Ontario Turfgrass Symposium

Registration is now open!

OTS 2020 Highlights

James McCurdy, assistant professor and turfgrass extension specialist, Mississippi State University, speaking about:

Natural and Native Roughs
Improving Sod Harvest Characteristics and Shelf-Life

Ross Baron, head groundskeeper, Vancouver Canadians, speaking about:

Managing the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Field at Nat Bailey Stadium
Seasonal Management and Repair of Baseball Infields

Schedule at a Glance

News & Updates

Registration for OTS 2020 is now open.

Follow our OpenEd Twitter feed and the Guelph Turfgrass Institute Twitter feed for OTS updates.

Wednesday, February 19

General Sessions: 8 to 9:15 a.m.

Welcome - Cam Shaw, Guelph Turfgrass Institute
Harnessing the Power of Bio-Technology in Turfgrass Management - Dr. Nancy Xiao, Ferti Technologies

Break: 9:15 to 9:30 a.m.

Lunch n' Learn Session: 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.

New Product and Development Research at the GTI - Dr. Eric Lyons and John Watson, Guelph Turfgrass Institute

Concurrent Sessions:

Time Slot	GOLF (Room 1)	LAWN CARE (Room 2)	SPORTS/RECREATION FACILITIES (Room 3)
9:30-9:45 a.m.	Golf Update	PLCAO Update	Sports Turf Canada & Ontario Recreation Facilities Association Update
9:50-10:50 a.m.	Strategies to Manage Organic Matter on Golf Course Playing Surfaces Zach Nicoludis, USGA	Using Biology to Help Manage Tough to Control Landscape Weeds Francois Tardif, University of Guelph	Overcoming Obstacles in the Municipal Environment Dave Boehmer, City of Guelph
11 a.m. -12 p.m.	Velocity: Not Just an Herbicide Aaron Hathaway, Nufarm	Building an Effective Fertility Program Mark Schneider, Nutrite	A Look at Managing the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Field at Nat Bailey Stadium Ross Baron, Vancouver Canadians Professional Baseball Club
1:30-2:30 p.m.	Using PGR’s to Maintain Quality Creeping Bentgrass Playing Surfaces and Suppress Poa annua Zach Nicoludis, USGA	The Importance of Maintaining Soil Health in Turf Management Dr. Katerina Jordan and Vighnesh Sukhu, University of Guelph	Seasonal Management and Repair of Baseball Infields Ross Baron, Vancouver Canadians Professional Baseball Club
2:45-3:45 p.m.	Turf Disease Management in the Era of Reduced Fungicides Dr. Tom Hsiang, University of Guelph	Tips and Tricks to Survive 37 Years as an Independent Landscape Maintenance Contractor James Walke, Total Gardening Services	Permitting Hours: How Much Play is too Much? Bet Smith and Pam Charbonneau, DCS Consultants

Networking and Social at The Bullring Pub: 3:45 to 6 p.m.

After Conference Gathering at The Shakespeare Arms: 6 p.m. - All welcome!

Thursday, February 20

General Sessions: 8 to 9 a.m.

Sustainable Insect Management Strategies in Turf - Albrecht Koppenhofer, Rutgers University

Break: 9 to 9:15 a.m.

Lunch n' Learn Session: 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.

Natural and Native Turf for Roughs and Parks - James McCurdy, Rutgers University

Concurrent Sessions:

Time Slot

GOLF
(Room 1)

LAWN CARE
(Room 2)

SPORTS/RECREATION FACILITIES
(Room 3)

NURSERY SOD
(Room 4)

9:15-10:15 a.m.

What’s Old is New Again – A Modern Take on Traditional Greenkeeping at Otter Creek Golf Club

Randy Brooker, Otter Creek Golf Club

New Developments and Innovations for Fiesta

Kate Marois, Neudorff NA

Hybrid Turf Installation at BMO Field: One Year Review

Rob Heggie, BMO Hybrid Field Installation

Fostering a Relationship with Soil

Alan Dolick, Lawn Life: Natural Turf Products

10:30-11:30 a.m.

Green Rebuilding for Success

Bill Green, Cutten Fields Golf Club

TWCA Certified Grasses for Lawn Care

Jack Karlin, Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance

Turf Cricket – To Be or Not to Be

Chris Chappell, The Cricket Guy

Improving Sod Harvest Characteristics and Shelf-Life

Jay McCurdy, Mississippi State University

1:30-2:30 p.m.

Sustainable Management of ABW in View of Insecticide Resistance Issues

Albrecht Koppenhofer, Rutgers University

Whats the deal with Endophytes?

Cam Shaw, University of Guelph

Synthetic Turf Repairs

Cam Lawrie, University of Guelph

Recognition and Management of Common Diseases in Sod Production

Dr. Tom Hsiang, University of Guelph

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Sprayers: An Ounce of Prevention, Acres of Cure!

Frank Furdan, Allturf Precision Technologies

Compost Teas and Extracts

Alan Dolick, Lawn Life: Natural Turf Products

TWCA Certified Grasses for Sports Fields, Public Use and Park Areas

Jack Karlin, Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance

Partnerships in Soil Health for Sod Producers

Karen Jacobs, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA)

Previous Program Schedules

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About the Ontario Turfgrass Symposium (OTS)

Designed for turfgrass professionals—in partnership with Sports Turf Canada, Ontario Recreation Facilities Association, Nursery Sod Growers Association, Professional Lawn Care Association of Ontario, and the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation—the annual Ontario Turfgrass Symposium (OTS) is hosted by the Guelph Turfgrass Institute at the University of Guelph, an international leader in the turf sciences.

Take advantage of a great opportunity to grow as a turfgrass professional, network with colleagues in the turf profession, and expand your expertise. Attend a variety of high-quality sessions focusing on the areas of sports turf, recreational facilities, lawn care, golf course, and nursery sod.

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