Acelepryn authoristation granted

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Acelepryn authoristation granted: An Emergency Authorisation (EA) for the use of the Syngenta insecticide Acelepryn to target leatherjackets has been granted for the 2022 season. 

This season, the leatherjacket authorisation permits use of Acelepryn up to 18 November 2022 – with an extended opportunity to cover the key periods of adult crane fly egg laying and target early stages of larval activity in the soil.

Acelepryn authoristation granted

Acelepryn authoristation granted

Subject to specific conditions, areas permitted for Acelepryn use now cover affected areas of golf course greens, tees and fairways, horse racecourses and gallops, airfields and first-class cricket outfields under exceptional circumstances.

For the first time, golf and cricket venues hosting internationally important or first class competitions can apply for specific permission to treat extended areas of fairways and outfields, where there is a danger of cancellation or relocation of events as a result of pest damage. Special dispensation may be granted to the sports’ governing bodies, in consultation with ICL.

Leatherjackets cause extensive damage to turf through feeding on roots, which can be severe in areas, along with affecting playing surface smoothness on golf greens. Surface stability where larvae have chewed through turf roots is of grave concern for racecourses.

Furthermore, extreme damage can occur in all turf surfaces when badgers, birds and other foragers root through turf in search of the larvae. The EA permits application in situations where there is an acknowledged instance of economic damage, or risk of bird strike on airfields, and where the product has been recommended by a BASIS qualified agronomist.

The Acelepryn EA was applied for and held by ICL. Users will be required to submit online stewardship records of areas treated, linked from the ICL website.

“Over recent seasons the damage by soil pests has been of increasing concern and over an extended period,” reported Syngenta Technical Manager, Sean Loakes. “Obtaining this EA enables turf managers to develop a more effective integrated turf management programme to tackle the severe effects of these pests.”

Further trials are underway on golf courses and fine turf surfaces to refine the application timing, along with aeration practices and the potential to use Acelepryn in conjunction with effectively targeted nematode treatments.

Sean advocates the best results have been achieved with applications one month after the peak flight of adult crane fly and egg laying, for the product to be in the soil zone to target early feeding larvae. “The on-line Pest Tracker reporting system provides a picture of pest activity across the UK and Ireland, to better aid application timing,” he reported.

“Keep surfaces irrigated where possible prior to application, to attract pest larvae to towards the surface,” advised Sean. “It’s important to ensure the soil profile is not hydrophobic at the time of application. Apply at higher water volumes, above 600 l/ha, using the white O8 XC Nozzle to help the spray reach the soil surface.”

New research has also shown adapting aeration timing and intensity could also influence leatherjacket larvae movement and the efficacy of controls.

ICL Technical Manager, Henry Bechelet, and Syngenta specialist, Glenn Kirby, have provided a full insight into new developments and practical implications of leatherjacket ITM control programmes in their latest September episode of the On the Horizon podcast.

An on-line turf pest ID guide, to aid the identification of adult stages of key soil pests and target application timing, is now available on the Syngenta Turf website.

For further information on best use guidelines where chafer grubs and leatherjackets have caused economically damaging effects contact an ICL Area Manager or BASIS agronomist:

 

ICL Area Managers for Acelepryn enquiries:
Scotland

Jamie Lees

jamie.lees@icl-group.com

07500 992464

 North/East

Craig Lalley

craig.lalley@icl-group.com

07824 528252
Midlands/West

Emma Kilby

emma.kilby@icl-group.com

07748 111965

 South East/East London

Andrew Pledger

andrew.pledger@icl-group.com

07387 056659
South Central

Martyn Parrish

martyn.parrish@icl-group.com

07900 666691

 South England / Wales

Nick Martin

nick.martin@icl-group.com

07900 666691
South

Matt Nutter

matthew.nutter@icl-group.com

07810 656240

 North West

Phil Collinson

phil.collinson@icl-group.com

07824 473699
North West

Rob Ainscough

rob.ainscough@icl-group.com

07823 894581

 South West

Liam Rowlands

liam.rowlands@icl-group.com

07824 473699
Northern Ireland

Colman Warde

colman.warde@icl-group.com

+353-87-7799527

 Northern Ireland

Fergal Greenan

fergal.greenan@icl-group.com

+353-86-054 2566

 

Alternatively contact Syngenta UK Technical Manager:
Sean Loakes

sean.loakes@syngenta.com

07831 161912

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STIHL to exhibit at APF

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STIHL to exhibit at APF: STIHL will be showcasing an array of new forestry products at this year’s APF Exhibition, the UK’s largest dedicated forestry and arboriculture event, offering professional users more options than ever before to tackle the toughest jobs.

Taking centre stage will be STIHL’s new MSA 220 T and MSA 220 TC-O, the manufacturers most powerful and durable cordless top handled chainsaws to date, designed for tree care professionals to remove larger branches or perform crown maintenance with ease. When used with the recommended AP 300 S battery, both new chainsaws deliver 2.1 kW of electrical power, providing up to 29 minutes of working time and plenty of power for cutting larger sized branches when doing crown reductions or tree removal tasks.

