Only The Best Nematodes In Leading Products

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Only The Best Nematodes In Leading Products: BASF is the UK’s largest producer of beneficial nematodes, and it goes to great lengths to ensure that its product is of the highest quality available on the market. It’s vital that the quality is as high as possible because low quality nematodes will either die before use or will be ineffective in hunting down prey.

Nematodes are micro-organisms that occur naturally in the soil, where they hunt down and attack pests. Each nematode species has its own specific prey, meaning that they will harm their prey, and only their prey. They are already present within the soil, but more often than not, this is at such low levels that they are ineffective at controlling major pest infestations. In order to see the benefit, you must boost the numbers of live nematodes present in the soil; this is where BASF comes in!

Only The Best Nematodes In Leading Products

BASF ensures a consistently high quality by growing them through an extremely high-tech and specialised procedure. The facilities designed by BASF are reminiscent of a cutting edge distillery or brewery, filled with stainless steel stills and white lab coats. There are endless factors considered with each stage of the process being carefully monitored by experts in the field, and the most advanced equipment specifically designed for the job is used; but whilst the growing process is technical and scientific, the application process for the gardener could not be easier!

Due to the fact out BASF’s nematodes are delivered straight to the customer’s door, as a fresh, live product, it is able to guarantee product consistency, concentration (of 90-95% pure nematodes) and the unique formulations which provide the most optimum stability and product performance for which it has established a market leading reputation. BASF is the only nematode grower to offer this type of service.

Nemasys and Nemaslug are the most effective biological product ranges that meet all environmental standards, and this continues to drive growth year on year, with the products being compatible with organic gardening and creating no resistance issues.

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Jensen Launches New Website

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Jensen Launches New Website: Jensen Woodchippers are pleased to announce the launch of a new UK website. The new site will be dedicated to showcasing the wide range of chippers available to industry professionals across the country.

With a simple to navigate structure, the new website enables users to view details on all the Jensen machines available to the UK market in towable, tracked or PTO configurations, ranging from sub750kg towable 6” chippers right through to powerful 12” models on hydraulically adjustable tracks. Visitors can also find out more about Jensen’s ability to custom build chippers to individual specification featuring cranes, conveyor belts, chip storage containers and much more.

Jensen Launches New Website

Not only that, booking a free, on-site demonstration has been made easy with an online form available on every page which sends your request straight through to the Jensen UK team for a quick response. Alternatively, for those who prefer to talk on the phone, you can call and speak to a Jensen representative right here in the UK with contact numbers available for the team.

For those seeking to contact their nearest Jensen dealer, the ‘Find a Dealer’ page provides addresses, telephone and email details for each of the current Jensen dealers, a list which will continue to grow with new dealers sought to increase support and sales coverage for customers in new areas.

Bill Johnston, Business Manager for Jensen UK is thrilled with the new digital presence, commenting: “This new website is hugely exciting, creating a really useful resource for both Jensen chipper users and for our dedicated dealers. The website is easy to navigate and contains a great deal of useful information, which can only help to promote this premium brand. As the brand continues to grow throughout the UK we shall ensure the website develops at the same speed. 2018 continues to be a great year for Jensen!”

Cees De Kock, Export Area Sales Manager for Jensen in Germany added, “Jensen’s portfolio of machines is very extensive, and a good website is very important to share information on all of the options available to customers. This new Jensen UK website demonstrates just that, and we are sure it will be very useful for customers in the UK seeking to learn more about the wide range of chippers we can provide.”

Established in northern Germany in 1884 by Peter Jensen, Jensen machines were the very first woodchippers in the world, specially developed for local authorities to maintain the public spaces around his hometown of Maasbull.

In the 130 years since their initial development, Jensen woodchippers have spread across the world, and in 2017 management of the UK distributorship was given to T H WHITE Machinery Imports Ltd.

