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NEWS ARTICLES

Bernhard and Company announces distribution partnership

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Bernhard and Company announces distribution partnership: Bernhard and Company, an industry leader in fine turf management solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Maya Global, further embracing a data-driven approach within the sports turf industry and setting a new benchmark for industry excellence.

Maya Global offers software solutions that allow an analytical approach to sustainable land management, encompassing golf courses, vineyards, football pitches, and cricket grounds. Its artificial intelligence continuously anticipates the risk of turf disease, monitoring nutrient inputs using local weather conditions and providing customised alarms and notifications for turf professionals – such as indicators of disease and frost ahead of time.

Bernhard and Company announces distribution partnership

Bernhard and Company announces distribution partnership

The partnership between Bernhard and Company and Maya Global will unite the expertise of two industry innovators, ensuring the distribution of Maya Global solutions throughout England and Wales, so that pitch and land managers can perform their maintenance processes more efficiently.

“Partnering with Maya Global allows us to make further strides in our digital innovations, in addition to the Soil Scout product that we already distribute within the UK,” said Angelique Crosnier, Commercial Director at Bernhard and Company.

“As an example, calculating resource allocation will become automated, so combined with our Soil Scout sensors, customers will be able to use water more efficiently and reduce maintenance costs further. Making decisions is much easier when utilising instant insights that are fully backed by reliable data.”

“Maya was founded through a passion for nature, managing water resource and reconciling sustainable ambitions”, added Valentine Godin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Maya Global. “Technology can be used to advance the autonomy of greenkeeping, saving time and other valuable resources. To partner with an industry leader like Bernhard to help distribute our products fills us with confidence that our ethos and software solution can be used worldwide to further enhance turf management.”

Maya Global echoes Bernhard’s commitment to environmental sustainability and minimising wasted resources. Through their combined efforts, Bernhard and Maya Global will provide sustainable solutions such as an intelligent task management schedule, allowing turf professionals to optimise their maintenance regime and adopt informed agronomy practices.

Together, Bernhard Company and Maya Global are paving the way for a future where data-driven insights and advanced technology work hand-in-hand to transform the sports turf industry.

To speak to the Bernhard team about implementing Maya Global software in your facility, head to www.bernhard.co.uk/contact/ and speak to a member of the sales team.

To find out more about Bernhard and Company, visit: www.bernhard.co.uk

To find out more about Maya Global, head to: https://mayaglobal.io/

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Premier Wicket supports premier cricket

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Premier Wicket supports premier cricket: While the cricket season at Hertfordshire’s Aldenham School may not be long in duration it is intense, with students and community clubs using the facilities for training and fixtures between Easter and early July.

The concentrated play demands fast recovery and outstanding wear tolerance from the surfaces and specifically the grass seed – both of which Grounds and Gardens Supervisor Danny Wells says they achieve with Johnsons J Premier Wicket.

Premier Wicket supports premier cricket

Premier Wicket supports premier cricket

Danny is no stranger to the Johnsons Sports Seed range, having used a variety of formulations in his previous role at Arsenal Football Club. On joining Aldenham in the spring of 2024, he was delighted to discover Johnsons had once again been chosen for renovation of the school’s four cricket squares. “It’s always been a brand I’ve known you can rely on to perform so it was reassuring to come to this new role with one less thing to be worried about!”

“The work from the last renovation had clearly paid dividends as, come the end of the season in July, we were still seeing good coverage on the squares and we knew this was only going to improve further with another overseed of J Premier Wicket. We applied the seed at a rate of 60g/m2 and, assisted by mother nature, we were doing the first cut in just two and a half weeks!”

J Premier Wicket blends four top-rated perennial ryegrass cultivars to deliver class-leading wear tolerance, rapid establishment and visual merit. High disease resistance can also be expected as standard – something which Danny compliments. “Despite disease pressure being high this year with the combination of warm and overcast weather, we’ve seen very little in the way of any disease.”

He continues, “Another thing that’s important for us as a multi-sport site is that, when cricket season is over, the squares ideally need to look after themselves. While our focus with the maintenance may be elsewhere, we know come the spring that with this grass seed they’ll be ready for play.”

Danny was also fortunate enough to pay a recent visit to one of DLF’s breeding centres in Holland, as part of a trip organised by distributors Agrovista. “While I know the grass seed, it was fantastic to get an insight into the science and years of research and development that go into ensuring the right varieties make it into the bag. This has only reaffirmed my confidence in the Johnsons range, knowing that as a company they’re working hard to find seed solutions that will help us turf managers overcome the challenges of the future.”

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Reesink East Anglia builds on success

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Reesink East Anglia builds on success: The East Anglia and Midlands branch of Reesink UK is celebrating two years of successful operation and attributing a significant proportion of its achievements to its machinery servicing and parts departments.

