Aquatrols adds 2 to management team

The Aquatrols Co. recently welcomed two new team members.

David Libby is the new territory manager for the Northeast, and Kate Garassino joins the company as marketing manager for the golf market and Aquatrols’ new sports field marketing team.

Libby is a former superintendent with more than 25 years of industry experience and joins Aquatrols after a successful tenure at Prouts Neck Country Club in Maine.

Garassino previously worked as the Clay Technology Solutions marketing manager at Profile Products. She will manage social media, public relations and other aspects of the company’s communications and marketing efforts.

Envu taps Gore for its GST

Envu Turf and Ornamentals recently named Adam Gore, Ph.D., to its Green Solutions Team.

Before joining Envu he was a horticulture extension agent for Clemson University for six years, where he specialized in turfgrass agronomy and weed control.

A South Carolina native, Gore earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from Clemson. His research included weed control and plant-health products on cool- and warm-season greens and the potential impact of copper within industry products. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles.

RISE names 2 new board members

RISE named two new members to its board of directors.

Joining the Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment board at the group’s annual meeting Sept. 20 in San Diego were Blaine Pinkerton, vice president of sales for Nufarm’s turf and ornamental division, and Brian Rowan, SiteOne Landscape Supply’s vice president of category management. They replace Scott Reasons of Syngenta and Kathy Bishop of Lebanon Seaboard Corp.

The group’s executive committee is:

• Neal Cleveland, PBI-Gordon Corp., chair
• Todd Mason, Sipcam Agro USA, vice chair
• John Johnson, Prokoz Inc., treasurer
• Karen Larson, Clarke, immediate past chair

Continuing on the board are Barbara Aguiar of BASF, Jeff Bunting of Growmark Inc., Sam Barrick of SePRO Corp., Dan Carrothers of FMC Corp., Steven Farrington of Gowan USA, Brent Stauffacher of Corteva Agriscience, Mark Schneid of Envu, and Shayne Wetherall of Amguard Environmental Technologies.

RISE also presented awards at its annual meeting. Recipients were:

RISE Volunteer Service Awards 2022-2024

Darryl Blakey of BASF, Julie Schlekau of Valent and Heidi Deja of BASF

Strategic Driver Award 2024

Brittany Wilkerson of PBI-Gordon Corp.

Grassroots Advocacy Award 2024

Buddy Freund, New Jersey Green Industry Council.

Simplot expands into Fort Myers area

The J.R. Simplot Co. is expanding into southwest Florida with a new location scheduled to open soon in the Fort Myers area.

Upon opening, the new location will offer a full range of products and solutions to help golf course superintendents and other turf managers grow healthy turf and ornamental plants.

With the new location, Simplot Turf and Horticulture will have 26 locations in 17 states.

Former golf course superintendent Andy Engelbrecht will be the regional sales representative servicing the golf market in the Fort Myers region. A graduate of the Penn State turfgrass program, Engelbrecht formerly was superintendent at Verandah Golf Club and Rotonda Golf and spent the past five years as a sales specialist with BASF.

As with the other locations, the Fort Myers team will support customers through building relationships and providing agronomic solutions.

11 Garske scholarship winners named

The GCSAA has named 11 college students as recipients of the 2024 Par Aide Garske Grants.

Established in honor of Par Aide founder Joseph S. Garske, the Par Aide Garske Grant competition is funded by the golf course accessory company and administered by the GCSAA Foundation. For more than 20 years, the program has helped children and stepchildren of GCSAA members fund their education at an accredited college or trade school with one-time, one-year grants. There are eleven grants awarded for a total of $14,000. Grants are based on community service, leadership, academic performance and a written essay.

The 2024 winners are:

• Kiersten Bolon, Penn State, biochemistry, $2,500 — daughter of Thomas Bolon, Lake Forest Country Club Thistle Golf Club, Hudson, Ohio
• Jacob Shanahan, University of Arizona, finance, $2,500 — son of Tracy Shanahan, Peach Tree Golf & Country Club, Marysville, California.
• Hayden Fabulich, University of Florida, biochemistry, $1,000 — son of Scott Fabulich, Oceanside Country Club, Ormond Beach, Florida.
• Claire Marcinek, Temple University, nursing, $1,000 — daughter of Darrell Marcinek, Somerset County Park Commission, Somerset, New Jersey.
• Mia Waddle, Iowa State University, kinesiology/pre-physical therapy, $1,000 — daughter of Brandon Waddle, Lake Panorama National Golf Course, Panora, Iowa.
• Sarah Bagwell, University of Central Florida, $1,000 — daughter of Jason Bagwell, Gleneagles Country Club West, Chambers Bay Golf Course, Delray Beach, Florida.
• Trevor Keilen, Oakland Community Collego, computational data science, $1,000 — son of Andrew Keilen, Knollwood Country Club in West Bloomfield, Michigan.
• Riley Maronge, Auburn University, agricultural science, $1,000 — father of the late Andrew Maronge.
• Andrew Stewart, University of Central Florida, finance, $1,000 — son of Bryce Gibson, Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park, Florida.
• Jaclyn Kelly Skirhanich, Bentley University, accounting, $1,000 — daughter of Michael Skirkanich, Granite Links Golf Club, Quarry Hills in Quincy, Massachusetts.
• Mia Safrit, NASCAR Technical Institute, $1,000 — daughter of Steffie Safrit, TPC Piper Glen in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Central Turf to open Florida location

Central Turf and Irrigation Supply, a distributor of irrigation, lighting, drainage and landscape supplies, will open its newest location in Freeport, Florida.

Established in 1990, Central Turf and Irrigation Supply is a family owned and operated wholesale distributor for irrigation, landscape, drainage, agronomic, sustainable products, lighting and grounds care equipment—with 60 locations in the U.S. and Canada.

The Freeport location will offer one-stop shopping with inventory from several manufacturers, same-day delivery services, category experts, large-scale design services and hands-on training.

Cabot Collection reaches deal with Audubon

Audubon International recently entered into agreement making it the environmental stewardship partner for golf and resort developer The Cabot Collection. Cabot’s portfolio includes Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Cabot Saint Lucia, Cabot Revelstoke in British Columbia, Cabot Citrus Farms in Florida and Cabot Highlands in Scotland.

Audubon International is an environmentally focused non-profit organization that offers members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect their properties.

In this partnership, Toronto-based Cabot is the first multi-property brand to enroll every golf course and surrounding built environment into Audubon International’s comprehensive, Platinum Signature Sanctuary certification program that was introduced in 2023.

Platinum Certification brings an entire resort or community development under one certification umbrella, including golf courses, clubhouse facilities, lodging, real estate, restaurants and retail.

Across its portfolio, Cabot currently has eight golf courses open for play, with three courses in development and future growth plans. Both of the acclaimed Cape Breton courses, Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, are individually certified in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program and will move under the Platinum Signature Sanctuary umbrella along with its lodging, real estate, retail and restaurant facilities.

STEC names new territory manager

STEC Equipment recently named Ben Rothwell as its West Coast territory sales manager.

Rothwell has an agricultural background that includes growing up working the family farm in Listowell, Ontario. He is a mechanical engineering graduate of the University of Guelph.

His experience includes working for MacDon, a Manitoba-based manufacturer of harvesting equipment for the agricultural industry. Most recently, he was the project manager for a startup turf equipment company.

His territory includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. He can be reached at brothwell@stecequipment.com.

Rezadone is latest Grigg turf health product

Grigg recently launched Rezadone for enhanced turfgrass health and vitality.

A liquid formulation, Rezadone accelerates the breakdown of grass clippings and improves water flow through the soil profile to reduce black layer, the company says.

Rezadone prolongs microbial activity to improve soil health.

The product also enhances nutrient release, supporting improved growth and color, while reducing the need for frequent aeration and preserving soil structure and integrity.

Hunter adds wireless valve certificate program

Hunter Industries has launched its Wireless Valve Link Certificate Program that demonstrates installation methods and best practices for the company’s Wireless Valve Link System.

The online program gives users the product knowledge needed to deliver successful results for even the most complex projects — without running costly wire or cutting into hardscape.

The program includes 12 videos that provide an overview of product capabilities, installation, ideal applications and accessories.

Those who complete the program with a score of 80 percent or higher will earn a professional certificate.

Mack named Georgia Superintendent of the Year

Lydell Mack, CGCS (right) at Big Canoe Golf Club in Jasper, has been named Superintendent of the Year by the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association. Mack’s award, presented in partnership with Corbin Turf & Ornamental Supply, was announced at the association’s annual awards banquet during a three-day event at The King & Prince Beach and Golf Resort on St. Simons Island, earlier this month.

Alabama names Superintendent, Assistant of the Year

Hunter Salts, director of agronomy at Vestavia Country Club in Birmingham, (above at right) was named the recipient of the Alabama GCSA Superintendent of the Year award.

Russell Wallace of Greystone Country Club in Hoover (right below) was named the association’s Assistant Superintendent of the Year.

Both awards were presented at the association’s annual meeting Dec. 1 at Pine Tree Country Club in Birmingham.

Sipcam Agro expands with acquisition of Odom

Sipcam Agro is expanding its capabilities in North America with the recent acquisition of the Odom Industriesis, a Waynesboro, Mississippi-based chemical formulating, packaging and warehousing company.

The acquisition includes Odom’s two operating facilities and a large storage warehouse with 320,000 square feet of combined production and warehousing space on 40 total acres in Waynesboro, Pachuta and Shubuta, Mississippi. The company was founded in 1989 by Donald Odom, Sr. and W.R. Odom, Sr., and will be operated by Sipcam Agro Solutions, a susidiary of Sipcam Agro USA.

Based in Durham, North Carolina, Sipcam Agro is a manufacturer of fungicides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, bio stimulants and plant nutrition products and is an affiliate of Sipcam Oxon in Milan, Italy.

