Friday and This Week's Outlook

Friday was the KAFMO conference.  There was some great information on the Nutrient Restriction Law in Pennsylvania.  As of now, a Bill has not been passed.  But here is a quick run-down of what is on the table.  There is a push for certification of the applicators of nutrients, a bit like a pesticide applicator.  The Bill that is on the table has a total maximum daily load and a Watershed Implementation Plan that is approved by the EPA and the goals must be met by 2025.  The restrictions are the following:  no applications to impervious surfaces, no fertilizers applied within five feet of a body of water, no Phosphorous applied unless stated in soil test or when the applicator is repairing turf, restrictions on natural orgainics, no more then .7 lbs/ M of water soluble nitrogen per application and no more then .9 lbs / M per application of any fertilizer daily, No limits on Nitrogen applications, No restrictions on soil ammendments, date restrictions (nothing before March 1st and after November 15th can do .5 lbs / M., and No applications on frozen soils.  The was not vetoed or signed back in October 2011.

The other presentations were dealing with flooded fields, spring recovery strategies, best management practices for turfgrass, tall fescue establishment for sports fields, and weed control with the sports schedule in mind. 

We were also awarded with the Field of Distinction for 2012. 

This week we will be uncovering the athletic fields for the start of the spring sports season.  Field E will stay covered until the new sod has knitted in fully and is safe for play.  We will start to add the new fence topper and  windscreens to Stone Field and Field B.  My goal is to have everything lined and open for this Friday.