Turf Scouting Report, November 18th

Snow Is Up Next: Weekly Updates Conclude, Winter Conferences and Education Begins and Tim ends by saying "Winter Research Project" 

Chicago/Northern Illinois Update: Derek Settle -

It's cold. In a week we saw nights drop to 20˚ F, their lowest yet on Sunshine Course. We've now stopped field scouting as the growing season has ended. The basis of the weekly Scouting Report is to keep superintendents abreast of what we see and do. In 2011 we wrote a total of 36 reports which ran from 18 Mar to 18 Nov. Diagnostics: Using an education with an emphasis on plant pathology I said things like Tufts, Rings, Spots, Patches and in this difficult summer I said Kitchen Sink. Research: Some E=MC2 (energy is equal to mass times the speed of light squared). Actually, it's just turf but it is complicated and can be diffiucult to understand as it encompasses genetics, plant science, entomology, plant pathology, weed science, and plant physiology. This year some of what Tim had to say included, Agrostis stolonifera, Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Festuca arundinacea, Digetaria spp., Zoysia japonica, Sclerotinia homoecarpa, Rhizoctonia solani, Waitea circinata var. circintata, Sclerophthora macrocarpa, and Photorespiration. Weather: We look at weather daily to understand effects on pest development, plant physiology and overall environmental conditions. I said things like ET, High T, Low T, Soil T, Inches, and in this growing season I said Flood. We're about to say Snow and so the Scouting Reports now conclude. Thank you for your support in 2011 as we really needed it. P.S. Enjoy your holidays! 

Click here to view the November 18, 2011 Scouting Report. 

Even though it was difficult...we enjoyed another growing season. I hope you did too! 

Derek Settle, PhD 
Director of Turfgrass Program 
630-685-2307
dsettle@cdga.org 
Weather Blog 

Timothy A. Sibicky, MS 
Manager of Turfgrass Research 
630-685-2310 
tsibicky@cdga.org 
Research Blog