Agrium Advanced Technologies (AAT) has announced the debut of its Smarter Ways to Grow Tour, a series of three-day educational events for turf and ornamental professionals from across the country.
Qualified golf superintendents, turfgrass managers, distributors and horticultural professionals will receive invitations from AAT sales representatives to attend the event, scheduled for AAT’s corporate headquarters in Loveland, Colo., plus Harmony Community and Golf Course, and Colorado State University in nearby Fort Collins, Colo.
"The Smarter Ways to Grow tour is a great opportunity to bring some of the best and the brightest in the landscape and lawn care industries together to learn more about environmentally responsible fertilization practices," said Andrew Mittag, president, Agrium Advanced Technologies. "The curriculum, hands-on learning and networking opportunities available as part of the tour have been created to offer a complete perspective on slow- and controlled-release fertilizers and the role they can play in a contractor’s day-to-day business."
Attendees will receive new insights into growing healthy turf and plants, including an interactive tour of AAT’s lawn and fairway test plots at Harmony Community and Golf Course. Participants will also learn about the latest advances in enhanced-efficiency fertilizers, productivity tools and sustainability initiatives from AAT’s team of product specialists, agronomists and business leaders.
The Smarter Ways to Grow Tour, in partnership with Colorado State University (CSU), also features demonstration plots at the CSU campus with a variety of slow- and controlled-release fertilizers being used in both sports turf and horticultural real-world applications. CSU researchers will also present their findings from ground-breaking research on carbon sequestration and the environmental benefits of turfgrass.
"The Smarter Ways to Grow Tour gives turf and ornamental professionals a first-hand look at the research and evaluation currently available and under way, including active projects through our partnership with Colorado State University," said Mittag. "Ultimately, this research enables Agrium Advanced Technologies to produce fertilizer technology that benefits these professionals in growing healthier turf and plants in the most environmentally responsible, efficient ways possible."
Educational sessions from the Smarter Ways to Grow Tour include:
. Turf best-management practices
. Ornamental and landscape plant nutrient management
. Maximizing nutrient efficiency
. Improving plant growth and health
. Saving labor and money on fertilizer
. Managing environmental issues
The Smarter Ways to Grow Tour also offers networking sessions with fellow professionals and opportunities to enjoy Northern Colorado’s abundant recreational opportunities, including golf at Harmony Community and Golf Course.
Interested turf and ornamental professionals are encouraged to contact their Agrium Advanced Technologies sales representative for more information about the Smarter Ways to Grow Tour.