Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Guide |
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| Recommended resources for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources |
Web Links: Turfgrass
Australian Resources
Turfgrass Association of Australia
The Turfgrass Association of Australia (TGAA) website provides information on the aims and objectives of the national body, a calendar of events and current research. The links to related websites are not easy to access because the directory is not labelled but there are numerous links to websites for Australian and international associations, turf distributors, chemicals, education, equipment, horticulture overseas, irrigation, machinery, seed and research. There are links to each state association for membership details, a calendar of events and learning opportunities and policies adopted by TGAA.
Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association
A site developed by the Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association (AGCSA). The Association publishes the Australian Turfgrass Management (AGCSA) journal and provides access to full text articles with photographs, tables and figures from Volume 1 onwards. Subjects include technical information, industry news and events, profiles on turfgrass managers, critical appraisals of new products and services, and general information to help improve professional recognition and employment. A link is provided to positions vacant and advertisements for positions wanted within the industry. There is also a link to AGCSATech the self-funding division of the AGCSA.
Millers Turf Supplies
This commercial site is aimed at householders and professionals. There is an advisory guide covering new lawn, lawn grass varieties, lawn care, problems, repair and miscellany.
Golf and Sports Turf Australia
Golf and Sports Turf Australia is a specialist publication aimed at bringing expert, technical information to professionals in the turf grass industry ranging from high-powered leisure to civic institutions. The article archive dates from 2000 onwards. The website provides publication information, a calendar of events and links to suppliers.
Australian Cultivar Registration Authority
The Australian Cultivar Registration Authority (ACRA) is a committee formed by representatives of each of the State botanic gardens, the Society for Growing Australian Plants, and the Nursery Industry Association of Australia. The office is manned chiefly by volunteers and is located at the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) in Canberra. The website provides a list of registered cultivars and guidelines for naming them. There is also information about Australian Plant Breeder's Rights (PBR) and links to the PBR database and related websites.
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the national registration authority for agricultural and veterinary chemicals. The APVMA operates the national system that evaluates, registers and regulates agricultural and veterinary chemicals. Assessment of new, changed or old products ensure that the product is safe for people, animals and the environment and will be acceptable to trade with other nations. The website provides all the necessary registration information, permits and online services as well as news and media releases. There are links to chemical databases, related organisations, veterinary medicine, agriculture, pesticides, chemistry and plant resources. The APVMA was formerly known as the National Registration Authority.
International Resources
Sports Turf Research Institute
The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) is an independent turfgrass research and advisory organisation. Their research and trials facilities provide a wide range of services to clients in the UK, Ireland and other countries. Consultancy services are provided to over 2000 turf facilities, including golf, soccer, rugby, cricket, racing, bowling and tennis. The website provides information on testing and identification services, research, trade, the STRI training program and links to golf and sports associations, governing bodies, publications and other related websites.
Turfgrass Information Center
The Turfgrass Information Center (TIC) is located at Michigan State University and claims to hold the most comprehensive collection of turfgrass educational materials in the world (The Noer Collection). Apart from its own collection, the TIC also provides its subscribers with access to several databases, the largest being TGIF that indexes over 200 titles, and TURFTWISTERS which provides information in a question/answer format. Current management and research issues can be identified in TOPICS, a file of subject bibliographies.
National Turfgrass Evaluation Program
The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) "is designed to develop and coordinate uniform evaluation trials of turfgrass varieties and promising selections in the United States and Canada." The site provides information on turfgrass quality, colour, density, resistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to heat, cold, drought and traffic. It also provides access to the US Turfgrass Variety List, 1997. The NTEP is a non-profit program sponsored by the Beltsville Agricultural Research Centre and the National Turfgrass Federation, Inc.
PACE Turfgrass Research Institute
The PACE Turfgrass Research Institute (PTRI) provides applied turfgrass research and education that is based upon environmentally sound management practices. PTRI conducts between 10 and 30 research projects per year, at over 200 research sites. The website provides reports of these research projects that cover subject areas such as pest management, product evaluations, soil, water and tissue analytical surveys. The website also provides links to related university, government and organisation websites.
Turfgrass management information for professionals
This is a page of the website of the Department of Horticulture at Clemson University, South Carolina. It provides information on their turfgrass research facilities that are located in the Botanical Garden on campus and their turfgrass programs. The information is comprehensive and encompasses all facets of turfgrass management, including fertilising, irrigation, seeding, sod production, soil, weed management and winter injury of warm season grasses. Information on the website is presented through research papers, articles, and Power Point presentations and can be searched by Google.
Penn State's turfgrass management
This is the Turfgrass Management page of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Penn State University website. It provides information on turfgrass establishment and maintenance for professional turfgrass managers, extension educators, industry representatives and homeowners. The website has a Google search facility and there are links to related sites.
Educational resources for turfgrass science
These resources were produced by Dr. A. J. Turgeon, Professor of Turfgrass Management, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Penn State University in 1997. The website includes instructional modules and lessons covering a wide range of turfgrass topics as well as inter-active modules using real-life cases that target specific problems and their solution or management.
Seed research reports - Providence: creeping bentgrass
(.pdf document)
Provides a very brief description of this variety of bent, including its maintenance and uses.
Heritage seeds turfgrass handbook
(.pdf document)
This 14 page document provides information on the establishment, uses, sowing rates, maintenance and varieties of the following turfgrass species: perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, kentucky bluegrass, rough bluegrass, creeping bentgrass and couch grass. Brief information is also provided on other turf species and on the Heritage Seed Company.
Managing Turfgrass Diseases
Managing Turfgrass Diseases was written by Patricia L Sanders and revised by Peter Landschoot, Associate Professor of Turfgrass Science, Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University. The document deals with the diagnosis of disease in turfgrass and methods of control of a large range of diseases. There is also a list of generic and trade names of common turfgrass fungicides.
Colorado State University Turfgrass
This is the website of the Turf program at Colorado State University. It provides information about the program and extension facilities available to students. There are also fact sheets, industry website links, books and references, links to other university programs and to professional organisations.
Livestock and Seed Program - Seed Regulatory and Testing Programs
The Livestock and Seed Program is administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to facilitate the efficient, fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products. The Seed Regulatory and Testing Branch enforces interstate commerce provisions of the Federal Seed Act and provides seed testing service under the Agricultural Marketing Act. The website provides general information, legislation, publications, a Variety Name list and a Seed Resource list. There is a search facility available.
Organisation and Associations
Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
This website provides member services to Australian landscape architects. These services include advocacy, education, continuing professional development, communications, the environment and community liaison. The website provides access to the Institute's journal and newsletter and details of international and national conferences, scholarships and employment opportunities.
British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association
The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) provides continuing professional development for greenkeepers and golf course managers. The website has details of education and training for golf course management, exhibits, events, links to related sites and the Greenkeeper International journal since June 2002.
Georgia Turfgrass Association
This website provides services to the members of the Georgia Turfgrass Association (GTA). Links are provided to an extensive list of professional organisations in areas related to turfgrass management.
Michigan Turfgrass Foundation
The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (MTF) is a nonprofit organisation, which supports Crop and Soil Science, Botany and Plant Pathology, and Entomology research at Michigan State University to improve both turfgrasses and methods of turfgrass maintenance. MTF disseminates the results of the research projects they support by extension, field days, an annual conference and the Turf Hot Line.