NGF names new president

The National Golf Foundation named long-time employee Greg Nathan as its new president and chief operating officer. Nathan, who has worked at NGF since 2007, will take over for Joe Beditz.

Beditz has served as president and chief executive officer since 1989, and will continue to serve as CEO.

Beditz, 71, first joined NGF in 1984 as the research director, and has groomed Nathan to take over the nonprofit think tank.

Central Turf, Corteva reach distribution deal

Central Turf & Irrigation Supply, a distributor of irrigation and landscape supplies with dozens of outlets across North America, is now a distributor of Corteva Agriscience products.

Corteva Agriscience, formed from a merging of Dow, DuPont and Pioneer, offers a portfolio of fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and seed treatments that protect turf against weeds, disease and insects.

Central Turf has more than 60 outlets in the U.S. and Canada.

Ryan turf equipment rebranded as Bobcat

Doosan Bobcat’s Ryan turf renovation equipment will rebrand under the Bobcat name.

Ryan equipment joined the Doosan Bobcat portfolio in 2020, following the acquisition of Bob-Cat Mowers and the Steiner and Ryan brands of grounds maintenance equipment from Schiller Grounds Care.

Ryan has produced turf renovation equipment for more than 75 years and has a product lineup including aerators, sod cutters, dethatchers, power rakes, overseeders and other specialty products.

Brandt partners with Florida GCSA

A new system modeled on the PGA Tour FedEx Cup will help send a group of Florida superintendents to the GCSAA National Golf Championship. Under a three-year partnership with Brandt Consolidated, the new points-race system will provide an annual trophy for the overall winner plus travel, entry fees and uniforms for a total of 10 Florida GCSA members (two teams) to represent the state in the team event at GCSAA championship.

Golfers will earn points based on their performance in the Everglades GCSA Poa Annua Golf Classic, the Florida GCSA Steven Wright Memorial Golf Tournament, the North Florida GCSA Fall Classic, the Central Florida Crowfoot Open and the inaugural Florida GCSA Benevolent Fund Tournament.

The event will be known as the “Florida GCSA Race to Orlando presented by Brandt.” The highest points earner will get to keep the BRANDT Cup for one year as well as a trophy they keep permanently.

“We are very excited to help ensure that superintendent golfers who qualify will actually get to go the national,” Brandt turf and ornamental territory manager, Chris Cartin, says. “It gets more and more expensive to attend the national show each year and not every superintendent or their facility has the resources to meet those costs. We’re looking to help guys have that chance to participate, show their skills and proudly represent their state.”

The partnership will also ensure the Florida GCSA has the best chance to build on its record at the national golf championship. During the past 20 years, Florida has produced the winner of the individual championship nine times and the winners of the team event eight times.

FMC gives back to golf

FMC gave back more than $26,000 to 49 local GCSAA chapters through its “Give B ack to Local GCSAA Chapters” program. Since the program’s inception, FMC has donated more than $106,000 directly back to local chapters to fund education, programming and research.

This year’s rewards-check recipients represent GCSAA chapters from all across the country that were winners in FMC’s booth contest at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in February in San Diego that was tied to the launch of Serata fungicide.

Purchases of Fame SC, Rayora, Kalida, and Serata fungicides through August will generate additional rewards for GCSAA local chapters.

PBI-Gordon names new sales, marketing managers

PBI-Gordon, a manufacturer of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators and other products, recently named Geoff Smith the company’s new sales team as national key account manager, and Lyndsie Balstad as product manager for the marketing team.

As national key account manager, Smith is responsible for overseeing all sales initiatives. Most recently, he was formulator sales territory manager for Gowan USA and also worked for The Scotts Co.

As product manager with the PBI-Gordon marketing team, Balstad will focus on the herbicide portfolio by supporting product life cycle management and driving innovation to bring new products to the market.

Before joining PBI-Gordon, Balstad was with Corteva, where she has extensive experience in the agricultural market.

Syngenta enhances WeevilTrak

Syngenta has introduced the first guarantee for control of annual bluegrass weevil, all white grub species and turf caterpillars with the WeevilTrak annual bluegrass weevil assurance program.

To qualify for the assurance, superintendents must be registered WeevilTrak users and apply the recommended rates of Acelepryn, Ference, Provaunt WDG or Scimitar GC insecticides as outlined in the assurance.

WeevilTrak features monitoring updates, digital tools and ongoing insights from researchers via the WeevilTrak blog. In addition to the assurance, Syngenta added monitoring sites at Kings Mill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Cannon Golf Club in Lothian, Maryland.

Click here for more information.

Aquatrols taps new territory manager

Aquatrols recently named Ian Grove as territory manager for the southeastern United States.

A former superintendent, Grove will be responsible for overseeing business in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

He joined Aquatrols after working in sales for SiteOne, Harrells and Agrium Advance Technologies.

Click here for more information.

Pursell names new T&O director

Pursell Agri-Tech named Bill Abetz as director of turf and ornamentals. A 30-year green industry veteran, Abetz will oversee its nursery, greenhouse, lawn care, golf, sod and sports turf markets.

A former assistant superintendent and nursery operations manager, Abetz has more than 20 years in chemical and fertilizer sales and product development. He has introduced multiple products and new product categories into the market.

Click here for more information.

Aquatrols names 2 new managers

Aquatrols, a manufacturer of soil surfactants and related technologies, has appointed August Young and Tom Breiner as U.S. territory managers.

In their new roles, Young will be responsible for overseeing the company’s business in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Breiner will oversee business in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

Both Young and Breiner join Aquatrols after holding previous sales positions within the turf industry and between them hold more than 25 years of combined experience.

SubAir partners with Soil Scout

SubAir Systems has announced a partnership with Soil Scout, a wireless underground soil moisture sensor startup from Finland, to give turf managers more control with automated subsurface monitoring and ventilation.

Soil Scout’s sensor transmits moisture, temperature and salinity data in real-time from more than 6 feet below the surface and works in concert with SubAir’s subsurface aeration and moisture-removal units to automatically adjust soil-moisture levels.

Soil Scout, which was founded by Finnish agro-technology researcher and 19th-generation farmer Johannes Tiusanen, Ph.D., and electronics expert Jussi Sirkiä, also recently announced its partnership with GreenSight, a U.S.-based provider of autonomous aerial intelligence services, and is expanding its U.S. operations to help combat the ongoing drought in California.

LidoChem names new president and CFO

Lisa Pucillo has been named acting president and chief financial officer of LidoChem, Inc. She assumes the leadership role held by her longtime business partner, Don Pucillo, who died in October.

Now in its 40th year, LidoChem will carry forth the “Partners in Growth” philosophy embodied in a quote from Don Pucillo: “We appreciate the trust growers and turf managers place in us when they buy our products, and we honor that trust by continuing to offer the best products we can.”

LidoChem was founded in 1981. In 1999, Don Pucillo was one of the first in the industry to acknowledge a change in the needs of crop, turf and ornamental growers. Both regulations and environmental awareness drove demand for economical, effective and greener products, and he recognized the need to utilize natural resources to provide nutrition for plants and soil microbes.

The Performance Nutrition division was later created within LidoChem to develop eco-friendly products for the agricultural and turf markets using new and cutting-edge technologies.

Toro Foundation gives back to Ohio Boys & Girls Club

Giving back to the community is a longtime tradition at Toro and an enduring legacy of former chairman Ken Melrose. Recently, a new Community Impact Project by The Toro Company Foundation and the American Rental Association Foundation was held at the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Ohio’s Broadway Club in Cleveland.

The project involves both foundations working with local nonprofit organizations to give back to communities across the country through various rental-related projects. The series of projects kicked off by helping the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Ohio, which serves more than 8,000 youths ages 6-18 throughout five counties across metropolitan Cleveland. The Cleveland branch’s Broadway Club is home to a robust outdoor horticulture program where youth engage with and experience nature through a variety of hands-on, interactive, and fun program opportunities.

Through the launch of the Community Impact Project, the local Boys & Girls Club was revamped in a day. Projects included revitalizing a pollinator garden, creating and planting new landscaping beds and refurbishing the baseball infield.

The inaugural Community Impact Project was made possible by a group of more than 20 volunteers from six rental companies and two Cleveland area organizations: Bobcat of Cleveland – Leppos Rent, North Ridge; Event Source – Cleveland; General Rent-All – Massillon; Handy Rents – Eastlake; Miller’s Party Rental Center – Akron; Sun Rental Center – Mentor; Gardeners of Greater Cleveland; Ormiston Landscaping.

Green Velvet adds technical sales rep

Green Velvet named Amy Dearinger as a technical sales representative. Dearinger brings nearly two decades of professional turf experience back to the Central Ohio market.

Dearinger has a long history of technical expertise and helping turf managers solve agronomic challenges on some of the country’s best golf courses. She has a background of evaluating NTEP seed trials, researching Roundup-ready bentgrass and conducting research on the efficacy of foliar products.

Dearinger will be based in Columbus. Click here to contact her.

PBI-Gordon names new national accounts manager

Rick Williams recently joined PBI-Gordon as national accounts manager, and Trevor Radford was promoted to regional sales manager.

Williams, who is based in Ohio, is responsible for managing national accounts, strategic business planning and enhancing customer relationships within the golf and professional lawn care markets. He brings more than 30 years of executive sales leadership to PBI-Gordon. Most recently he was regional account manager for Bayer, where he was responsible for growing and developing strategic relationships with key accounts.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy, Williams also participated in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s innovation program.

In his new role as regional sales manager, Radford is responsible for leading the PBI-Gordon golf and professional lawn care market sales team in the western U.S. market. He joined PBI-Gordon in 2005 as a sales representative and was most recently national accounts manager.

Bayer launches Densicor fungicide

Densicor, a new fungicide from Bayer is now available for purchase.

With the active ingredient prothioconazole, Densicor provides control of many common turf diseases, including dollar spot, brown patch, anthracnose, gray leaf spot, snow mold and more.

