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INFINICUT® fleet impresses at Coventry City

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INFINICUT® fleet impresses at Coventry City: It’s been an exciting two years for Dale Gregory since he joined Coventry City Football Club as their new Head of Grounds & Facilities.

Not only has he overseen the significant expansion of the club’s Sky Blue Lodge Training Ground and Alan Higgs Academy Site, but investment has also resulted in the purchase of first-class equipment to maintain it! Among his new fleet are a trio of INFINICUT® SM34 Rotary mowers and another three FL34 cylinders, helping to deliver year-round presentation and outstanding quality of cut.

INFINICUT® fleet impresses at Coventry City

INFINICUT® fleet impresses at Coventry City

Dale leads a team of six, responsible for looking after the surfaces across the two sites. “At the Sky Blue Lodge we have two and a half hybrid pitches that are for the first-team and four natural pitches at the Alan Higgs centre for the academy” he explains. “The construction of the pitches at Sky Blue Lodge is identical to that at the stadium – and we maintain it as such – to give the players the same experience they’re going to get when it comes to match day.” Consistency and familiarity was also what led Dale to the INFINICUT’s, having used these in his previous role at the King Power Stadium.

“The quality of cut and presentation, particularly striping, produced by the INFINICUT® range is one of the best I’ve seen.” With this in mind, Dale opted for a fleet comprised of three SM34 rotary’s and three FL34 cylinder mowers, delivered by Martin Shepherd of George Browns Ltd in February 2023. “Throughout the winter, training is still happening every day so we use the Rotary’s to follow up with a clean-up cut, maintaining the height and removing debris. When we don’t have training, we’ll employ the services of the cylinders to sharpen up the cut and further boost presentation levels.”

He continues, “Not only are we getting the aesthetics we want, the fact they’re also electric was another major reason we opted for INFINICUT®, as we look to improve our operations on the sustainability front. As well as reducing emissions and vibration levels, they’re quiet, which means we can mow one pitch while players are training on the other.”

The club also took delivery of a pair of SpringRake™ and ThatchMaster™ cassettes from the TMSystem™ to quickly and easily equip into their FL34’s. “Grooming is essential for keeping the plant healthy and doing it with the INFINICUT® means we can keep unnecessary weight off the pitches. These operations will be conducted regularly throughout the spring and autumn and play an important part in our overall maintenance programme.”

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Combining maximum accuracy with minimum drift

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Combining maximum accuracy with minimum drift: Techneat unveils 2 battery powered additions to its pedestrian sprayer line-up.

Cambridgeshire based manufacturer Techneat Engineering has added 2 new eco-friendly models to its range of world class pedestrian sprayers, with both the Pro-Espray and Prodrift machines offering groundcare professionals a step forward in performance with significant environmental and economic benefits.

Combining maximum accuracy with minimum drift

Combining maximum accuracy with minimum drift

New for 2024, the Pro-ESpray represents a major improvement in battery powered electric sprayers – offering unrivalled performance, fingertip controls and built-in safety features.

Key features include a high-capacity Li-on battery and diaphragm pump specifically designed to offer excellent flow and pressure outputs. The Pro-Esprays’ control systems are based on the companies well established engine driven SPPS model, offering operators individual three-way boom section controls.

Superior sprayer accuracy is combined with triple nozzle holders on a choice of 3 or 4m boom options making the Pro-ESpray a very effective machine, with both noise exposure and vibrations practically eliminated for maximum operator comfort. Advanced safety features include a built-in auto brake, emergency stop and a resettable fuse to protect the operator.

Completing Techneat’s new line-up is the Prodrift. The Prodrift keeps spray drift to an absolute minimum whilst maintaining maximum accuracy and offers operator’s unparalleled manoeuvrability due to its unique 3-wheel set up.

Using a high-power Li-on battery to power a 12v pump supplying 4 spray nozzles mounted into a spray hood, the Prodrift has 2 fixed rear wheels and a front mounted, single pivot wheel enabling it to spray up against boundary edges with a tough roto moulded boom cover and flexible integrated skirt retaining all spray drift. This enables the machine to be used in both critical areas and perform in less than favourable weather conditions.

Pressure control is easy to adjust using a highly visible pressure gauge and the Prodrift also offers a simple handle bar mounted on/off switch, low decibel noise output and low vibration levels for improved operator comfort and performance.

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Lantra Shines a Light on Land-based Careers

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Lantra Shines a Light on Land-based Careers: The spotlight is on land-based and environment careers during this year’s National Careers Week, showcasing the breadth and diversity of opportunities that exist in this exciting area.

