Earn VA Approved CEU Credits: 2 CFA Recertification hours, Pesticide 3A (Ornamental Pest Control), 3B (Turfgrass), 6 (Right-Of-Way Pest Control), and 60 (Registered Technician)

8:00 - 8:05 Introduction and Welcome – Kim Pietsch, Virginia Sports Field Management Association Executive Director
8:05 - 8:55 1st Presentation – Dr. Michael Goatley: Fertility Programming for Sports Fields

Dr. Goatley will cover the why's, when's, and what's of fertilization programming that provide healthy turfgrasses without negative impacts to our environment.

8:55 - 9:05 Break
9:05 – 9:55 2nd Presentation – Ms. Ellie Kitchin: Current and Emerging Technologies for Right-of-Way Turfgrass Pest Control This presentation will explore both established and innovative approaches to pesticide applications, highlighting advancements in pest mapping, precision sprayers, and automated decision-support systems. Research from the Virginia Tech turfgrass pathology and weed science labs will be presented, focusing on the evolving role of technological tools in optimizing right-of-way pest control while addressing environmental and logistical challenges.

9:55 - 10:05 Break
10:05 – 10:55 3rd Presentation – Dr. Alejandro Del-Pozo: The Bugs We Need The following topics will be discussed during this presentation: What is a pest?; Sampling; Beneficial insects; Integrated Pest Management; Releasing beneficials; Use of flowering plants to attract beneficials; Pollinators; Remote sensing; Advocating for pollinator habitats

10:55 - 11:05 Break
11:05 – 11:55 4th Presentation – Dr. Jeffrey Derr: Weed management options in landscape ornamental beds This presentation will focus on managing troublesome weeds in landscape ornamentals. Dr. Derr will discuss the life cycle and identification of key grass, sedge, and broadleaf weed species that occur in ornamentals. Dr. Derr will discuss use of preemergence and postemergence herbicides for the management of those key weed species in herbaceous and woody ornamental plants.

11:55 – 12:30 Break/Lunch
12:30 – 1:20 5th Presentation – Mr. Adam Nichols: Bluemuda: All things concerning this two-grass system Discussing the history, previous trials, current trials, and the challenges of creating bluemuda in Southeast VA

1:20 – 1:30 Break

1:30 – 2:00 6th Presentation – Mr. Robert D. Christian: Virginia Legal Update
2:00 Conclusion and Thanks – Kim Pietsch