STIHL launches innovative charging management system

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STIHL launches innovative charging management system: STIHL has introduced a new charging management system designed to make charging multiple batteries more efficient, reliable and user-friendly.

The STIHL CM 8 Charging Management System allows up to 8 chargers to be powered via a standard GB 230 V Socket. This enables twice as many chargers to run on a single fuse, providing a simple solution to maximise charging capacity and manage batteries more productively.

STIHL launches innovative charging management system

STIHL launches innovative charging management system

With no electrical expertise required for set-up, the CM 8 has been designed with intelligent overload protection, ensuring safe and reliable charging without the risk of fuse tripping when used with the correct STIHL charger combination. .

The innovative system can run twice the number of chargers compared to a standard socket, thanks to smart electronics developed by STIHL experts. Built with an intelligent automatic switch, the CM 8 enables two charging banks to run one after another. This means that once the system’s ‘bank one’ has fully charged all of the batteries in its connected chargers, ‘bank two’ will automatically begin its charging process.

A light on the CM 8 clearly indicates which bank is active for instant visibility and peace of mind.

To avoid overloading a circuit, the CM 8’s maximum power consumption of 1840 W must not be exceeded. With this, STIHL’s wide range of chargers have a label to indicate wattage, with this information also available to access on the STIHL website. The wattage combination of all chargers plugged into the CM 8 must not exceed the 1840 W maximum limit. Utilising the CM 8 with 8 x AL 301-4 multi chargers, 32 batteries can be charged overnight via one plug socket.

To find out more about STIHL charging solutions, visit your nearest STIHL Approved Dealer, or www.stihl.co.uk.

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Sankt JörgenPark reduce disease and increase quality

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Sankt JörgenPark reduce disease and increase quality: Life is all about balance, but for the greens team at Sweden’s Sankt Jörgen Park, achieving the balance of Nitrogen in the greens profile became critical as the club battled extensive annual outbreaks of Snow Mold (Fusarium Patch).

Helping them lower the Nitrogen content without detriment to plant health or play quality is 6-2-4 Turf Revival from Suståne which, after just three years, has significantly reduced the severity of the fungal disease.

Sankt JörgenPark reduce disease and increase quality

Sankt JörgenPark reduce disease and increase quality

Part of a wider resort and business park, the unique Sankt Jörgen course blends testing parkland and classic heathland holes – all under the stewardship of Head Greenkeeper Andreas Flodman, three full time greenkeepers and a team of summer and seasonal helpers. “In recent years we started noticing that the warmer, wetter winters were contributing to issues with Snow Mold which meant that we were not in good condition going into spring” Andreas explains. “I spoke to our distributor Crophealth who identified with soil samples that we had high levels of Nitrogen in the ground over winter which is not ideal when disease pressure is high and plant growth is low.”

Crophealth suggested the club look at the more gradual nutrient release of the Naturel base Suståne range – a product Andreas used previously and was pleased to be re-introduced to. “I think previously the cost of pursuing an organic strategy was too high however, now, it’s on par with synthetic products we’ve used previously and obviously brings with it many benefits from a plant health and sustainability point of view.”

Andreas has been conducting two to four applications of Suståne 6-2-4 Turf Revival per season for the last three seasons, together with supplementary applications of Suståne 5-2-4+Fe all-purpose fertiliser for an additional boost in the early autumn when required.

Suståne Turf Revival® 6-2-4 is designed to replenish the soil with a rich supply of humus and mycorrhizal fungi, to improve the uptake of nutrients and boost overall plant health without causing a spike in growth. “It provides a reliable and consistent source of Nitrogen and other nutrients, without excess growth or creating issues with thatch and organic matter. This means our greens look healthy and play true as we’re not having to cut them as frequently to retain the same quality.” He continues, “Every winter we are seeing less disease and we hope that soon we’ll be able to get through to spring without any disease impact at all.”

The success of Suståne is not limited to it’s work on the golf course – 6-2-4 Turf Revival is also contributing to an naturel base approach at the resorts vineyard! “Crophealth have been great at helping the vineyard manager covert over to organics, this is incredibly important to them.”

For more information on Suståne 6-2-4 Turf Revival or other products from either Sustane’s professional-grade all-organic or naturel base ranges visit www.sustane.com

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MSC Regional Expansion and New Strategic Partner

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MSC Regional Expansion and New Strategic Partner: John Deere and DeLaval announce the Milk Sustainability Center expansion to dairy farmers in more countries and welcome dsm-firmenich as the next strategic partner.

