Program
| 7:30 – 8:15 |
Check in |
| 8:15 – 8:30 |
Opening Remarks
Dr. Jim Kerns, Co-Director, Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research and Education, NC State University
Dr. Steve Lommel, Associate Dean and Director, NC Agricultural Research Service |
| 8:30 – 9:20 |
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
“North America 2026 World Cup – Challenges and Opportunities”
Dr. John N. Trey Rogers III
Professor, Turfgrass Management
Michigan State University |
| 9:20 – 10:20 |
CENTERE Updates Session I :
- “Sustainable Water Management” – Dr. Grady Miller, Professor and Extension Specialist
- “Approaches to Precision Turfgrass Fertilization Management” – Qiyu Zhou, Assistant Professor, Turfgrass Management
- “Introducing Middle School Youth into The World of Turfgrass Through an Interactive 4-H Curriculum” – Matthew Clay, Wilkes County Extension Agent, and Liz Driscoll, 4-H Specialist
- Q&A Panel
|
| 10:20 – 10:30 |
Coffee Break |
| 10:30 – 11:15 |
Lightning Talks Session
- “The Influences of Nitrogen Fertilization and Edaphic Factors on Take-All Root Rot Incidence” – Brandi Merrick, MS student, Turfgrass Pathology
- “Optimizing tissue culture protocols in warm-season turfgrass species for genetic engineering applications” – Esdras Carbajal, PhD student, Turfgrass Breeding
- “Characterization of Non-Target Site Resistance Mechanisms of ALS Resistant Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua L.)” – Trip Rogers, PhD student, Pesticide Fate
- “The Physiological Basis of Drought Tolerance in Zoysiagrasses” – Emma Simpson, MS student, Turfgrass Physiology –
- “Determining the genetic diversity of 288 accessions of St. Augustinegrass” – Ty Thomas, PhD student, Crop Genomics
- “Response of root- associated microbial community of Bermuda and Zoysiagrass under compaction in turf field” – Sayada Momotaz Akther, Soil Microbiology
- Q&A Panel
|
| 11:15 – 12:15 |
CENTERE Updates Session II :
- “Strategies for Emerging Turf Insect Pests” – Dr. Terri Billeisen, Extension Associate, Turfgrass Entomology
- “Adventures in Keeping Grass Green: Turfgrass Pathology Updates” – Dr. Jim Kerns, Professor, Turfgrass Pathology
- “Exploring molecular tools for weed control and necessary steps for adoption in turfgrass” – Dr. Ramon Leon, Professor and University Faculty Scholar of Weed Biology and Ecology
- Q&A Panel
|
| 12:15 – 1:30 |
Lunch |
| 1:30 – 1:45 |
Closing Remarks |
|
