In Episode #55, the TurPh.Dudes are joined by the Sam Moynihan, Superintendent of Detroit Golf Club. Sam and the Detroit Golf Club host the Rocket Mortgage Classic annually in Detroit, Michigan, this paired with planning for an upcoming major renovation, present unique challenges for Sam and his team. Sam joins us on the podcast to talk about what it takes to host an annual tournament, attempting to work with mother nature, and how the upcoming Detroit Golf Club renovation will improve playabili...
Feb 18, 2025•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we talk about what it takes to become an entrepreneur, scale a business, and how POLYON® controlled-release fertilizer has helped to improve the GrassRoots customer experience.
Jan 23, 2025•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #53 the TurPh.Dudes are joined by Dr. Scott McElroy. Dr. McElroy is on the cutting edge of the implementation of robotic mowing and joins us on this episode to discuss the state of robotic mowers today, where innovation is heading, and how they can be a solution for those looking to supplement traditional labor.
Oct 01, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #52 The TurPhDudes are joined by Cort Hall and Nick Wilson. Cort and Nick serve lawn care customers in the southeastern United States and are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the intersection of agronomics and the business of growing an LCO business. If you are interested in growing your LCO business, thinking about getting into the LCO business, or just curious about what goes into running a successful LCO business, today’s episode is for you.
Jun 27, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #51 the TurPh.Dudes are joined by Dr. Patrick McCullough, University of Georgia. In the near future, the turfgrass industry expects the use of an important active ingredient, oxadiazon, to be significantly limited by an EPA decision following the oxadiazon reregistration review process. Dr. McCullough’s years of experience in herbicide research and agronomic consulting provides for great insights into alternative options and management strategies that are available to fill the gap lef...
Jun 27, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast In episode #50, the TurPh.Dudes are joined by Dr. Rebecca Williams-Wagner and Dr. Phil Dwyer to discuss biologicals in the turfgrass industry, and an exciting new microbial product called Azo Root. We discuss the history of biological products in the turfgrass industry, pitfalls and shortcomings that have led to poor performance as well as new advancements in packaging technology from 3bar Biologics that help to optimize the performance of these living organisms. The discussion dives further int...
Mar 25, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #49 The TurPhDudes are joined by Dr. Jim Kerns. Dr. Kerns focuses on etiology, epidemiology and the management of diseases of both warm- and cool-season grasses. His research program focuses on understanding the biology of ultradwarf bermudagrass diseases, large patch of zoysiagrass, plant parasitic nematodes in turf, and diseases of creeping bentgrass. The mission of the program is to provide efficacious and cost-effective management strategies to turfgrass managers in NC and beyond.
Jan 11, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #48 the TurPh.Dudes are joined by Dr. Ming-Yi Chou, Rutgers University. Dr. Chou focuses on evaluating and developing efficient cool season turfgrass disease management measures, including cultural practices, disease prediction models, synthetic fungicides, and biorational agents targeting diseases important to the Northeast. A few of which are dollar spot, brown patch, anthracnose, and summer patch. His research efforts are centered on plant-soil-microbiome interactions in turfgrass,...
Jan 02, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #47 The TurPh.Dudes are joined by Brian Laurent, the founder and CEO of Propel Solutions, LLC and the Superintendent Network. Brian’s work is focused on supporting golf course superintendents as an association executive director, marketing director, communication specialist, and more. In this episode we hit on Brian’s experience documenting events at some of golf’s biggest stages and tips for superintendents to enhance communication between the agronomy team, the paying customer, and ...
Aug 18, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #44 the TurPhDudes are joined by Steve McDonald, Chief Plot Sprayer of Turfgrass Disease Solutions, a private turfgrass research and consulting firm based outside of Philadelphia, PA. In this episode, the guys discuss ongoing annual bluegrass weevil management trends.
Jun 02, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #44 The TurPhDudes are joined by Stephen Ohlson, Vice President of GreenSight. In this episode the guys discuss a new digital tool for turfgrass management, GreenSight's TurfCloud. TurfCloud empowers the Golf Course Superintendent with next-generation tools to proactively monitor and manager their turf and their teams through the integration of robotics, A.I. drive automated data analysis, and cloud based planning tools.
Feb 21, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #44 The TurPhDudes are joined by Dr. Mike Fidanza, Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences at Penn State. In this episode the guys discuss fairy ring management, Dr. Fidanza’s ancestral roots as a mushroom farmer, and “The Raymond,” a renowned breakfast dish in Lakeland, FL.
Nov 30, 2022•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #43 The TurPhDudes are joined by Dr. Aaron Palmateer as a new member of the Harrell’s Agronomy Team. Dr. Palmateer is a respected agronomist in the ornamental production industry and brings a depth of ornamental knowledge and experience that is unique to the team. In this episode the guys are also joined by a special guest, Jack Harrell III.
Sep 27, 2022•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #42 The TurPhDudes are joined by Dr. Jim Brosnan, Professor, University of Tennessee and Josh Cook, Superintendent of Pensacola Country Club. In this episode the guys discuss the current state of Poa annua herbicide resistance, effective management techniques, and communication strategies for club members and other stakeholders.
