Industry News

Deadline extended for pesticide survey

In response to feedback from GCSAA members, the deadline for GCSAA's Golf Course Environmental Profile project Golf Course Pesticide Use Survey has been extended to April 14. The survey has been distributed to all golf courses in the United States either via e-mail or hard copy.

It is vital that superintendents, both members and non-GCSAA members, participate in the survey. The data will allow golf course superintendents and other facility personnel to become better managers, help facilities operate more efficiently and lead to GCSAA developing more valuable programs and services. An example of this is the recently updated EPA models used to predict pesticide use on golf courses. They now more accurately consider golf course conditions using information provided by GCSAA and the golf industry.

The GCSAA Golf Course Environmental Profile project is being funded by The Environmental Institute for Golf through a grant from The Toro Foundation. For more information contact Mark Johnson, GCSAA manager of environmental programs, 800-472-7878, ext. 5161 or mjohnson@gcsaa.org.

Arysta LifeScience becomes GCSAA Silver Partner

Arysta LifeScience Corp. has pledged its support of GCSAA and its members by participating in the association's Partner Recognition Program at the Silver level.

"We are proud to welcome Arysta to the GCSAA Partner Recognition Program," said GCSAA President David S. Downing II, CGCS. "These resources are invested for the benefit of GCSAA's stakeholders -- member superintendents, their facilities and the golf course management profession. Arysta is a long-time supporter of GCSAA and is a Golf Industry Show Silent Auction donor.

“As a rapidly emerging company committed to serving the golf course management industry, Arysta LifeScience understands and appreciates the critical role that professional partnerships play in the achievement of shared business goals,” said Michael Maravich, marketing and product manager, turf & ornamental products. “We are honored to be a member of the Partner Recognition Program and to help support the GCSAA in its efforts to provide the agronomic education, business training, and human capital initiatives necessary to insure the successful future of the golf course superintendent profession and the game of golf.”

IECA names Award of Environmental Excellence winners

The International Erosion Control Association has announced the winners of its 17th annual Awards of Environmental Excellence. The awards recognize excellence in technology, research, education and practices as they pertain to the erosion, sediment control and stormwater industries.

The winners were:

Environmental Achievement Award -- J. Warren Faircloth, JW Faircloth & Son, for the Faircloth Skimmer, a device which improves sediment basin performance.

Excellence in Technology Award -- Laura Girard, Ayres Associates, for her work in developing guidelines for the use of partially grouted riprap to armor the banks of rivers and streams.

Most Distinguished Technical Paper Award -- C. Joel Sprague, PE, TRI/Environmental Inc., for “Slope Erosion Testing — Identifying “Critical” Parameters”.

Sustained Contributor Award -- Paul E. Clopper, PE, Ayres Associates

Contractor of the Year Award -- Alfred T. Nitta, CPESC, Nitta Inc., dba Nitta Erosion Control

Educational Achievement Award -- Andrew Johnston, CPESC, Jacobs Carter Burgess

To be considered for the 2009 Environmental Achievement Award, the Excellence in Technology Award or the Most Distinguished Technical Paper Award, applicants must submit a 400-word abstract by May 5, 2008.  For more, visit http://www.ieca.org/conference/callpresentations.