The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) has hired Dr. Jeff Krans, retired professor of turfgrass science at Mississippi State University, on a part-time basis to conduct site visits to university trial sites on behalf of NTEP. Krans will also evaluate and discuss NTEP trials with researchers at the various trial locations across the United States.

Krans will visit approximately 10 sites per year to work with researchers to address any problems they may have, discussing evaluation techniques and trial management issues. Krans’ experience with both cool-season and warm-season species makes him a good candidate for advising researchers working with NTEP trials.

The hiring of Krans is part of a broader strategy by NTEP to improve its trial management, data collection, statistical analysis procedures and data presentation. Other aspects of the strategy include the investigation of automated technology for increased accuracy and cost-effectiveness in data collection, consideration of new statistical analysis procedures, better cultivar disease and insect tolerance information and presentation of state and regional data via the NTEP Web Site www.ntep.org and NTEP CD.