It can be used on warm- and cool-season turf, and just one bottle treats six acres, allowing superintendents to cover more turf with less product.

Rain Bird names new manager for SE Asia

Rain Bird recently named Rob Weiks as area manager for its Southeast Asia golf team.

Weiks will be responsible for sales planning and business development in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Guam and Brunei. He will also establish and manage relationships with distributors, golf course owners, green committees and superintendents while promoting Rain Bird solutions for new golf course projects and renovations.

A native of Australia, Weiks has more than three decades of experience in the horticulture industry. He will be based in Singapore.

Turfco compact aerator now powered by Honda

The Turfco line of TurnAer XT5 compact aerators for small areas now come equipped with the Honda GXV160 engine.

The XT5 is powered by a 163cc, 4.3hp gas-powered GXV160, and a 1.5-gallon fuel tank allows for longer use between fills.

The XT5’s hydrostatic controls are designed to make the unit more maneuverable and user-friendly. Operators can turn and reverse direction with the XT5 while keeping the tines in motion, thanks to the hydrostatic drive system coupled to Turfco’s patented, steerable aerator technology. Turning with tines to the ground reduces operator fatigue and improves productivity.

The XT5’s EasyChange tines reduce the amount of time required to change tines. Patent-pending tine wheels enhance steering and increase hill-holding stability. The XT5 also advances aerator durability with a low-profile design and rugged, unibody steel frame. Instead of belts, the XT5 uses drive chains that are covered and located outside of the frame for long-lasting, trouble-free operation.

Profile Products names new sales manager

Profile Products named J.R. Stewart as national sales manager for the eastern U.S. Stewart will manage and support the eastern team of regional sales and market development managers.

Stewart has more than 15 years of experience in the industry, most recently as a national sales manager for Filtrexx International.

Stewart earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Aqua-Aid names new territory manager

Aqua-Aid Solutions has named Tyler Warner as Southeastern U.S. Manager/Distributor Support.

Warner brings sales experience from his previous positions as a territory manager with The Andersons, Grigg and Milliken & Co. Warner served as director of agronomy for several clubs in Florida when first out of school. Warner received his associate degree in turfgrass management from Ohio State. He received his bachelor’s in finance from University of Akron.

Warner will be based in Walling, Tennessee.

Bayer launches new insecticide

Bayer recently launched its Tetrino insecticide for control of a wide range of turf-damaging insects.

With the new active tetraniliprole, Tetrino is absorbed by the plant to control many turf-feeding insects, such as including white grubs and annual bluegrass weevil.

It also can be incorporated into other management programs for control of pests like chinch bugs, caterpillars and billbugs.

Former GIS gets a new name

The conference and trade show formerly known as the Golf Industry Show has been rename the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show.

The event, which is conducted in accord with the Golf Course Builders Association of America and the American Society of Golf Course Architects, and with participating partners, the United States Golf Association, National Golf Course Owners Association and National Golf Foundation had been operating under the name Golf Industry Show since 2005.

The rebranded event is scheduled for Feb. 5-10 in San Diego.

Nematode-management program available from SiteOne

Soil Technologies’ Armorex nematicide and Bac-Pack microbial blend soil amendment are now available through SiteOne Landscape Supply. Armorex and Bac-Pack applied to nematode-infested golf course putting greens showed up to 90 percent control of lance nematodes in research conducted in Florida.

The combination of Armorex and Bac-Pack resulted in turf that recovered quickly from nematode damage, according to research.

Armorex is O.M.R.I. listed for organics and contains the essential oils of sesame, clove and horseradish, the company says. The product is a liquid formulation that is diluted with water for easy spray application.

RightLine releases herbicide for use in warm-season grass

RightLine has launched its first sulfentrazone combination product with RightLine Sulfen Southern herbicide.

By combining sulfentrazone with the powerful herbicide imazethapyr, the new herbicide expands the list of weeds controlled beyond straight sulfentrazone products. While sulfentrazone alone controls many sedges and kyllinga, the addition of imazethapyr expands label claims to include purple nutsedge and a total of more than 50 weeds.

Sulfen Southern is labeled for use on many warm-season turfgrass species including bermudagrass and zoysiagrass and can be applied to golf course fairways and roughs, sod farms and athletic fields, as well as residential, commercial and institutional lawn areas. Sulfen Southern is packaged in a 64-ounce bottle.

New charging platform coming from Delta-Q

Delta-Q Technologies, a manufacturer of battery-charging solutions for electric vehicles and industrial equipment, introduced a new line of battery charging solutions with the launch of the XV3300. Its design combines a high-performance 3.3kW charger, a 500W DC-DC converter and an EV charging station interface in a compact package.

The XV3300 is the ideal solution for power-train electrification.

The 3.3kW charger will be available in 58.8V, 65V, and 120V models and is scalable, allowing OEMs to stack chargers for power levels up to 20kW. The XV3300 delivers a precise charge of battery packs of various chemistries and voltages to maximize battery life and optimize charge time.

Key features and benefits of the XV3300 charger include a compact, rugged design that has been tested for automotive-grade shock and vibration; integrated 500W DC-DC converter provides auxiliary power to operate vehicle accessories; and EV charging station Interface.

The XV3300 will go into production early next year.

Aquatrols taps Albert for eastern Canada

Aquatrols, a maker of soil surfactants and related technologies, has named Jonathan Albert as the company’s territory manager for eastern Canada.

A former golf greenkeeper, Albert will be responsible for overseeing all sales and marketing initiatives in that region. Albert joins Aquatrols from Bayer, where he worked in product development and trial testing as a field development representative and in sales as a territory manager.

Prior to his roles at Bayer, Albert worked in Montreal as an assistant superintendent at Windmill Heights Golf Course.

Rain Bird names new regional manager in SE Asia

Rain Bird recently named Mark Donohue as regional manager for the company’s Southeast Asia market.

In his new role, Donohue will manage the development of Rain Bird’s golf, landscape and agriculture sectors in the Southeast Asia region.

Donohue joined Rain Bird as a regional manager for Canada in 2016. Since then, he built a high-performing landscape sales team, expanded and improved the company’s distribution network and delivered outstanding business results. In recognition of his efforts, Donohue received a 2020 Rain Bird Achievement Award for Long Term Growth Orientation.

Before joining Rain Bird, Donohue spent five years as the national sales manager for ITW Construction Products, Canada in Markham, Ontario. In 2015, Donohue received his professional certification from the University of Innovative Distribution at Purdue University.

BASF brings first insecticide for golf to market

BASF recently introduced Alucion 35 WG insecticide, the company’s first specifically for the golf course market. This new dual-action, non-restricted use product provides golf course superintendents with a solution for controlling a wide range of surface-feeding insects.

With the active ingredients alpha-cypermethrin and dinotefuran, Alucion 35 WG is labled for control of pests such as nuisance ants, chinch bugs, cutworms and annual bluegrass weevil.

According to BASF, Alucion 35 WG insecticide is the only pyrethroid-containing insecticide for golf courses with a non-restricted use label.

Central Texas GCSA benefits from Lebanon campaign

LebanonTurf, a provider of innovative and high-performance plant nutrition for the golf and landscaping industries, announced its 2020 Emerald Isle Solutions campaign grand-prize winner, an Air Force agronomist from Texas. Justin Wheeler was selected and will be donating the $5,000 to his Central Texas Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association.

The campaign, launched at the 2020 Golf Industry Show, highlighted its Emerald Isle Solutions True Foliar Technology and aimed to show an increased commitment to customers and maintenance crews in the turf industry by giving away a $500 Amazon gift card each month, plus a $5,000 grand prize donation to one winner’s local GCSAA or STMA chapter.

As a part of the campaign, LebanonTurf announced a new, permanent lower price point for Emerald Isle Solutions—further elevating the product’s value and giving superintendents and turf managers more freedom in managing their budgets.

Toro upgrades Lynx system

Toro Irrigation has expanded the cloud-based features in its Lynx Central Control System.

New rendering schemes for the customized interactive course map add course management detail. Every sprinkler on the course is represented by a symbol and color that displays each sprinkler’s location and its current status, and to which Precip Management Group it belongs. Superintendents can review irrigation rates and ensure that the water hitting the ground matches the infiltration rate of that area of the course.

A patent-pending feature provides superintendents with a graphic display of the irrigation plan as programmed.

The latest version also streamlines the relocation of sprinklers on the interactive map after adjustments have been made, eliminating the need to manually enter the changes and resynchronize the interactive map. With two clicks on the cloud-based Lynx Map application, the updates can be synchronized in about five seconds.

Lynx provides a hybrid backup system, which means that the database is backed up both locally and in the cloud. Subscribers to Toro’s exclusive National Support Network (NSN) who need new hardware will receive it with the backup already loaded, allowing them to put it to work instantly rather than having to take the time to load the backup themselves.

SePRO names new T&O director

SePRO has named John Wendorf as director of its turf and ornamental team.

Wendorf, who has nearly 30 years of industry experience, will focus on elevating SePRO’s pace of innovation, with a strong emphasis on technical efficacy, operational efficiencies and social and environmental responsibility. While developing future-focused strategies for growth will be central to Wendorf’s role with SePRO, building a strong, thriving team will be of equal importance.

Wendorf earned his bachelor of science in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s’ of business administration from Texas A&M. He has been a member of the communications committee for RISE since 2017 and is also a current member of the FFA’s National Floriculture Committee.

Green Start going online this year

This year’s Green Start Academy is moving to a virtual format. The annual educational event for assistant golf course superintendents that is hosted by John Deere and Bayer will comprise a series of virtual sessions that will kick off Oct. 14 with an opening general session.

Following the general session, participants will have an opportunity to connect via virtual roundtable conversations with notable industry professionals and cultivate critical skills such as leadership and team management through a series of online sessions. In addition, participants will be assigned to smaller mentorship groups with various golf industry leaders to further encourage meaningful conversation and deeper connections with other participants and facilitators. Dates for those sessions have not yet been confirmed.

