ICL Acquires GreenBest

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ICL Acquires GreenBest: ICL Growing Solutions, a global leader in specialty fertilisers, announce today the acquisition of GreenBest, a UK-based manufacturer specialising in tailored specialty fertilisers and solutions for the Sports Turf, Landscape, and Horticulture markets.

This marks ICL Growing Solutions’ third strategic acquisition this year, following Nitro 1000, a Brazilian leader in biostimulants, and CAF, a North American leader of customised agricultural formulations. Together, these acquisitions demonstrate ICL’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative and customised solutions, reinforcing its leadership in these core specialty markets.

ICL Acquires GreenBest

ICL Acquires GreenBest

Enhanced Capabilities for Customer-Focused Solutions

With over 25 years of expertise in custom manufacturing in advanced granular and liquid nutrition portfolios, GreenBest has built a strong reputation for agility and customer-focused solutions. Its established presence in the Turf, Landscape, and Horticulture sectors, combined with a strong distribution network, enhances ICL’s ability to deliver sustainable, tailor-made solutions to customers worldwide.

Elad Aharonson, President of ICL Growing Solutions, stated: “The acquisition of GreenBest further solidifies our leadership in the Turf, Landscape, and Horticulture markets. GreenBest’s agility, customer focus, and responsive manufacturing capabilities will enable us to better serve our customers with innovative, tailor-made solutions that address their specific needs.”

Expanding Reach and Customer Impact

With GreenBest joining ICL’s global platform, ICL will further expand its market reach while continuing to prioritise its customer-first approach. The synergy between GreenBest’s specialised expertise and ICL’s global resources is set to deliver a strong value proposition to customers.

Tim Le Mesurier, Founder and Managing Director of GreenBest, commented: “The GreenBest team is thrilled to join the ICL family. It will enable both to combine their strengths, expand their innovation capabilities, and provide even greater value to our customers worldwide.”

Commitment to the Turf, Landscape and Horticulture Markets

This acquisition aligns with ICL’s strategic focus on growing its leadership in the specialty Turf, Landscape, and Horticulture markets. It underscores ICL’s commitment to driving innovation and supporting customers with cutting-edge technologies and reliable supply to deliver exceptional solutions and continue shaping the future of these dynamic industries.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

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GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career: The GroundsFest Education Fund is already making a significant impact on the next generation of grounds management professionals, with several students already benefitting from its support.

The most recent success story is George Legg, a student studying Sports Turf NVQ Level 2 at Wiltshire College and an Apprentice at Stanley Park Sports Ground. Thanks to the Fund, George was able to finance essential qualifications that played a key role in him securing a full-time position at Stanley Park Sports Ground after completing his Level 2 qualification.

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

One of the key certifications George was able to pursue through the Education Fund was the PA1 qualification in the Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides, as well as the PA6 qualification for the Safe Use of Pesticides with Handheld Applicators. These qualifications are crucial for anyone working in grounds management, particularly when it comes to managing fertilisers and ensuring the safe application of pesticides—a vital aspect of maintaining sports turf and other landscapes.

“The Education Fund helped massively,” George explains. “Once I had those qualifications on my CV, it was a massive boost. It made me more qualified to do certain things and definitely made me more employable.”

He continues, “I needed some extra funding to be able to do these courses, and the PA6 is especially important for grounds management with fertilisers and calibrations. It linked in perfectly with everything I was studying. Having those extra qualifications was big for me and for Stanley Park, especially because they didn’t have to fund them themselves.”

The Education Fund not only enabled George to obtain these qualifications, but it also allowed him to gain valuable skills without burdening his employer, Stanley Park Sports Ground, with the costs. This, according to George, is crucial in a time when the grounds management industry is facing a shortage of qualified professionals. “The GroundsFest Education Fund is great for creating opportunities for people like me,” he says. “It’s crucial because we are seeing more and more people drop out of the industry. There’s already a lack of groundstaff, and without funding or support, it becomes much harder for people to progress.”

In January, George will begin his new role as a full-time Groundsperson at Stanley Park, where he will be responsible for day-to-day tasks such as line marking, mowing, calibration, and operating machinery safely. Looking ahead, George hopes to continue advancing in his career. “I’d like to eventually become a Grounds Manager,” he shares.

Christopher Bassett, Event Director of GroundsFest, expressed his excitement about George’s success and the broader impact of the Education Fund. “This is fantastic news,” he says. “We are currently working hard on entering the next phase of the Education Fund, which will see the profits from the event reaching an even wider range of people in the industry. Watch this space.”

The GroundsFest Education Fund is an integral part of the event’s mission to invest in the future of the grounds management industry. The Fund is helping to address the challenges facing the sector, from skills shortages to the declining number of young people entering the industry. Through initiatives like this, GroundsFest is playing a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of industry leaders.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on X, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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JCB Christmas toy appeal breaks record

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JCB Christmas toy appeal breaks record: JCB’s third annual Christmas Toy Appeal has delivered a record haul of gifts for distribution to children in Staffordshire and Wrexham.

