New Plant Based Podcast Launched

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New Plant Based Podcast Launched: A new podcast has been launched to celebrate a love of all things plants.

The Plant Based Podcast, sponsored by Suttons Seeds, previewed on Sunday 3rd February and within less than 24 hours of being available on iTunes had rocketed to the top of the games and hobbies charts, beating all others to the number one spot in the UK. Since then, three new episodes have been launched with a new episode going live fortnightly on Sundays.

New Plant Based Podcast Launched

The podcast is a project launched by two prolific gardening writers, bloggers and presenters – Michael Perry, aka Mr Plant Geek, and Ellen Mary. Ellen and Michael have been plant lovers since childhood, and have a combined 35 years worth of experience in the industry as well as a strong, engaged social media following.

It comes at a time when plant based alternatives are increasingly in the spotlight, with names like M&S, Sainsburys and Greggs all recently launching vegan ranges. However, The Plant Based Podcast goes beyond veganism and investigates the wider benefits and uses of plants, as well as the people embracing them in their day to day lives.

The podcast is a project launched by two prolific gardening writers, bloggers and presenters – Michael Perry, aka Mr Plant Geek, and Ellen Mary. Ellen and Michael have been plant lovers since childhood, and have a combined 35 years worth of experience in the industry as well as a strong, engaged social media following.

It comes at a time when plant based alternatives are increasingly in the spotlight, with names like M&S, Sainsburys and Greggs all recently launching vegan ranges. However, The Plant Based Podcast goes beyond veganism and investigates the wider benefits and uses of plants, as well as the people embracing them in their day to day lives.

In each episode, Michael and Ellen meet someone with a true passion for plants – from a bodybuilder whose muscles are now entirely plant based purely from converting to veganism, to an expert at the Chelsea Physic Garden who discusses home remedies using plants, as well as the owners of a restaurant tipped to be the first vegan eatery to receive a Michelin star. Other episodes explore the importance of bees and how the right plants can make a vast difference; how the urban jungle trend can change our gardens; and how the world of edible plants can tantalise taste buds.

Subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes or Spotify, and visit theplantbasedpodcast.net for more information. On the website you will also find exclusive content and articles to coincide with the topic of each episode.

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New Biostimulants For Turf Health Management

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New Biostimulants For Turf Health Management: From establishment to recovery, a full season approach to turf health management is now on offer, following the launch of two new biostimulant products by Arysta LifeScience.

Tonivit® and Double Edge® join existing product Goemar Turf® to form a triple pronged approach to turf management, offering bespoke solutions for three different stages of sward development.

New Biostimulants For Turf Health Management

Technical Support for Arysta LifeScience UK & Ireland, Stephen Olive, said: “Together, these three products complement each other as a programme, but also individually offer solutions for specific uses through the season, whether that’s establishing newly seed turf, improving overall health status, or boosting recovery following high traffic activity.

“Manufactured to the same standard as our traditional crop protection products, our biostimulants are highly concentrated thanks to the development of a refined cold-press extraction process at our manufacturing plant in St. Malo, France. This means the application rate for all three products is between just 1 and 3L/ha.”

Aimed at the establishment of turf is Tonivit – a new biostimulant formulated from natural GA142 seaweed extract with added P & K. It activates root growth, root activity & tillering to quickly establish a stronger sward for newly seeded or re-seeded areas.

The effect of Tonivit on emergence speed is demonstrated through trials, which have shown that newly sown leys treated with the product reach 70% sward density three weeks earlier than those untreated.

Central to the range is existing product Goemar Turf, formulated from GA142 with added MgO, Cu & N. Goemar Turf improves the overall health and maintenance of turf, particularly for areas of aesthetic value such as golf courses. It can also help to prepare grasses for environmental stresses such as drier conditions throughout summer.

Completing the set is Double Edge. Double Edge is aimed at turf recovery, and uniquely combines two complementary biostimulants to further boost root growth and improve stress relief. Double Edge features 18 different vegetable amino acids along with GA142, N, P & K.

Stephen added: “We recognise that a ‘one size fits all’ approach is not necessarily best for biostimulant products in the amenity turf sector.

“Following the success of Goemar Turf, which is used at some of the top golf courses in the world, we wanted to develop our portfolio further to create targeted solutions that address some of the main problems that greenkeepers and groundsmen face.

“Biostimulants are an important part of an integrated approach to turf protection, demonstrating a commitment to the sustainability agenda. We are proud to offer these three innovative products to the amenity turf sector.”

All three products were showcased at BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in Harrogate last month.

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Advice on Pesticides Post-Brexit

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Government Advice on Pesticides Post-Brexit: The Government has issued guidance to manufacturers and users of Plant Protection Products (PPPs) on what action they need to take now to minimise any disruption once the UK leaves the EU.