Designed to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of dairy farming operations, the Milk Sustainability Center offers a unique solution by integrating data on crop, animal and feeding performance into one unified platform.

MSC Regional Expansion and New Strategic Partner

MSC Regional Expansion and New Strategic Partner

Developed through a joint effort initiated in September 2023, the Milk Sustainability Center empowers farmers to optimize their operations, reduce environmental impact and become more profitable.

Dairy farmers can use the Milk Sustainability Center to monitor nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) across their farm, herd, and fields. It provides insights to help farmers manage nutrient utilization effectively and reduce the need for manual data input. Today, dairy farmers can already choose to create automized data flow to MSC from 30 herd-, milking- and feeding software. Farmers can also invite their consultants, dealers, veterinarians and other partners to access the platform.

Regional Expansion

The Milk Sustainability Center is designed to serve dairy farmers, independent of their farm machinery brands, feeding technology, milking equipment brands, or herd management software. It is now fully available in 13 countries across North America and Europe (full list of countries see below). Farmers can easily subscribe free of charge at

www.milksustainabilitycenter.com.

The highly innovative digital ecosystem addresses evolving sustainability standards and the growing demands for sustainable practices in dairy farming.

Alexander Berges, Production System Manager at John Deere says, “We’re already working on future additions like benchmarking and recommendations functionality. This will further help farmers being more profitable while improving their sustainability.”

dsm-firmenich New Strategic Partner

dsm-firmenich joins the Milk Sustainability Center as a Strategic Partner. It’s software Sustell™ is the industry leading lifecycle assessment (LCA) solution that helps the agricultural industry measure and improve sustainability performance. This partnership will allow primary data to flow from MSC to the Sustell™ software, if the farmer agrees. This will further enhance MSC functionality with extra Sustell™ data sources and certified carbon footprint calculations, supporting the customers to drive profitable environmental improvements.

Dr. David Nickell, Vice President of Sustainability and Business Solutions at dsm-firmenich Animal Nutrition & Health, commented: “The partnership between the Milk Sustainability Center and dsm-firmenich makes environmental impact assessment scalable and easier to implement. This will enable value chain partners to regularly track sustainability performance and to understand where and how to make profitable improvements with credible and transparent data and insights.”

Lars Bergmann, Executive Vice President of Digital Service at DeLaval, explains: “We aim to unify the industry to support dairy farmers improving their sustainability footprint. Partnerships like this will provide farmers with integrated tools that simplify automatic data flow, and enhance herd and field performance, which will support long-term sustainability goals.

Processors and consumer goods companies will benefit from a more transparent supply chain, strengthened by verifiable sustainability credentials.”

The Milk Sustainability Center welcomes partners in addition to Dinamica Generale and dsm-firmenich to join its mission to provide farmers with the comprehensive data and insights needed for a holistic view of the efficiency and sustainability in their dairy operations. For more information, potential partners are welcome to contact us at:

inquiries@milksustainabilitycenter.com

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Winners announced for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year

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Winners announced for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), Reesink Turfcare and Toro have revealed the winners of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards 2025 at a spectacular event at Rudding Park in North Yorkshire.

Two talented greenkeepers were rewarded at the 36th Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards, cementing their place among an illustrious list of past winners.

Winners announced for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year

Winners announced for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year

Bradley Taylor, student at Myerscough College, and Matthew Strutt Donnelly, who attends Berkshire College of Agriculture, emerged victorious after impressing judges across a series of assessments designed to test their knowledge, skill and passion for greenkeeping.

Bradley, first assistant at Beau Desert Golf Club, in Staffordshire, was awarded the main Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year prize, while Matthew, an apprentice at Stoneham Golf Club, in Hampshire, secured the Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year award.

Following regional judging earlier in the year, eight finalists were selected to compete in the finals at Rudding Park, near Harrogate.

Over two days, they undertook a range of practical and theoretical tests, from seed and grass identification to presentations and interviews, giving them a platform to showcase their expertise and enthusiasm for the industry.

Jamie Beattie, assistant greenkeeper at Royal Liverpool, was the runner-up for the main award, with fellow Myerscough College student and Parkstone apprentice Oli Badger claiming that spot in the Young category.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards will return in 2026.

