Abstract

In the United States, turfgrass systems generate an estimated $75 billion in annual economic activity and support over 800,000 jobs across turf production, management, and service sectors. Golf represents one of the most resource-intensive segments of this industry, encompassing approximately 16,000 courses that require high standards of turf quality and playability. Turfgrass management faces increasing labor costs, regulatory restrictions on pesticide use, and escalating herbicide resistance. Machine-vision–guided, plant-level application systems, such as the ALBA ultra-high-precision sprayer, address these challenges by enabling herbicide application only to the weeds. Field trials have demonstrated up to 95% reductions in postemergence herbicide use compared with broadcast applications. This level of input reduction increases operational efficiency, expands flexibility in herbicide programs, including alternative chemistries and resistance-management strategies, while making high-cost organic/non-selective herbicides economically viable for large-scale turfgrass management.

About the Speaker

Juan Romero grew up on his family’s coffee farm in Honduras, where he developed an early interest in agriculture and plant systems. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from the Pan-American Agricultural School (Zamorano) and a Master’s degree in Turfgrass Weed Science from Virginia Tech. His graduate research focused on emerging non-chemical weed control approaches, including lasers, liquid nitrogen, and radiant heat, for turfgrass systems. Juan currently serves as Golf and Turf Pre-Sales Manager at Ecorobotix, supporting the deployment and evaluation of the ALBA ultra-high-precision spraying system for golf courses and managed turf. Juan is an active member of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) and the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA).