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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.

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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.

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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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Syngenta to launch Application Academy

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Syngenta to launch Application Academy: The pioneering world-first Syngenta Application Academy will give turf managers and sprayer operators the chance to delve into the world of precision application.

Launching the Application Academy at BTME (Harrogate 21-23 January), Syngenta Technical Manager and application specialist, Glenn Kirby, highlighted it will give a select group the chance to become an industry leader in accurate application – and get the very best from every turf treatment.

Syngenta to launch Application Academy

Prospective candidates can visit Syngenta stand 428 at BTME to apply, or register on GreenCast after the show in January. 

“The Syngenta Turf Application Academy gives an opportunity to really learn about the science behind the skills involved. Attending the Academy will take spray application to a new level,” said Mr Kirby.

Focusing on scientific research and practical advice, the three day Application Academy will be held in June, at the dedicated Application Laboratory of Syngenta Jealott’s Hill International Research Station in Berkshire.

Syngenta to launch Application Academy

The Application Academy syllabus modules include:

  • Understanding spray dynamics
  • Nozzle design and development
  • Microscopy of droplet movement
  • Digital Innovations Laboratory
  • Setting-up testing and operating your sprayer

The course will be led by Syngenta specialists and independent experts in spray research and accurate application. Successful candidates will achieve Academy test certification.

“The Application Academy is open to all golf course or sports facility managers or dedicated sprayer operators,” added Mr Kirby. “All applicants will get to join the Syngenta Application Club, providing advice and sharing best practice throughout the season.”

Syngenta to launch Application Academy

A selected short list of candidate applications will be invited to undertake a Skype interview. Costs of the course, accommodation, subsistence and tuition is provided by Syngenta.

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Syngenta To Exhibit At BTME

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Syngenta To Exhibit At BTME: Syngenta will be giving turf managers the opportunity to win a professional PAR light meter every day at BTME 2019 – to scientifically measure useable light reaching their surfaces, and to manage turf more effectively.

To enter, turf managers simply need to register on the Syngenta stand – Purple Hall, 428 – pick up a Ryder brochure and follow @syngentaturfuk on Twitter to find out the lucky winner on each day of the event.

Syngenta To Exhibit At BTME

Furthermore, all turf managers can now benefit from a new GreenCast weather service showing forecast light intensity levels for the coming five days, displayed as light intensity in µmol per m² per second, for their specific site.

Syngenta Technical Manager, Glenn Kirby, advocated that understanding the levels of light are hitting the surface, where and when during the day, is extremely important in making decisions to make light work more efficiently using Ryder applications.

“Only a relatively small spectrum of sunlight can be physiologically absorbed and utilised by turf plants – the PAR light,” he pointed out. “Light waves at either end of the spectrum can be potentially damaging to plant tissue.

“Furthermore, the amount of PAR light reaching open turf surfaces can be far in excess of the plants’ ability to photosynthesise and turn it into energy,” he advised.

“This over saturation of light can induce stress within the plant, particularly when it occurs in combination with other stress factors, such as moisture, nutrient deficiency or temperature extremes, for example.”

Glenn warned that the short leaves of tight mown turf surfaces offer limited buffer for stress effects and makes plants more susceptible to other issues, including Anthracnose outbreaks that have been increasingly prevalent in recent seasons.

“Managing light levels impacting on plants is now recognised as a crucial part of an Integrated Turf Management programme,” he advocated. “Ryder turf pigment has shown to enhance the naturalistic green colour of turf surfaces throughout the season, and also offers the chance to manage and mitigate against harmful levels of light affecting plants.”

The sun radiates a broad spectrum of light, typically measured from 300-1100 nanometers (nm). But it is only the Photosynthetically Active Radiation – from 400 to 700 nm – that is of real benefit for plants, according to Glenn.

“Now we can start measuring the amount of PAR light getting to the plant we can begin to gauge what’s happening in the plant and monitor it’s impact, The light intensity measured by the Field Scout shows how intense the PAR light can be.

“Turf plants’ ability to photosynthesise plateaus at around 400 µmol per m² per second; but light levels during the summer in the UK can easily hit 2000 µmol per m² per second. Once you begin to understand good levels of light and excessive light, you will begin to understand and adjust your maintenance programs to cope with this little understood stress,” he advised.

To help turf managers get a more accurate picture of light levels on their turf, Syngenta will be giving away a Field Scout Quantum Meter, worth over £200, on each day of the BTME event, organised by BIGGA and held in Harrogate from 22 – 24 January 2019.

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