A new offering for the 2020 Green Start Academy, will be a keynote session that is open to all past participants and facilitators, bringing together 15 years of Green Start Academy attendees. The keynote session on leadership in a multigenerational culture will be presented by Jeff Havens, a successful author, business growth expert and communication expert. During the keynote session, Havens will provide participants with insights about how to become a better leader and guidance for successfully navigating the challenges they might face throughout their careers.

Green Start Academy is open to assistant superintendents from the U.S. and Canada who want to advance their careers and build connections within the golf industry. Click here to apply. Deadline is Aug. 31, and selected participants will be notified by Sept. 15.

BIGGA cancels BTME due to pandemic

The British and International Golf Greenkeepers’ Association has canceled its Turf Management Exhibition scheduled for January due to “ongoing uncertainty” relating to the coronavirus pandemic according to a news release.

The decision to cancel was made after talking with members, representatives of the Harrogate Convention Centre and other stakeholders. A “festival of turf” is scheduled for next summer and the show is expected to resume in 2022.

BIGGA’s education program, Continue to Learn, will still take place in January as a virtual event and will include a full program of presenters.

The announcement of an alternative event next summer will enable BIGGA to explore options for hosting the event outdoors.

The Harrogate Convention Centre, home to BTME and its previous iterations since 1989, has been used as a hospital since April.

Bayer helps superintendents save

Golf course superintendents can save instantly on select Bayer products purchased in August and September through the NOW Solutions Program.

Superintendents can save more than 12 percent instantly with off-invoice, volume-based discounts on certain products. Turf managers also can earn up to 21 percent in rebates. Eligible products include Indemnify, Revolver, Tribute Total, Specticle G, Specticle FLO, Chipco Signature, Interface Stressgard, Mirage Stressgard, Signature XTRA Stressgard and Banol. Qualified purchases must be invoiced in August or September by authorized Bayer agents.

All rebates will be issued in the form of My Bayer Rewards points. Customers must be enrolled in My Bayer Rewards and accept current Terms and Conditions to receive a rebate. Points can be redeemed for checks, agent credit or thousands of catalog items.

The NOW Solutions program runs through Sept. 30.

PBI-Gordon offers new formulation of SpeedZone

SpeedZone EW is a new broadleaf herbicide for turf from PBI-Gordon with an emulsion-in-water formulation that does not rely on solvents to solubilize active ingredients.

With the active ingredients 2,4-D, carfentrazone, mecaprop-p and dicamba, SpeedZone EW is labeled for control of dozens of common weeds, including dollarweed, ground ivy and spurge in warm- and cool-season turf.

The emulsion-in-water technology of SpeedZone EW creates smaller particle size than emulsifiable concentrate formulations, resulting in more of the active ingredient impacting the leaf surface for improved efficacy, plus a lower odor profile and lower volatile organic content. And the EW formulation is engineered for use in low-volume and conventional sprayers.

Other features of SpeedZone EW include a visual response within 24 hours and weed death in 7-14 days, rainfast in as little as three hours, allows for reseeding in one week.

SpeedZone EW will be available for sale this fall, pending state registrations.

Lebanon directs focus on Emerald Isle line
LebanonTurf, a provider of plant nutrition products for the golf and landscaping industries, is launching a new campaign highlighting its Emerald Isle Solutions True Foliar Technology.

Emerald Isle Solutions use fulvic acid and sea plant extract to deliver nutrients directly to the plant through foliar absorption. As part of the program, LebanonTurf announced a new, permanent lower price point for Emerald Isle Solutions and expanded the True Performance rebate program. Now, it is no longer a product bundle, and customers can get the rebate from Emerald Isle Solutions without having to buy the LebanonTurf Country Club MD product. The available rebates include a 10 percent rebate on $8,000 of Emerald Isle Solutions and a 5 percent rebate on $4,000 of Emerald Isle Solutions.

LebanonTurf also is giving away a $500 Amazon gift card each month, plus a $5,000 grand prize donation to the winner’s local GCSAA or STMA chapter.

Andersons names new director of turf segment
The Andersons has named Anthony Goldsby as director of its Professional Turf business. Goldsby will replace Bob Eichenberg upon his retirement in March and will be directly responsible for the division’s business strategy, sales and marketing initiatives and customer service.

Goldsby joined The Andersons in May 2018 as an agronomist for the professional turf business. Since then, he has provided technical and agronomic support. Prior to joining The Andersons, Goldsby was national turf products manager for Ewing Irrigation.

He received bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from Kansas State University, where he also served as a research technician for the university’s 13-acre turfgrass research facility.

Profile Products acquires HydroStraw
Profile Products, a maker of erosion-control products, announced the acquisition of the erosion-control and seed businesses of HydroStraw.

The transaction includes all HydroStraw erosion-control and seed product lines, as well as the company’s Rockford, Washington, production plant/distribution center and employees.

The transaction closed on February 20, 2020. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Syngenta expands social media footprint

Syngenta has launched a new Facebook page to provide additional turf management resources for golf course superintendents, sports turf managers and lawncare operators.

The interactive platform is designed to provide more social content and supplement Syngenta’s Twitter page. It includes expert advice on disease and pest control, as well as product information, testimonials and videos, and news items such as the TurfNet Superintendent of the Year Award and the Ladies Leading Turf event at this year’s Golf Industry Show.

It also includes features on personalities like groundskeeper extraordinaire George Toma, who has helped with field prep for every Super Bowl since the inaugural game in 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Aquatrols adds to sales team

As a result of a recent strategic agreement between Aquatrols and Redox Turf, Aquatrols has expanded its sales team with former Redox employees, Daniel McCann and Barry Bennett.

In their previous roles, McCann and Bennet both served as Manufacturing Representatives for Redox.

They will join the sales team as territory managers and will help the company promote the new, expanded Aquatrols and Redox lines. “

Customers can contact McCann at DMcCann@aquatrols.com and Benett at BBennett@aquatrols.com.

Rain Bird taps Lawson for sales manager post

Jeff Lawson recently was named national sales manager for the Rain Bird golf division.

He will be responsible for leading Rain Bird’s sales and distribution teams in the U.S. and Canada with the ultimate goal of driving golf product and pump station sales.

Most recently, Lawson served as Rain Bird Golf’s western regional sales manager. During that time, he built relationships with distributors and strengthened his sales team.

Nufarm renews commitment to military families
Nufarm Americas Inc. announced its recommitment of $150,000 to Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Troops program. The nationwide program assists thousands of military families by providing basic lawn care and yard maintenance while a family member is deployed defending our country. The investment will help expand the impact of the initiative and enable more lawn and landscape professionals with the opportunity to give back to their community in a meaningful way.

The GreenCare for Troops initiative, which celebrated its 13th year this year, has helped more than 6,000 green industry professionals assist provide much-needed services to more than 11,000 military families since the program was launched in 2006. GreenCare for Troops and its sister program SnowCare for Troops provided lawn care, snow removal and landscape services exceeding $1 million to hundreds of military families across the United States in the past year.

The contribution will be used to enhance and expand the national program that is managed by non-profit Project EverGreen. This will include increased outreach for volunteer recruitment and communications to families, volunteers and the media, as well as adding promotional and logistical resources required to grow the GreenCare for Troops database and serve more military families.

Based on Nufarm’s support in 2019, the GreenCare for Troops program realized a double-digit increase in active volunteers, a 70 percent match rate among military families and an immediate volunteer match for three-fourths of all newly registered families.

Bayer announces personnel changes, offers new savings program
Bayer Environmental Science recently announced several personnel changes the company says will enhance focus on finding innovative solutions for the evolving needs of customers.

Axel Elling, Ph.D., T&O product development team lead, ES Field Solutions Organization, North America, will lead the Turf and Ornamental product development team responsible for disease, nematode, insect, weed and turf stress management. Axel will remain responsible for disease and nematode management solutions, and will lead a team including: Bruce Spesard, focused on weed management; Xulin Chen, focused on insect management; and Chenxi Zhang, focused on stress management.

Jake Doskocil, Ph.D., has been named Global Project Leader of Pest Management and Rodent Control for Environmental Science. He most recently served as product development manager for insecticides and led the Clayton Development and Education Center for Environmental Science.;
Nonggang Bao, Ph.D., has been named as Head of the ES Field Solutions Development and Experience Center in Clayton, N.C., Biology Team Manager and will also be responsible for leading projects within the ES Global Specialty Actives Team..

Xulin Chen, Ph.D., joins the T&O Field Solutions team as Product Development Manager for Environmental Science. She brings more than eight years of broad entomology expertise to the team. Xulin obtained her Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Florida.

In other news, Bayer Environmental Science recently launched its 2019 NOW Solutions program that includes instant savings on the agronomic solutions turf professionals need to successfully manage turf conditions through critical summer months.

The program offers customers tailored, volume-based discounts on Specticle FLO, Indemnify, Interface Stressgard and Mirage Stressgard throughout September.

Specticle FLO is a preemergent herbicide with the active ingredient indaziflam that provides broad-spectrum control of more than 50 grassy and broadleaf weeds in warm-season turf.

Indemnify controls nematodes on contact in as little as one application and continues to work throughout the root zone to offer visible, long-lasting improvement in turfgrass quality for up to six months. It offers control of plant parasitic nematodes, such as sting, root-knot, stunt, ring, Anguina pacificae and others.

Interface Stressgard is a combination of iprodione, trifloxystrobin and Stressgard technology that provides a solution for diseases and plant stresses under hot, cool, wet or dry conditions. As a non-DMI fungicide, Interface Stressgard can be applied throughout the year without plant growth regulator effects and helps control DMI-resistant plant pathogens.

Mirage Stressgard is a DMI fungicide (tebuconazole) that provides control of major diseases affecting cool- and warm-season turfgrass including annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, perennial ryegrass, bermudagrass, seashore paspalum and zoysiagrass.