Lantra, the leading awarding body for the land-based and environment sector, is highlighting that a career in this area is varied and open to all. From career seekers to career changers, there are entry-points and pathways for people from all backgrounds, and all walks of life, which are highlighted on the Lantra careers web resource.

Lantra Shines a Light on Land-based Careers

Lantra Shines a Light on Land-based Careers

Stephanie Stevens, Careers and Engagement Manager at Lantra commented: “There is a challenge in making young people, particularly, aware that the land-based and environment sector exists – never mind the range of jobs that fall under farming, looking after trees, landscaping and so much more!”.

“Lantra is delighted to be celebrating #NationalCareersWeek, following our recent attendance at What Career? Live. We want to support and empower individuals to take the next step in their career by finding out more about pathways like apprenticeships, further education, and the many vocations the sector has to offer”.

Lantra had a presence for the first time at the busy What Career? Live event which took place on the 1 and 2 March. The careers team were joined by Ollie Brisbourne, who works for a virtual fencing business and is an active member of the Newport Young Farmers Club in Shropshire, who also spoke at the event.

Ollie said: “Agriculture is modernising day by day, with technology becoming a more benefiting factor throughout. My job has allowed me to maximize the benefit of my understanding of the farming industry and farmers themselves, to offer support within the use of Nofence and the data provided.

This system enables fencing virtually, working with GPS and mobile signal to keep livestock within the virtual boundary, benefiting both animal welfare, habitat management, and a variety of other farming systems.”

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H2Pro TriSmart registered as ‘non-microbial biostimulant’

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H2Pro TriSmart registered as ‘non-microbial biostimulant’: ICL Growing Solutions is proud to present that H2Pro TriSmart, our premium wetting agent, is also registered as a non-microbial biostimulant under the latest EU Fertilizing Product Regulation (FPR) (1009/2019).

In extensive trials and research H2Pro TriSmart has proven to significantly improve quality traits of turfgrass under drought stress conditions. The registration follows the H2Pro trials executed by the independent Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) in Bingley, United Kingdom, which demonstrated how H2Pro TriSmart improves both soil and plant quality traits. With these improvements, it is for the first time that a product is classified as both a ‘wetting agent’ and ‘non-microbial plant biostimulant’.

H2Pro TriSmart registered as ‘non-microbial biostimulant’

H2Pro TriSmart registered as ‘non-microbial biostimulant’

“Years of research and field trials have proven that the product performs exceptionally well” confirms Dr Andy Owen, ICL International Technical Manager Turf and Landscape.

“We have many years of data gathered from field trial work across the globe and university research showing how H2Pro TriSmart significantly reduces dry patch and soil hydrophobicity, maintaining turf quality and providing efficient water use. But we also wanted to focus on the benefits for turfgrass under the new fertilizer legislation”.

He continues “this comprehensive trial work allows ICL to clearly describe the benefits for the turfgrass surface that end-users can expect from selecting H2Pro TriSmart, although we are fully aware that the plant benefits come from the product’s unique ability to improve the moisture status in drought affected soils and rootzones

Independent field trials

Four independent field trials, each with an 8 times treatment replication at the Sports Turf Research Institute, Bingley UK (STRI), demonstrated that a H2Pro TriSmart program can significantly improve quality traits of turfgrass under drought stress conditions.

Improvements of turf quality, turf color, turf uniformity, turf density and NDVI were measured for TriSmart treated plots in comparison with control (untreated plots) as well as significantly greater volumetric moisture content percentage (VMC %). The robust field data allows for the new product designation under the latest regulations.

Advantages for turf managers

The use of a surfactant-based wetting agents in a programed approach is a well-established practice for turf managers wanting the best from their turf surfaces.

Implementing H2Pro wetting agents in a turf management strategy improves 1) drought resilience of turfgrass, 2) water-use efficiency, 3) water uptake by grass plants, and 4) overall turf quality traits. H2Pro TriSmart is part of a range of ICL’s high-performance wetting agents specifically developed for turfgrass. We offer both residual and penetrant products that are suitable for all conditions and are always backed by research and user testimonials.

Turf managers that use H2Pro TriSmart in their turf management programs can be assured that the product, including the quality and high performance, has not changed. The new FPR 1009/2019 compliant label identifies the changed registration status of the product.

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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Things learned by greenkeeping legend

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Things learned by greenkeeping legend: Bob Farren’s roots in turf care run a lifetime deep. The son of a superintendent, Farren grew up around the trade in the 1960s, and in 1979, he entered it himself.

Read the full article from Golf.com here

Things learned by greenkeeping legend

Things learned by greenkeeping legend

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

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