The experts who keep the golf greens green and the playing fields in play will be meeting in Hot Springs, Ark., on Jan. 17 and 18 to sharpen their skills and load up on the latest research at the Arkansas Turfgrass Association conference and trade show.

“With educational tracks for golf, lawn care, and sports turf, the conference will offer something for everyone in the turf industry,” said Doug Karcher, associate professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Speakers include Bruce Clarke, director of the Center for Turfgrass Science at Rutgers University; John Sorochan, associate professor of plant science who has an international background in turf management, and Dave Kopek, Extension turfgrass specialist at the University of Arizona, and an inductee to the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame.

Karcher and his colleagues at the University of Arkansas will also present their most recent findings. The University of Arkansas has one of the top turfgrass management programs in the country.

“Our research update will summarize our work to identify the best management practices for producing quality turf in our region,” he said. In Arkansas, turf management is challenging because the state’s highly varied climate.

The work “specifically identifies drought tolerant cultivars, the most effective plant protectants, and ways to improve turfgrass stress tolerance.”

The conference will also feature a trade show where participants can see the latest products and equipment available in the industry.

Registration before the event is $70 and $90 on the day of the event. For more information about the conference, see here.

For more information on turf management, visit here or here, or contact your county Extension office.