Executive Director’s Message
This fall has been a busy one for TPT. The field day at Dallas was an excellent opportunity for us to see the research being done by Texas A&M University and to visit with the scientists conducting the work. In visiting with the TAMU staff, they were appreciative of the chance to interact with us and to get input on the direction of their research.
We left Dallas and headed for Austin where we attended the Texas Ag Council meeting the following day. The elections were the chief topic of conversation. As you know, there were some changes at the state level and many at the national level.
If you have a new legislator in your area, try to make an opportunity to get to know them. If the incumbent was re-elected, do the same if you don’t already know them. The turfgrass industry, like most others, is becoming more subject to regulations and laws all the time. It is helpful to have friends among the decision makers when things come up that would affect us. Staffers are, perhaps, even more helpful if they understand that turfgrass is good for the environment and the economy.
Following the Ag Council meeting, we went to San Antonio to plant the second year study for the SAWS drought project. That happened to be the last day of the 60 day drought for the first year study. All the grasses on the native soil appeared to survive but it looked like none did on the four-inch soils. With the help of crews from Bladerunner Farms, Turfgrass America, King Ranch, Grimes Grass, Trinity Turf, and Mayfield Farms, we planted the second year study in record time.
The fishing tournament was something new for us. The idea was to get our membership together in an informal setting to visit and share ideas. This industry has been known in the past for its lack of communication. Growers did not want others to know what they were doing. That appears to be changing as they discover that they have more in common than they have differences and that most of the problems are coming from the outside. We had close to 100 persons attend the event and I did not find anyone who did not have a good time. So much so, that there is talk of making it an annual event. Special thanks to Chance Stone, Tammi Bolton, Bubba Simons, and all who made the event a success.
Having just finished Thanksgiving and looking forward to Christmas and the new year, we have a lot to be thankful for and excited about. I hope you use the holiday season to enjoy family and friends and appreciate the blessings you have.