Tag Archive for: syngenta

Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes

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Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes: Sean Loakes has been appointed as Syngenta Professional Solutions Technical Manager for the UK and Ireland.

Sean expands the existing Syngenta technical and business team, to offer further specialist trials expertise and developing new integrated solutions for turf, landscape, ornamentals production and pest control.

Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes

Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes

Sean’s role is dedicated to customers in UK and Ireland, and will also support the continued work of Glenn Kirby, who now has the extended responsibility as Technical Manager for Turf & Landscape across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

A qualified biologist, Sean has had a career in environmental science and research through practical field trials and laboratory studies, primarily focused on pesticide efficacy and best practice.

“With the increasing importance of biopesticides within integrated management programmes, there’s an exciting opportunity to develop new strategies to meet the evolving challenges for customers,” he said. “Syngenta has an exciting pipeline of R&D products and services.  I look forward to working with customers, researchers and the industry to develop new solutions.”

Welcoming Sean to the company, Daniel Lightfoot, Syngenta Business Manager for North West Europe, said: “Syngenta is committed to developing its unrivalled technical solutions. Sean’s science and research background brings further experience and innovation to support customers with new products and achieving the best possible results.”

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BIGGA & Syngenta to host major industry event

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BIGGA & Syngenta to host major industry event: This summer will see the return of BIGGA’s popular Continue to Learn Extra webinar series and kicking off the programme of learning is a talk with industry expert Glenn Kirby about the high levels of leatherjackets and chafer grubs that have caused tremendous damage to many courses during the early part of 2021.

A recent social media survey by BIGGA Partner Syngenta found that during 2020 just 1% of UK golf courses reported no damage due to these insects. Hidden below the surface of the nation’s golf courses, leatherjackets are threatening the enjoyment and economic viability of the sport. Of the 400 course managers who responded to the survey, almost all reported that their course was negatively impacted by an infestation of the larvae of craneflies – also known as leatherjackets – and chafer grubs.

BIGGA & Syngenta to host major industry event

BIGGA & Syngenta to host major industry event

On 13 May BIGGA will be hosting an important industry event, when Syngenta Technical Manager Glenn Kirby will explain the reasons behind the damage and why it is important for the golfing industry to unite to support golf club teams during this distressing time.

Extensive damage to sports turf is caused by the larvae feeding on the turfgrass, while predators can also cause significant and widespread damage as they hunt for these larvae. The impact on a golf course can be serious, with increased costs as greenkeeping teams battle against the damage and the potential for large losses in revenue as golfers choose to play at courses that have been unaffected by the pests. However, unaffected courses are increasingly in the minority.

Alongside the webinar, BIGGA and Syngenta will be distributing a white paper to the golf industry that will provide an in-depth study of the situation including its causes, impact and potential solutions and will also be encouraging golf’s leading bodies to share this information to a wide audience.

This Continue to Learn Extra webinar is free to attend for anyone involved in golf club our course management. You can register for this vital industry event online now on the BIGGA website.

Syngenta’s Glenn Kirby said: “My goal when I started investigating the problem of leatherjackets was to get all golf courses to zero damage, as that’s what is being expected of course managers. But it has become increasingly clear to me that we are going to have to adjust our expectations. We all want perfect surfaces year-round, but without additional tools in our armoury I suspect that may not be a realistic goal.”

The ‘Managing the Leatherjacket Challenge’ webinar kicks off a summer of online learning for BIGGA members, with other webinars being hosted from May until September 2021. Taking a leading role will be management expert Tyler Bloom, while other topics for discussion will include golf course ecology, Women and Girls’ Golf Week and representatives of the European Institute for Golf Course Architects discussing ways of making golf courses more appealing to a wider audience. Head to the BIGGA website for more information.

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Syngenta survey reveals mental health issues

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Syngenta survey reveals mental health issues: More than 60% of greenkeepers, PGA Professionals and club managers have experienced increased work-related mental health problems in the past year, a new survey by Syngenta has found.

Of these, nearly two-thirds (64%) said they had felt anxious or worried, 57% said they experienced sleep problems and 43% said they had felt depressed with a continuous low mood.

Syngenta survey reveals mental health issues

Syngenta survey reveals mental health issues

Three of the 256 respondents admitted thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

The online survey, which was anonymous, also found that only 9% of respondents had sought professional counselling in the previous six months.

And while two-thirds (68%) of respondents said their organization or employer should offer mental health training and support, only 21% confirmed their employer did have a mental health policy or wellbeing program (57% said their organization did not offer support; 22% were unsure) and 12% had received stress or anxiety training at work.

VIDEO Superintendents’ mental health: signs of stress

ONLINE EDUCATION The Mindful Sessions, Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents

FEATURE Golf saved my life

Mark Birchmore, Syngenta Global Head of Marketing, Turf and Landscape, who commissioned the survey, said: “While this is a snapshot survey, it provides evidence of what we have been hearing anecdotally throughout the pandemic, that mental health problems are prevalent.

“I’m especially worried for the three industry colleagues who reported the most severe symptoms and I would encourage anyone in this situation to urgently seek professional advice.

