Futureproofing plant protection at the Amenity Forum

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Futureproofing plant protection at the Amenity Forum: Delegates at the Amenity Forum will hear how an integrated approach to weed, pest and disease management is key to the future of the sector, due to the increased regulatory pressure on plant protection products.

Futureproofing plant protection at the Amenity Forum

Speaking at the event on 12 October, Dr Colin Mumford, Bayer technical manager will explain the importance of integrated management programmes, that use cultural and biological controls, ahead of pesticide applications, and how these methods are more effective than relying solely on chemicals.

“Using this management style will help reduce the amount of plant protection products used and therefore aims to prolong the availability of pesticides on the market,” he says.

Colin will also explain how Bayer is taking measures to bring new sustainable products to the market, through extensive research and development, which will allow users to continue to apply them for the foreseeable future.

“Our development process is driven by industry demand, and because I’m regularly out talking to end users, I gain a first-hand insight into their issues and concerns, so that Bayer can work to provide a successful solution to real-life problems,” says Colin.

“We then look at existing and forthcoming regulatory requirements and anticipate potential stricter measures, so that any new product not only meets, but surpasses the requirements to achieve an authorisation. One aspect we focus on is ensuring that the impact of the product on the environment is minimised not only now, but well into the future,” he adds.

“It’s also important to make products effective with the smallest amount of active ingredient possible. This not only reduces the amount of exposure to the environment, it also means that products are more likely to remain on the market, without reformulation, if the authorities update the regulations.”

A final essential point to consider in any plant protection product, is that it is safe for the operator to apply, as user safety is paramount for any pesticide.

All these aspects will be discussed in further detail during Colin’s presentation at the Amenity Forum, or you can contact the Turf Solutions Team on 00800 1214 9451, or at turfsolutions@bayer.com for more information.

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Toro Improves Turf At Grimsthorpe Castle

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Toro Improves Condition And Appearance Of Turf At Grimsthorpe Castle: First time Toro customer, Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, has purchased a Groundsmaster 4300-D rotary mower to tend the formal gardens. An improvement in the condition and appearance of the turf within the gardens of the 3000-acre estate is already evident.

Toro Improves Turf At Grimsthorpe Castle

From Easter to September, the 65 acre gardens are open to the public and with footfall increasing so too are the horticultural standards.

Jim Handley, head gardener, explains: “One of my main challenges after accepting the position at Grimsthorpe was to raise the horticultural standards of the gardens. Our expansive lawns are a major attraction for our visitors, especially those with young families, and it’s my responsibility to provide them with the best turf possible to enjoy their visit.

“Soon after arriving at Grimsthorpe I realised that with our heavy clay soil, time constraints and natural mix of turf species, our cylinder mower was struggling to keep the turf in good condition. With little to no seasonal lawn maintenance being carried out previously, I have been formulating plans to begin rejuvenating our turf over a number of years. The first step was to replace our cylinder with a rotary mower to help alleviate some of the problems we were having.”

With it established that a rotary mower was needed to help with the regeneration and improvement of the turf, why a Toro? Jim says: “This is our first Toro mower, chosen simply because out of all the machines we looked at, the Groundsmaster 4300-D was the most suited. Its performance and comfort was unsurpassed and the ease of height adjustment and back up service presented was very good and sealed the deal.”

A rotary mower is favoured for its ability to tackle longer, thicker grass and terrain with contours and undulations with ease. Jim says: “By switching to a rotary mower we have eliminated some of the previous issues we were having. It’s comfortable with the conditions of the ground and even if we miss a day cutting, it handles the longer grass easily, cutting it right back down again with no problem. Under those conditions the cylinder mower tended to roll the grass, which wasn’t helping the plant’s health or appearance. The rotary is helping regenerate our turf, ensuring a good quality cut, resulting with lush and green lawns.”

The GM4300-D is, says Reesink Turfcare’s Stewart Jeffs, incredibly productive with a mowing capacity of 5.4 acres an hour, but its lightweight design means less compaction. This is an especially important consideration for clay soil which is prone to compact.