The Jensen brand in the UK has seen great success over the past year under T H WHITE Machinery Imports stewardship and the development of a new UK-based website will support the business’ focus on further increasing visibility within the UK market along with helping existing Jensen owners to find and contact their local dealer for sales and service support.

Visit the website at www.jensenchippers.co.uk

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Ireland’s New Fungicide Launch

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Ireland’s New Fungicide Launch: Ireland’s greenkeepers are now able to access the latest in turf fungicide technology, to tackle both Microdochium Patch and Dollar Spot on their greens this coming disease season.

Exteris® Stressgard® was launched by Bayer to the UK market in early 2017 and is now registered for use in Ireland.

Ireland's New Fungicide Launch

Greg Collins, from the Bayer Turf Solutions Team, explains that the product brings a totally new category of fungicide to the market. “It contains a third generation SDHI, and is the very first of its sort to be launched in the Irish turf industry, providing a new tool for the greenkeepers’ diminishing armoury.”

He explains it is the formulation of two active ingredients (AI) that makes the new fungicide so unique. “The SDHI – fluopyram, has a systemic action that moves up through the roots and leaves to prevent disease as the plant grows. The other AI – trifloxystrobin, is part of the strobilurin group, and acts as a ‘local penetrant’ that offers targeted disease control.

“There are very few curative fungicides still available on the market, following the loss of iprodione, so a transition to a preventative approach is required, and Exteris® Stressgard® can help greenkeepers do just that,” says Greg.

Irish Sports Turf Institute trial manager, Mark Sheridan, put Exteris® Stressgard® to the test using preventative applications for Microdochium Patch control, and saw a clear improvement in disease suppression, compared to untreated plots.

“Turf professionals once had the comfort of curative chemistry, but with the loss of iprodione and other similar products, the future of disease control lies with the use of preventative, integrated management programmes.

“When Exteris® Stressgard® is applied preventatively, and proactive cultural practices such as aeration, judicious use of fertiliser and irrigation, are teamed with appropriate biological control measures, it’s possible to achieve significant turf protection,” explains Mark.

Key benefits of Exteris® Stressgard®:

  • New chemical group to the turf market.
  • Developed with Stressgard formulation technology specially for turfgrass
  • Targeted Microdochium Patch prevention
  • Dual active formulation
  • Flexible water volumes
  • Quick dry time and absorption
  • Aids in resistance management

Reduces damage from harmful UV radiation

For more information please visit www.environmentalscience.bayer.co.uk/Turf-Management, email turfsolutions@bayer.com or contact Cropcare on 01-2874485

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Aqua-Aid Combats Dry Conditions

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Aqua-Aid Combats Dry Conditions: The very unusual hot weather across the United Kingdom and Europe has been tackled by greenkeepers and groundsmen using Aqua-Aid EU’s OARS and Aquifer pellets in tandem with the PROportioner application system. In the last week of June alone hundreds of PROportioner applicators were sold to new users in Europe, delivering phenomenal results in extraordinary dry conditions.

Many greenkeepers will be experiencing localised dry spots (LDS) on their greens for the first time this year, due to the sweltering weather which triggers by a number of factors to cause excessive dryness. At a rootzone level, the waxy hydrophobic compounds that attach themselves to sand particles in the root zone will have done so and made these particles water repellent.

Aqua-Aid Combats Dry Conditions

But with increasing pressure to facilitate more golf the use of the course has increased – especially during the summer – and when combined with the specifications of modern greens the issue of water repellency increases, with wetting agents commonly used to tackle this issue.

OARS (organic acid redistribution system) has been used with consistent success to deal with LDS. The pellets use a corrective approach to remove the build-up of organic acids that coat the surface of sand particles which cause water repellence and LDS conditions.

This product is commonly used together with Aquifer which provides hydration for a 30 to 45-day period, allowing water repellency to be managed while preventing LDS conditions. It provides uniform downward and lateral water movement in the top several inches of the root zone and doesn’t need to be watered in after application.

Both pellets can be applied with the PROportioner system which is designed specifically for use on all types of turf. The convenient system doesn’t use any chemical mixing and makes hand watering more effective and longer lasting.

