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Armed forces background ‘a perfect fit’ for career in groundscare

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Armed forces background ‘a perfect fit’ for career groundscare: A former serviceman who started a new career as a technician working on machinery for groundscare professionals says the sector offers huge opportunities for those looking to resettle after life in the armed forces.

Andy Irvine is one of a number of individuals who have started new jobs at John Deere dealerships across the UK and Ireland following many years in service.

Armed forces background ‘a perfect fit’ for career groundscare

Armed forces background ‘a perfect fit’ for career groundscare

Based at Turner Groundscare Machinery near Chester since last April, Andy stepped into a field service technician role, supporting customers at world-renowned football clubs, golf courses and rugby stadiums across north-west England.

He has recently been promoted to workshop manager and says there is job satisfaction and progression on offer for anyone leaving the forces with the appropriate skills.

Andy served 14 years in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), running workshops of up to 25 people on home soil and during overseas deployments.

He worked on a wide variety of machines ranging from chainsaws to quad bikes and diggers to main battle tanks.

“I’ve always been interested in engineering,” Andy said. “When I left school, I worked in a local garage I got a really good grounding of engineering standards.

“My foreman at the time said something to me that I’ve taken with me throughout my career; anything you touch has to be at a certain standard when it goes out the door, and if it’s not, then it’s your reputation that’s on the line.”

Andy said that the only way he would leave the army is for his dream job, which was to work for John Deere.

“The John Deere brand is the best of the best in the sector,” Andy said. “I couldn’t think of anything more I’d rather turn spanners on.”

Andy was keen to get started in a new career so he interviewed for a position at his local Turner Grondscare Machinery dealership. He was still contracted to the army for six months, but general manager Gareth Baker agreed to hold the post for him.

As a technician, Andy worked on a wide variety of machines, including the latest innovations from John Deere such as the 225 E-Cut which is the company’s first fully-electric walk-behind greens mower for golf courses. He serviced and repaired a equipment from Gator utility vehicles to compact tractors.

Being on the road daily meant he could be working at Liverpool FC’s AXA Training Centre in the morning and supporting the team at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in the afternoon.

Andy notes similarities in working as a technician and being in the army. He says every day is different, and when he was called to a job he never knew exactly what to expect.

“When you get the call, you only know you’re going out to a repair, where the location is and what the machine is, but everything else has to be dealt with when you arrive,” Andy said.

“The pressure is on you. Whether it’s soldiers or greenkeepers, people look to you to relay your intelligence and your thought process into what the fault could be and explain to them why a part has failed and how the issue is resolved.”

He describes the differences between army life and civvy street as “positive”, with some of the main benefits being routine working hours and a better work-life balance for him and his family.

“I’m finally able to plan my year in advance,” Andy said. “I now know that I can spend my evenings and weekends with my family and can even book holidays knowing I can actually go on them.”

Andy hopes to encourage those thinking of leaving the service to make the change and start a new career with John Deere.

“If you have the right mindset and you’re positive and proactive, you’ll be completely fine transitioning from military life to civilian life,” Andy said. It’s a step forwards towards not just a better job, but a better lifestyle.

“You’ll get an element of control back in your life. Since leaving, I can put my hand on my heart saying that I’m in a better place, workwise and mentally, than I was working for the army.”

John Deere launched its Military Hiring Programme in 2023 in a bid to attract people such as Andy to the agriculture and professional groundscare sectors. He thinks it will be a great springboard for those wanting to resettle into the sector.

Interested service and ex-service members can learn more about the programme and fill out a contact card by visiting www.deere.com/JDMHP.

After making contact, they will be put in touch with an individual from the John Deere network who has resettled following a career in the armed forces to discuss all potential options.

Gareth Baker added: “Andy’s been a breath of fresh air. His work rate and organisational skills are exceptional, which is exactly what you need for a role like this.

“We were prepared to wait for him to complete his transition from the army for six months, primarily because of his management experience.

“He’s now the workshop manager and has built a team underneath him, including a technician who has recently joined our team from the Navy.

“The calibre of people that have come into the sector from the armed forces really stands out.”

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Wiedenmann double all in a day’s work

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Wiedenmann double all in a day’s work: This summer, Brian Dunne, celebrates 20 years as Course Superintendent at Adare Manor Old Course GC in the southwest of Ireland.

He has built a long-established relationship with local Wiedenmann dealer Seamus Weldon, at nearby Killarney.

Wiedenmann double all in a day’s work

Wiedenmann double all in a day’s work

“We go back years; they’ve always been there for us,” he said. “When we purchased a new blower back in 2008 or thereabouts, Michael Weldon pointed us in the direction of a Wiedenmann Whisper Twister. It was new to the market, and we were among the first to buy.

