The Buzz!

Results from August LCN Survey

In 2004, what is the biggest goal for your business?

1. Increasing customers ?EUR??,,????'??? 64.7%
2. Adding more employeess ?EUR??,,????'??? 5.9%
3. Business expansions ?EUR??,,????'??? 23.5%
4. Purchasing more equipments ?EUR??,,????'??? 11.8%
5. Maintaining your status quos ?EUR??,,????'??? 17.6%

What do you see in store for the nation?EUR??,,????'???s economy?

6. Strong growths ?EUR??,,????'??? 17.6%
7. Moderate growths ?EUR??,,????'??? 70.6%
8. Little or no change from 2003s ?EUR??,,????'??? 11.8%
9. Slightly worse than 2003s ?EUR??,,????'??? 0%
10. Deep recessions ?EUR??,,????'??? 0%

How would you characterize 2003 for your business?

11. Strong, best year evers ?EUR??,,????'??? 17.6%
12. Steady growth from 2002s ?EUR??,,????'??? 23.5%
13. Not bad, slight gainss ?EUR??,,????'??? 35.3%
14. Equal to 2002s ?EUR??,,????'??? 5.9%
15. Slightly down from 2002s ?EUR??,,????'??? 5.9%v
16. Poor, very tough economicallys ?EUR??,,????'??? 5.9%

What area do you plan on promoting in 2004 for the benefit of the industry?

17. Continuing education (seminars, classes) for employeess ?EUR??,,????'??? 23.5%
18. Involvement in developing legislation for the industrys ?EUR??,,????'??? 17.6%
19. Joining a state or national associations ?EUR??,,????'??? 35.3%
20. Attending trade showss ?EUR??,,????'??? 70.6%

What?EUR??,,????'???s in Store for 2004

2003 was a positive year for many, as 35.3% of you saw at least slight gains in your businesses, and 23.5% of you exhibited steady growth. Almost two thirds see moderate growth in store for 2004, and 64.7% are intent on increasing customer base. To assist the promotion of the industry, 70.6% plan on attending trade shows this year, while about a third of you plan on joining a state or national association.

Book Review

Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management
Author: Nick Christians, PhD
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004

Fundamentals of Turfgrass Management introduces the principles of turfgrass management at a level suitable for those just entering the field, but contains appropriate content for experienced turfgrass managers. The author presents the information in a straightforward way, emphasizing why certain management practices are handled as they are.

?EUR??,,????'??The text will help readers expand their understanding of basic concepts so they can adapt what they have learned to the varied situations that present themselves on the job,?EUR??,,????'?? notes Mr. Christians in the introduction to the book.

?EUR??,,????'??I quickly found that the real world of broken irrigation heads, tight budgets, and constantly changing greens committees was much different from the quick, easy answers of the academic world,?EUR??,,????'?? Mr. Christians explains in the book preface. And while he asserts that ?EUR??,,????'??no academic course or textbook will ever take the place of hands-on experience,?EUR??,,????'?? he incorporates in his book the ?EUR??,,????'??things I wish I had been taught that I later had to learn on my own.?EUR??,,????'??

The subjects of the chapters are: careers in turfgrass; introduction to grasses; cool and warm-season grasses; establishment; soil testing and amendment; fertilization; mowing; irrigation; thatch, cultivation and topdressing; weed control; turf insects; turfgrass diseases; sports field management; sod production; professional lawn care; golf course maintenance.

There are many color plates identifying common turfgrasses, weeds, and the causes of turf damage, and tables and other illustrations throughout.

About the author: Nick Christians is a professor of horticulture at Iowa State University. He has taught courses and conducted research on turfgrass management and physiology since 1979, publishing more that 730 technical papers, articles, chapters and abstracts. He is the author of Scotts Lawns: Your Guide to a Beautiful Yard, and co-author of The Mathematics of Turfgrass Maintenance. His awards include the Outstanding Educator award from the American Society of Horticultural Science. He?EUR??,,????'???s a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America.