Tanto Irrigation taps Clarke
Tanto Irrigation recently named Tim Clarke to its management team.

A native of upstate New York, Clarke is a graduate of SUNY Delhi, Clarke has more than a decade of experience in the golf industry.

He was an assistant at Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, New York, and spent 11 years at Augusta National where he specialized in irrigation.

PBI-Gordon adds to regional sales team
PBI-Gordon recently named Peter Lange as a sales representative servicing golf course customers in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

Based in Georgia, he most recently Lange was the assistant golf course superintendent at the Atlanta Athletic Club where he managed a crew of nearly 20 and helped oversee many budgeting, administrative, and agronomic functions at the club.

Lange received a two-year turf degree from Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He also has earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State and an MBA from LSU.

SBI application deadline looming

Applications for the 2019 Syngenta Business Institute program are due Aug. 13. Golf course superintendents can apply online to attend the popular professional development program.

During the three-day business-development and networking program, faculty from the nationally ranked Wake Forest University School of Business will focus on key topics, such as financial management, navigating generational and cultural differences, leadership skills, effective communication and negotiation tactics.

The program will be held Dec. 3-6 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Approximately 25 superintendents will be selected to attend. Since its inception, more than 250 superintendents have graduated from SBI.

In other news, the latest control solutions from Syngenta are now registered for use on California golf courses to help improve turf quality and playability. Appear II and Secure Action fungicides provide superintendents with enhanced control of some of the most prevalent turf diseases, while the Divanem nematicide spot treatment rate delivers stronger turf through proven, broad-spectrum nematode control.

Secure Action includes a boost of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) to help condition turf, so it performs at its best during the season and quickly recovers from biotic stress, like dollar spot, and abiotic stress, such as drought and heat. It also increases the dollar spot control interval from 14 to 21 days.

Appear II controls diseases like Pythium, while enhancing color, turf quality and stress tolerance in warm- and cool-season grasses. Additionally, it is fromulated for optimal resuspension and mixability with Daconil Action or Secure Action fungicides for use in an agronomic program to control additional diseases like anthracnose and leaf spot.

The Divanem spot treatment rate of 12.2 ounces/10,000 square feet enhances control of nematodes, including Anguina, spiral, lance, root-knot and sting nematodes, while improving root quality for stronger, healthier turf that recovers more quickly from stress. The Divanem supplemental label must be in the user’s possession at the time of spot treatment. Existing Divanem inventory may be used at the spot treatment rate, as long as the supplemental label is readily available.

California OK’s PBI-Gordon’s Pedigree
The California Environmental Protection Agency has approved PBI-Gordon’s Pedigree Fungicide SC from PBI Gordon for control of a variety of diseases on warm- and cool-season turfgrass.

With the active ingredient flutolanil, Pedigree is labeled for control of brown patch, fairy ring, leaf and sheath spot, large patch, red thread, pink patch, yellow patch, southern blight and gray snow mold in creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass, annual and perennial ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue, Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and St. Augustinegrass.

Turfco adds front-mount seeder attachment
Turfco added a front-mounted drop seeder attachment for use with its TurnAer XT8 aerator that lets operators aerate and seed at the same time, over the same aeration pattern.

The drop seeder’s 2.5 cubic-foot hopper holds up to 60 pounds of seed. Seed rate dispersal is controlled by a hopper-mounted dial. The seed box spreads seed across a 30-inch swath, matching the aeration pattern.

Powered by a 22 hp Briggs & Stratton engine, the XT8 has the ability to cover up to 2 acres of turf per hour over any terrain.

N.Y. OKs Syngenta’s Posterity fungicide

Posterity fungicide from Syngenta is now registered for use in New York.

With the active ingredient pydiflumetofen, Posterity is an SDHI fungicide labeled for preventive and curative control – up to 28 days – of dollar spot, fairy ring, Microdochium patch and spring dead spot.

Preventive applications of Posterity are recommended beginning in the spring, prior to the development of dollar spot. Posterity also has curative properties and can be used for extended preventive applications for continued protection until winter.

To help with timing applications, superintendents can sign up for dollar spot alerts from Syngenta that are based on the Smith-Kerns prediction model. For resistance management and broader-spectrum control, Syngenta also offers agronomic programs that strategically rotate Posterity with Secure Action, Daconil Action and other products to properly condition turf so it will perform at its best during the season and recover quickly from stress.

OTF/OSU launch weekly turf talks

The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation recently launched its Turf Team Talks series designed to help turf managers tackle some of their most common and recurrent problems.

Hosted by a rotating cast of Ohio State’s professors and instructors from the fields of weed science, sports turf management, agronomy and entomology as well as the faculty from OSU ATI, the weekly segments address issues like insect updates, disease pressure, weed control and how accute weather patterns affect cultural practices as well as day-to-day operations.

Viewers also can send the team specific questions for use on future episodes.

Target’s Kraken holds water in tough conditions

Target Specialty Products recently introduced Turf Fuel The Kraken, advanced wetting agent designed for turf surfaces that require the highest level of consistency and firmness.

Tested extensively in trials at the University of Arkansas, Kraken has the ability to hold water consistently deep in the profile, while keeping the soil near the surface dry.

A multiple component proprietary surfactant, Kraken offers a safe, no burn formulation that provides uniform and consistent hydration throughout the root zone that improves water use efficiency.

Formulated from a blend of alkoxylated polyols and polyglycol ether ester, Kraken can be used at any time during the season and it can be used with other Turf Fuel products, such as Cleanse, Abyss and Vanquish for best results depending on the season.

New spot treatment rate can help expand nematode control

To provide faster enhancements to turf quality for golf course superintendents managing plant parasitic nematodes, Syngenta has announced a new curative spot treatment rate of 12.2 ounces per 10,000 square feet for Divanem nematicide.

With the new rate more product is available to turf roots and plant tissue, which helps provide greater control of a broad spectrum of nematodes, including spiral, lance, root-knot and sting, on golf course greens, tees and fairways. It also results in more rapid turf quality improvements than when using the Divanem broadcast rate. Divanem is recommended for use as part of an agronomic program to better manage multiple nematode species and prevent the onset of resistance.

With the active ingredient abamectin, Divanem targets nematodes where they are most active, helping protect turf from nematode damage, which can make roots more susceptible to disease and drought. Turf that is properly protected will be more durable and can recover more quickly from stress. Divanem also is a good tank-mix partner with several fungicides that can help provide greater turf quality and protection against disease and abiotic stress.

The Divanem supplemental label must be in the possession of the user at the time of spot treatment. Existing Divanem inventory may be used at the spot treatment rate as long as the supplemental label is on hand.

Nufarm’s Safari receives expanded label

Nufarm Americas announced that Safari 20 SG insecticide has received a 24(c) label for the control of spotted lanternfly in New York. This follows 2ee label approval to control spotted lanternfly in 15 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive plant-hopper quickly invading, and now spreading in, the northeastern US. The pest impacts more than 70 host plants and, if infested, would result in significant damage and loss to nursery operations.

With the active ingredient dinotefuran, Safari 20 SG is approved for supplemental use in containerized and field grown (in-ground) ornamental plants in nurseries, outdoor landscapes, tree plantations and reforestation nurseries. It includes national, private and state forests and wooded areas. The label provides application alternatives that include foliar spray, media drench, soil drench or basal trunk spray.

Safari is a super-systemic insecticide with quick uptake and knockdown of tree, shrub, and herbaceous ornamental pests. It controls a broad spectrum of invasive pests including Q- and B-biotype whiteflies, emerald ash borers, mealybugs, leafhoppers, leafminers, and armored and soft scales — and now both nymph- and adult-stage spotted lanternflies.

Turfco launches new large-area spreader

Turfco recently introduced its CR-15 large-area topdresser and material handler that provides precision spread application for fairways and other large areas.

The CR-15 features a digital smart controller that gives superintendents the ability to calculate preferred rates and lock-in rates and widths into four savable pre-sets. Users can set up and save all of their application programs at the same time. The user also can switch between the various pre-sets on the fly, varying the spread rate and width for different areas. This allows the operator to move from wide to narrower areas and still maintain the same application rate without wasting material.

The CR-15’s advanced hydraulics and spinner design allow for uniform application, with edge-to-edge spreads at any desired width from 15 to 45 feet.

The CR-15’s Fast Attach system requires no tools when connecting attachments, and the galvanized, self-cleaning hopper accepts virtually any wet or dry turf material, including sand, lime, compost, stone, wood chips, soil conditioners and grass clippings.

Rain Bird sod cup kit helps protect turf

Rain Bird has introduced a new Sod Cup Kit that reduces the risk of rotors negatively impacting play on closely mowed approaches. The kit helps reduce the time it takes to trim around rotors, freeing greenkeepers to work on other tasks.

Installing the kit on Rain Bird 551 and 700/751 Series rotors is a simple process that can be done by hand with no tools required. Because the sod cup is the same size as a standard golf-hole cutter, it’s easy to quickly cut sod that’s just the right size and shape to fit firmly and securely within the cup.

After installation, when the rotor is popping up or retracting, its self-flushing action sends a burst of water through the case. This flushing action simultaneously protects the rotor’s internal components from debris and irrigates the turf now growing in the sod cup.

SiteOne launches new web site

SiteOne Landscape Supply launched a mobile-friendly e-commerce web site that allows customers to place orders from anywhere at any time.

After users establish an online account they will be able to place orders, manage their account and access all of new features. Customers can search product availability, get access to specific pricing and place orders for pickup or delivery for products such as fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation supplies and tools and equipment.

In addition to the site’s enhanced e-commerce abilities, SiteOne.com provides resources such as video tutorials, business tips, category-specific articles, green industry event information and more.

