Always the right tine for a Verti-Drain

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Always the right tine for a Verti-Drain: Shortly after taking over as Head Greenkeeper at Charleton Golf Club, Brian Heggie quickly drafted in another new member of the team – a Redexim Verti-Drain® 7416 from local dealers Henderson Grass Machinery.

The versatile range of tine options available means that the Verti-Drain® has had a busy year since its delivery in March 2020, conducting monthly aeration across the course’s greens, tees and approaches.

Always the right tine for a Verti-Drain

Always the right tine for a Verti-Drain

A quick scan of the shed upon joining the club in September 2019 highlighted to Brian the absence of any aeration equipment – something he was keen to rectify. “I’ve used the Redexim Verti-Drain® in a number of my previous positions and you know that whichever model you choose, it’s going to be reliable and do exactly what it says on the tin” says Brian, who heads up a team of four. This time Brian opted for the 7416 model, offering a 1.6m working width and penetrating the ground to a maximum depth of 350mm (14”).

“What keeps me coming back to the Verti-Drain® is the flexibility of being able to use different tines throughout the year – ensuring that we are achieving optimal results, no matter the ground conditions. This year we’ve been aerating the greens, tees and approaches once a month with either 8mm pencil tines, 14mm solid tines or 14mm hollow tines. We will continue with the monthly programme over the winter, using pencil tines to keep the surface open while keeping disruption to a minimum.”

While, from experience, Brian knows what he likes when it comes to machinery, he has the additional reassurance of support from his local dealer Hendersons, especially Scott McNeil. “Having been a greenkeeper himself, he’s great to have at the end of the phone to answer any questions we may have.” Brian concludes, “The Verti-Drain® never disappoints and now that we have one in the shed here at Charleton we can up the amount and type of aeration we conduct which will only bring benefit to the health and condition of our playing surfaces.”

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Jacobsen production begins in UK

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Jacobsen production begins in UK: Production of the first-ever HR800 has been completed at the Ransomes Jacobsen Centre of Excellence in Ipswich, England.

The completion of the first-ever fully built Jacobsen HR800 mower is a seminal moment for the brand. Production has been moved to the factory in Ipswich, UK so investments in skills and developments in mower production could be focused on a single facility. That skill and expertise has been channeled into the new HR800 high-performance large area rotary mower.

Jacobsen Production Begins in UK

Jacobsen Production Begins in UK

Jacobsen Key Account Manager Andre Andrade, who hails from Augusta, GA has observed the progress of the mower throughout the build and is excited to see the HR800 kick-off Jacobsen production in Ipswich.

“It has been great to start production of the HR800, and to see the first fully assembled machine is exciting,” Andre begins. “Bringing all Jacobsen production to England is an important step for us, and everyone at the factory has been eager to get it underway. The situation with Coronavirus has caused challenges all over the world, but for us, it has solidified our relationship with our colleagues in America who have assisted our Production Team Leader, Matt Pipe, during construction.

“Matt has worked almost singlehandedly, producing this mower, and as a result, we now have someone who is an expert. When it comes to customer support, that will be a huge asset because in Matt we have someone who can offer in-depth advice because he has an insight into that machine that no one else has. Over time that knowledge will be shared with the engineers in the factory and the sales team, so we will all have a strong understanding of the product as we do with the others we produce here.”

The mower Matt has dedicated his time and efforts to is Jacobsen’s most powerful with the widest cut. Productivity is a crucial aspect of every turf maintenance operation, and with the HR800, Jacobsen has created a mower that works where you need it to and when you need it to.

Completing this project has taken over two months, from picking parts from pallets to the finished mower. It has been Matt’s biggest challenge in his eight years at Ransomes Jacobsen and one he has taken great pride in.

He explains: “I’ve been here for eight years, and I was around for the BETA build of the MP, so to be able to do this is quite something for me. I’m really proud of what we produce here at the factory, and I’m proud to be able to say that I was the first to build the HR800 in the UK.

“It has been a unique opportunity to learn everything about this mower because we started with technical drawings and parts on pallets through to the finished product. Doing that means I’ve been able to use what I already know and work with the production engineers on certain areas, and Antans Lukisis on the hydraulic system so I’ve constantly been learning throughout the process. I think that’s what has made it so enjoyable.”

The HR800 features a powerful 74hp Kubota® turbo diesel engine that takes the 192 in. (4.9 m) width of cut wherever you need it, and onboard systems ensure consistent professional mowing in the harshest of conditions.