Trevor Chard, Branch Manager of Reesink East Anglia, says: “We set out with a firm focus on sales, servicing, training and parts, and what we’ve noticed since opening is just how highly the servicing and parts departments are valued and in particular how popular the ReeAssure maintenance plans are.”

Reesink East Anglia builds on success

Reesink East Anglia builds on success

The reason for this is multifaceted says Trevor: “We’ve noticed customers are holding on to their machinery for longer. The cost of living crisis does affect businesses and the post-COVID spend is long behind us, but this is where buying Toro in the first instance pays dividends.

“It’s longevity and reliability is such that with regular maintenance and servicing by our team of experienced and trained technicians they can easily get upwards of a decade of solid work performance in.”

In fact, such is the demand for Reesink’s servicing maintenance support that the Burwell branch now has three technicians full-time on the road and two at the branch, with recruitment currently active to further bolster the team.

The reason for this is that from a choice of three service plans for customers, Burwell branch customers favour Gold. “They want to know everything is covered, scheduled and every eventuality taken care of. That’s unlimited visits, breakdown and call out costs, and all manufacturer’s routine maintenance and scheduled servicing. With most customers choosing this plan, it’s easy to see why the team is expanding.

“The growth of the maintenance and support we provide has been organic and demonstrates just how important it is to have a local branch to respond to customer demand and react to specific requirements of our local customers. That’s what sees us gaining new customers and welcoming returning ones.”

Trevor has noticed that most machinery enquiries focus on hybrid and electric options and he puts the branch’s point of difference down to that fact that they may act as an independent, but they have access to all the advantages being part of an international distributor brings.

“We’re trained as the distributor but we act as the retail outlet,” he says. “We can respond instantly to local market changes and design our business to offer the right products for the local industry but also pull on the power of being part of Reesink’s impressive network of market-leading brands, latest technology, guaranteed delivery times, and more.”

To speak to Reesink Burwell about what brands, services and expertise it can offer, call 01638 594340.

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New GMA independent directors

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New GMA independent directors: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is excited to announce the appointment of six new independent members to its Board of Directors.

Deborah Cox, David Withers, John Coleman, Martyn Ward, Paul Hagon and Claire Waldron bring a wealth of expertise from across the turf, facilities and consultancy sectors. The appointments reaffirm the GMA’s mission of strengthening support for the grounds management industry and elevating standards.

New GMA independent directors

New GMA independent directors

Geoff Webb, GMA Chief Executive Officer said: “We are delighted to welcome an exceptional group of professionals to the GMA Board of Directors. Each new member brings a unique set of skills and extensive industry knowledge which will help the GMA to support and advance the grounds management industry.

“Their expertise will be instrumental as we continue to elevate standards across the industry such as our educational programmes and strengthen our support for members. I’m confident that their contributions will help us to not only tackle industry challenges but also to seize new opportunities for growth and development.”

Deborah Cox, Managing Director at Lagan Valley Scientific, leads on advising turf managers and agronomists globally. With 20 years of molecular biology experience, including a PhD from Queen’s University Belfast, she has worked on plant stress genetics and plant disease/pest diagnostics. Deborah will support the GMA’s education initiatives with her academic and industry expertise.

David Withers, Managing Director at ISEKI UK & Ireland, has been a turf industry leader since the 1980s and served 24 years at Jacobsen, including as President in North America. Since 2016 he has successfully led ISEKI UK’s sales & marketing for their innovative turf and electric vehicles. An industry thought leader, David brings valuable insight on future developments to the GMA Board.

John Coleman, Managing Director at Advanced Turf Technology Ltd, also founded the company, growing it into a multi-million-pound business whose designs are used by top global sports organisations. A named inventor on multiple patents, John’s expertise in product innovation and strategic growth will be instrumental in shaping the GMA’s future direction.

Martyn Ward, Partner at Ward and Hagon Management Consulting LLP, has 40 years of experience in sales, marketing and executive roles at companies like Foster’s Brewing Group, Alliance UniChem/Boots and SSL International where he was Regional Managing Director. Now co-leading Ward and Hagon, he helps small businesses grow. A strategic and collaborative leader, Martyn brings expertise in business growth and stakeholder relations to the GMA Board.

Paul Hagon, Partner at Ward and Hagon Management Consulting LLP, has nearly 40 years of experience in the grocery sector, with senior roles at Nestlé and Palmer & Harvey. He co-leads Ward and Hagon advising on strategies that drive growth and serves on the Board of Warpaint London. Paul looks forward to supporting GMA’s long-term success.

Claire Waldron, Senior Facilities Planning Manager at the Football Foundation, has extensive experience in sports and leisure consultancy, having held roles at Knight Kavanagh & Page and spent over four years at The Football Association. Currently Senior Facilities Planning Manager at the Football Foundation, she also serves as a non-executive director at Northumberland County FA, supporting grassroots football.

