Turfgrass researchers receive $5.4 million to create more sustainable lawns

Fine fescue turfgrass species are excellent alternatives to provide functional turf areas while reducing inputs of water, fertilizer, mowing, and pesticides.  Eric Watkins recently received a $5.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture to identify ways to facilitate adoption of these fine fescues on private and public landscapes.

The grant, Increasing Low-Input Turfgrass Adoption Through Breeding, Innovation, and Public Education, is a multi-institution effort that includes other researchers from the northern U.S.  To learn more about this exciting new project, please read the University of Minnesota's feature and a summary of the grant on the USDA NIFA's website.