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Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year open for entries

May 26, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Mark Sanderson

Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year open for entries: The search is on to recognise the UK’s most professional sprayer operators in the turf and landscape amenity sector. The Amenity Forum’s Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year (ASOOTY) awards highlight best practice and experience in the challenging role of ensuring accurate application on all amenity surfaces. Sponsored […]

Acelepryn Emergency Authorisation

May 26, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Mark Sanderson

Acelepryn Emergency Authorisation: An Emergency Authorisation (EA) for the use of the Syngenta insecticide Acelepryn to target chafer grubs has been granted for the 2022 season. The new EA now includes first-class cricket outfields, as well as specific areas of golf courses, racecourses and airfields. This season, the chafer grub authorisation permits use of Acelepryn […]

Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year open for entries

May 26, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Mark Sanderson

Acelepryn Emergency Authorisation

May 26, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Mark Sanderson

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Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year open for entries

May 26, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Mark Sanderson

Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year open for entries: The search is on to recognise the UK’s most professional sprayer operators in the turf and landscape amenity sector. The Amenity Forum’s Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year (ASOOTY) awards highlight best practice and experience in the challenging role of ensuring accurate application on all amenity surfaces.

Sponsored by Syngenta and ICL, in association with BASIS, the awards seek to share top tips and advice that will raise the standards of spray application across the amenity industry.

Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year open for entries

The winner is presented at the prestigious BIGGA Awards ceremony at BTME, along with a prize of a weekend break for two at a luxury hotel of choice. Two runners-up receive £100 Machine Mart vouchers.

Announcing the opening of the ASOOTY 2022 awards, Syngenta Technical Manager, Sean Loakes, said: “Sprayer operation is a key factor in the success of every application, including elements of nozzle choice, water volume and fine tuning the sprayer to more effectively hit the intended target.

“However, for the best possible results, today’s professional sprayer operators must also fully understand the wider aspects of why an application is being made, and what other elements they can also employ for better long-term management of potential problems.”

This year the entry process aims to test sprayer operators’ broader knowledge of issues and solutions faced across the amenity sector. Barry Browne, ICL Landscape & Industrial Sales Manager, explained entrants are not expected to know the answers to all the questions, but will help the judging panel to assess an individual’s experience and approach to dealing with challenges.

“The entry process itself will stimulate thought and understanding of the issues around application, including the need to create integrated solutions using a full range of tools and tactics. We’re looking to find operators that can make those important proactive decisions with every application.”

All entrants will be invited to attend an on-line session to review the entry form with judges and to share and learn from the experiences of others.

Professor John Moverley of the Amenity Forum highlighted the ASOOTY awards exemplified the organisation’s objective to promote best practice across the sector.

“It seeks to do this by advocating a fully integrated approach to weed, pest and disease management, tailoring solutions to meet specific situations and making use of the appropriate approved chemical and non-chemical techniques, to produce the most effective and efficient outcome – whilst seeking to create safe and healthy amenity spaces.

“The Amenity Forum has taken the lead in a major step forward in highlighting the importance of amenity management and the need to use professionally approved operators in any public space.”

Enter the ASOOTY 2022 awards here

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Acelepryn Emergency Authorisation

May 26, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Mark Sanderson

Acelepryn Emergency Authorisation: An Emergency Authorisation (EA) for the use of the Syngenta insecticide Acelepryn to target chafer grubs has been granted for the 2022 season. The new EA now includes first-class cricket outfields, as well as specific areas of golf courses, racecourses and airfields.

This season, the chafer grub authorisation permits use of Acelepryn up to 28 August 2022 – to cover key periods of adult chafer egg laying and target early larval activity in the soil.

Acelepryn Emergency Authorisation

Chafer grubs cause damage to turf through extensive feeding on roots, which can be severe in localised patches. Surface stability where grubs have chewed through turf roots is of hugely significant 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 grubs. 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.

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

Acelepryn 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,” reported Syngenta Technical Manager, Sean Loakes. “Obtaining this EA enables turf managers to develop an 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 at the peak flight of egg laying adults, 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.

“Keep surfaces irrigated where possible prior to application, to attract pest larvae to towards the surface,” he advised. “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.”

A further EA has also been submitted by ICL on behalf of the turf industry for the treatment of leatherjacket infestations later in the season. The regulatory system only permits a 120-day use period – which requires a separate submission for leatherjackets, to target later application at peak pest timing.

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