Jim who has been working at the castle for five years and has a team of four gardeners and groundsman, says the job of raising the standard of the gardens has been made easier since the arrival of the Toro GM4300-D. “We have a lengthy programme of rejuvenation and ongoing maintenance to get our lawns to a good standard, the Toro is a fine addition to our armoury to help make this happen.”

And we’re delighted to hear it’s in good time for the castle which for the first time will be opening in October half-term for visitors to enjoy.

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Letterkenny GC welcomes first Super 500 to Donegal

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Letterkenny GC welcomes first: Wiedenmann Super 500 to Donegal

Letterkenny GC welcomes first Super 500 to Donegal

Head Greenkeeper, John Neilly and his team at Letterkenny GC are the first recipients of a Wiedenmann Super 500 in Donegal.  The hugely versatile 3-1 collector, scarifier and verticutter was an easy choice for those who maintain the testing parkland course, with its spectacular vistas across the Swilly Estuary.

“Even after just a few weeks, you just know it’s a machine with a big work ethic which will serve well. It was outstanding at demo and already hard at work scarifying fairways which is what we wanted. In the coming months as a leaf collector it will be immense,” said John Neilly.

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Sherriff’s Marathon Sport is King of the Jungle

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Sherriff’s Marathon Sport is King of the Jungle: Stuart Vause, head groundsman at Castleford Tigers RLFC, believes that Sherriff Amenity’s range of Marathon Sport fertilisers have signalled dramatic improvements on the pitch at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle Stadium.

Sherriff’s Marathon Sport is King of the Jungle

It is safe to say that Stuart Vause has earned his stripes as the head groundsman for Super League side Castleford Tigers. For thirteen years, he worked for the club at every available opportunity while also juggling a full time position for a local authority. His dedication to the Tigers was rewarded three years ago when he was appointed as the head groundsman, and it is a foregone conclusion that the pitch has significantly improved during his tenure.

However, it hasn’t been plain sailing for Stuart – the pitch at the Jungle is over ninety years old and has no drainage or irrigation system and no undersoil heating. If that were not enough to keep Stuart busy, then there is the heavy usage to consider. The first team play approximately seventeen home games throughout the campaign and train on the pitch four times a week.  In addition, the pitch plays host to Castleford Tigers’ Under 19 and Under 16 teams. During peak periods the pitch can be used six times a week which can take its toll.

As well as his hard work and expertise, Stuart admits that having a good range of turf care products in place has been vital and none more so than Sherriff Amenity’s range of Marathon Sport fertilisers.

“I’ve tried lots of different approaches and products but three years ago I researched Marathon Sport,” says Stuart. “I trialled it and have been using it ever since because it really seems to suit the field. I’ve had excellent results from it and it holds incredibly well in this structure and soil – I can probably get a good three or four months out of each application, depending on rain.”

For a number of years, turf managers have reaped the benefits of Sherriff Amenity’s range of Marathon fertilisers. The Marathon Sport range of extended release fertilisers provide long-lasting, balanced growth on a number of surfaces such as golf greens fairways, tees, surrounds, ornamental lawns and of course sports fields.

The Marathon range is characterised by a balance of nutrients, the analyses of each product being geared to a specific growth stage or season. With six existing products in the Marathon Sport range – Autumn, Pre-Seed, Spring, Summer, Turf Core Renovator and Lawn Mini Pack– there truly is a solution for every requirement, no matter what the time of year.Stuart’s maintenance programme sees him start the season with the Spring and Summer mixtures, which he applies at 35g per square metre on a double pass with his spreader. He’ll apply these mixtures approximately three times during the spring and summer months and when the colder months kick in he turns to Marathon Sport Autumn to ensure good grass coverage over winter.

“The Marathon Sport fertilisers have dramatically thickened the sward – it’s been unbelievable. When I first came here the field was fragile, it used to rip up and lumps would come out. Now however, we have a really strong root zone – obviously with Rugby League games it is rough and tough but the pitch just seems to hold up to it.

