Tag Archive for: Stronger

BAGMA focus on ‘stronger partnerships for stronger businesses’

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BAGMA focus on ‘stronger partnerships for stronger businesses’: The British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association (BAGMA) are returning to BTME in 2026, setting the tone for a year of growth, strength and increased value for its membership.

Re-engaging with the dealer community and Industry Partners on stand 642, this year’s presence underscores BAGMA’s renewed commitment to partnerships – including the introduction of new Service Providers Brown & Brown and VIN Chip.

BAGMA focus on ‘stronger partnerships for stronger businesses’

BAGMA focus on ‘stronger partnerships for stronger businesses’

After the challenges of 2025 posed by the climate, geopolitical uncertainty and wavering economy, BAGMA’s focus has been on expanding and developing the support available to members during these difficult times. Going into 2026, BAGMA are pleased to have strengthened their line-up of approved partners to more than 15 – all offering exclusive support, discounts and services to BAGMA members.

The newest names on the growing list are Brown & Brown – specialists in providing benefits programmes and insurances which prioritise employee health, wellbeing and overall workplace satisfaction. BAGMA are also pleased to have partnered with VIN Chip Asset Security, offering sophisticated theft deterrent and forensic asset identification services in an attempt to tackle the ever-increasing issue of equipment theft.

Besides outlining member benefits and the comprehensive range of industry training courses available, visitors to the stand can also find out the details for the BAGMA Connect meeting programme for 2026.

Designed to enhance collaboration, promote best practice and drive business development, BAGMA will be delivering three Connect events throughout the year hosted by TORO UK Limited on 25th March, KUHN Farm Machinery on 2nd July and Kverneland Group (UK) Ltd on 21st October 2026. Open to members and non-members, Connect meetings serve as critical touchpoints to network and convene with industry experts and peers with the aim of exchanging ideas and building stronger businesses and relationships.

More details on BAGMA events and the full range of member benefits are available on the BAGMA website, www.bagma.com

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Getting stronger over time

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Getting stronger over time: For almost any product, there is an environment that provides its toughest test. If you’re making extreme winter clothing, and you get asked to supply your gear to McMurdo Station, the largest settlement in Antarctica, you’ll know it is going to get the best possible test.

Similarly if you sell bunker liners and you get asked to supply The Preserve GC, in Vancleave in southern Missssippi.

Getting stronger over time

Getting stronger over time

Designed by Jerry Pate and opened in 2005, The Preserve is attached to the Palace Casino Resort in nearby Biloxi. According to director of operations Stephen Miles, the course does 13,000 rounds in an average year, though the post-Covid golf boom means 2021 has been significantly busier. And, let us not beat about the bush: this part of the Gulf coast is the wettest location in the whole of the continental United States, averaging almost 70 inches (1780mm) of rain a year. And 2021 has been wetter still than that: club meteorlogist Jeremy Steven reports that the figure for this year is very close to 100 inches (2,540mm).

Fortunately for Miles and his team, back in 2014, The Preserve chose to rebuild its bunkers and line them with Capillary Bunkers technology. “Nine years after opening is not a long time to have to renovate, but the infrastructure in the original build of the course was simply not up to coping with our weather,” he says. “The bunkers were originally lined with fabric, but it was wearing out, and we needed a more resilient solution. I knew that concrete had the tendency to get stronger over time, and Capillary Bunkers was less restrictive in the conditions needed for installation than its closest rival. I was confident at the time that we had made the right choice and installed a product that would stand the test of time. And time has proved we made the right choice!”

“We have not had to repair our bunkers at all, and, incredibly, the original sand is still in them,” Miles says. “Since 2014, I have bought one truckload of sand, and that was for the bunker in our chipping green – which gets blasted out by players. Our bunkers have flashed sand faces, but our minimal washout issues only occur where water actually flows into the bunkers. When we get a big rain – and eight to ten inches of rain is not uncommon – we have to wait for the drainage infrastructure underneath the bunkers to catch up with the bunkers’ ability to move water. But it always does, and then the crew can prepare the bunkers for play again.”

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Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby

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Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby: Gloucester Rugby Head Groundsman, Stuart Lambert, believes that the use of Attraxor® plant growth regulator (PGR), has helped him to achieve a stronger sward while simultaneously reducing the amount of Poa annua.

Stuart started at Gloucester Rugby in August 2018 and admits to learning and adapting to the way the pitch plays every single day. This means that he must be flexible in his maintenance strategy and be open to new products which could make a difference to the pitch at the Kingsholm Stadium.

Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby

Stronger sward for Gloucester Rugby

He came across such a product at BTME 2020 in the form of Attraxor® plant growth regulator (PGR). In further researching the product, he found that it came highly recommended by Mark Allen from Agrovista Amenity and Adam King, Head Groundsman at Oxford United Football Club.

“Attraxor® appealed to me because PGR’s are a significant part of my overall maintenance strategy to improve the turf and control Poa annua,” said Stuart. “2020 was a particularly challenging year for Poa so I was keen to see what the product could offer. Speaking to Mark and Adam gave me the confidence to try it and the results have been far better than expected.”

Stuart claims that a lack of sunlight to the pitch led to an increase in Poa: “In the winter months almost the whole pitch is in shade because the stand is so high,” he said. “This has been a big factor for the care programme I have chosen to adopt. Maintaining grass coverage is a constant concern in the lower light months and the thinning grass often gives way to Poa annua in the spring which takes hold. It’s a tricky combination to contend with.

The lack of light, winter thinning and then the Poa means the turf is high maintenance. Couple this with the winter months being in heavy use and it means we are regularly out with pitch lights to encourage growth in match torn areas.”

After carrying out a mini renovation in June last year, Stuart applied 1.1 kg/ha of Attraxor® with 20kg of 46-0-0 nitrogen fertiliser. Attraxor® contains prohexadione-calcium, a new active ingredient that regulates growth and also limits the spread of Poa annua by reducing seed-head production.

“It visibly weakened the Poa,” said Stuart. “It looked stressed but the rye around it looked good. It turned the seed heads brown.”

Following the first application Stuart is now confident that Attraxor® will form an important part of his overall maintenance plan. “It is good to have a product that strengthens the sward and improves density whilst weakening the Poa. I definitely intend on applying it again,” he concluded.

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

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