“For the industry, the survey highlights a potential gap between the prevalence of mental health problems and the level of support available. As an organization, this is something Syngenta is addressing with accredited Mental Health First Aiders within our team, as well supporting important industry initiatives, including the online Mindful Leadership Sessions by the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association.

“But there is more to be done globally, which is why we are sharing the results of the survey with the golf industry, including bodies and associations, with a view to encouraging solutions.”

More than half the survey respondents (52%), from countries including the United States, Canada, the UK and the Netherlands, said they were aware of colleagues who had experienced mental health problems since March 2020.

Of those who completed the survey, 66% were superintendents or greenkeepers, 13% were PGA Professionals or directors of golf and 11% were club managers.

Syngenta has been highlighting mental health issues within its Growing Golf campaign and supported Emotional Health education at the virtual Golf Industry Show, February 2-4.

Join the conversation: tell us your experiences, thoughts and suggestions.

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Syngenta survey assesses mental health

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Syngenta survey assesses mental health: A new online survey commissioned by Syngenta is aiming to assess the mental health of club managers, greenkeepers and PGA Professionals.

After an unprecedented year in which many golf courses experienced extreme disruption due to the Coronavirus pandemic, there is anecdotal evidence of increased mental health issues among those leading club and course businesses.

Syngenta survey assesses mental health

Syngenta survey assesses mental health

Mark Birchmore, Syngenta Global Head of Marketing, Turf and Landscape, who commissioned the survey, said: “Around the world, golf courses have experienced the extremes of sudden temporary closure to record demand.

“From a management perspective, it has proved exceptionally challenging and for some colleagues in the golf industry, the pressure has taken its toll both professionally and personally.

“This snapshot survey – which is anonymous – aims to indicate the prevalence of mental health issues in the golf industry, the impact on individuals and the availability of support.”

Syngenta has been highlighting mental health issues within its Growing Golf campaign and will be supporting Emotional Health education at the Golf Industry Show, February 2-4, 2021.

The online survey is anonymous and takes a short time to complete.

Results will be published in January 2021.

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New Turf Rewards for 2020.

New Turf Rewards for 2020

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New Turf Rewards for 2020: ICL and Syngenta are pleased to announce some exciting updates to the Turf Rewards loyalty scheme for 2020.

Turf Rewards provides the opportunity for customers to earn points from purchases that can then be exchanged against a fantastic selection of agronomic or turf related items and learning opportunities.

New Turf Rewards for 2020.

New Turf Rewards for 2020.

With an extensive range of items already on offer, new rewards for 2020 include:

  • £350 F R Jones voucher- F R Jones specialise in horticultural and arboricultural equipment, supplies and service. They are stockists of leading landscaping and forestry brands including Stihl and Husqvarna.
  • £150 Sports Metals voucher – Sports Metals are home of the extracut-brush, and provide a bespoke range of products specifically designed to help your turf management.
  • Turfgrass Management book – Written by A J Turgeon and J E Kaminski, this book has been designed as a basic text for beginning students of turfgrass science and management.

New qualifying products for 2020 includes the Sportsmaster fertilizer range and new pack sizes of Ryder turf pigment (5 litre) and Primo Maxx II growth regulator (20 litre). Making it even easier to build your points balance.

Customers simply log their purchases of qualifying ICL and Syngenta products from any authorised distributor on the Turf Rewards website and points are automatically added to their account.

Turf Rewards continues to grow year-on-year and an increasing number of greenkeepers and turf managers are signing up to the loyalty scheme.

Greig Easton, Head Greenkeeper at Hayling Golf Club in Hampshire, recently praised the initiative after claiming a Davis Weather Station, a TDR 350 Moisture Meter, £900 in Machine Mart Vouchers, a Prism Gauge and Macroscope, a DJI Mavic Air Drone and a SS-2 Drop Spreader.

“The Turf Rewards scheme has been greatly beneficial to the team and myself at Hayling,” he said. “It has allowed us to purchase a range of tools which make our work more efficient and professional. The Weather Station and Moisture Meter have made recording data and improving our irrigation efficiency far easier. Hand and power tools purchased with the Machine Mart Vouchers have allowed us to gain all the necessary equipment we needed for machinery maintenance and fabrication. The drone has proved a great addition for planning and recording course improvement projects and for producing professional looking presentations for our membership.”

Trevor Wilkin, Grounds Manager at Blackburn Rovers FC, has recently claimed an SR-2000 Spreader and the Team Scout Sprayer, and claims that the loyalty scheme has helped his budget go that much further.

“Being able to claim both the Team ScoutSprayer and SR-2000 Spreader through Turf Rewards has been great for us as a club as they have allowed me to apply the products I use perfectly at the same time as saving my budget – meaning it goes further. The sprayer has meant I no longer need to use heavy machinery to apply liquid products which allows me flexibility on timing of applications.”

If you would to find out more about Turf Rewards visit www.turfrewards.com or contact the Turf Rewards team directly by emailing info@turfrewards.com

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

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