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Solving The Erosion Headache

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Solving The Erosion Headache: When it comes to sports ground renovations, areas that are subject to heavy use and erosion have caused headaches for greenkeepers and groundsmen for years. From sidelines and goalmouths in football, to walkways and paths in golf; public parks, playgrounds and festivals – the list goes on.

Hybrid surfaces are a new and innovative solution which are ideal for areas that suffer from heavy use and erosion. Greenacres’ hybrid surface, Coverlawn®, is available in multiple pile heights which makes it suitable for various applications. With over 1,000 installations worldwide, it has benefitted golf courses, sports pitches, children’s playgrounds, music festivals, public parks and many other high traffic areas.

Solving The Erosion Headache

As a knitted construction hybrid, Coverlawn® works in tandem with natural grass, encouraging natural growth while reinforcing and protecting the root zone with its honeycomb structure. Coverlawn® allows the natural turf to grow through and integrate completely, therefore providing a surface that is resistant to wear and tear. Coverlawn® is manufactured to allow maximum drainage, is exceptionally strong and long-lasting, and boasts anti-slip properties.

As you can see, Hybrid Surfaces remove the need for entirely artificial surfaces, or the use of gravel or rubber crumb alternatives. The popularity of Coverlawn® stems from the ability to retain the use of natural turf, which is a preference for most greenkeepers and groundsmen.

Coverlawn® is easy to install. Simply begin by measuring the area required, using as few seams as possible. Prepare the area for installation by mowing the existing grass to 20mm. Clear any debris and weeds, fill in any uneven holes with soil and seed any bare patches. Then simply lay the rolls of hybrid grass and, if necessary, cut them to size. Anchor the hybrid grass in place by burying the edges into the ground and inserting the decomposable anchor pins provided. Finally, apply a layer of top sand to the surface, and water to even out any inconsistencies. The new surface is ready to be used immediately after installation, but allow 2-3 months for complete integration.

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Mirimichi Green Announces Carbon In All Liquid Products

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Mirimichi Green Announces Carbon In All Liquid Products: Mirimichi Green has produced one of the most advanced carbon solutions in turf technology by bringing a high performing micronized liquid carbon to the market. Now, Mirimichi Green has announced that their liquid carbon is being mixed in all of their liquid fertilizers and bio-stimulants.

How much liquid carbon is in each product?

  • Release 9-0-1 C – 10% liquid carbon
  • Release Zero – 10% liquid carbon
  • Nutri-Release – 2% liquid carbon
  • Tree & Shrub – 2% liquid carbon
  • Nutri-Kelp – 2% liquid carbon
  • Nutri-Turf – 2% liquid carbon

Mirimichi Green Announces Carbon In All Liquid Products

Mirimichi Green began mixing the micronized liquid carbon into their products at the beginning of the year to start replenishing inventory with the updated formula. Now, all of Mirimichi Green’s liquid products stocked in distributor locations contain the liquid carbon combination.

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STIHL Increases Workwear Range

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STIHL Increases Workwear Range: STIHL has expanded its range of high-visibility workwear that offers professionals the very best in comfort and mobility.

The new lightweight MS Protect cut protective high-visibility jacket and trousers -both available in different sizes – provide professionals with freedom of movement, and are ideal for a range of applications including arb, forestry and landscaping work.

STIHL Increases Workwear Range

The Protect MS jacket comes with two chest pockets as well as an outlet opening for harnesses on the back. The elbows and shoulders feature thorn protection and breathable ADVANCE cut protection has been included in the chest, shoulder, arm and stomach areas for improved ventilation.

Designed with ventilation on the back of the thigh and sturdy material at the knee and lower leg, the Protect MS trousers are the perfect accompaniment. With two side pockets, one back pocket, one tape measure pocket and kidney protection, the trousers offer professionals with a functional solution.

