Turfgrass Professor, Bert McCarty, PhD
I spent a better part of the day at Clemson University, which held a 3 hr program on their turf plots about Poa annua control. Of course, they are working with overseeded Bermudagrass. One of the perils of our unique climate in Highlands is that everyone around us grows warm season grasses. Therefore all of the research at schools like Clemson, Georgia or Tennessee are devoted to warm season turf. It is difficult to get good continuing education to meet our needs. We rely on land grant institutions like Penn State, Ohio State, Rutgers etc. to provide education that pertains to our type of operation.
There was however, a lot of good information presented. Namely, a product called PoaCure, which is not yet on the market. Early trials have shown that in as little as 4 applications, one can eliminate 100% Poa annua contamination in a stand of bentgrass. That's right, our greens could be Poa free if this product approval by the EPA to be sold! The cost is astronomical at this point. At $5,000 per acre it is priced out of lower budget facility's price range. That means one application would cost $15,000 at HCC. A total of 4 application spaced over a year or two would be $60,000. If this product ever does receive a label from the EPA, the membership and green committee would need to determine if this application would be worth the cost. Of course, maintenance applications once or twice a year would be required thereafter.