LATHAM, NY - The New York State Turfgrass Association (NYSTA), has awarded $50,247 in grant money this year to support turfgrass research projects at Cornell University. the funds are distributed through the New York Turfgrass Foundation, an endowment fund established in 1991 with Cornell University to support turfgrass research activities at the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station and othe rresearch institutions.
Contributions to the fund come from NYSTA members; POA Annual Golf Tournaments sponsored by NYSTA and New York golf course superintendent associations; businesses and individual benefactors. The Foundation has accumulated close to $800,000 and is now generating $50,000 in interest income per year to be used annually in support of turfgrass research.
This year's grants for turfgrass research at Cornell University are as follows:
- $13,000 for "Improving Soil Test Recommendations for Turfgrass in New York State"
- $10,000 for "Determining the Relationship between Soil Phosphorus and Phosphorus Runoff from Turfgrass"
- $10,000 for "Optimization of Weed Suppression by Festuca spp. in New York State Tufgrass Settings"
- $7,347 for "Rearing the Annual Bluegrass Weevil to Support Serious Screening of Alternative Controls"
- $4,900 for "Impact of Scarab Grub Management Tactics on Non-Target Soil Fauna"
- $5,000 for "Enhanced Detection and Identification of Plant Pathogenic Pythium Species in Turfgrass Systems"
The New York State Turfgrass Association is comprised of 1,800 green industy professionals who have joined together to share technoilogy, promote environmental stewardship, support eductation, advance research and disseminate research findings.