The GMA would also like to express its gratitude to Carol Doran, Adrian Kay and Dr. Peter Grant who will be stepping down from the Board. Their contributions have been invaluable, and the association thanks them for their service to the Board and the industry.

“We are incredibly grateful to Carol, Adrian and Peter for the invaluable contributions they have made to the GMA and the wider grounds management industry,” said Geoff.

“Their expertise and insights have played a vital role in shaping the direction of our association and driving our mission. On behalf of the GMA community, we extend our thanks and wish them every success.”

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Play your part in cutting carbon

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Play your part in cutting carbon: Here Anthony Nadalin, director of marketing at The Toro Company, explores how Paris is leading the way in the decarbonisation of a major European city and the role outdoor power equipment can have in helping local municipalities achieve this.

France is one of the nation’s leading the effort to decarbonise and improve city air quality for residents, commuters and tourists.

Play your part in cutting carbon

Play your part in cutting carbon

Currently, 12 urban areas in France – including in and around Paris – have implemented a low-emission zone, known as an m-EPZ. These initial zones are just the beginning, as an additional 31 towns and cities are set to implement similar schemes by 2025. Along with cutting carbon, low-emission zones have been implemented to improve urban air quality for those who reside or work within them.

As France’s capital city, you would expect Paris to be at the forefront of these measures. In fact, the French capital adopted its first climate action plan in 2007 and is currently implementing the third, covering 2020 – 2030. By 2050, the city aims to have achieved a 100% reduction in local emissions and an 80% reduction in its total carbon footprint, compared to 2004 levels.

At present, the focus of all of its low-emission zones is motor vehicles powered by fossil fuels. In practice, this means that only vehicles powered by modern, efficient petrol and diesel engines are permitted to enter a zone. By 2030, Paris will only allow battery and hydrogen-powered vehicles to enter the city and the surrounding areas.

However, for Paris to successfully reach its goal of reducing local carbon emissions by 100%, it will require outdoor power equipment – used by local municipalities and businesses – to transition from petrol to more sustainable alternatives such as battery.

Challenge and opportunity

This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for organisations using such equipment. The opportunity to get ahead of the curve by adopting all-electric machinery now. For commercial businesses, it demonstrates their commitment to sustainability, while also giving them first mover advantage. However, the challenge for municipal authorities and landscaping or groundskeeping professionals is whether they can transition to all-electric machinery without sacrificing productivity and increasing their costs.

Therefore, it is no surprise that many companies are turning to battery-powered outdoor power equipment manufacturers, such as Toro to find the right solution for them.

Leading the charge

Toro is leading the charge to help the people of Paris and beyond make the switch to cordless outdoor power equipment. Toro’s approach is based on three pillars: performance, ease of use and affordability.

A fundamental principle is that the all-electric versions must meet or exceed the performance of the petrol and diesel equivalents. This is why Toro’s Revolution Series products are commercial-grade equipment designed for professional use. For example, Toro’s proprietary HyperCell® battery system was developed to deliver all-day run times, helping meet the demands of various industries without hindering power or performance.

Ease of use means that all-electric machinery must be easy to operate with stress-free maintenance. It helps that Toro’s Revolution Series is built on the proven Grandstand® and Z Master® chassis and TURBO FORCE® platforms, meaning they’re familiar to contractors and service engineers.

Furthermore, Toro Total Care offers groundskeeping professionals 24/7 support while features such as integrated charging systems and software offer a more user-friendly experience.

There remains a lively debate around the cost of cordless equipment, but we believe we are winning the argument. For a long time, equipment rental companies have focused on the total cost of ownership rather than the ticket price. Calculating the lifetime costs of a piece of equipment – capital cost, fuel, service and maintenance, and end-of-life disposal – provides a much more accurate picture than how much it costs to buy.

For some time now we have seen increasing numbers of grounds care and gardening professionals start to view equipment in the same way – and in this light, cordless machinery represents greater value for money. Easy to maintain and cost-effective to run, it can also cut the total cost of ownership and contribute to greater business profitability.

To help companies understand the financial benefits of battery power, Toro has created a TCO calculator, enabling contractors and municipal authorities to calculate their operational return on investment.

Play your part

Paris is driving urban decarbonisation in France, with many other towns and cities following suit. By 2030, municipalities and landscaping or grounds care contractors will be driving into the Paris low-emission zone in electric or hydrogen vehicles. Surely it would look deeply incongruous and send the wrong message if these vehicles were carrying diesel or petrol-powered equipment?

Furthermore, as residents get used to cleaner and quieter vehicles, they will expect the same from the outdoor power equipment used to maintain their parks and open spaces.

Joining the transition to battery-powered OPE will play a huge role in achieving decarbonisation targets for businesses looking to join cities like Paris in transitioning to a cleaner, quieter and electrified future.

To find out more about how Toro is leading the charge, or to access its TCO calculator and begin investing in battery-powered equipment, visit: https://sites.toro.com/leadthecharge/index.html.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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