About the New Jersey Turfgrass Association

About NJTA

Our Mission:

The New Jersey Turfgrass Association's mission is to promote the Turfgrass Industry and enhance the environment through education, professionalism, leadership and our partnership with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

NJTA Board of Directors

NJTA Past Presidents

NJTA Hall of Fame Award

NJTA Recognition Award

NJTA Member of the Year

NJTA Environmental Steward Award

NJTA History

The New Jersey Turfgrass Association represents your interests in promoting the green industry in the State of New Jersey. Our 750+ members include:

Lawn Maintenance Services
Landscape Contractors
Golf Course Superintendents
School Grounds Managers
Athletic Field Managers
Park and Recreation People
Cemetery Superintendents
Irrigation Contractors
Sod Growers
Nurserymen
Manufacturers, Distributors and Dealers
Commercial Suppliers
Turfgrass Students, Researchers and Educators

The New Jersey Turfgrass Association has developed and fostered a close working relationship between Rutgers University and the turfgrass industry. Through its organizational strength, NJTA has gained respect as the voice of the industry, and impacts significantly upon legislative and policy decisions affecting the industry in New Jersey.

Over the years NJTA has made the following contributions to the turfgrass industry in NJ:

-New Jersey Green Expo - a cooperative effort between NJTA and Rutgers, the State University, to provide a nationally-recognized educational program and trade show to promote the industry and generate funds to sponsor research and scholarship endeavors. Expo has become one of the premiere educational conferences and trade shows in the country.

-Pesticide Recertification Credits - may be earned at both the summer Field Days and NJ Turfgrass Expo.

-Turfgrass Field Days- the annual NJTA Turfgrass Field Days give anyone from the turfgrass industry access to the latest turf breeding and management research. The program is divided into two days - one for golf course superintendents and others interested in primarily bentgrass research, the second day for landscape, sports and utility turf interests.

-Support of Turfgrass Research - The NJTA awards research grants annually to research project leaders at Rutgers University, in the areas of turfgrass breeding, insect and disease control, and turfgrass management. Financial support from NJTA was also responsible for reestablishment of the Turfgrass Extension Specialist position and recruitment of Dr. James Murphy to the University.

-Clippings/Green World - our quarterly newsletter and turfgrass research bulletin keep you in the loop with industry news and research. NJTA is proud to bring our members an online archive of past issues. A Members Only benefit.

-Economic Impact Survey - NJTA funded a survey of the turfgrass industry, and its publication in both long and abbreviated forms. The survey served to focus attention on the size and importance of the turfgrass industry in New Jersey.
-Miscellaneous donationsof shade frames, underground irrigation, microscopes - and other equipment donated by NJTA to enhance the study of turf at Rutgers University.

-Scholarship Awards - to students in the 2-year, 4-year, and graduate turf programs at Rutgers University.

-New Jersey Turfgrass Foundation - was incorporated as a separate entity to solicit and administer funding programs for turfgrass research and education. Over the last fifteen years the Foundation has given over $250,000 to support Rutgers Turfgrass Programs and Education.

-Turfgrass Building - NJTA funded approximately half the cost of the turf building at Hort Farm II on Ryders Lane in East Brunswick. The turf building houses turf seed and chemical storage, a dry lab, and a conference room which serves as a meeting place for NJTA and other related groups, as well as serving as a photo gallery of NJTA Hall of Fame recipients.

-Project T.R.I.B.U.T.E. (Turf Farm Rebuilding to Improve Buildings, Utilities, Teaching, and Experimentation) - was inaugurated with NJTA's pledge of $60,000 to build the C. Reed Funk Building at Hort Farm II, which was completed and dedicated in 1996.

-Project D.R.E.A.M. - A demonstration display at Hort Farm II in East Brunswick serves to educate the public about turfgrass research, experimentation, and management techniques. The display was initiated and created as a project of NJTA.
-Legislative impact - NJTA provides a united voice to the Legislature through review and interpretation of legislation that would impact the green industry.