STIHL to exhibit at APF

STIHL to exhibit at APF

Visitors to the stand will also be able to see up close the new MSA 300, the most powerful cordless chainsaw in STIHL’s AP System. Recommended with a 16” Light 04 guide bar and .325” RS Pro chain for fast cutting, the chainsaw is suitable for felling, cross-cutting, snedding and processing, offering forestry professionals and arborists plenty of power for taking on larger felling and processing tasks.

Other new products launched this year that will be showcased include the Rapid HEXA cutting system for the MS 362 C-M through to the MS 661 C-M.  It consists of a patented hexagonal file and a full chisel chain with a unique V shaped side plate, resulting in a chain that cuts up to 10% faster than standard RS chain, is easier to sharpen, and stays sharper for longer. In addition, STIHL’s new ADVANCE ProCOM headset will also be on stand, which utilises Bluetooth mesh technology to link up to 16 headsets automatically, allowing users to listen and communicate effectively as a team, as well as a high attenuation value of 31 for extremely high noise protection.

STIHL’s extensive professional battery range will also be on display, including the new AP 500 S, the most powerful AP battery in the STIHL range and the first to feature laminate technology helping to double the service life up to 2,400 charge cycles, as well as the new AL 301-4 multi-charger that can charge up to four AP and AP batteries at one time.

For more information, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.

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Trencher Hire praised by charity

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Trencher Hire praised by charity: A vital new conservation project called the Horstmann Trust has been launched in the unlikely location of South Wales to help preserve some of the world’s most endangered species of vultures, many of which are found in Europe, Africa and Asia.

The charity’s CEO Adam Bloch is a passionate conservationist, who is clearly concerned not just about the plight of vultures, but the ever-increasing number of animals joining the endangered species list across the globe, as their habitat is destroyed by man and the effects of climate change become ever more evident.

Trencher Hire praised by charity

Trencher Hire praised by charity

Trencher Hire UK has played a small but important role in the installation of welded steel fences within the site. Trencher Hire UK supplied a Vermeer RTX-250 on a week-long contract, but Adam said the machine was so efficient and easy to operate that the work was completed in just three days.

He commented: “We dug slots to a depth of 900mm to make sure that animals couldn’t dig under the welded steel fencing we were installing. The trencher made short work of this and backfilling was quick and easy. If we had tried to do the work with a digger, it would have created a whole lot of mess and incurred a lot of time making good afterwards.

“Trencher Hire were really helpful and I couldn’t fault the service. They turned-up at the allotted time, explained how to use the machine and the unit itself was excellent.”

The work of the Horstmann Trust is to develop an ongoing breeding programme with the primary focus on hooded, Egyptian and bearded vultures, as well as the Andean Condor. Adam commented: “There are 23 species of vultures around the world, with the majority facing rapidly falling populations and some facing extinction. We are creating a strong, genetically diverse captive population with some of our birds going on to be released back into the wild, whilst others will be given to other conservation organisations working together in these breeding programmes.

“We have to look to the future and our programme has to be a very long-term one. Many of the vulture species lay just a single egg each breeding season, so producing young can be slow. Condors can live up to 80 years in captivity and don’t reach sexual maturity until they are at least 6-8 years old but, in some cases, can be much longer!”

He is supported in his work by Holly Cale, who is Curator and Head of Research, along with a small number of staff and volunteers.

If you would like to make a donation to support the work of the Horstmann Trust you can contact Adam via email: adam@horstmanntrust.org.

To find out how Trencher Hire UK call help, contact us on: 0121 751 9319, or email: team@trencherhire.com or visit our website: www.trencherhire.com

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SALTEX Learning LIVE line-up

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SALTEX Learning LIVE line-up: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has revealed a spectacular seminar lineup as part of the SALTEX 2022 Learning LIVE Programme designed to help grounds people to create the best playing surfaces across a range of sports and settings.

Following on from the Lionness’ success in the Euros, and with the Rugby League World Cup and the first ever winter Football World Cup coming up, what better time to find out how the surfaces that make such events possible are created.

SALTEX Learning LIVE line-up

SALTEX Learning LIVE line-up

There’s something for most sports surfaces from some of the best in the business. For rugby, Catherine Hall (Premiership Rugby), Dr David James (Labosport) and Dan Prest (GMA) talk about raising Premiership Rugby pitch standards. For cricket, Gary Barwell (Edgbaston Stadium), Karl McDermott (Lord’s) and Steve Birks (Nottinghamshire CCC) discuss how new cricket formats impact on the modern-day grounds manager. Tennis is covered off by Neil Stubley (Wimbledon) who presents the All England Tennis and Croquet Club’s court expansion project.