More information, including how to nominate a student greenkeeper and the prizes on offer, is available on the BIGGA and Reesink Turfcare websites.

You can see a list of the previous Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award winners here.

Quotes

Bradley Taylor, Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year 2025

“I was straight on the phone to my girlfriend. I shed a little tear when I spoke to her; it was just a moment of realisation setting in. I’d been carrying that trophy around, it’s so heavy, and I was still all tensed up. Speaking to her was like, ‘I’ve done this now, the hard work has paid off’. I was also lucky to have a few people I know up here to share it with too.”

Matthew Strutt Donnelly, Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year 2025

“The first time I went to BTME, I went to the Young Greenkeepers’ Conference and there was a segment about Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year with previous winners talking about it. I remember thinking, ‘I could do something like that, I want to put myself forward’. So I did, and here we are.”

Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager at Reesink Turfcare and main award judge

“This year’s finalists all brought something different to the competition, making being a judge a tough job. The range of perspectives, qualities and strengths on display were of a very high standard. Bradley though had the edge. He demonstrated a wealth of talent, delivered a fantastic presentation, and showed us an in-depth knowledge of the field in his interview. It was interesting and gratifying to see how dedicated he is and his passion for the industry. Well done, Bradley!”

David Timms, National Accounts Manager for Reesink Turfcare and Young award judge

“Matthew is a deserving winner. He shone on the course walk, with his personal project and in the exam and grass identification, but what gave him the edge was his confidence. He’s hungry for it and that made all the judges really excited for his future and what he might achieve. He’s a fantastic ambassador for young greenkeepers and his club, and we’re excited to watch him progress in the industry.”

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO

“Congratulations to Bradley Taylor and Matthew Strutt Donnelly, two very worthy winners among an exceptionally strong list of finalists. The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards have again proven to be an inspirational occasion, and I would like to thank our friends at Reesink Turfcare and Toro for a memorable event. Seeing the calibre of the finalists fills me with optimism for the future of our industry.”

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Alastair Black appointed by Reesink UK

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Alastair Black appointed by Reesink UK: Reesink UK is pleased to announce the appointment of Alastair Black as its new Technical Support and Training Manager, taking over from Lee Rowbotham who has become the company’s new Geolink and Digital Specialist.

Alastair officially stepped into the role on June 30, bringing with him more than eight years’ experience of working at Reesink, as well as a track record of technical excellence and strong relationships across the dealer network.

Alastair Black appointed by Reesink UK

Alastair Black appointed by Reesink UK

Since joining the company in January 2017 as Technical Support for the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Alastair has been instrumental in delivering first-class assistance to dealers and customers.

His work has included close collaboration with Reesink’s direct branch business in Scotland and one of the company’s largest accounts, St Andrews Links, the Home of Golf. Alastair has also supported multiple British Open Championships, including the 2025 tournament at Royal Portrush.

Commenting on his experience, Alastair said: “I’ve been fortunate to work with some incredible people, clubs and events over the years. The stakes are high in those environments, but that’s what drives you to perform at your best. You quickly learn that whether a customer buys one machine or 100, they deserve the same level of care, attention and respect.”

In his new position, Alastair will be responsible for overseeing technical training across Reesink UK’s network, ensuring both internal teams and dealer partners are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to deliver the highest levels of customer service.

He will continue to provide guidance on complex technical cases and to support his previous region until a successor is chosen, ensuring a smooth transition for customers and partners.

“What excites me most is developing the training side of the business,” he shares. “There’s such a shortage of skilled technicians in our industry, and building a dedicated training hub will give us the chance to support our dealers and customers in a way that really strengthens the whole sector.”

The appointment comes at a crucial time for Reesink as the company continues to expand its offering and invest in its support infrastructure.

Alastair Rowell, Managing Director at Reesink UK, commented: “Alastair’s deep understanding of our business, his technical expertise and his strong relationships with our customers make him the ideal fit for this role. He has consistently demonstrated his commitment to our values, and we’re confident he will continue to elevate our technical support and training offering.”

With this appointment, Reesink confirms its commitment to investing in people who bring knowledge and dedication to the brand, helping customers get the most from their Toro machinery and Reesink’s wider portfolio.

If you need to reach Alastair, you can contact him at Reesink Turfcare HQ in St Neots by calling 01480 226800 or emailing info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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