Jul 18, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #41 The TurPhDudes are joined by Dr. Florence Sessoms, Turfgrass Researcher at University of Minnesota. In this interview Dr. Sessoms discusses her research into interactions of turfgrass with soil microbial communities and mycorrhizal associations.
May 11, 2022•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #40 The TurPhDudes are joined by Dr. Lee Miller, Assistant Professor & Extension Turfgrass Pathologist at Purdue University. In this interview Dr. Miller discusses his recent move to Purdue, turf disease diagnostics, fairy ring management, nitrogen source effect on disease, and the influence of Pythium spp. populations in irrigation water on Pythium turf epidemics.
Apr 11, 2022•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #39 Dr. Jeff Atkinson is joined by Brian Haga, Owner of Scientific Plant Service of Baltimore, Maryland. In this interview Mr. Haga discusses Scientific Plant Service’s unique business model, the variety of services they provide, and how an efficient agronomic program contributes to their success during a tight labor market.
Mar 08, 2022•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #38 the TurPhDudes are joined by Jim Moon, Harrell’s Director of Procurement and Compliance, and a recipient of Harrell’s 2021 Sales Support Professional of the Year award. In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss the fertilizer supply chain, particularly how Harrell’s is working to navigate uncharted supply chain waters. We also take a break mid-show for Jim to extinguish a house fire.
Feb 09, 2022•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #37 the TurPhDudes are joined by the Dr. Billy Crow, University of Florida Professor of Nematology. In this episode we discuss lance nematode management, why nematode assay numbers may be misleading, and how disease, environmental stress, and nematodes can all be related.
Dec 02, 2021•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #36 the TurPhDudes are joined by the AgDude, Dr. Tom Reed, Harrell’s Specialty Agriculture Director of Agronomy. In this episode we introduce Dr. Tom Reed and discuss how fertilizer technology is changing the way we grow crops.
Nov 09, 2021•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #34 the TurPhDudes are joined by Dr. Paul Koch, Professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Plant Pathology and all-around expert on all things snow mold. In this episode we discuss fungicide selection, application timing, and a bonus, do fungicides impact soil microbial communities?
Sep 27, 2021•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #35 the TurPh.Dudes are joined by Crystal Rose-Fricker, President of Pure Seed. In this episode we discuss the dynamics influencing the unprecedented seed market, seed variety development, and the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance.
Sep 08, 2021•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #33 we have the privilege to introduce the newest member of the TurPh.Dudes team, Paul Giordano. As a trained plant pathologist, Paul is a valuable asset to the team. In this episode we discuss Paul’s background, his research into bacterial etiolation and decline, and his experience so far working with the Harrell’s team.
Aug 09, 2021•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast In Episode #32 the TurPh.Dudes are joined by Mountain View Seeds Division Manager Aaron Kuenzi and Director of Agronomy Dr. Gregg Munshaw for a wide-ranging discussion on bentgrass seed variety research and development, quality control, and current seed market dynamics.
Jul 13, 2021•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Episode #31 is the second of a two-part series on zoysiagrass management. In this episode we sit down with Golf Course Superintendent Don Garrett of The Walker Course at Clemson University. During Don’s tenure the Walker Course has transformed from a bentgrass course in the south to one of the handful of courses utilizing zoysiagrass as a putting surface. When considering a switch from bentgrass, ultradwarf bermudagrass was not an option because of limited sunlight on many of the Walker Course’s...
Jul 07, 2021•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Episode #30 is the first of a two-part, listener requested series about zoysiagrass management. In this episode we sit down with Director of Agronomy Lukus Harvey and Golf Course Superintendent Trent Inman of Atlanta Athletic Club. Atlanta Athletic Club has played host to a U.S. Amateur, two U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships, and is currently in preparation for the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship. In addition to their history, Atlanta Athletic Club is known for pristine zoysiagrass fairways. In ...
Jun 09, 2021•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast In episode #29 we discuss goosegrass with Dr. Matt Elmore of Rutgers University. Long thought of as a weed of southern turf, goosegrass is becoming increasingly problematic in northern regions of the US. Dr. Elmore is leading research to better understand management strategies in cool season turf. In this episode we discuss pre- and postemergence control options, herbicide safening, and as a bonus, we even touch on Poa annua control (yes, control) with annual bluegrass weevil.
May 10, 2021•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today's episode we discuss with Dr. Ben McGraw at Penn State University a problematic pest which is expanding in range, but doesn't yet have the geographic distribution of other more commonly known insects: the European Crane Fly.
Apr 06, 2021•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Dr. Jeff Atkinson, Jason Frank and Dr. Raymond Snyder are joined by Dr. JC Chong of Clemson University to discuss identification, biology, and management strategies for a certain problematic pest—the bermudagrass mite. Have a listen! Juang Horng “JC” Chong is a Professor and Extension Specialist of turf and ornamentals entomology at Clemson University. JC joined Clemson University in 2007 after completing graduate school on ornamentals entomology at the University of Georgia and...
Dec 30, 2020•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of TurPh.Dudes, Drs. Jeff Atkinson and Raymond Snyder interview Dr. Bruce Clarke of Rutgers University. Dr. Clarke is the Director of the Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science and an Extension Specialist in Turfgrass Pathology. Today we are discussing how fertility influences disease.
Oct 01, 2020•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
