R-VAN Nozzles Set New Standards

/in , /by

R-VAN Nozzles Set New Standards: Rain Bird now offers a full range of R-VAN rotary adjustable, full circle and strip nozzles, ensuring efficient irrigation of both large and smaller areas in residential and commercial applications.

Coupled with fast installation and simple maintenance – no tools required – R-VAN nozzles set new standards in performance, with just nine models required for full 45 to 360 degree coverage and ranges from 2.4 to 7.3 metres. This compares to up to fifteen if alternative brands of nozzles were to be specified, keeping investment costs lower from the outset.

R-VAN Nozzles Set New Standards

All R-VAN nozzles can be quickly hand adjusted for arc and radius. Simply by pushing down and turning the nozzle cap, the arc can be increased by up to 270 degrees and by turning the radius adjustment dial clockwise, the throw distance is increased without needing to use a separate adjustment tool. With these two actions, areas of any shape can be effectively irrigated.

The precipitation rate of the R-VAN nozzles is matched with the Rain Bird 5000 series rotors. Long-distance watering is effectively increased to up to 10.7 metres within the same zone. Precipatation rates are also matched across all the different types of R-VAN nozzles, making irrigation design layouts and zoning much easier. There is no longer any need for multiple zones and valves to accomplish the same irrigation coverage that would be required with other makes of nozzle.

Producing gentle rotating streams of water, R-VAN nozzles provide uniform coverage with lower precipitation rates. This lessens the risk of wasteful run-off that can lead to ground erosion. R-VAN nozzles can require up to 33% shorter run-times, providing significant water savings and making them ideal for applications where there are time restrictions on irrigation cycles.

With larger droplets and thicker streams of water, R-VAN nozzles have high wind resistance and can be used in windier conditions without misting. Irrigation is kept within the target zone and not wasted on surrounding hardscapes and other areas.

R-VAN nozzles have been specifically designed to let dirt and debris pass through, but if a nozzle sticks, a simple twist ensures easy debris flushing. There is no need to replace the nozzle in the event of clogging. Overall, R-VAN nozzles are claimed to be up to 30 percent more efficient than alternative makes and are compatible with all Rain Bird spray bodies, risers and adapters. Each of the nine units are colour coded for easy identification.

For more information, visit: www.rainbird.eu/golf

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Bayer Braced For Roundup Lawsuits

/in , , /by

Bayer Braced For Roundup Lawsuits: Industry analysts have warned that Bayer is bracing itself for thousands of future claims, after the successful lawsuit against Monsanto in California in August in which a jury ruled that a former groundskeeper’s cancer was caused by Roundup, and that the company knowingly withheld information about the carcinogenic properties of glyphosate.

German-based acquired Monsanto earlier this year for $63 billion and according to Reuters, the company faces years of legal activity with some 8,000 lawsuits currently being brought against Monsanto, much higher than the 5,200 cases previously disclosed by Bayer in June.

“The number of plaintiffs in both state and federal litigation is approximately 8,000 as of end-July. These numbers may rise or fall over time but our view is that the number is not indicative of the merits of the plaintiffs’ cases,” Bayer’s chief executive Werner Baumann admitted to analysts in a conference call.

The lawsuits are also pulling in food manufacturers, with General Mills having to remove a claim about the use of ‘100% natural whole grain oats’ in its Nature Valley brand cereal bars.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

New Greenkeeping Director At St Andrews

/in , , /by

New Greenkeeping Director At St Andrews: Sandy Reid has been appointed as the new director of greenkeeping at St Andrews Links. Sandy’s new role at the course, known as the ‘Home of Golf’, is one of the most prestigious roles in golf course management in the world.

An experienced figure in the greenkeeping industry, Reid will make the move from Carnoustie Golf Links where he has worked as links superintendent since 2012.

St Andrews Links chief executive Euan Loudon said: “We are delighted to welcome Sandy to the Home of Golf. He has an outstanding track record at Carnoustie Golf Links, as evidenced by the wonderful condition of the Championship Course for the 147th Open Championship this summer.

“Sandy has a great deal of experience of operating within a multi-faceted golf venue such as ours and shares our commitment to delivering unique and memorable experiences to every golfer. He is passionate about the game of golf and is committed to delivering the highest quality results in golf course maintenance and improvements to all our courses, operations and staff.”