“You can’t fault it. Aside from a new belt and some wheel bearings, it’s never missed a beat. We’d be lost without it.

“From October to December, it’s out every day of the week on leaf clearance duty. Our course is lined with beech and oak trees so there’s plenty of work. One of the team on our small tractor blows the leaves into lines and our collector follows behind. It has dozens of tasks; we use it to dry off the fairways or tee boxes, it helps year-round with presentation and tidying and, of course, when we’ve had storms, it’s come into its own.”

“We used to bring contractors in to help with deep aeration on our fairways. It was always a struggle to book the right week: and balance weather and the needs of golfers. It was also getting very expensive.

“I asked Michael if he could source a second-hand aerator so we could do the job ourselves. He came back with a beautifully refurbished Wiedenmann Terra Spike XP, and we haven’t looked back.

“Your own machine makes such a difference.  We try to do our fairways twice a year. We just pick when the conditions are right and do two or three at a time. We’ve got twelve acres in total, as well as walkways and tee boxes, so it takes us around a week and a half normally to do all the split sessions.

“We were out in late January and with 20 mm diameter tines down to 250 mm. In some choice places known to hold water, we went a little deeper, so around 300 mm and we might revisit these more frequently.

Brian’s team, three at present, with a vacancy about to be filled, takes on two summer workers to help them cope. The friendly parkland club is constantly busy, its history and dramatic setting, marking it out as not your typical golfing experience, so enjoys lots of visitors.

Very few clubs can boast anything as spectacular as Desmond Castle (1200 AD) which nestles in the background of the 1st and 15th greens. Move to the centre of the course and the ruins of the Franciscan Abbey (1464 AD) let you know you’ve arrived somewhere extraordinary.

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Green-tech’s Jordan Webster takes a step up

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Green-tech’s Jordan Webster takes a step up: Green-tech is delighted to announce that Jordan Webster has been promoted to a Sales Manager.

The former Key account manager has stepped up to manage a sales team of eight from a larger sales team of circa 30 people.  Jordan will be helping to maintain the key account relationship whilst mentoring other members of the team and developing other accounts.

Green-tech’s Jordan Webster takes a step up

Green-tech’s Jordan Webster takes a step up

Along with the two other Sales Managers in the business, Jordan will support the management team to set and achieve company budgets whilst managing the day-to-day running of his team.

Green-tech has ambitious sales targets and Jordan will be responsible for his team’s. He will have responsibility for signing off customer quotations and orders to meet this target, whilst keeping his team engaged and motivated, maintaining relationships with other departments, and delivering the exceptional service levels that the company is renowned for.

Well-known and respected in the industry, Jordan has recently celebrated his ten-year anniversary with Green-tech.  He is a former Pro Landscaper the next generation 30 under 30 winner and is a recognised face at industry events and exhibitions.

Jordan is heading up the newly refurbished Green-tech trade centre that is based in North Yorkshire.  He oversees the team who are tasked with identifying local growth opportunities and driving sales through new and existing customers.

Commenting on the appointment, Sales Director Richard Gill said, “I am thrilled for Jordan. He is a key person in our sales team and it’s great that he has stepped up to take a management role. Jordan has a wealth of experience and knowledge, and this coupled with his commitment and enthusiasm will stand him in good stead to lead his team and be successful in his new role. I am confident that he will make a great contribution to the future growth and development of Green-tech.”

Remarking on his new role, Jordan adds, “I am delighted to have received this promotion and I’m looking forward to developing this role. It’s a new challenge for me but I feel I have a lot to add and I’m excited about taking an active part in the management side of the business as well as being instrumental in growing sales.”

If you are interested in joining Green-tech and building a career within the landscaping industry, click the link below to check out their careers page with all current vacancies.

https://www.green-tech.co.uk/about-us/careers

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The dawn of a new era in fungicide

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The dawn of a new era in fungicide: In a groundbreaking announcement at BTME 2024, Agrovista Amenity revealed the much-anticipated launch of Maxtima®, a revolutionary turf fungicide.

Maxtima® heralds a new era in fungicide technology, promising fast-acting and long-lasting solutions for turf disease control.

The dawn of a new era in fungicide

The dawn of a new era in fungicide

John Marland, Head of Amenity at Agrovista Amenity, expressed his excitement about Maxtima®, stating, “We are thrilled about the launch of Maxtima®, a product that truly represents the dawn of a new era in fungicides. Building on the success of Attraxor® plant growth regulator, Maxtima® showcases the excellence in BASF technology and promises fast-acting, long-lasting disease control that will undoubtedly make a significant impact in the turf management industry.”

Innovative Active Ingredient: Maxtima® contains Mefentrifluconazole, an advanced demethylase inhibiting fungicide. This active ingredient is responsible for the fungicide’s exceptional performance against turfgrass pathogens.