For end-user safety, the visibility of both the jacket and trousers fall in line with EN ISO 20471 protection class 2, and achieve class 3 high visibility when combined. Both products also meet class 1 EN 381 cut protection standards for further peace of mind. The trousers are a type A design, so they offer protection at the front of the leg.

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Valagro Launches Master Supreme

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Valagro Launches Master Supreme: Valagro, a leading company in the production and marketing of biostimulants and other specialty nutrients, today presents their premium line of water-soluble fertilisers, Master Supreme, to the Chinese market at the NCIC Global Specialty Fertilizer Convention, a landmark event for the Chinese agricultural market, organised by China National Chemical Information Center (CNCIC).

Master Supreme is a new solution created by Valagro as a response to farmers’ needs and it is able to provide a guaranteed nutritional and biostimulant effect.     Master Supreme water-soluble fertilizers line has a high quality and purity and is enriched with biologically active compounds such as Ascophyllum nodosum extracts and humich compouds. These new formulations are the result of exclusive GeaPower technology (GEA 582) and guarantee greater and more efficient crop nutrition, naturally stimulating the physiological processes of the plant,ensuring quantitative and qualitative increase in production. The Master Supreme line offers 5 different solutions to ensure the correct supply of nutrients and biologically active substances in every phase of vegetative-productive development:

  1. Master Supreme Starter: the nutritional solution to improve the first stages of plant growth and to increase root development
  2. Master Supreme Development: formulated to nourish the plant while promoting vegetative development
  3. Master Supreme Flowering: the solution for stimulating metabolic activity, designed to nourish the plant during the flowering phase, it also stimulates metabolic activity
  4. Master Supreme Ripening: the presence of specific biologically active elements helps to improve the quality parameters of the fruit
  5. Master Supreme Balanced: the balanced formulation for every physiological process.

Valagro Launches Master Supreme

The launch for the Chinese market follows many events that have taken place in Italy, Turkey, Spain and Greece since 2017 with the involvement of farmers, technicians and the main distributors in these markets.

Derek Fang, Country manager Valagro (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd:
“Our Master Supreme Line can meet successfully the needs of the Chinese farmers. Often the Chinese agriculture is affected by nutritional imbalance during farmers planting. While using water-soluble fertilizers, more and more farmers begin to accept humic acid and seaweed fertilizer. All these above contributes to rise the demand for products which combine organic and inorganic fertilizer together in order to ensure a growing effective and sustainable nutrition to the crops. Also, this is in line with the demand for a growing sustainability in agriculture set by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MOA): in fact within 2020 the MOA want to improve the fertilizer use efficiency by achieving over 40% of the fertilizer efficiency rate (+7% over 2013)”.

Rita Basile, Valagro product manager:
“Numerous tests have shown that the active ingredients present in the Master Supreme formulations help activate the physiological processes that optimise the performance of the plant. For this reason, the solutions of the Master Supreme line are able to guarantee a better absorption and use of nutrients using lower doses, compared to traditional methods of fertigation. This translates into a more precise and intelligent use of fertilisers, with a consequent increase in ROI for farmers, as well as a reduction in the environmental impact of crops. These aspects certainly represent an effective response to the needs of productivity and sustainability of the Chinese agricultural market.”

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Spring is upon us!

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With winter turning to spring, sportsturf managers can look forward to the benefits this change of season brings to their playing surfaces.

We have experienced milder winters in recent years and the timing of spring has become less predictable but the concept of longer daylight hours, warmer rainfall, combined with rising air and soil temperatures benefitting cool season grasses remains the same. By definition, cool season grasses are grass types that thrive in areas with cold winters and relatively hot summers. These grasses grow best when temperatures are between 18 and 27°C, which is why they grow most in the spring and autumn. As you look to enhance and maximise the natural benefits of spring culturally, mechanically and biologically, we believe we have a number of products that can assist you at this key time of year.