“I love the colour that it provides too. During the winter months this field used to lose a lot of colour but it is now a lush green all year round. Sometimes, if we are on TV I’ll just give it a light application to really bring the colour out. It also never leaves foot marks and has never scorched for as long as I’ve been using it – this is with minimal water too.

“Perhaps one of the biggest benefits is that it doesn’t give you excessive growth. With it only being me here, it helps if I’m not chasing my tail having to cut it constantly. With some fertilisers, you apply it and if you leave it for a period of time you’ll be faced with an abundance of grass. The Marathon Sport just kicks on nicely at a steady pace and if I can’t get on to mow it for two or three days it is still manageable.”

Adding to the overall package from Sherriff Amenity, Stuart also revealed that the products are complimented by the technical advice he receives from his representative Robert Bone.

“I trust Robert completely – when he gives me advice I always take it on-board. If he thinks that a certain product isn’t working then he’ll let me know and we’ll try something else until we find one that does get results. He does my soil testing and when we come to sit down he’ll present me with charts and graphs detailing what I should be putting on the pitch at certain times of the year. Overall I couldn’t be happier with the service I receive from Sherriff Amenity.”

For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com

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Kubota UK Tackling Rural Crime Head On

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Machinery manufacturer adopts Cesar for M Series Tractors: Kubota UK’s continued commitment and investment in the agricultural sector has been raised once again after the leading machinery manufacturer announced its adoption of the official CESAR Scheme for its M Series range of tractors.

Kubota UK Tackling Rural Crime Head On

The CESAR security and registration scheme is owned and managed by the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) and supported by the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA).  By utilising Datatag ID technology, CESAR is designed to increase machine security and deter tractor theft.

Dave Roberts, Managing Director at Kubota UK, commented: “Farm equipment is a popular target for thieves.  As a manufacturer, it’s our responsibility to do all we can to make our products as appealing as possible to our customers and less attractive to criminals.

“As part of our ongoing investment in the agricultural industry, I am delighted to announce that from 1st September, all of our M Series tractors will be CESAR marked.  Datatag ID is proven in protecting and reducing machinery theft as well as being an essential technology for recovering stolen equipment.

“Another key benefit of fitting this technology on our M Series is the fact that our customers will now have the opportunity to benefit from reduced insurance premiums from NFU Mutual, and other leading insurers, who offer significant discounts for CESAR registered equipment.”

This news comes hot on the heels of the annual NFU Mutual Crime Report, which identified the cost of rural crime at £40m p.a. and notes that regrettably rural crime is once again on the increase.

Chris Harrison, Sales Director at Datatag ID Ltd, said: “We have been working in partnership with Kubota UK for a number of years helping to protect its market leading range of mini-excavators.  It’s fantastic that the business has now decided to expand its support of CESAR for its M Series tractors.”

The Datatag ID system works by giving each piece of equipment a multi-layered ‘fingerprint’ that thieves cannot remove. Each Kubota M Series tractor will be fitted with four tamper evident registration plates with a unique registration number, RFID tags, Datatdots and forensic DNA.

CESAR operate a 24×7 call centre which the police and other enforcement agencies can use to establish the identity and ownership of CESAR registered equipment. CESAR protects over 250,000 pieces of equipment and the recovery rate for stolen CESAR registered machines is more than double that for unregistered equipment.

Karen Tipping, Kubota UK’s marketing manager, concluded: “As a business, we are always looking at new initiatives that will benefit our customers, particularly when it comes to machine security.  Rural crime is clearly a serious issue and Kubota is extremely proactive in supporting the police and making the farming community aware of the risks they face from opportunist and professional thieves.

“A recent initiative that demonstrates our approach is the partnership we have formed with Thames Valley Police.  With the support of Kubota, the police force was the first in the UK to introduce a RTV utility vehicle into its fleet to tackle rural crime.  This police liveried Kubota machine has been used extensively in rural crime situations and is regularly on display at agricultural shows to heighten awareness of rural crime and the recommended precautions which should be taken. Kubota and Datatag will be working together, in the coming months, to further promote crime awareness and prevention.”

For more information on Kubota, visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.

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