It says the high scientific standard to which decisions on the use of pesticides are made will not change and that it will continue to be guided by the most up-to-date scientific assessment of the risks to animals and the environment.

If the UK leaves the EU on March 29 without a deal, pesticides currently available in the UK at the point of exit will continue to be so, allowing products to be marketed and used as normal, it says.

The Government says future PPP applications for use and renewals in the UK will continue to be considered by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), on behalf of the UK Government (Defra) and the devolved administrations. It is said the format and data requirements for new applications will remain the same as they do now, minimising disruption for businesses.

The key change would be that if a business wishes to place a new pesticide on the EU market it will need to make a separate application to the EU, a process which could take up to three years.

Farming Minister George Eustice says:

“Delivering a negotiated deal with the EU remains the Government’s top priority, but it is our job to responsibly ensure we are prepared for all scenarios, including no deal.

“If the UK leaves the EU with a deal there will be an Implementation Period (IP) during which the UK will continue to follow decisions made by the EU on pesticide approvals and Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs).

“The key difference for businesses is that, during the IP, the UK will not be able to act as a ‘leading authority’ under the EU regime and the HSE will be unable to conduct active substance or MRL evaluations. Therefore, businesses wishing to supply new pesticides to the UK and/or EU markets would need to make an application to a competent authority in an EU Member State.”

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HAIX & GORE: Don’t Catch A Cold

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HAIX & GORE: Don’t Catch A Cold: After a glorious summer, winter is rapidly approaching. When it comes to pitch care and landscaping maintenance, footwear must keep up with the high pressures of the job, whatever the weather. Groundsmen and landscaping professionals need top-quality gear and foot protection that will help them to get the job done and get it done right. HAIX, specialists in functional and safety footwear, offers the Black Eagle Safety 50 Mid boot, which contains GORE-TEX Extended Comfort Technology to provide feet with the comfort and protection needed.

Tried, tested and trusted to perform, the Black Eagle Safety 50 range, with low and high versions also available, is flexible and lightweight. The boots are equipped with an extra-light toe cap complying with safety S3 requirements (EN ISO 20345:2011). Efficient against slippery surfaces, the Black Eagle Safety 50 range offers maximum protection against liquids used by turf care professionals such as pesticides, fertilizers, wetting agents and biostimulants, and is puncture resistance against shards of glass, nails, screws or similar objects that can be found on the ground.

HAIX & GORE: Don’t Catch A Cold

Engineered with GORE-TEX Extended Comfort Technology consisting of a 3-layer laminate, made up of a special inner lining, the boots offer incredible waterproof durability and breathability on and off the pitch. Using high-quality, water-repellent, bull leather, the Black Eagle Safety range is the ideal footwear for colder weathers as the sole provides outstanding insulation. Special pigments contained in the leather also prevent excessive sweating in warm weather by reflecting the rays of sun to avoid any overheating.

HAIX has a worldwide reputation of being a “safe brand”. Technical experts scientifically test shoes and safety features in a laboratory ensuring standards are exceeded and top quality functional footwear produced.

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Preventative Treatments Impress In STRI Trials

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Preventative Treatments Impress In STRI Trials: It has been proven in recent STRI research trials that preventative disease control programmes outperform curative options when analysed for turf quality, colour and presence of Microdochium Patch.

STRI research manager, Mark Ferguson, explains these results and stresses the importance of preventative programmes in light of the recent loss of curative active ingredient iprodione.

Preventative Treatments Impress In STRI Trials

“When measuring disease presence, the STRI team looked specifically at the level of Microdochium Patch cover on the plots. As expected, the preventative treatments performed significantly better than the curative ones.

“The trials ran over the course of eight months, comparing nine preventative and three curative programmes, as well as one untreated plot.

“The first three programmes used purely preventative fungicides from Bayer. The rest of the preventative plots used a combination from Rigby Taylor and Headland Amenity teamed with plant health products to reflect a more realistic approach,” says Mark.

In general, preventative programmes five to seven showed the most consistent results across turf colour, quality and Microdochium Patch presence by using an integrated approach with both fungicides and plant health products.

Preventative Treatments Impress In STRI Trials

“The fungicides within the curative programmes (11 -13) were applied as and when disease developed to an unacceptable level, mimicking traditional control strategies.

“It’s important to note that none of the trial plots had any cultural controls or biological practices applied prior to or during the trial, other than mowing and switching, which was carried out when necessary,” adds Mark.

Bayer technical manager, Dr Colin Mumford, says the trial results show that even the most ‘bullet-proof’ curative programme was significantly outperformed by the preventative options.

“The disease control landscape has changed and it’s more important than ever before that greenkeepers don’t wait for disease to appear as they may have done in the past,” he says.

For further information please visit www.environmentalscience.bayer.co.uk or contact the Turf Solutions Team on 00800 1214 9451, at turfsolutions@bayer.com.

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