Jacobsen Support Greenkeeping Career

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Jacobsen Support Greenkeeping Career: James Walker, a graduate of the African Turf Academy in Pretoria, South Africa, has praised Jacobsen for its commitment to education and helping to launch his greenkeeping career.

James graduated from the African Turf Academy, which is supported by Jacobsen and the R&A, in 2015.  James enjoyed success at the Academy based at the Silver Lakes Golf Estate and won the Student of the Year award in 2015.

Jacobsen Support Greenkeeping Career

Three years on, and James is now the assistant greenkeeper at JCB Golf & Country Club, the brand-new 18-hole golf course based at the construction equipment manufacturer’s headquarters in Staffordshire. The golf course is supplied by Textron Golf, which includes equipment and vehicles from Jacobsen, E-Z-GO, Cushman and Textron Fleet Management.

“It’s amazing that Jacobsen supported me throughout my education in South Africa, and now I am here at JCB which uses the equipment,” James said. “The African Turf Academy was the only one to offer an international qualification, which was run by Elmwood College, and Jacobsen was the only company willing to invest in education in the turf industry across South Africa. I must thank Jacobsen, the R&A and The African Turf Academy for all they have done for me in my career so far.”

The African Turf Academy offers an International Greenkeeping Qualification, a two-year full-time programme of study running in conjunction with the Tour Player Development Programme. On completion of the course, students receive an internationally recognised National Certificate in Greenkeeping from Elmwood College in St. Andrews, Scotland.

“I was introduced to Euan Grant at the Golf Industry Show in San Antonio this year,” James continued. “As the general manager at JCB Golf & Country Club, he was looking for greenkeepers to come and work at the new course. I was excited at the prospect; it sounded like an exciting project and something I was keen to be involved in.”

Jacobsen Support Greenkeeping Career

“James and I met at GIS in February 2018,” Euan grant explained. “As soon as we started to talk, I knew he was exactly the kind of person I wanted at the JCB course. He’s passionate about greenkeeping, extremely hardworking and down-to-earth and committed to his own professional development. I would also like to thank Jacobsen for giving people like James the opportunity to enter the turf maintenance profession and supporting the future of the industry.”

“I’m looking forward to my future here,” James concluded. “It’s a spectacular course with the best equipment and resources available, and whilst the climate is very different to South Africa, I’m adjusting well!”

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Rigby Taylor Introduce Cold Start Boost-R

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Rigby Taylor Introduce Cold Start Boost-R: Rigby Taylor has introduced Cold Start Boost-R 11-5-5 +8 Fe + O.8 MgO as a true cold start fertiliser that provides turf with nitrogen in cold conditions, in conjunction with a rapid colour boost.

Effective at temperatures of 5 degrees C, Cold Start Boost-R will prepare the plant for the spring, greatly improve early season colour and assist in combating turf disease attack while enabling grounds staff to produce playing surfaces that continue to meet expectations.

Rigby Taylor Introduce Cold Start Boost-R

With a nitrate and high iron content, as well as magnesium for increased colour, Cold Start Boost-R also includes zeolite to reduce leaching and improve cation exchange capacity

Nitrogen: an application of a fertiliser containing sulphate of ammonia, urea and nitrate in temperatures of 5 degrees C, will enable the nitrate to provide the plant with a quick ‘kick’, while waiting for the sulphate of ammonia to become available.

Iron provides an almost instant visual response and will assist in the hardening of the plant foliage as a defence against early season disease pressure. This also helps reduce surface scarring.

There are three-fold benefits of the use of magnesium compared to formulations containing just nitrate and iron. Magnesium allows the plant takes to up nitrate when it is photosynthesising, even at cold temperatures, naturally provides colour and increases the plant’s ability to utilise iron.

For more information, visit: www.rigbytaylor.com

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Cabrio Tops Leaf Ratings

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Cabrio Tops Leaf Ratings: Cabrio Ultra Fine Ryegrass has, for the third consecutive year, been announced as the number one variety for fineness of leaf in the BSPB’s Series L Table 1 for perennial ryegrasses.

Formally introduced as a new cultivar in 2016, Cabrio Ultra Fine Ryegrass went straight to the top of the BSPB’s Table L1 for 2017 thanks to a fineness of leaf scoring of 8.8.  It retained this position in 2018 thanks to another score of 8.8, and enjoys the same position in 2019’s list thanks to a rating of 8.7 – a score which is still half a point clear of its nearest rivals at 8.2.

