NTRF-Funded Research

2027 NTRF Research Grants Are Now Open

The National Turfgrass Research Foundation (NTRF) is a registered Canadian charity that offers an annual research grant program to support high-quality, science-based projects that address priority needs within the turfgrass sector. Through this program, NTRF invests in research that advances product development, strengthens evidence-based management practices, promotes innovation and environmental stewardship, and supports more sustainable management and use of turfgrass environments across Canada.

2027 Research Priority Areas

Based on feedback and findings from the 2026 Research Matters survey, NTRF has identified the following priorities for research on living turfgrass used on golf courses, sports fields, lawns, parks, sod farms, and other managed turf areas across Canada:

Climate resilience and extreme weather adaptation for turfgrass
Turfgrass pest and disease management
Ant management and control on putting greens
Water efficiency and irrigation practices for managed turf, including the relationship between wetting agents and long-term soil health
Turfgrass soil health, nutrient efficiency and carbon sequestration
Sustainable turfgrass inputs and reduced chemical reliance, including regenerative practices that reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals
Turf performance, durability, playability, wear tolerance and recovery
Turfgrass management practices that respond to regulatory requirements and evolving environmental expectations
Labour efficiency and practical operational innovation in turfgrass management
Turfgrass management approaches that address rising costs and resource constraints
Control of invasive plants in turf and managed fescue areas
Creating usable compost from turfgrass clippings
Ongoing trials of turfgrass species and varieties in locations representative of Canadian climates

Qualified researchers from universities, colleges, research institutions, and other eligible organizations are invited to submit proposals that address one or more of these priority areas.

The deadline to submit your proposal is January 4, 2027. Successful applicants will be notified by March 2, 2027.

Review the application details and submit your proposal here

Your input helps guide where research dollars go — and how results are shared back with the industry.

Take the Survey
Roll of grass

2026 NTRF-FUNDED RESEARCH

2026 NTRF Research Grant Recipients

Through the generous support from our sponsors, partners, personal donors and fundraising events, the NTRF Board of Directors has approved funding of the following research projects:

Dr. Katerina Jordan, University of Guelph
PROJECT 1: Further investigation into the causal agents of take-all patch and their management in Canada and the Northern United States

PROJECT 2: Continued Investigation into Take-all Patch of Creeping Bentgrass and its Two Causal Agents, Gaeumannomyces avenae and Slopeiomyces cylindrosporus

Jason Pick, Olds College
Assessment of environmental conditions under impermeable and permeable turf covers, influencing the survivability of poa annua in mixed creeping bentgrass golf greens subjected to forced/reduced hardening periods

Dr. Eric Patterson, Michigan State University
Discovery of Maple Leaf Allelopathic Chemicals for Organic Weed Control in Turf

Explore the NTRF Research Library for more NTRF-funded research