Virginia Turf

01/10/2026

The obituary for Dr. R.E. "Dick" Schmidt.

07/23/2024

The 2024 Goatley Rules Golf tournament is part of our Turfgrass Research Field Day events and takes place at the Virginia Tech Golf Course at 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon, August 26. This tournament is designed to challenge both your sensibilities and capabilities, but also to hopefully make you and your golfing partners smile while tackling each of the holes. Register for GRG, the Happy Hour and Welcome Reception and the Turfgrass Research Field Day at https://givebutter.com/VT-FieldDay-Blacksburg.

07/20/2024

The 2024 VT Turfgrass Research Field Day is Tuesday morning, August 27 at the Turfgrass Research Center in Blacksburg. Come see the latest in applied and basic research that will impact your jobs in the turfgrass industry both now and in the future. 'Goatley Rules Golf' is at 3 pm at the VT Golf Course on Monday, August 26 (all proceeds support operations of the Turf Center... come see this year's new event developed by Dr. Askew!), and the Welcome Reception Happy Hour and Dinner is at VT Holtzman Alumni Center at 6 pm that evening. Register here:

Click on Donate & Tickets to register for the Annual Turfgrass Field Day

10/04/2023

The 2023 Virginia Turfgrass Road Shows are a collaborative effort between the VT Turfgrass Team, the Virginia Turfgrass Council, and the Virginia Cooperative Extension. We bring the educational program to YOU! Our fall educational programs will be held on Wednesday Nov. 8 at the Olde Dominion Ag Complex in Chatham and Thursday Nov 9 a the SW Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon. Interested sponsors - there is dedicated time in the educational program for vendors to meet with attendees. Lots of CEUs available for Va and surrounding states. No charge for VTC members; all others, only $50 (lunch included with your registration). Come meet the team on tour in your area! More information and registration directions at:

09/02/2023

Thanks to the Old Dominion GCSA for offering a scholarship to the VT Turfgrass School of Turfgrass Ecology & Mgt. For any golf course turfgrass manager that meets ODGCSA application criteria, a link to the application is listed here:

https://t.co/f2lS4sJet6

And VT-STEM is certainly not just for golf turf managers. The School is an affordable way for employers from any area of the turfgrass industry to invest in employees that wish to advance on their jobs and careers.

If you have more questions about VT-STEM contact Mike Goatley at goatley@vt.edu or Dan Sandor at dsandor@vt.edu. Registration is available at the link below:

https://t.co/9u3aTTa7vQ

08/03/2023

The Virginia Tech Turf Team in Blacksburg celebrates 50 years of research at the Turfgrass Research Center at 615 Southgate Drive, Blacksburg in 2023. Goatley Rules Golf ($50 per head; 9-hole event at the VT campus Golf Course) and Happy Hour/Welcome Banquet (free for everyone that registers) takes place on afternoon/evening of Aug 28; Field Day tours for all industry groups happens the morning of Aug 29 at the TRC! Come join the Virginia Turf team to see the latest in turfgrass research, meet old friends, and make new ones on Tuesday morning, August 29. Please spread the word and help Virginia Turf make this one of our largest Field Days in years!

07/11/2023

The VT Turfgrass Team celebrates its 50th Anniversary Turfgrass Research Field Day on campus on August 28-29. The festivities begin at 3 p.m. on Monday August 28 with the 9-hole Goatley Rules Golf challenge at the VT Golf Course, a fun golfing event to test your technique, strategy, and temperament on the golf course with a variety of shots and situations you only get in GRG ($50 per person for golf). The golf is followed by our evening Happy Hour and Dinner at the Holtzman Alumni Hall on campus at 6:30 (FREE to all registered attendees and sponsors). Field research tours for all segments of the turfgrass industry (golf, sports turf, lawn care, sod production, grounds management etc.) take place at the Turfgrass Research Center (615 Southgate Drive), with registration, breakfast and vendor engagement from 7-9 on August 29 (field tours begin at 9 a.m.). Lunch is included with your field day registration AND the price is only $10 per attendee. Come to meet old friends, make new ones, and see the latest in turfgrass research from the entire VT Turfgrass Team.

Register at https://aimsbbis.vt.edu/turffieldday23.

07/10/2023

BEETLEMANIA! Summer heat & moisture has ramped up the emergence of beetles in lawns all across the mid-Atlantic. Is treatment necessary now (or later) & if so, what are best control options? VT Entomologist Alejandro Del Pozo () joined me in this Virginia Cooperative Extension publication:

05/23/2023

Green Industry Colleagues: please share this announcement for the position of Consumer Horticulture Specialist & Extension Master Gardener Program Director in the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, VT School of Plant and Environmental Sciences:

Apply now Back to search results Job no: 525759 Work type: Administrative & Professional Senior management: Agriculture & Life Sciences Department: School of Plant & Environmental Sci Location: Blacksburg, Virginia Categories: Agriculture / Life Science

02/24/2023

Annual Bluegrass Weevil is already active in Blacksburg in February... yes, you read that right: February! Going to be an interesting year for ABW activity for all of our golf course superintendents.

12/09/2022

It's a (w)rap for the Virginia Cooperative Extension 'Calling Dr. Turf' video series. Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Professor and Extension Turfgrass W**d Specialist Shawn Askew joins Mike Goatley and Prescription Soil and Plant Nutrient Management's Tim Fennel in "PPE and Me". Personal Protective Equipment use in pesticide applications & equipment operation is explained. "You know me... I am down with the PPE." https://youtu.be/kCm-8yLYIRg

"Calling Dr. Turf" is a series of training videos developed by the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Team detailing a variety of best management practices (BMPs) in la...

12/08/2022

Episode 7 of the Virginia Cooperative Extension "Calling Dr. Turf" series is "Don't Waste Water", with lawn irrigation & water management tips. Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Collegiate Assistant Professor Dan Sandor appears as Dr. Turf with supporting role played by Virginia Turf Research Center Manager John Hinson.

"Calling Dr. Turf" is a series of training videos developed by the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Team detailing a variety of best management practices (BMPs) in la...