ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD TO DR. JAMES BAIRD
Jim Baird, an agronomist in the Green Section's Northeast Region, recently was awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Quality Award in EPA's Region 2. The award is presented to "those who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to protecting and enhancing environmental quality in the Region" and is the highest recognition presented to the public by the agency.
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| Dr. Jim Baird (center) accepts the U.S. EPA Environmental Quality Award from acting EPA Deputy Regional Administrator George Pavlov (left) and New York City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. |
Jim received the award along with Dr. A. Martin Petrovic, professor at Cornell University, and Mike Rewinski, golf course superintendent at Westhampton Country Club, N.Y., for their key roles in the development of the Long Island East End Nitrogen Management Challenge for Golf Courses. They took a leadership role in convincing 31 of 35 East End golf course owners and superintendents to participate in the Challenge, which focuses on improving nutrient management on their respective golf courses. Participation in this EPA-sponsored program will help reduce the amount of nitrogen and other nutrients entering the Peconic Bay estuary, an environmentally important area that is home for shellfish and other sensitive marine life.
The USGA Green Section and Cornell University are helping each golf course to develop and adhere to a comprehensive nutrient management plan that helps to protect the environment without compromising turf health and playing conditions.
NEW SENIOR AGRONOMIST NAMED
Chris Hartwiger, an agronomist in the USGA Green Section's Southeast Region, has been promoted to senior agronomist. This designation is awarded to Green Section agronomists who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and dedication to their work over a minimum period of ten years on staff.
Having joined the staff in 1995 and based in Birmingham, Alabama, Chris conducts Turf Advisory Service visits to golf courses in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Chris joins fellow Green Section senior agronomists Keith Happ (Mid-Atlantic Region), Jim Skorulski (Northeast Region), Bob Vavrek (North-Central Region), and Bud White (Mid-Continent Region).
NEW GREEN SECTION PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE
The Turfgrass and Environmental Research and Executive Summaries are now available free of charge through the USGA Order Department. The 2004 Turfgrass and Environmental Research Summary provides a one-page summary of each research project currently being funded by the USGA. This publication is appropriate for researchers, university extension personnel, and golf course superintendents who are interested in more in-depth information about the research projects. Request publication NSI 1643.
The 2004 Turfgrass and Environmental Research Executive Summary provides a brief synopsis of each project supported by the USGA's Turfgrass and Environmental Research Program. The general public and course officials will be interested in this format. The publication number is NS 1649. Both documents are available by contacting the USGA Order Department at 800-336-4446 or by contacting Mary McConnell, USGA Green Section, at mmcconnell@usga.org.
