MASFMA 2025 Spring Education Event - REGISTRATION CLOSED

February 27, 2025

7:00 AM – 2:00 PM 

Baltimore Ravens – M&T Bank Stadium

1101 Russell Street

Baltimore, MD 21230

AGENDA:

07:00 – 07:40 Registration and Breakfast

07:45 – 08:15 Welcome and MASFMA Annual Meeting

08:15 – 09:00 1^st Presentation

Title: The Use of Turfgrass Biostimulants: 30 Years of Research from Virginia Tech

Presenter: Dr Mike Goatley, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Turfgrass Science, Virginia Tech

Topic Overview:  Biostimulants are compounds or microorganisms that can improve plant growth in a number of ways. The benefits of biostimulants can include enhancing nutrient uptake, promoting root growth, increasing stress tolerance to abiotic stresses, improving plant health, and affecting plant hormone synthesis. Can biostimulants reduce fertilizer inputs or be used to enhance fertility programs? Find out the answers to these questions and others based on field and lab research conducted at Virginia Tech.

09:00 – 09:15 BREAK

09:15 – 10:00 2^nd Presentation

Title:  Preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field

Presenter:  Tony Leonard, Vice President of Grounds for the Philadelphia Eagles

Topic Overview:  The demands by FIFA for consistent and high-quality playing surfaces for the 2026 World Cup competition will require Tony Leonard and his staff to implement state of the art turf management practices for this FIFA competition. Discover the management programs he plans to initiate for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

10:00 – 10:15 BREAK

10:15 – 11:00 3^rd Presentation

Title: Leveling the Playing Field: How Diseases, Weeds, and Other Stressors Impact Field Playability

Presenter: Dr. David McCall, Turfgrass Pathology and Precision Management, Virginia Tech

Topic Overview: The presentation will highlight the latest research defining field inconsistencies that disrupt surface playability and which ones are more of a cosmetic issue. The talk will also look at the different types of field-testing equipment used to determine field safety and understand which pests or other stressors influence the safety of a field.

11:00 – 11:15 Advocacy Updates

11:15 – 12:15 LUNCH

12:15 – 12:30 Awards and Scholarship Presentation

12:30 -   1:15 4^th Presentation

Title:  Management Strategies for Optimizing Weed Control in Athletic Fields

Presenter: Dr. Daniel Sandor, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Turfgrass Science, Virginia Tech

Topic Overview: A review of Best Management Practices for weed control in athletic fields will be covered. Also, the newest herbicides for sports turf will be discussed along with cultural and chemical management strategies for controlling troublesome weeds such as annual grasses and broadleaf weeds.

1:15 – 2:00 Conclusion and Optional Tour of M&T Bank Stadium Field

CEU Credits:

MD Pesticide - 8 CEUs (Categories 3A, 3C, 10)

MD Fertilizer - 2 CEUs

VA Pesticide - Categories 3-B (24), 60 (60)

VA Fertilizer - 2 CFAs

DE Nutrient Management - 1 CEU

DE Pesticide - Cat. 03: 2 CEUs

DC 00-Core 4

DC 3B-Lawns and Turf 4

DC 6 - Right-of-Way Pest Control 4

DC 9 - Regulatory Pest Control 4 

Tickets

$0.00 MSFMA Member

$40.00 Non-Member

Tickets

$0.00 Member Ticket

$40.00 Guest (Non-Member)