PBI Gordon moves into new digs

PBI-Gordon Corp., which manufactures consumer and professional turf and landscape products, has moved into its new corporate headquarters in Shawnee, Kansas.

PBI-Gordon bought the building in March. Since then, the 95,000-square-foot office building has been renovated to accommodate approximately 100 of the company’s employee owners. The company employs more than 400 in facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Florida.

PBI-Gordon has been based in the Kansas City area since its founding in 1947. The company recently moved from its former headquarters in Kansas City, where it had been since 1981.

All local research or manufacturing will continue to be be conducted at the company’s locations in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri facilities.

EPA OKs Sipcam granular fungicide

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently granted federal registration to Endow, a granular fungicide from Sipcam Agro.

With the active ingredient azoxystrobin, Endow G is a Quinone Outside Inhibitor fungicide registered for use on all turf types and use sites including golf courses, commercial turf and residential lawn.

Available in 30-pound bags, Endow G offers broad spectrum control of multiple diseases, including anthracnose, brown patch, Pythium blight, take-all patch, gray leaf spot, spring dead spot, gray and pink snow mold by impeding the fungus cells’ ability to produce energy, causing the fungus to die.

Textron launches fleet-management system

Textron Specialized Vehicles recently launched its Textron Fleet Management Shield Plus technology designed for professional turf equipment, utility vehicles and golf cars.

Shield Plus is a web-based management solution that can be accessed anywhere, at any time, on any web-enabled device, from a mobile phone to a desktop computer that enables golf course staff to monitor, maintain and protect their equipment in real time, increasing productivity and more effectively managing course operations.

The system tracks equipment activity and location, enabling course managers to monitor their equipment and work crews in real time. Shield Plus also uses geofencing and user-defined speed zones which will send you instant alerts detailing the location of equipment when exceeding speed limits or entering a protected geofence location.

Shield Plus also monitors equipment travel history and usage, mileage, hours, and idle time, and produces work efficiency reports.

PBI-Gordon adds to sales force

PBI-Gordon recently named John Wiblishauser and Matt Ayala as regional sales managers.

Based in Philadelphia, Wiblishauser is responsible for PBI-Gordon product sales to turfgrass management customers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

His previous experience in the industry includes positions with Grigg Brothers and Bayer.

Ayala has joined the company’s sales team as Florida manager. Based in Fort Myers, he is responsible for PBI-Gordon product sales to golf course and turfgrass management customers in Florida and the Caribbean region.

He comes to PBI-Gordon from SePRO Corp., where he was sales manager for the turf and landscape markets in western Florida.

Sipcam names 2 new managers

Sipcam Agro USA named Todd Mason to the position of speciality manager of its southeast accounts and southern region product development team. His responsibilities will include sales and management for the southeast region and product development for the southern region.

Mason has experience in sales, marketing and product development, including Belchim Crop Protection, where he was a key account manager. He also has worked at John Deere/LESCO and Arysta Lifescience.

In other news, Augie Young was promoted to specialty manager, northeast accounts and northern region product development, where he will have responsibilities similar to Mason.

Target launches Turf Fuel Cleanse to combat LDS

Target Specialty Products launched Turf Fuel Cleanse, a product for turf professionals to treat soil that displays signs of localized dry spot, poor infiltration or poor soil health.

Cleanse combines Turf Fuel’s proprietary Soil Sync technology with a stronger solvent than previous formulations that breaks down the cause of localized dry spot.

This two-part system works to attack hydrophobic organic acids responsible for localized dry spot while delivering enzymes to promote healthy soil biology and root system development. This combination gives treated soil an improved rewetting capability, the company says.

PBI-Gordon names Cleveland as VP/GM

PBI-Gordon recently named Neil Cleveland as vice president and general manager.

Cleveland will oversee all aspects of the PBI-Gordon professional turf and ornamental and home lawn and garden unit, including product sales, marketing, operations, research and development, regulatory, and technical services. He will be based out of PBI-Gordon headquarters in the Kansas City area.

Cleveland replaces Tom Hoffman, who is retiring from PBI-Gordon this month after 35 years with the company.

Cleveland was director of commercial operations for Bayer CropScience division since 2012. Before that, he held a series of positions with Bayer and ChemLawn Services during his 30-year career.

New York OKs Bayer’s Exteris Stressgard

Exteris Stressgard, a combination fungicide from Bayer Environmental Science, has received label registration for use in New York.

With the active ingredients fluopyram and trifloxystrobin, Exteris Stressgard is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor offering both preventive and curative disease control as well as formulation enhancements through a combination of Leaf-Cote technology and Stressgard formulation technology.

With two active ingredients, Exteris Stressgard is formulated for broad-spectrum control of foliar diseases like dollar spot, brown patch and leaf spot while also offering additional benefits, such as fast knock-down of damaging mycelium and dew mitigation under certain conditions.

With Leaf-Cote technology, Exteris Stressgard offers improved product retention on the leaf surface, sticking where it’s needed most – at the site of fungal activity. Additionally, thanks to Stressgard formulation technology, it also has been shown to deliver stress mitigation and improved turf quality.

Exteris Stressgard is not registered for use in Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York.

Wiedenmann taps new territory manager

Wiedenmann North America recently named Kent Orban as territory manager for parts of eastern North America.

Orban brings more than 17 years of experience in the turf industry, including the past five as territory account manager for Shearer Equipment.

He will be responsible for all sales and customer support initiatives for north-central and northeastern North America.

He can be reached at kent@wiedenmannusa.com.

California gives thumbs-up to PBI-Gordon’s Tekken

Tekken fungicide from PBI-Gordon Corp. has been approved for use in California.

A combination product with the active ingredients isofetamid and tebuconazole, Tekken is approved for use on golf course greens, tees and fairways for control of more than 20 turf diseases, including dollar spot, anthracnose and brown patch in cool- and warm-season turf.

Tekken’s dual mode of action provides preventive and systemic control for up to 28 days per application. Research trials show that it can also result in increased turf quality and reduces phytotoxicity and thinning of creeping bentgrass, compared with DMI-only applications.

GreenSight acquires drone service

GreenSight’s primary business centers on remote sensing and analysis, whereby daily drone flights deploying thermal and multispectral cameras deliver actionable data that enable course superintendents to reduce water consumption, better task labor associated with irrigation and moisture measurement, and achieve better outcomes with less fungicide, pesticide, and fertilizer applications. The firm’s proprietary software also interprets drone-gathered data relating to thermal mapping and soil temperature.

Greenworks expands line of battery-powered equipment

Carolinas GCSA honors Clemson’s McCarty

Kohler introduces new generators to lineup

Kohler has added three new portable generators capable of running on gasoline, propane and natural gas. The PRO6.4, PRO6.4E and PRO9.0E portable generators join the PRO9.0 in an expanding lineup of generators that can be paired with the Kohler Tri-Fuel Conversion Kit.

The conversion kit gives users the ability to select between the three fuel sources by swapping out the fuel hose and turning a dial.

Kohler dealers easily can configure the new generators with the Tri-Fuel Conversion Kit, while maintaining the products original warranty. The new models are backed by a three-year warranty and the company also offers a free loaner unit through participating dealers for any warranty repairs exceeding 24 hours.

Advanced Turf adds two sales reps

Advanced Turf Solutions has named Matt Welch and Don Lawrence to its sales staff.

A former superintendent, Welch covers northeastern Ohio, and has 17 years of experience in the industry. A graduate of Ohio State ATI, he was previously a golf equipment sales representative at Century Equipment, the Toro distributor for Ohio.

Lawrence, a Michigan State alum, also is a former superintendent and general manager at Red Hawk Run Golf Course in Findlay, Ohio. He most recently worked with Legacy Turf and Ornamental and will cover northwestern Ohio for Advanced Turf.

Former superintendent named Harrells top sales rep

Former golf course superintendent and long-standing member of the Florida golf community, Harrells Territory Manager Sean Klotzbach has been named Harrell’s Sales Professional of the Year.

Klotzbach joined Harrell’s in 2012 after 20 years as a golf course superintendent in Florida and New Jersey. A graduate of Rutgers University, he manages accounts in Central Florida.

Sales Professional of the Year is determined by a wide-range of leadership criteria from overall professionalism, embracing company philosophy and customer relationships to attitude in general and performance.

In other news, Harrell’s named Britney Rust and Hannah Pratt as their Sales Support Professionals of the Year. Both work in the marketing department for Lakeland, Florida-based Harrell’s.

EPA OK’s PBI’s Tekken fungicide

With the active ingredients isofetamid and tebuconazole, Tekken is registered for use on warm- and cool-season golf course greens, tees and fairways for control of more than 20 turf, including anthracnose, brown patch and dollar spot.

Builders honor Melrose with Rossi award

The award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of golf and its growth and who have inspired others by example. It is named for Don A. Rossi, who served as executive director of the National Golf Foundation from 1970 to 1983, was instrumental in forming the National Golf Course Owners Association and served as executive director of the GCBAA from 1984 to 1990.

Wiedenmann names new sales manager

Brandt taps Mangum for top sales post

Brandt has named Ken Mangum, CGCS, as national sales manager for the company’s turf business that includes Brandt, Grigg and Brandt iHammer products.

EPA OKs PBI-Gordon fungicide for SDS control

Labeled for use on golf courses, sports fields, and residential and commercial turf, Kabuto is a proprietary formulation for the preventative control of spring dead spot, and the preventative and curative control of dollar spot, including control of carboxamide-resistant dollar spot.

Longtime TurfNet contributor Frank S. Rossi, Ph.D., to receive industry award

Longtime TurfNet contributor Frank S. Rossi, Ph.D., associate professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, has been named the recipient of the GCSAA’s 2018 President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship.

Nufarm’s Bull retires after nearly 50 years of service

Nufarm extends rewards deadline for fire-affected customers in California

“We know that some of our customers in that area have endured tragic loss, and we want do our part to aid in their recovery,” said Sean Casey, vice president of the Nufarm turf and ornamental business.