As spring approaches you want to have the tools available to help your turf out of the winter doldrums and into spring vibrancy. Uniform soil moisture and balanced air to water ratios are critical in making sure your turf is healthy and has the greatest chance of a strong start coming out of winter dormancy.Whether you need to “wake up” the rootzone to get your turf off to a good start or to seed or turf to repair winter damage, don’t let water movement issues get in the way of great turf. Be in control of water movement in the soil profile, even early in the season. We offer a selection of soil surfactants to help ready turf for play as quickly as possible and can help you design an early spring programme so turf can rebound from winter and be healthy before the stress of summer heat. Start early for better turf throughout the year.

The symptoms associated with hydrophobic soil may not be expressed early in the year but the conditions that cause them may still be present in the soil profile. We know that hydrophobic soils are re-wettable and often this occurs naturally over the wetter wintermonths. The taking of cores, drying them out and carrying out a simple water drop penetration test (WDPT Letey, 1969) can indicate whether the hydrophobic-causing conditions have persisted through the winter. Using a soil probe, collect soil samples and air-dry them at room temperature for two weeks. Cores must be completely dry to determine degree of soil water repellency. Place water drops at 1cm intervals along the soil core as exhibited in Figure 1, time how long they take to move into the soil core.

Severity of soil water repellency may be determined using the below table. The more severe the soil hydrophobicity, the more difficult soils are to re-wet which precedes poor turf quality.

If the cores exhibit a level of repellency Aqueduct can be used as a pre-treatment tool to address the problem before starting a regular preventative programme. An application made at 25L/Ha in 500L of water can address these issues very effectively and significantly decrease the likelihood of hydrophobic problems such as localised dry patch during a regular preventative programme in the hotter/drier months by creating a “clean” profile so that everything performs uniformly.

Whether your winter has been wet or dry, starting a Revolution programme early will help optimize air-to-water ratios in the rootzone for a better growing environment and healthier turf. If it has been wet, Revolution will move excess water off of the surface and through the soil profile. If it has been dry, Revolution ensures rain and irrigation will get into the root zone so your turf gets the uniform moisture it needs. Revolution should be applied monthly at 19L/Ha in 800L of water. By starting with Revolution in the spring you can ensure your turf is healthy and ready for play in wet or dry conditions.

In summary, spring is a key time for turf managers, the natural change in the weather is obviously the dominant factor closely followed by sound integrated turf management practices. At Aquatrols we believe we have a number of products that enhance and maximise the benefits of the onset of spring and can assist managers of sports turf at this key time of year.

To find out more, visit www.uk.aquatrols.com

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Game-Changer From Barenbrug

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Game-Changer From Barenbrug: Grass expert, Barenbrug UK, has launched a grass seed that manages its own moisture content, which will increase germination and establishment rates – particularly in tough, dry conditions.

The patented technology in Barenbrug Yellow Jacket Water Manager, is the result of research between Barenbrug and Aquatrols and has been independently tested by the STRI.

Game-Changer From Barenbrug

It works like this:

  1. When the seed is exposed to water, the Water Manager technology spreads into the soil creating a plant survival zone.
  2. This zone ensures that each seed has enough water to germinate, then manages the moisture content around the seeding during its establishment.
  3. As a result seedlings are less affected by abiotic stress and more plants survive.

Open Championship venue calls it “something out of sci-fi”

Craig Boath from Carnoustie Championship course, home to the Open Championship in 2018, says, “Barenbrug Yellow Jacket Water Manager has taken the sting out of overwatering landing areas on the fairways and par 3 tees.  It is clear it does not require as much water for germination due to the coating, which seems to hold on to moisture and trigger a quicker germination”.

Dr David Greenshields, Research and Development Manager at Barenbrug says:

“Barenbrug Yellow Jacket Water Manager delivers improved germination and seedling survival in the toughest environments. STRI trials also show that half the number of seeds have delivered twice the establishment. Overall, this product offers a significant development in turf science and a potential game-changer for turf managers in tricky environments, or for those looking to reduce water costs.”

For more information, visit: www.barenbrug.co.uk

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