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FCC Environment impresses with Toro

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FCC Environment impresses with Toro: For several years Toro machinery has been helping FCC Environment’s grounds maintenance department achieve excellent results for its clients, which is why it continues to invest in Toro.

Richard Moss, FCC Environment’s grounds foreman, explains: “We have several clients we work with on a range of projects and across all types of surfaces, from parks and public sports grounds, to highway verges. So it’s very important for us to have reliable machinery that helps us achieve results that keep our clients happy.”

FCC Environment impresses with Toro

FCC Environment impresses with Toro

Making up the bulk of FCC Environment’s maintenance fleet are three LT3340 heavy-duty triple mowers and a T4240 high-output cylinder mower which were purchased four years ago, and most recently a LT-F3000 triple flail mower.

“The T4240 and LT3340 mowers we’ve had for four years and we invested in a LT-F3000 triple flail mower last year,” Richard tells us. “We needed another machine to help with an increase in our workload and it wasn’t really a question that we would look to Toro again and it’s certainly a decision that has paid off! Not only has the LT-F3000 really impressed me thanks to its versatility coping with both long and short grass, leaving an excellent finish every time, but also, despite the wet weather at the start of the year, all the Toro machines have still seen excellent results and really impressed our clients.”

The 21-person-strong grounds team at FCC Environment are out in force every day using Toro machines during peak season, which is why reliable machinery and excellent after sales service make up the vital combination that Richard looks for in a machinery partner, something that together Toro and UK distributor Reesink Turfcare provide.

“We have such a full on schedule that the biggest problem we could face would be machinery downtime,” says Richard. “If our machines were constantly breaking down or it took too long to order parts in for repairs, it would be disastrous. Good reliability is why our frontline grass cutting machines are all Toro. We’ve seen this in action with our T4240 and LT3340, and despite being in use nearly every day for four years, our machinery downtime has stayed at an absolute minimum.

“Not only are Toro machines incredibly reliable, but the after sales service from Reesink is excellent,” Richard concludes.

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Share your photos with us

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Share your photos with us: It’s challenge time!

During this unprecedented period we want you to share your favourite turf-related photo or memory.

Share your photos with us

Share your photos with us

Tag us in your photos on Twitter @TurfMatters and we will re-share to brighten up everyone’s timelines.

Whether it’s a photo from your current course or a previous pitch, we want to see your pics!

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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Bionema sign MoU with Scientia Colombia

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Bionema sign MoU with Scientia Colombia: Scientia Colombia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with world-leading biopesticide technology developer Bionema, to collaborate on making more environmentally sustainable biological controls available in the fight against pests and diseases in less developed countries.

Leading biopesticide technology company Bionema attended the AgriTech 2020 mission to Colombia, organised by the UK Prosperity Fund.

Bionema sign MoU with Scientia Colombia

Bionema sign MoU with Scientia Colombia

During the visit, Bionema explored the opportunity to collaborate in a new geographical territory. This resulted in a welcome partnership with Scientia Colombia, which offers biological solutions for integrated pest management in Agriculture.

The two companies signed an MoU during a networking event organised by The British Embassy in Colombia and AgriTech 2020 at Sonesta Hotel, Pereira that will add value in a multitude of ways, with benefits to both parties.  Specifically, its aims are to:

  • Set up a Good Experimental Facilities (GEP) for testing the plant protection products (PPPs).
  • Commercialise new biopesticide products for high value crops in Colombia.
  • Transfer knowledge in the field of biopesticides, and
  • Provide training to end users in high value crops.

International collaborations between biopesticide companies in different geographical territories are particularly valuable, considering limitations placed on the movement of live organisms in many parts of the world, and the fact that the organisms in biopesticides may act differently in different environments.

The new experimental facility will be able to demonstrate the efficacy of Bionema’s range of biopesticide products – already proven effective and available in Europe – in the South American climate and against native forms of target pests in the region.

Dr Minshad Ansari, Founder and CEO of Bionema, said “I am very confident that our proven technology will lead to commercialisation of new products and service in Colombia, to combat some of the difficult pest and disease which are causing millions of damage to exports products – the warm temperatures will favour these organisms, and I think we can expect to see some great results in the near future.”

Referring to the commercialisation of products for high value crops in Colombia, Dr Ansari added “This is a great opportunity for Bionema to enter a new market, and to help growers in South America to use more eco-friendly products that provide benefits for them as well as the country.”