Wiedenmann recognizes top sales performers

PBI-Gordon prolongs EOP in wake of hurricanes

Nufarm has activities galore planned for GIE

Nufarm is a sponsor of GreenCare for Troops, and attendees at GIE, which is scheduled for Oct. 18-20 in Louisville, Ky., can also engage with several Nufarm-sponsored activities spotlighting GreenCare for Troops that connects green industry professionals with opportunities to volunteer lawn and landscaping services to help the families of active-duty military members post- 9/11 veterans with a service-connected disability.

Syngenta extends rewards program for hurricane-affected customers

EnP names new business manager

EPA OK’s fourth application of BASF fungicide

With the active ingredients fluxapyroxad and pyraclostrobin, Lexicon Intrinsic brand fungicide optimizes disease control and provides plant health benefits for longer, stronger roots, increased growth efficiency and greater stress tolerance.

PBI-Gordon is celebrating its 50-year anniversary

Civitas EOP under way

Bayer program extended for customers affected by hurricanes

GCBAA launches new web site

The new site offers faster navigation, easier accessibility, smarter interface and other new features. Created with the user experience in mind, the web site has been designed for improved compatibility with today’s browsers and mobile devices.

Rain Bird names new sales manager

He will be responsible for working with Rain Bird Golf’s distribution network in that region to further develop and enhance the company’s current market presence. Rain Bird Golf added this new district sales manager position to increase distributor support and facilitate stronger partnerships with golf facilities.

Georgia GCSA awards scholarships to nine students

Aquatrols names new president

Formerly the company’s chief operating officer, Foster is responsible for company performance in product development and manufacturing, marketing, sales, human resources, operations and logistics, financial management and other business functions.

TPI taps TAMU’s Reynolds

Reynolds most recently was an assistant professor and turfgrass extension specialist at Texas A&M, where he coordinated statewide turfgrass research and extension programs. He was the creator and editor of the program’s website, AggieTurf.tamu.edu, and developed much of its educational content. Prior to joining Texas A&M, he served as a turfgrass research and extension associate for North Carolina State University from 2003-2013.

Redexim adds to staff

UofA’s O’Brien earns tag as future leader

UTA names new CEO

Global Turf adds new sales director

Global Turf Equipment, an independent seller and exporter of pre-owned golf course equipment, named Garry Callahan as director of strategic accounts.

Anuvia receives sustainability award

PBI-Gordon names new herbicide manager

Anuvia adds to sales team

Barber will work with Anuvia’s customer accounts and will be responsible for business development, strategic planning and relationship building to promote the company’s slow-release plant nutrient products.

Aqua-Aid, UT partner on Poa Day

Aqua-Aid is partnering with the University of Tennessee Turfgrass Department on its annual #PoaDay Field Day LIVE event that showcases the UT turfgrass department’s statewide research into annual bluegrass control programs for golf courses, sports fields and lawns.

Atlantic Golf & Turf taps Silva for NE region

Standard Golf names new sales manager

Standard Golf has named Lind Hunemuller as its national sales manager.

Georgia GCSA honors award winners

Anuvia reaches deal with Andersons

UTA introduces new fungicide

United Turf Alliance recently launched Armor Tech Rotator Fungicide.

Rounds flatten in October

Aquatrols’ new Web site focuses on mobile experience

Wiedenmann thanks distributors

Wiedenmann North America implemented an incentive program for the North and South American distributors of Wiedenmann natural and artificial turf maintenance equipment. Salespeople who reached the set threshold by the end of 2015 won a trip to Germany that included a tour of Wiedenmann’s world headquarters.

Winners of the program were: Mike Cornicelli, A-OK Turf Equipment; Shane Cornicelli, A-OK Turf Equipment; Michael Cornicelli, A-OK Turf Equipment; David Shackelford, Austin Turf; Ryan Smith, Belkorp Ag; Sal Sorbello, Belkorp Ag; Tom Corralez, Belkorp Ag; Josh Berman, Finch Equipment; Phil Page, Finch Equipment; Paul Schultheis, Finch Equipment; Tim Fleegel, Frontier Ag & Turf; Jeff Robinson, Greenville Turf & Tractor; Rick Henderson, Greenville Turf & Tractor; Garry Bodnar, Martin Deerline; Sherri Hill, Pacific Golf & Turf; Michael McNeil, Pacific Golf & Turf; Wesley Weyant, Pacific Golf & Turf; Larry Adcock, Revels Tractor; Andy Lutz, Revels Tractor; Blair Quin, Storr Tractor; Matt Gardner, Stotz Equipment; Andy Means, Stotz Equipment; Zach Moore, Stotz Equipment; Teddy Rosztoczy, Stotz Equipment; Nick Scovel, Stotz Equipment.

In other news, Wiedenmann North America recently was honored as Importer of the Year for 2014 and 2015 at an awards ceremony held in Munich, Germany earlier this year. Pictured are (from left) Jordy Smith, West Coast territory manager; Will Wolverton, general manager of Wiedenmann North America, LLC; Jeremy Stafne, Midwest territory manager; Juergen Wiedenmann, owner of Wiedenmann GmBH; Brad Boaz, East Coast territory manager; and Karl Wiedenmann, sales Manager, Wiedenmann GmbH. Wiedenmann North America is the North American distributor for Wiedenmann GmBH, a manufacturer of natural and turf maintenance equipment.

Signature Control Systems helping troops and their families

Signature Control Systems has partnered with Tee It Up for the Troops, a national veterans service non-profit, to support veterans and their families.

Proceeds from Signature’s golf and turf product sales will go to Tee It Up for the Troops to help local and national veterans service organizations.

Minnesota-based Tee It Up for the Troops hosts approximately 40 golf events across the country each year to raise funds for combat-affected veterans and their families. It provides more than $1 million in direct funding annually to veterans service providers.

Signature Control Systems is a natural partner for Tee It Up for the Troops. The company has been a leader in golf course turf irrigation control and supplies for nearly 20 years. Its equipment can be found on hundreds of golf courses around the globe.

The partnership was formalized in late November 2016. Signature will serve as Tee It Up for the Troops’ exclusive irrigation partner and joins other golf industry partners such as E-Z-GO, Bridgestone Golf and PING.

Former Valhalla GCS inducted into Kentucky hall

BASF announces personnel changes

BASF has named Nate Mezera as sales rep for the turf and ornamentals division in the Midwest region and Cozette Hadley Rosburg as strategic accounts manager for SiteOne, Primera Turf, BWI and Ewing Irrigation.

Cozette was formerly the sales representative for turf and ornamentals in the northern Midwest. She joined BASF through the acquisition of Becker Underwood in 2012 and has been in the turf and ornamentals industry for 29 years.

Mezera previously held a similar role as sales representative for the BASF Urban, Rural and Termite control segment in Louisiana and southeastern Texas for BASF. Mezera has been with BASF since 2014 and in the turf and ornamentals industry for seven years.

Ditch Witch launches new skid steer

Ditch Witch recently introduced the construction-grade SK1050 mini skid steer for a variety of demanding landscape, hardscape and irrigation jobs.

Equipped with a 37-hp Tier 4 Yanmar diesel engine, the SK1050 directs 30 hp to the hydraulic attachment, giving operators the power to tackle an assortment of challenging tasks with a variety of hydraulic attachments, including trenchers and augers.

With a hinge-pin height of 83 inches and a load capacity of 1,062 pounds, the SK1050 enables efficient and flexible loading and unloading at a wide range of dump sites. The operator’s station includes a spring-supported, 74-square-inch platform and a hands-free auxiliary-control pedal. The machines LCD display includes programming upgrades to provide direct visibility into all engine diagnostics and performance.

Rounds played slip – again – in September

Year-over-year rounds played dropped 2.3 percent in September, according to the Golf Datatech National Golf Rounds Played Report.

With that drop, year-to-date rounds played are up by less than 1 percent, compared with the first nine months of 2015, with the bulk of the nations golf-playing window in the rear-view mirror.

Rounds played for September were up in only 14 states compared to the same month in 2015. Only Georgia, where rounds were up by 11.8 percent, experienced a double-digit increase compared with September last year.

Six states experienced double-digit losses. They were Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, where play was down by 16 percent; Michigan (down 13 percent); Alabama (down 12 percent); and New York (down 10 percent).

Rain Bird offers full slate of training

Rain Bird Training Services will conduct more than 70 irrigation training events throughout the country through May 2017. These classes are open to all irrigation professionals regardless of experience. All Rain Bird training classes count toward CEUs from the Irrigation Association.

Nominate a turf professional for OTF award

Rounds played down almost 5 percent in August

Rounds played down slightly in July, up for ’16

Year-over-year rounds played were down a pinch at 0.6 percent nationwide in July according to Golf Datatechs monthly report.

DryJect expands franchise network

DryJect recently expanded its business operations with the addition of two new franchises in the western U.S. – Northwest DryJect and Four Fleming LLC.

Rain Bird taps Maloney for marketing post

March rounds up in East, down in West

Rounds played were up 13 percent in March compared with the same month last year, according to the Golf Datatech National Golf Rounds Played Report for March. Year-to-date participation is up 5.5 percent compared to the first three months of 2015. The report represents self-reported data from 2,750 private and daily fee courses nationwide.

Central Turf launches organic insecticide

Wiedenmann honors top sales producers

BASF names new sales manager

Hall to induct Clearview’s Powell

Larry Powell, superintendent of historic Clearview Golf Club in Canton, Ohio, will be inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame on May 21 in Peachtree City, Georgia.

Ohio State’s Bug Doc honored

Koch strikes distribution deal with Harrell’s

Atlantic Golf and Turf adds to sales team

BioSafe, Anatis Biopretech reach supply chain agreement

Anuvia launches new plant nutrient product

Nufarm launches Insider Web site

Nufarm has launched its Nufarm Insider Web site to provide golf course superintendents and others with a host of information to help them in the day-to-day performance of their jobs.