Reid originally hails from Blair Atholl and trained at Elmwood College in Fife before starting his career at Letham Grange. He joined Carnoustie Golf Links in 1997, becoming head greenkeeper of the Championship Course in 2005.

Mr Reid said: “I am extremely honoured and excited to be joining the hard working and dedicated team at the Home of Golf.

“St Andrews Links is the pre-eminent public golf complex in the world and I hope to play a small part in ensuring that it continues to deliver excellence to all golfers and visitors who come to the Home of Golf.”

Over the last decade St Andrews Links has continued to make major investments in its facilities and services. In addition to maintaining seven public courses, St Andrews Links is now home to three clubhouses, five shops and the Golf Academy. It employs just over 400 people in the high season with almost 230,000 rounds of golf played on the six 18-hole courses in 2017.

Reid’s appointment arose following the retirement of incumbent Gordon Moir, who has worked at the venue for more than 26 years and began his tenure as director of greenkeeping in 2000. Reid will take up his new role in December – the same month that Moir will formally retire.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

An Update From Scott MacCallum

/in , /by

An Update From Scott MacCallum: Most of the major sporting events for the year have concluded, the schools are back and the universities are preparing to welcome back their students.

So what to make of 2018? Well, from a sporting perspective it’s been pretty exciting. The World Cup was exciting, or being a Scot, I’m told it was exciting, with Gareth’s boys exceeding expectations. As it progressed through the knock-out stages, those expectations had shot up again and many thought the 52 years of hurt were going to end.

An Update From Scott MacCallum

Glasgow’s European Championships were a success while I don’t recall any of the regular sporting calendar highlights letting the side down in the football, rugby, tennis, golf, cricket, horse racing. That said, Andy Murray’s non appearance at Wimbledon did reduce excitement at SW19, but we are going to have to get used a life post-Andy going forward I’m afraid to say.

But the point I was going to make was that, as far as I can recall, there were no negative headlines from a turf management side of things.

No complaints from disgruntled losers, no injuries directly attributable to a surface, no Head Groundsman or Course Manager being named and shamed in public. That’s not to say that everything went perfectly in every instance.

Of course, things went wrong. You don’t need highly talented people in position if everything were to go swimmingly on every occasion. You guys are paid to resolve problems, but to do it, more often than not, quietly, efficiently, without fuss and without headlines.

Looking forward it’s hard to see how the quality bar can be raised much more but we can probably look to attain the same standards with fewer chemical applications – both for environmental reasons and the fact that it is likely that we will see costs rise as we stumble through Brexit.

On an artificial turf perspective the Rubber Crumb issue will continue to run. A six month consultation process on reducing acceptable levels of carcinogens has just started and I just hope that the safety of the end user – groundsman and sportsman – is placed before cost when a final decision is made.

So as greenkeepers start planning their winter programmes and groundsmen continue to turn out super surfaces in all conditions I wish you all well going forward.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Price Turfcare Return To SALTEX

/in , , /by

Price Turfcare Return To SALTEX: Price Turfcare, the UK and Ireland distributor of the Ventrac multi-implement compact tractor and Ryan turf maintenance equipment, is returning to SALTEX on stand B124 on 31st October and 1st November 2018. With the business set to celebrate its second anniversary in January 2019, it’s been an exciting time for Managing Director Rupert Price.

“What is particularly pleasing is that some of our early Ventrac customers are coming back to add further attachments or in some cases, buying another machine. For instance, Darren Baldwin, at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has added a couple of Power Brooms for maintaining the pathways, parking areas and synthetic pitches at their training centre, while Peter Pattenden at Carden Park has purchased a second machine, because he has been so impressed with the versatility of his first machine. Chris Brook of The Club Company purchased two machines; one each for courses in the group that needed a machine with a light footprint in wet conditions. Angus Lindsay of idverde purchased a machine for a new contract with Northampton Borough Council, which requires considerable bank mowing and we’ve been successful with several local authorities in the north of England.”

Price Turfcare Return To SALTEX

“We have come a long way in a short space of time,” he said. “It’s been a roller coaster ride establishing a network of dealers and doing demonstration tours across the UK, but it has worked. We realise that prospective purchasers of the Ventrac have to see the machine in action and we have travelled the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland establishing the brands credentials. Also, the addition of the Ryan franchise last year has broadened our product portfolio, enabling us to offer customers a comprehensive range of turfcare equipment.

To understand why these respected businesses have been impressed by the Ventrac product and to see the latest equipment from Ryan come along and visit stand B124.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.