1. How to Plan & Implement IPM at your Facility Building a document for sustainable golf course management
2. The Green Movement is here to stay Green Building Green Green Solutions Greening Going Green Green Technology Green Initiatives
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7. Step 1. Goal Setting Environmental Description Target Completion Actual Completion Complete water quality tests from at least 3 sources 7/1/2011 Run air hose to wash area to blow equipment versus washing 5/1/2011 Audubon re-certification 3/1/2011 Create pesticide container recycling program 5/1/2011
I couldn’t decide on a picture for the title slide so I just threw this in as filler. If you have a good picture worthy of the cover we’ll go with that.
So why did we choose to discuss this topic. Well, the “Green” movement has been hard to escape. It seems that you notice it everywhere you turn and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. As an example consider the use of the word “Green”. Each year Lake Superior State University publishes a list of the most used and abused words and phrases that they feel should be banished from the English language. In 2009 “Green” and “Going-green” received the most nominations. In case your interested the 2010 list includes: shovel-ready, transparency, czar, tweet, app, sexting, “friend” as a verb, teachable moment, in these economic times, stimulus, toxic assets, too big to fail, bromance, chillaxin, Obama-prefix or roots… Obamanomics, Obamanation, Obamafication, Obamacare, Obamalicious, Obamaland, and Obamanough.
IPM promotes the use of more than one approach to manage pests at acceptable levels. IPM in a turfgrass setting uses a strategy of adapted grasses, cultural practices, and management strategies (i.e. treating curatively at times, or only treating high “in play” areas) to control pests. Obviously, the goal of the program is to reduce the overall use of pesticides on golf courses.
So how can you get started with an IPM program at your facility? The Environmental Institute for Golf recently finished and released an IPM planning guide that guides you through the process of developing and implementing an IPM plan at your facility. And best of all its free!
Other goals are agronomic (topdress greens weekly), budgetary (in-house construction), and other (update to a smartphone)
Visit a website with 30 year weather history and punch numbers into the form. Growth potential is the projection of turf growth, anything under 50% is considered under stress. Nitrogen requirements are tabulated for you based on the data entered.
Organize plan into logical groups, identify risks and reduce impact by treating those areas, identify sensitive areas like water bodies, enhance communication
Complete a worksheet for each management zone, identify key pests then determine the best practices and products to manage them
Plan based on science and logic including climate, pests, turf growth and golf play. Blue print for planning and organizing budgets, purchases, applications, and used as a communication tool to explain the science and logic behind your management plan to your staff, ownership, golfers and public.
Not required but helpful in selecting products and practices. Estimate and compare costs of applications easily. Keep records and total yearly costs per management zone.
Key pest
Key pest: Moss
9 white green
I thought this slide could provoke some discussion on a plan of action that can be taken once the conference is over and people find themselves back at their facility. Obviously the program is not mandatory, but it could be well worth the time and effort both for the facility and individual to invest in an IPM plan. Being able to plan and implement an IPM program could be a huge advantage professionally, especially moving forward in today’s world.
See an exponential growth in environmental laws and regulation in 1970s and 80s. IRS tax codes – a life of their own… needed, yes, some, some not, some redundant – Reinventing EPA/regs Gore This rings true for Golf Courses – GCSAA legal help desk site examples…
My plan is to remove most of the test from this slide but I left it here for now to study from. I agree that it might be a good idea to make the audience aware of the type of restrictions Canada is currently facing.