Target Specialty Products, a provider of pest and turf and ornamental solutions in the United States and Canada, announced the 21st edition of its ongoing Turf Fuel Masterclass Series.
Independent Turfgrass Research turfgrass pathologist Dr. John Dempsey and Target Specialty Products product development manager Steve Loveday will host the free webinar — “Game-Changing Strategies You Can Use to Improve Plant Fitness” — starting 1:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 23.
Dempsey will discuss reducing disease through nutrition and cultural practices, plant defense systems, and biostimulants and plant fitness. Both Dempsey and Loveday will be available for a live Q+A session after the presentation. Registration is required.
“One of the most important things we enjoy doing for our current and potential buyers and followers is to provide top-tier education with some of the most experienced experts within the industry,” Loveday said. “Dr. John Dempsey certainly fits that criteria, which will give turf pros of all experience levels a unique and rare learning opportunity.”
Dempsey has 40 years of greenkeeping experience and was superintendent of The Royal Curragh, Ireland’s oldest golf course, from 1993 to 2019. He has undertaken courses beginning with basic greenkeeping at the botanic gardens in Dublin to a 1st class honors degree in turfgrass science at Myerscough College. In 2016, he completed a Ph.D. in turfgrass pathology at the Centre for Research in Biosciences at the University of the West of England, Bristol.
Dempsey has conducted independent research on turfgrass disease management for the past 15 years, covering extensively the subject microdochium nivale infection of turfgrasses, turfgrass responses to pathogen challenge, and the effect of phosphite treatments on disease suppression, turfgrass growth and quality. He has headed Independent Turfgrass Research since 2019, with current work focusing primarily on biotic and abiotic stresses in turfgrass, turfgrass health, integrated disease control and enhancement of turfgrass defense responses.
Loveday earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and has worked in the golf industry for the past 25 years. He spent eight years working in golf course management and maintenance prior to honing his skills in plant nutrition, biostimulation and defense activation. Loveday has used his expertise and education to develop nutritional and soil conditioning products over the past four years and has presented in multiple countries on topics associated with the maintenance of fine turf. He currently focuses on the discovery of innovative new technologies to improve plant health and resistance towards abiotic and biotic stress.