MARBAIN® Boron Alloy Steel blades deliver the cut quality you’d expect from a Jacobsen unit. Whether you’re cutting golf course roughs, racecourses, or parks and minimal required maintenance gets you cutting quickly and keeps you there until the job is done.

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Rain Bird Europe appoints Tina Baumgärtner

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Rain Bird Europe appoints Tina Baumgärtner: Tina Baumgärtner joins the Rain Bird Europe Golf Team this month as Regional Sales Manager Golf for Central Europe, DACH region – Germany (D), Austria (A), Switzerland (CH) and the Netherlands.

Having worked in a variety of global industrial companies in sales, marketing, portfolio and technical product management, Tina has a wealth of expertise in technical and commercial sales which will significantly strengthen the Rain Bird Golf Team in the Central European region.

Rain Bird Europe appoints Tina Baumgärtner

Rain Bird Europe appoints Tina Baumgärtner

Commenting on her recent appointment, Tina said, “I see many parallels with my application experience in different sectors which I bring to the role. I am looking forward to new challenges at Rain Bird, to working in close partnership with my colleagues and all our Rain Bird customers”.

Didier Genty, Europe Golf Sales Manager for Rain Bird added: “I am delighted to welcome Tina to Rain Bird and to our expanding European team.

Tina can be contacted via email at tbaumgaertner@rainbird.eu and mobile on +49 (0) 179 617 4554.

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Ascernity approval adds new power

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Ascernity approval adds new power: The exciting new dual-action Syngenta turf fungicide Ascernity® has gained approval for use on sports turf surfaces – bringing a step change in disease control for high pressure conditions.

The initial approval enables use only on fully enclosed sports turf in the UK, including such football, rugby and cricket stadiums, training facilities, tennis courts and bowls, for example. The move is the first step in submissions for future extended approval for golf and other turf surfaces.

Ascernity approval adds new power

Ascernity approval adds new power

Ascernity brings an entirely new active for turf disease management, SolatenolTM, in combination with difenconazole – designed to together give the optimum balance of internal and leaf surface protection.

This balanced systemicity of Ascernity ensures the whole plant leaf remains protected for longer and giving sustained disease control in growing conditions, reported Glenn Kirby, Syngenta Technical Manager for UK and Ireland.

“It is especially well suited to stadium conditions where turf growth continues all year around, particularly with artificial lights and undersoil heating,” he advocated. “The addition of Ascernity is extremely welcome for enclosed situations that create continuously high disease pressure, which seriously challenge existing limited options for managers.”

The approval for Ascernity in the UK specifically states use only on fully enclosed sports turf where access by large herbivorous animals – hares and rabbits – can be excluded. Use areas in the future are expected to be extended when Syngenta is ready with further supporting data.

Glenn believes Ascernity will become a key fungicide option in the programme whenever turf is actively growing, particularly enabling stadium pitch renovations to establish strongly. Its use has proven safe from the two-leaf stage in seedlings and with no adverse effects on any turf.

“Targeting disease earlier prevents damage to the leaf, reduces stress on the plant and effectively breaks the disease cycle – enabling fungicide programmes to maintain playing surface quality and longer lasting results throughout the season.

“The dual action of Ascernity is so effective since it initially stops germinating spores from developing hyphae on the surface. But if disease has penetrated through into the leaf, it can still act to stop further development – before visible damage breaks out.”

Results from over 70 trials throughout Europe have shown effective performance against a full range of key turf diseases, including Microdochium nivale (fusarium patch), anthracnose and dollar spot. Trials have also shown activity on brown patch, red thread, fairy ring, take-all and leaf spot.  Activity has been demonstrated with Solatenol use on grey leaf spot.

Ascernity is approved for two applications per season, at a rate of 3.0 l/ha. Applications must be made using LERAP 3-star rated nozzles, along with compliance of a six-metre buffer zone.

Research has shown it can be used to complement Instrata Elite and Medallion TL in a powerful disease control programme for turf quality.

Launching Ascernity in the UK, Syngenta Turf Business Manager, Daniel Lightfoot, added there has been huge excitement for the successfully approval and introduction of a new active ingredient for turf management.

“The investment in achieving approval for Ascernity underlines our commitment to delivering effective solutions for turf disease control, along with the research, support and advice to get the best results.”

He pointed out that the power of the actives in Ascernity will perfectly complement other Syngenta turf fungicides, to enable turf managers to plan a strategic disease control approach, alongside advanced innovative technologies in wetting agents, pigments and amino acid biostimulant programmes.

“Used as a strategic part of an integrated Turf Management (ITM) plan, Ascernity can assure a sustainable long-term future for effective turf disease control in stadiums,” he added.

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