PMSP for Turfgrass in the Southern US

Priorities

Category Rank Pest Type Pest Crop Stage Priority
Extension/Outreach 1 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Biology and control of mosses and algae.
Extension/Outreach 1 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Increased funding for educational efforts is required as funds for education in all areas is declining and a larger user group needs to be served.
Extension/Outreach 1 Insects 6- to 12-Inch Shoot The production of turf is the fastest growing agricultural related industry in the South. Continued development of research-based educational programs targeted to homeowners, schools, commercial horticulture industries, government/parks and recreation and extension personnel.
Extension/Outreach 1 Pathogens 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Better ways to communicate disease management strategies.
Extension/Outreach 2 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Develop high-quality electronic and conventional publications for ecology and biology of weeds in turfgrasses.
Extension/Outreach 2 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Researchers in the turfgrass commodity needs better access to agricultural grant programs due to the rapid expansion of the urban sector.
Extension/Outreach 2 Insects 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Education on pesticide stewardship and the reduction of unnecessary pesticide applications through research-based extension programs.
Extension/Outreach 2 Pathogens 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Fungicide resistance management.
Extension/Outreach 3 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Develop high-quality electronic and conventional publications for weed management in turfgrasses.
Extension/Outreach 3 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Development of additional distance education opportunities.
Extension/Outreach 3 Insects 6- to 12-Inch Shoot There are major needs for programs targeted towards pest management education and the funding that can support the development and delivery of those programs.
Extension/Outreach 3 Pathogens 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Disease prediction related to best management practices.
Extension/Outreach 4 6- to 12-Inch Shoot There is strong need to develop a comprehensive, college-level text-book on turfgrass pest (weeds, insects, diseases) management.
Extension/Outreach 4 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Better coordination among the disciplines in educational programs.
Extension/Outreach 5 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Conduct appropriate workshops, field days and conferences for professional turfgrass managers as well as retail professionals.
Extension/Outreach 5 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Better service for traditionally underserved audiences including non-English speaking audiences and youth education.
Regulatory 1 6- to 12-Inch Shoot More strict enforcement of existing regulations. In particular, application by non-certified applicators.
Regulatory 1 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot More thorough inspection for certification of transported turfgrass materials is required.
Regulatory 1 Insects 6- to 12-Inch Shoot A better understanding of the movement of turf pests from infested to uninfested areas in plant materials from commercial nurseries and turf farms.
Regulatory 1 Pathogens 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Regulation of soil and plant material movement related to nematodes needs improvement regarding the following pests in particular: Reniform and citrus nematodes; Soybean cyst nematode important if planning to ship into Canada.
Regulatory 2 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Require more continuing education for certified applicators.
Regulatory 2 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Enforcement of existing regulations and quarantines.
Regulatory 2 Insects 6- to 12-Inch Shoot New insecticide products, especially to address existing and potential resistance to currently registered products.
Regulatory 2 Pathogens 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Regulations among states and/or countries needs to be harmonized to streamline permit process. This is particularly important in regards to research materials.
Regulatory 3 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Greater role for regulators in education. Funding for Extension: Revision of educational criteria to encourage annual training (e.g., Georgia).
Regulatory 3 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Provide increased training opportunities and require higher educational standards for commodity inspectors.
Regulatory 3 Insects 6- to 12-Inch Shoot There is a grave need for new acaricide products to help manage the eriophyid mites in bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and buffalograss.
Regulatory 4 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Reclassification of sod production into EPA agricultural production as opposed to non-crop land. Permit use of agricultural chemical products in sod production.
Regulatory 4 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Increase numbers of well-trained inspectors.
Regulatory 4 Insects 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Stronger coordination of APHIS, the state regulatory agencies and the designated plant diagnostic laboratories for detection, identification and management of potential invasive species (e.g. fire ants).
Regulatory 5 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Consider reclassification of sod production to permit greater access to agricultural pesticide products.
Research 1 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Perennial grass control in turf.
Research 1 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot More information related to the basic biology and ecology of turfgrass pests.
Research 1 Insects 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Pest ecology, life history, behavior and host/pest associations of major pests, and all information on minor pests (eriophyid mites, ground pearls), biological control and host plant resistance.
Research 1 Pathogens 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Root health regarding fungi that are not well known (biology).
Research 2 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Weed control during establishment.
Research 2 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Better integration of pest management among disciplines.
Research 2 Insects 6- to 12-Inch Shoot There are critical gaps in knowledge of pests and their management that are needed for development of extension education pest management programs.
Research 2 Pathogens 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Interactions between pathogens including nematodes.
Research 3 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Methyl bromide alternatives.
Research 3 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Pest and pesticide resistance management (including genomics).
Research 3 Insects 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Support for efficacy trials of lower-risk insecticides/nematicides and bio-rationals to develop safer management systems.
Research 3 Pathogens 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Need for fumigation alternatives.
Research 4 6- to 12-Inch Shoot More chemical alternatives for resistance management.
Research 4 All 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Better integration of social sciences into turfgrass use, maintenance, etc.
Research 4 Insects 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Impact of insecticides on target, secondary and introduced pests and on beneficial organisms.
Research 4 Pathogens 6- to 12-Inch Shoot More information about soil mixes related to root health.
Research 5 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Environmental implications of herbicide resistant grass (biotech).
Research 5 Pathogens 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Cultural options for pathogen management.
Research 6 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Environmental fate of herbicides.
Research 6 Pathogens 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Disease prediction related to best management practices.
Research 7 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Biology and control of mosses and algae.
Research 8 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Postemergence control of perennial grass weeds such as nimblewill, dallisgrass, vaseygrass, torpedograss and common bermudagrass.
Research 9 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Selective control of one turfgrass species that is growing as a weed in a different turfgrass species.
Research 10 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Develop control programs for “newer” turfgrass weeds such as niruri, doveweed and lindernia (Lindernia crustacea).
Research 11 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Biology and ecology of turfgrass weeds.
Research 12 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Develop effective control programs for Virginia buttonweed, annual bluegrass, sedge and Kyllinga ssp.
Research 13 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Develop weed management strategies for herbicide-tolerant turfgrasses.
Research 14 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Develop integrated control programs to prevent the development of herbicide-resistant weeds.
Research 15 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Develop effective cultural and mechanical methods to control turfgrass weeds (i.e. non-chemical).
Research 16 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Elucidate soil parameters that influence turfgrass weed populations.
Research 17 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Document shifts in weed species that may occur due to cultural methodology, or changing herbicide use patterns and chemistries.
Research 18 6- to 12-Inch Shoot Determine invasive nature and prevent turfgrass species encroachment into native plant communities.