Kind-hearted employees have donated more than 1,700 presents across all of JCB’s UK plants in Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Wrexham – making it the biggest ever total since the first JCB Christmas Toy Appeal in 2022. The Hubb Foundation now has the mammoth task of wrapping the bulk of the gifts before the charity distributes them to families in Stoke-on-Trent with the help of the NSPCC. In Wrexham, toys donated by employees at JCB Transmissions will be handed to the Salvation Army for local distribution.

JCB Christmas toy appeal breaks record

JCB Christmas toy appeal breaks record

Today Lady Bamford thanked everyone for their contribution to the appeal. She said: “I’d like to say a very big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to donate a gift to the JCB Christmas Toy Appeal. It really will make such a huge difference to every single child who has a present to open this Christmas.”

As the final gifts were delivered to the World HQ yesterday, Lord Bamford was joined by Rupert Chilman, aged five and his sister Alice, two, to officially hand over the presents to the Hubb Foundation and the NSPCC.

NSPCC Strategic Services Manager Rachael Holdcroft said:  “The reality for many children and families is that Christmas isn’t actually a magical time. The donation of these gifts by the JCB  workforce brings a little bit of light into what is otherwise quite a dark time for them and it will make the world of difference.”

Adam Yates, Chief Operating Officer at the Stoke-on-Trent based Hubb Foundation said: “The sheer volume of gifts donated to the JCB Christmas Toy Appeal is an amazing achievement by JCB employees. I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated a gift this year.”

The GMB union in Staffordshire donated £1,000 to enable the purchase of toys for the Appeal and in Wrexham the GMB donated a further £650 so gifts could be bought.

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BIGGA thanks survey participants

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BIGGA thanks survey participants: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), has thanked the 1,141 individuals who participated in the association’s recent membership survey.

Responses were received from across the United Kingdom, with a further 7% of participants contributing from outside the UK. The survey attracted input from professionals at every level of the greenkeeping and turf management industry, with 44% of respondents identifying as course managers or head greenkeepers.

BIGGA thanks survey participants

BIGGA thanks survey participants

Notably, just under 30% of respondents indicated they were not currently members of BIGGA. Their feedback was of particular interest to the association as it seeks to gain a well-rounded understanding of BIGGA’s reputation within the industry and explores opportunities to enhance its membership offering.

Survey participants were given the chance to enter a prize draw to win a £500 Amazon voucher. Craig Denton, assistant greenkeeper at Lindrick Golf Club, was announced as the winner.

Craig said: “I was really surprised to win. I don’t usually enter anything, but I thought I had 10 minutes to spare, so why not? After completing the survey, I went into work and told the other lads to take part because it helps everyone – not just BIGGA but us greenkeepers as well.

“I think we all have to stick together and BIGGA tries very hard, especially with the education on offer at Harrogate. They need feedback from us members if they’re going to keep improving.”

This survey provided the biggest opportunity in a generation for those working in the turf industry to share their views on the future of BIGGA. Work is now underway to analyse the results and explore how the findings can be implemented.

Further discussions about the survey’s findings will take place at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in January 2025, where Scott Reeves, BIGGA Head of Membership, will present the results to attendees of the annual trade show.

Scott said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in our survey. We’re delighted with the strong response – 1,141 participants – which reinforces that BIGGA continues to play a vital role in the golfing industry. It’s also clear that greenkeepers are passionate about the association and the community it fosters. The hard work now begins as we analyse the results and consider how the findings can be adopted into the everyday practices of the association and our team.”

Greenkeepers and the wider turf management industry will have the opportunity to further discuss the survey’s findings at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition, taking place in January 2025 at the Harrogate Convention Centre. More information and free registration are available at www.btme.org.uk

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Kubota Celebrates 50 Years in Europe

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Kubota Celebrates 50 Years in Europe: Kubota marked a significant milestone of 50 years in Europe, by hosting an exclusive event themed “It’s All About People.” at PortAventura in Spain.

The event welcomed over 900 attendees, including dealers, distributors, partners, international media and employees, showcasing Kubota’s status as a leading manufacturer in Agriculture, Groundcare, and Construction equipment.

Kubota Celebrates 50 Years in Europe

Kubota Celebrates 50 Years in Europe

The event offered a chance for celebration, networking and insights into Kubota’s future. Attendees were introduced to exciting new additions to Kubota’s expanding portfolio, including the launch of the M7004 tractor and a limited-edition anniversary model, of which only 50 units will be produced. A unique “1 of 1” edition was also unveiled signed by Jean Alesi, the special guest of the evening, who drew fascinating parallels between Formula 1 and Kubota’s success, highlighting the contributions of the people behind it.

From a Groundcare perspective, Kubota unveiled an upcoming 44hp Front Centre Collect machine, contributing to the rapid growth in this sector. Additionally, building on the success of the EK1 series across Europe, a hydrostatic version is set to increase the entry-level compact tractor range.

The event also highlighted Kubota’s commitment to future technologies, such as automation and connectivity. Attendees witnessed live demonstrations of the KFAST, a self-propelled sprayer developed for autonomous spraying solutions in orchards and vineyards alongside a M7 and a L1 Series tractor, equipped with an autonomous kit from AGC (Agreenculture), designed to address industry challenges such as labour shortages.

The evening concluded with dynamic entertainment at the PortAventura Park, featuring light shows, live music, and a variety of activities, making it a fitting celebration of Kubota’s legacy and future in Europe.

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