But all top level surfaces start somewhere – at grassroots level – and Rob Sullivan presents the Football Foundation’s strategic ambitions to improve grass pitch quality and Chris Smith tackles the funding process to improve pitches. Perhaps there’s a role for hybrid pitches in the community – Dr Richard Earl (TGMS) reveals data findings from the Sport England hybrid pitch pilot for community use in London’s Regents Park.

Those in the education sector will no doubt be interested to hear how Whitgift School’s recent hybrid pitch installation was the first in the independent school sector and panelists Daniel Ratling (Whitgift School), Dr Richard Earl (TGMS) and D James Welsh (Whitehorse Contractors) session look at the rationale, the design/planning process, the construction, the project outcomes and the ongoing maintenance and renovation of the project.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, says: “So many visitors to SALTEX work in grounds maintenance and this series of seminars provides relevant, invaluable information whatever the playing surface they work on from speakers and panelists with a wealth of experience and solutions to real-time projects. Anybody wanting to stay ahead of the game in the grounds care industry will benefit from the learning and connections they can make whilst at SALTEX. We are grateful to all those industry experts and leaders that are taking time out to speak at Learning LIVE and support those working hard across the industry to make sport possible across the UK.”

The SALTEX 2022 Learning LIVE schedule this year has been extended to over 30 sessions, they are free to attend across the two days of the show on 2-3 November and contribute to CPD-accreditation. More information can be found on the event’s website at www.saltex.org.uk/learning-live. Free visitor registration is now open at saltex.org.uk / register here.

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UK’s best student greenkeepers celebrated

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UK’s best student greenkeepers celebrated: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and sponsors Reesink Turfcare and Toro have revealed the winners of their annual awards competition, with the finals taking place this year in the surroundings of the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex.

During a sombre evening following news of the death of Her Majesty the Queen, the winners of this year’s awards were revealed. Throughout the day, the 12 candidates – selected from a record 54 nominees – had contested the grand finals of the Toro Student Greenkeeper Awards.

UK's best student greenkeepers celebrated

UK’s best student greenkeepers celebrated

Ripon City Golf Club Deputy Course Manager James Gaskell (30) was revealed as the 33rd winner of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award. James has been greenkeeping for five years, taking up the profession on a full-time basis after graduating from the University of Sunderland. A talented golfer playing to a 1.6 handicap, James said his experience of playing competitive golf compliments his greenkeeping knowledge and the awards judges were impressed by his considerable dedication to the sport and his chosen career.

The runner-up of the award is Andrew Ritchie of St Andrews Links Trust.

The 6th winner of the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award was revealed to be Carden Park Golf Club greenkeeper Peter Pattenden (19). A talented rugby player, Peter has represented North Wales and Scottish Exiles, but it is in golf that he has chosen to pursue a career. Having been a greenkeeper for almost three years, Peter works at Carden Park in Cheshire where his father – also called Peter – is courses and estates manager.

The runner-up of the Young award is Luke Charnley of Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

With the awards split into two separate categories, candidates for the ‘main’ Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award completed a rigorous day of testing that included an exam, an essay question, grass and seed identification and a presentation on their career so far. Candidates for the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award, who must be aged 21 and under when nominated, undertook an exam and then a hole walk with the awards judges that is intended to test the finalists’ knowledge in a real world setting.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award was introduced in 1989, with an additional ‘Young’ category introduced in 2016. Previous winners and finalists have gone on to become some of the most influential characters in the greenkeeping industry, helping shape the sport of golf in the UK and further afield.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner receives: enrolment in the 10-week University of Massachusetts Winter Turf School; a two-week expenses-paid placement at Adare Manor, venue of The 2027 Ryder Cup; an all-expenses paid trip to the GCSAA Conference and Show in Florida; and a visit to Toro Corporate HQ, R&D Centre and Equipment Operations in Wisconsin.

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner receives: a two-week work placement at Vidauban Golf Club in France; a five-night trip to Continue to Learn at BTME; and a gift voucher for Toro Training.

The student award endorser receives a trip to the GCSAA in the USA and the young student endorser will receive a trip to Vidauban Golf Club. All finalists receive a year’s free membership with BIGGA.

BIGGA Learning and Development Executive Deb Burnett said: “Among the many activities BIGGA undertakes each year to assist the professional development of our members, the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards are almost certainly the most inspirational. For those feeling disillusioned about the challenges our industry faces in coming years, our 12 finalists provide all the reassurance you need to be convinced that greenkeeping and the sport of golf has a very bright future.

“My congratulations go to all our finalists, particularly our well-deserving winners and runners-up. Thanks must also go to Reesink Turfcare and Toro for their incredible support and to the Goodwood Estate for being such wonderful hosts.”

David Timms, national accounts manager for Reesink Turfcare, said: “After a record number of entries and a thorough two-week online interview process, it was a pleasure to welcome and meet the best talent in greenkeeping at Goodwood for the finals of the 2022 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards. It was clear why these 12 finalists made it this far – a great achievement. Everyone shone and it was a close competition. The winners – James and Peter – are incredibly worthy and I look forward to seeing what they go on to achieve.”

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