The 63 ^rd annual Southeastern Turfgrass Conference will be held Monday and Tuesday, May 4 and May 5, 2009 at the Tifton campus conference center located at the Rural Development Center, Tifton, Georgia. The Southeast Turf Conference is the oldest turf conference in the United States, initially started by Dr. Glen Burton. This tradition continues today under the leadership of Dr. Wayne Hanna, who is located at the Tifton Station. This turfgrass conference is sponsored by the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station and ABAC, in cooperation with the USDA Agricultural Research Services, USGA Green Section, GGCSA, GTA, and the UGA Cooperative Extension Service.

On the morning of May 4 ^th , a pesticide training workshop will be conducted by Dr. Eddie Seagle of ABAC. The afternoon portion of the meeting will highlight turfgrass breeding and pest control strategies at the research plots. The new shade tolerant hybrid bermudagrass (ST-5), developed by Dr. Hanna, will be discussed and available to view at the research field plots. The benefits of this sterile hybrid bermudagrass variety and all release plans will be outlined by Dr. Hanna.

May 5 will consist of a full day conference with many speakers, including Dr. Scott McElroy and Dr. Beth Guertal from Auburn University; Dr. Billy Crow from the University of Florida; and Dr. Brian Schwartz, the new turfgrass breeder at the Tifton Station. Sessions on both golf and lawn and sports turf will be held on Tuesday afternoon, prior to the morning general session. This turfgrass conference is an excellent opportunity to obtain pesticide recertification points and to learn about the latest trends in the golf business.

Registration for this turfgrass conference is easy and can be found on-line at: http://www.ugatiftonconference.org/calendar.html

You also can call the USGA Green Section Southeast Region office or email us for a registration form or contact the Tifton campus and register at 229-386-3416.

Source: Patrick O'Brien 770-229-8125 or patobrien@usga.org and Chris Hartwiger 205-444-5079 or chartwiger@usga.org