Green Industry News

For 2020, MTGF Donates $100,000
Towards Turf & Grounds Research;
Totaling $1,750,516 Since 2001

For 2020, the Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation proudly donated $100,000 towards Minnesota Turf and Grounds research. Since 2001, the Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation has donated $1,750,516 towards turf and grounds research.

In March of 2020, the MTGF Board of Directors approved two funding requests at its March Board Meeting. The funding requests approved were:

The MTGF Board approved a donation of $50,000 towards support of  the University of Minnesota Research Program. The MTGF Board also approved funding of $50,000 towards support of the University of Minnesota Departments of Forest Resources & Plant Pathology. The Board feels the continued research and operations at the University of Minnesota is a major benefit to the Green Industry.

Introducing Gary Deters
Research Field Facility Manager at TROE Center

Hello everyone, my name is Gary Deters and I am the new Turf Research Field Facility Manager with the Turfgrass Science team. I am looking forward to working with the turfgrass researchers, and helping to continue the great work coming from the University of Minnesota.

I am a proud graduate of the University of Minnesota, where I majored in Environmental Horticulture with an emphasis in Turfgrass Management. I have spent over half my life in the golf course industry, with the previous six years as a golf course superintendent at St. Cloud Country Club. I hope my experience in the field will give the researchers a golf course superintendent’s perspective on our trials and experiments.  I am excited to help maintain the research fields at the Turfgrass Research, Outreach, and Education Center.

My passion for turfgrass management evolved from being a lifelong avid golfer, and it’s still one of my favorite things to do. I enjoy traveling the world with my wife, as we have been to fifteen different countries over the last five years with the hope to add more in the future. I am also a fitness enthusiast, and I enjoy a good workout at the gym. On the lighter side, I am a big fan of Star Wars and Seinfeld.

I am excited to be back on the St. Paul campus and living in the Twin Cities metro. I have a lot of great memories of being a student at the University of Minnesota, and I am looking forward to creating new friendships and memories as a part of the turfgrass team in the Department of Horticultural Science. - Gary Deters

NORTHERN GREEN
Each January, the Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation (MTGF) co-hosts the Northern Green with the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA) held annually in January at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The next Northern Green will take place Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 12-14, 2021.

For more information or to register, go to: www.northerngreen.org

PESTICIDE RE-CERTIFICATION
The MTGF partners with MNLA and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to annually host a Pesticide Re-Certification session in late November for Categories A & E. This is the last session available each year to re-certify. This year's session took place on November 22 at the Maplewood Community Center.

MTGF CLIPPINGS MAGAZINE
MTGF Clippings is the official publication of the Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation. The MTGF is a non-profit organization that was formed in 1993. It is a partnership of seven turf and grounds related associations and the University of Minnesota. MTGF Clippings is mailed to every member of each of these organizations. With a collective readership of more than 3,000 individuals, it is the premier publication serving turf and grounds professions in Minnesota.

MTGF MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Any association engaged in the development, care and maintenance of public or private grounds is eligible to become an allied association member of the Foundation subject to approval of the MTGF Board of Directors. Individuals or businesses may become regular Foundation members by joining one or more of the member allied associations best suited to their needs and interests. There are no membership fees associated with either allied association membership or regular membership. However, if an individual or business subscribes to the mission and purpose of the Foundation but is not a member of an allied association, they are eligible for affiliate membership. Affiliate membership is subject to Board approval and does carry an annual membership fee as established by the Board of Directors. Those interested should contact the MTGF Business Office at 763-703-4983 or email jeff.turtinen@mtgf.org for more information.

Benefits
• Supporting professionalism within the turf and grounds industry by encouraging continued growth of each allied association.
• Encouraging the exchange of knowledge among members of the turf and grounds industry through educational conferences, workshops, seminars, trade shows and field days.
• Supporting relevant turf and grounds research, education and outreach at the University of Minnesota and elsewhere.
• Being pro-active in environmental, regulatory and public policy matters as they affect the turf and grounds industry.