Sustainable Turfgrass Management in the Canadian Prairie Provinces

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The turfgrass industry can be defined as all public and private organizations that maintain grasses for**recreational purposes. This initiative focuses on the highest priority knowledge gaps in the turfgrass industry**which include: the reduction of winter injury, reduction of biotic stress, grass selection for alternative turf uses,**and water quality and conservation. To address these knowledge gaps, the industry wishes to expand applied**research activities in a planned and collaborative manner that will increase industry sustainability and research**outcomes. These expected outcomes include best practices, improved processes, lower production and**maintenance costs and more sustainable business practices. Further, these outcomes are expected to have a**positive and direct impact on both rural and urban communities in Alberta and the Prairie Provinces. Given the**number of communities with strong links to the turfgrass industry, it is very clear that the industry will also**have a positive and direct impact on economic development, through innovation, job creation, tourism and**recreational investment and expenditure. Olds College and its industry partners strongly believe that this**initiative is strategic, timely, scalable, and achievable. From an Olds College perspective, this initiative was**selected on the basis of strong student numbers in turfgrass management, industry demand for collaborative**turfgrass research and a 24 year history of industry support. Olds College and other industry partners are fully**prepared to undertake all incremental activities described in this initiative. In conclusion, this initiative will**enable the turfgrass industry in the Prairie Provinces to become the "new Green" renewable industry.