TPI sets international conference in San Diego Feb. 16-19

Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) is hosting its 2015 International Education Conference & Field Day in San Diego Feb. 16–19.

The Omni La Costa Resort & Spa will serve as the host hotel. In additional to turfgrass professionals, also in attendance will be manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, products, supplies and services.

As part of the event, there will be two days of educational sessions, comprising seminars, panel discussions and presentations conducted by research scientists, turfgrass producers and industry experts.

Some of the scheduled presentation topics include:

• comparing natural grass and artificial turf for use on athletic fields;
• 2015 outlook for the turfgrass industry;
• tips on closing the sale;
• hiring, training and managing seasonal workers;
• innovative products and services;
• weed management in sod production; and
• current research update on turfgrass carbon sequestration.

The field day portion of the event, which will include equipment demos and static exhibits, is slated for Feb. 18 at A-G Sod Farms in Nuevo, Calif., hosted by John, Betty and Joel Addink.

A-G Sod Farms was founded more than 40 years ago, and its Nuevo location represents but one of five turfgrass farms under the A-G Sod banner.

Also on the schedule are numerous social functions such as the annual business meeting, networking opportunities, working group and committee meetings. Optional activities will be provided as well, including a San Diego City Tour and a variety of fundraising activities—in the forms of a Memorial Golf Tournament, competitive tricycle race and networking scavenger hunt—to help support ongoing turfgrass research and education through The Lawn Institute.