Cabrio Tops Leaf Ratings

“Cabrio continues to impress with its exceptional and consistent fineness of leaf score,” explains Richard Brown, Germinal Amenity Sales Manager.  “Cabrio also benefits from good all round scores for shoot density (7.8), visual merit (7.9), slow regrowth habit (7.2) and cleanness of cut (7.1) and therefore offers groundsmen, greenkeepers and turf growers an excellent opportunity to produce an exceptionally fine-leaved, hard wearing sward that can not only tolerate a close mowing regime, but which will also give good ball roll or bounce and will be very attractive aesthetically.”

Cabrio is recommended for use on golf tees and golf green aprons as well as tennis courts and cricket squares where it is ideal for repairing baselines and wicket ends.

Cabrio is exclusively available from Germinal in the company’s A5 Cricket, Tennis and Tees, A10 Golf Tees and Divot Repairs, and A28 Ultrafine Ryegolf mixtures.  Its inclusion in all three of these mixtures enhances sward density, wear tolerance and repair capability.

Cabrio Tops Leaf Ratings

Cabrio: cultivar characteristics*

  Table L1

(mown at 10-15mm)
Shoot density 7.8
Fineness of leaf 8.7
Slow regrowth 7.2
Visual merit 7.9
Mean 7.9
Resistance to Red Thread 3.8
Cleanness of cut 7.1
Winter greenness 5.2
Summer greenness 6.0

*Source: BSPB Turfgrass Seed booklet 2019

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Advance Grass And Selectline

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Advance Grass Solutions And Selectline: Advance Grass Solutions Ltd is proud to announce a UK exclusive distributor agreement with Selectline line marking paint.

Selectline has more than 30 years’ experience in developing and manufacturing line marking paint for the European market. The company has its own research and development facility in The Netherlands, France and Canada which guarantees consistent top of the line quality.

Sjoerd Broos, International Account Manager said “AGS is the perfect partner for us in the UK. Both our companies are ambitious with a very clear vision and strategy. AGS is well known for its high quality products and a customer service experience that is second to none.” Sjoerd continued “We were looking for the ideal UK partner and the positive relationship felt right from day one”

The Selectline range consists of high quality concentrates and ready to mix paints to suit all budgets. These are accompanied by easy to use spraying machines that are built to last.

Sam Honeyborne, MD at AGS added “We have a very clear business model of only selecting high quality brands to add to our portfolio. Selectline is a premium product which we have been trailing with customers for several months. The feedback has been 100% positive particularly with regard to longevity.” Sam continued “We have no doubt Selectline will become the go to paint for the discerning end user and we are extremely pleased to have secured this agreement and added a premium product to our portfolio.

For more information on SELECTLINE or AGS please call 01183-914540 or email info@advancegrass.com.

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Advice on Pesticides Post-Brexit

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Government Advice on Pesticides Post-Brexit: The Government has issued guidance to manufacturers and users of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) on what action they need to take now to minimise any disruption once the UK leaves the EU.

It says the high scientific standard to which decisions on the use of pesticides are made will not change and that it will continue to be guided by the most up-to-date scientific assessment of the risks to animals and the environment.

If the UK leaves the EU on March 29 without a deal, pesticides currently available in the UK at the point of exit will continue to be so, allowing products to be marketed and used as normal, it says.

The Government says future PPP applications for use and renewals in the UK will continue to be considered by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), on behalf of the UK Government (Defra) and the devolved administrations. It is said the format and data requirements for new applications will remain the same as they do now, minimising disruption for businesses.

The key change would be that if a business wishes to place a new pesticide on the EU market it will need to make a separate application to the EU, a process which could take up to three years.

Farming Minister George Eustice says:

“Delivering a negotiated deal with the EU remains the Government’s top priority, but it is our job to responsibly ensure we are prepared for all scenarios, including no deal.

“If the UK leaves the EU with a deal there will be an Implementation Period (IP) during which the UK will continue to follow decisions made by the EU on pesticide approvals and Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs).

“The key difference for businesses is that, during the IP, the UK will not be able to act as a ‘leading authority’ under the EU regime and the HSE will be unable to conduct active substance or MRL evaluations. Therefore, businesses wishing to supply new pesticides to the UK and/or EU markets would need to make an application to a competent authority in an EU Member State.”

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