover the growth and decay of pesticides, fertilizers, golf course mechanical and cultural practices with equal focus on the past, present, and future.
Topic:
The Top 10 Reasons to Lightweight Roll?
Description:
Topic:
The Art of Application
Description:
Attendees will gain valuable information on how the topics of sprayer setup, nozzle choice, weather conditions, chemistry choice/formulation, and mixing practices can impact the effectiveness of their overall preventative pest management programs. Value adding tools such as the WALES mixing sequence, SpotOn calibrators, the use of water sensitive paper, and others will be explored/demonstrated. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the proper steps, decision making, and hardware setups, ensuring they experience the greatest level of success with applied products in the field.”
Topic:
Nematode induced damage and the “Trio”
Description:
This seminar offers an in-depth exploration of nematode induced damage and diseases in Canadian golf courses. Inspired by research from Dr. Jim Kerns and Dr. Billy Crow, nematode induced diseases are more common in cool-season grasses than previously known. Leveraging the latest research and advancements in plant microbiology, participants will gain insights into the critical role of plant health in combating patch and pythium diseases that can co-occur after nematode damage. Attendees will see microscopic visuals of nematodes in plant crowns and roots, the diseases they induce, and finally how to break the yearly cycle of damage. The course will also address compounding factors that contribute to disease, guiding attendees toward effective solutions for improving plant health and reducing disease breakthrough. Emphasis will be placed on the vital connection between nematodes and disease and how to recognize it.