This is the topic for most of the blogs I have read lately and for good reason. The winter of 2014 was one for the record books and one we hope not to repeat or break anytime soon.
The MiGCSA is doing all we can to help provide direction and support for our members on this issue. It started in the Spring with the Ice & Recovery Seminar at Oakland Hills and will bookend with the Winter Preparation Seminar at Franklin Hills next week on October 23rd. This summer the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (MTF) purchased a cold weather growth chamber that should be installed this fall. The MSU Turf Team will now be able to conduct research all year in a controlled environment and hopefully find some best practices to prevent or mitigate the damage from ice over. Dr Emily Merewitz has started a crowd funding campaign for individuals to help fund research on this issue as well, a great example of the forward thinking from MSU and the commitment of the Turf Team to researching this problem. If you want to donate to this research you can go to https://experiment.com/projects/research-to-improve-turfgrass-survival-of-winterkill-damage.
We all hope for a mild winter with beautiful turf in the spring and a summer of normal maintenance. But please know there are many people working together in Michigan to find solutions to this issue so when the winter turns on us again we will have some ways to fight. Thank you to all who have supported the MiGCSA this year by attending our fundraisers, meetings and by being members. You have helped support a great community dedicated to providing value to our members through programs and services that enhance and promote our profession.