Fast-Acting: Maxtima® rapidly enters the plant and effectively combats active infections. Its quick uptake and action help control turf diseases promptly.

Effective at Low Temperatures: Maxtima® demonstrates excellent absorption even at temperatures as low as 4°C giving it an improved ability to combat fungal pathogens during the autumn and winter months.

Long-Lasting Protection: One of the standout features of Maxtima® is its ability to provide extended protection for up to 28 days. This is made possible by the active ingredient’s slow release from leaf tissue reservoirs.

Broad-Spectrum Disease Control: Maxtima® offers broad-spectrum disease control, making it effective against a range of turf fungal pathogens. It can help manage even the toughest turf diseases.

Favourable Environmental Profile: Maxtima® boasts low application rates, minimising chemical usage and impact on the environment.

Excellent for Rotation: Due to its unique chemistry, Maxtima® serves as an excellent rotation partner for non-DMI (demethylation inhibitor) fungicides on sports pitches, greens, fairways, and tees. This rotation capability can help prevent the development of resistance in fungal populations.

Phillippa Overson, Key Account Manager at BASF, highlighted the significance of Maxtima®, saying, “We have been so eager to launch Maxtima® in the UK! The ground-breaking DMI fungicide is a must-have for turf management professionals and is a cost-effective, and versatile fungicide for complete control of the toughest turf diseases. We know it is going to quickly become a favourite for turf specialists due to its wide range of disease protection, and its year-round application.

“Maxtima® is the latest turf product to be added to the BASF turf and amenity portfolio, and we’re extremely excited for turf management teams to try it.”

As the sun rises on the era of Maxtima®, the collaboration between Agrovista Amenity and BASF has delivered a product that not only meets but exceeds expectations in the realm of turf fungicides. Turf managers and professionals can now look forward to a new standard in disease control, one that is fast, enduring, and effective — ushering in a brighter future for turf health management.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

Find out more about Maxtima in our video from BTME 

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Worm casts causing you a problem?

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Worm casts causing you a problem?: Earthworms are vital for maintaining healthy soil. By continuously moving soil, worms loosen and aerate it, aiding water infiltration. And, when earthworms feed on nutrients in the soil, the waste products they leave provide valuable fertilisation.

But despite the benefits, earthworms create big problems for greenkeepers.

Worm casts causing you a problem?

Worm casts causing you a problem?

As they expel waste, earthworms leave small worm casts on the soil’s surface. These tiny mounds affect ball movement on golf courses and look unsightly. During milder months, worms are more active near the surface, and these soil casts can mount up, creating more work for greenkeepers.

Up until 2019, greenkeepers had a simple way to tackle worm casts. However, since Carbendazim was banned due to the potentially toxic effects it has on the human reproductive system, no clear chemical solution has emerged to replace it.

How Worm Casts Affect Cylinder Mowers

Worm casts are not just an inconvenience. As a greenkeeper, worm casts cause several other issues, particularly when using cylinder mowers.

Due to their wet, sticky nature, worm casts clog mower rollers, eventually causing them to lock up. When this happens, the mower skids over the turf causing costly damage to both the turf and the machine.

Additionally, worm casts cause an abrasive grinding paste to form between the bottom blade and cylinder. This blunts the cylinders so that regular and costly sharpening is required. If the sharpening is not completed the blunt cylinders affect the overall cut quality and presentation of the course. For many Greenkeepers, this means their cylinder mowers spend more time in the workshop than out on the course.

While strategies like delaying the cut until the middle of the day to reduce stickiness, brushing the turf prior to cutting, or using an older mower when cast levels are high can help, these are not practical solutions as they add time and expense to the ongoing task of turf maintenance.

Using a Trailed Rotary Mower

Until a solution is developed to control worm casts on turf, one time-saving way of tackling them is to use a rotary mower. Trailed rotary mowers do not encounter the same problems as cylinder mowers, as they have been engineered to perform in a wider range of conditions with unwavering reliability.

Most trailed rotary mowers have 5” diameter smooth rollers which are nearly three times larger than a cylinder mower, providing strength when it’s needed most. These rollers are fitted with scraper wires (either a thin metal wire hugging the roller or a solid steel bar running across the length of the roller) which provide constant pressure across the roller, for keeping it free of debris and worm casts.

Another advantage of a trailed rotary mower is their high spindle speeds and airflow, this helps keep the blades clean of worm casts, improving the cut quality and reducing maintenance costs. The other consideration is cleaning. This process is made much easier with a trailed machine as the decks can be folded vertically giving clear access and removing the need to crawl under or bend over the machine.

If you want to see how a trailed rotary mower will perform on your worm casts, give Trimax a call on 01933 652235 or visit their website https://trimaxmowers.co.uk/book-a-demo/

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