New Mexico, USA
October 9, 2014

New Mexico State University is hosting the 2014 Southwest Turfgrass Association conference where participants will learn how to keep their landscape and turf areas healthy in the dry Southwest climate. The event will be held Oct. 27-29 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Albuquerque.

“At this year’s conference, we will show landscape and turf managers and golf course superintendents how to maintain their turf and how to address problems that can occur not only on turf but also on trees and shrubs,” said Bernd Leinauer, NMSU professor and turfgrass specialist. “With the conference in Albuquerque, we particularly focus on the role and benefits of green spaces in urban areas and selected speakers and topics that are going to show participants the various aspects on how to keep their turf and all other landscape plants healthy.”

A highlight of this year’s conference will be the keynote presentation of Panayiotis Nektarios, from the Agricultural University in Athens, Greece. He will talk about urban green spaces in arid climates and will discuss if it makes sense to plant and maintain such areas when water is a precious resource. As one of the world’s leading experts on green roofs for arid environments, Nektarios will also talk about about plant selection, design and maintenance of green roofs.

The conference will open Monday with a golf tournament at Paako Ridge Golf Course. On Tuesday, Jon Boren, associate dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, and Mark Chavez, president of the Southwest Turfgrass Association, will provide welcoming remarks.

Mike Kenna from the United States Golf Association will receive the Arden Baltensperger Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the USGA Green Section Research. Scholarships will be awarded to students as well.

The conference will also have a trade show on Oct. 28 and 29 and lunch will be provided both days. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to a variety of presentations that cover a broad range of topics, which include landscape plants water use, irrigation of xeric plants, basic irrigation design, urban tree problems and tree myths, green roofs, putting green management, sand for bunkers, an update on insect problems, new herbicides for weed control, and chemicals that aid in drought tolerance, sprayer calibration and turfgrass fertilization.

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture are offering general pesticide applicator continuing education units for the conference. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America will also offer credits.

The goal of the SWTA is to provide high-quality educational programs on turfgrass and landscape management. The association also supports the NMSU turfgrass program and provides scholarships for students and research funds for faculty to help sustain the green industry.

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of an auxiliary aid or service to participate, contact Mary Curtis at 575-646-1715.

Registration is required to participate. There are different fees for participation depending on how much of the conference is attended. To register for the conference, or for more information, go to www.southwestturfgrass.com or call Mary Curtis at 575-646-1715.

Website: http://www.nmsu.edu

Published: October 9, 2014