With the ecological consequences of food production and agricultural practices coming under increased scrutiny, there is growing public and government support for natural alternatives to the harsh chemical pesticides that have been used for decades to control pests and diseases. Biopesticides are one alternative – these products utilize the natural enemies of plant pests, effectively using nature to control the unnatural population growth brought about by modern intensive farming practices. They are very effective at controlling insect pests, while being non-toxic to humans and the environment, residue-free and highly compatible with other control methods and IPM programmes.

Milton Najar, CEO of Scientia Colombia said: “Partnership between Scientia Colombia and Bionema can develop and commercialise next generation of biopesticide formulations to tackle rising pest and disease problem in high value crops in Colombia. Milton also highlighted the need of eco-friendly solution which benefits producers and consumers”.

Colin Martin-Reynolds CMG, UK Ambassador to Colombia, said “The UK offers world-class technology and innovative solutions that can support Colombia in realising the incredible potential of its agricultural sector. This is a tremendous, concrete result for our second AgriTech Mission, which will bring mutual prosperity both for Colombia and the UK.’’

Debbie Tully, Agri-Food at the Knowledge Transfer Network said “It is great to see this new collaboration resulting from the AgriTech mission to Colombia that KTN played a key part in organising. We look forward to seeing many more UK and Colombian partners connecting as a result of the mission and following the positive impact these collaborations have.”

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JCB shutdown with employee pledge

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JCB shutdown with employee pledge: JCB is suspending UK production until at least the end of April as a result of the coronavirus crisis and will continue to pay employees unable to work, the company announced today.

The firm’s nine manufacturing plants in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham closed on March 18th as disruption resulting from the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic caused an unprecedented reduction in global demand. At that stage, only shop floor employees were affected by the move and were paid in full during this period, while office staff continued to work a 39-hour week from home.

JCB shutdown with employee pledge

JCB shutdown with employee pledge

The news of today’s extended shutdown will mean that the vast majority of JCB’s 6,500 workforce will now be asked to stop working until at least the end of April. During this period, all affected JCB employees will be paid 80% of their basic pay. Senior JCB Directors will not be taking a salary from the company until further notice.

JCB CEO Graeme Macdonald said: “These are certainly unprecedented times and none of us expected to find ourselves in this situation. In announcing that all those JCB colleagues asked not to work will receive 80% of their pay, we hope to remove any financial concerns that many people will undoubtedly have had.”

JCB also intends to make an application to the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help offset the cost of its support of employees during this challenging period. The scheme is designed to support employers in continuing to pay part of employees’ salaries, for employees who would otherwise have been laid off. The Government scheme pays 80% of an employee’s salary up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. In devising its scheme, JCB has set no cap and will pay 80% of each affected employee’s pay.

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East Kilbride buzzing with new ProFlex

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East Kilbride buzzing with new ProFlex: The Proflex is a popular mower for so many due to the independent floating decks. Each has shock absorbers to reduce deck bounce as the mower travels over uneven ground and the unique 4-way rotating swivel hitch allows the tractor and mower to travel across uneven terrain without affecting one another resulting in a first rate contour cut without scalping.

East Kilbride, one of Central Scotland’s most challenging and picturesque courses has just purchased a brand new Progressive Proflex 120 courtesy of Hamilton Brothers. On a course located near Glasgow which gets and average rain fall of 991mm a year and 18 hours of sunlight from May to Sept it was imperative for them to get a mower that not only gives a top quality cut and keeps up with the grass growth but delivers these results even in the wet conditions.

East Kilbride buzzing with new ProFlex

East Kilbride buzzing with new ProFlex

Scott Reid the Head Greenkeeper could not be happier with their new machine. “Once we saw this machine demo there was absolutely no way we wanted anything else. The grass drop off is second to none, literally never seen anything like it. Even in the wet it distributes the clippings perfectly. We have had mowers before that would leave an awful mess behind but the Proflex is a dream.”

A little known secret is an opening above the spindle which aids distribution of grass. Thanks to this feature that draws the air, it creates a vacuum type effect that then disperses the clippings out almost like a mist.

Another feature you will find on the ProFlex which East Kilbride were excited for it the industry exclusive Pro Lift-N-Turn™ system which allows the operator to temporarily raise the decks off the ground without stopping and with the PTO still engaged; all without fear of doing any component damage or impacting belt life. “The Lift-N-Turn is a really great feature that we were particularly excited about and none of our guys here have had any problems when it comes to operating this brilliant bit of kit. The Proflex has been a great choice for us.”

What are you waiting for? Your new contour mower is only a phone call away.

For more information on the other features the ProFlex has to offer please get in touch.

Call 01638 720123 or email sales@thegrassgroup.com

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