COLUMBIA, Mo. - A new University of Missouri (MU) Web site offers turfgrass and sports field managers information on key issues, such as how to calibrate a sprayer and the latest weather reports. The site is called Sports Turf AdvanTage, or STAT, and can be found at http://agebb.missouri.edu/stat/.
"Turfgrass is the fourth largest crop in Missouri in terms of maintained and harvested acres," said Brad Fresenburg, MU turfgrass specialist. "It generates more than $1 billion a year in production and maintenance. We want to keep turf professionals informed and provide answers to current turf management problems."
STAT features include detailed technical information and schematics on football, soccer, rugby, softball, baseball, field hockey and lacrosse fields.
Links provide access to guide sheets produced by MU faculty and industry-generated fact sheets on several topics, including irrigation, cultivar selection and insect and weed control. Other features include a calendar of events, weather reports and links to professional sports teams and industry associations.
While the site is aimed primarily at sports turf managers, landscape contractors and homeowners also may benefit from some of the features offered, Fresenburg said, including tips on control of armyworms, moles and other pests that damage home lawns.