Jacobsen recognizes dealers at GIS

Jacobsen recognized its top-performing dealers and salespeople during the recent Golf Industry Show in San Diego.

Individual dealer salesperson awards went to Mark Casey of MTE Turf Equipment, Josh Shull of Turfwerks (Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Missouri), and Manny Cervantes of Kansas Golf & Turf (Kansas).

Central Turf & Irrigation opens Alabama outlet

Lebanon combo product offers 1-2-3 punch

LebanonTurf recently launched Proscape Fertilizer with Acelepryn plus Dimension, a combination product with fertilizer, insecticide and herbicide that controls and protects against grubs and crabgrass all season long.

Registration open for Asian turf conference

Registration for the Sustainable Turfgrass Management in Asia 2016 conference, at Pattaya from March 7 to 9, is open. All the information is on the conference website, www.asianturfseminar.com.

ASGCA names Donald Ross winner

Riverside Turf launches Sod Services

AmeriTurf, Performance Nutrition reach distribution agreement

AmeriTurf will begin offering Performance Nutrition fertility and disease-control products through its coast-to-coast distribution network.

Colorado Golf Association honors Lyon

Floratine names agronomist for southeast region

Collett named Georgia GCSA Superintendent of the Year

Berry Collett, CGCS, director of golf course maintenance at Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, has been named the recipient of this year’s Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association Superintendent of the Year award.

Seedway acquires Merritt Seed

Rounds played inch up in September

DryJect expands management team

Profile expands portfolio with acquisition

Advanced Turf acquires Midwestern distributor

Performance Nutrition names Rider as regional sales manager

Aquatrols seed technology gets OK in Australia

BASF seeks Section 2(ee) recommendations for two fungicides

BASF has issued FIFRA Section 2(ee) recommendations expanding the application profiles of two Xzemplar and Lexicon Intrinsic fungicides in California and Texas.

TurfMax expands product portfolio

Bayer launches Signature Xtra Stressgard

Bayer Environmental Science recently launched Signature Xtra Stressgard fungicide.

With the active ingredient aluminum tris (O-ethyl phosphonate) Signature Stressgard is formulated for disease control, plant health performance and to improve program flexibility for superintendents.

Signature Xtra Stressgard offers updated label language, outlining improved disease control and added plant health benefits, including the alleviation of both abiotic and biotic stresses, antioxidant properties leading to oxidative stress protection, enhanced root growth, wilt protection, mitigation and recovery from wear stress as well as improved turf color, quality and density.

This new product also includes 25 percent less active ingredient compared with other Bayer Signature products. This allows for the optimization of physiological plant processes and the natural growth of the turfgrass plant.

An improved flexible rate structure means Signature Stressgard Xtra is customizable for seven-, 14- and 21-day application intervals. It is available in 4 x 5.5-pound bottle/case to help optimize usability and storage.

Valent’s Aloft available from Nufarm

Aloft insecticide from Valent U.S.A. is now available for sale through Nufarm Americas.

With the active ingredients clothianidin and bifenthrin, Aloft is labeled for contact and systemic control of several turfgrass insects, including fire ants, billbugs and annual bluegrass weevils.

Nufarm has been the exclusive distributor of Valent products since 2014.

Company president gifts distributorship to employees

Lawn & Golf Supply Co. of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, a Jacobsen dealer for parts of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for almost 80 years, is now an employee-owned company.

Started in 1937 by Joe Holman, Lawn & Golf Supply was gifted to the employees by current president Bob Holman, the founder’s son.

Throughout the next year, Ken Jeinnings will transition into the role of president. Jeinnings has worked at Lawn & Golf for more than 27 years, including the past nine as vice president and sales manager.

Bill Corcoran will become the company’s new sales manager. He has more than 24 years of experience in turf equipment sales distribution. Lawn & Golf also represents Smithco, Ventrac, Turfco, Redexim, Turflux, Neary Grinders and AquaMaster products.

The Andersons names new president, CEO

The Andersons board of directors recently named Pat Bowe as the company’s president and chief executive officer.

He will oversee all aspects of The Andersons multi-platform corporation that serves several markets, including the turf and ornamental industry.

Bowe has more than 35 years of experience in the agri-chemical market, including most recently as corporate vice president of Cargill, Inc. He will succeed Mike Anderson as president and CEO effective Nov. 2. Anderson will remain with the company as chairman of the board of directors.

Bowe also will be appointed to the board.

Golf rounds played drop 2 percent in June

It appears that the golf business is headed for another lackluster year, according to the latest year-over-year rounds played report. Despite favorable weather conditions throughout much of the country in June, rounds played were down 2 percent nationwide compared to the same month last year, according to the Golf Datatech National Golf Rounds Played Report.

WinField Academy offers education for turf managers

United Turf Alliance launches new fungicide

Jacobsen adds Jenkins to marketing staff

She is responsible for planning and managing the company’s events and working with Jacobsen’s network of dealers on marketing initiatives. She has more than 10 years of experience in the turf industry, working in a variety of marketing roles at Woods Equipment Co., LG Seeds, and most recently, Dixie Chopper.

New Hampshire gives thumbs-up to Nufarm’s Clipper herbicide

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has granted a 2 (ee) label registration for Nufarm Americas‘ Clipper aquatic herbicide for control of two pesky water-borne weeds.

With the active ingredient flumioxazin, the tank mix of Clipper and 2,4-D, provides New Hampshire applicators with a tool for weed-management programs at the rates specified on the new 2 (ee) label for fanwort and variable leaf milfoil, two species of invasive submersed weeds, with one application.

Clipper may be tank mixed with other registered aquatic herbicides for enhanced control of submersed and floating plants.

For more information about Clipper, visit nufarm.com/USTO/Clipper.

Engage Agro USA celebrating fifth anniversary

Harrell’s acquires West Coast’s Turfmaker

A landscape supply company based in Chula Vista, California, Turfmaker serves golf courses, sports fields, sod farms, nurseries, schools and other commercial customers from San Diego to Los Angeles to the Coachella Valley.

Deere reaffirms commitment to PGA Tour

Steiner says it’s never too early to think about snow removal

Japan OKs Aquatrols technology

This is the first patent issued in what is expected to be global intellectual property protection for the Seed Enhancement Technology, according to Aquatrols.

Toro enhances drip irrigation software

Bernhard reaches deal with Ohio distributor

Bayer appoints Applegate to head Environmental Science

Effective July 1, longtime Bayer executive Jacqueline Applegate, Ph.D., will become Head of Environmental Science, the non-agricultural business operations unit of Bayer CropScience.

Applegate, who will be based at the Bayer Environmental Science headquarters in Lyon, France, succeeds Gunnar Riemann, Ph.D., who left the company to pursue other career opportunities. In her new role, Applegate will also be a member of the Bayer CropScience executive committee.

During her 23-year-career at Bayer, Applegate, 49, has held several management positions with Environmental Science, most notably president of its North America business from 2010 to 2012. She first joined Environmental Science as head of global portfolio management and became president of Bayer Advanced Consumer Lawn and Garden USA in 2007.

Until recently, Applegate was senior Bayer representative and Bayer CropScience country head Australia and New Zealand. She began her career with Bayer in 1992 as process development chemist in product supply, and later was named head of global project management in 2002.

Applegate is a graduate of Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and earned a doctorate in organic chemistry from Iowa State University, and then an MBA from Rockhurst University in Kansas City.

Platte River acquires Profile

Platte River Equity has acquired Profile Products.

A private equity firm, Platte River Equity plans to grow the Profile Products brand both organically and through subsequent acquisitions.

Profile Products will continue to operate with the same management team, 200-plus-employee workforce and existing locations in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Conover, North Carolina, Blue Mountain, Mississippi, and Limestone, Tennessee.

During the past six decades, Profile has developed innovative erosion and sediment control products, turf establishment products, and complementary solutions designed to minimize soil loss and accelerate seed germination for private and civil construction, energy, mining, landfill, agriculture, horticulture, sports fields, golf courses, and retail lawn and garden applications. Its products are sold in 75 countries on six continents.

The transaction closed on May 21. Financial details were not disclosed.

Syngenta names new territory managers

Syngenta has named Adam Garr and Chris Threadgill as new territory managers for its turf and ornamental segment.

A former golf course superintendent, Garr will be responsible for sales efforts in the lower part of Michigan. He has more than 16 years of experience in the turf industry, including the past 6 as superintendent at Plum Hollow Country Club in Southfield, Michigan.

Threadgill, has nearly 30 years of experience in the horticulture industry, including prior posts with The Scotts Co. and Valent U.S.A. Corp.

Five students receive Garske grants

Kelsi Stieler, Brooks Leftwich, Alexis Gomez, Dalton Trout and Heidi Kastenholz were named recipients of the 2015 Joseph S. Garske Collegiate Grants.

Established in honor of Par Aide company founder Joseph S. Garske, the Garske grant program is funded by the golf course accessory company and administered by the GCSAA’s Environmental Institute for Golf.

The program helps children and stepchildren of GCSAA members fund their education at an accredited college or trade school with one-time, one-year grants, awarded to five winners. Grants are based on community service, leadership, academic performance and a written essay.

Stieler (Fresno State, $2,500) is the daughter of Michael F. Stieler of Spring Creek Golf and Country Club in Ripon, California. Leftwich (University of Tennessee, $2,000) is the son of retired superintendent Michael C. Leftwich. Gomez (Texas Tech University, $1,500) of Summit Rock Over Horseshoe Bay Golf Course in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. Trout (Penn State, $1,000) is the son of David L. Trout of Azalea Sands Golf Club in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Kastenholz (Butler University, $500) is the daughter of Mark Kastenholz of Tipton (Indiana) Golf Course.

BASF’s Pillar G Intrinsic OK’d for use in California

Nufarm promotes Copley to oversee golf market

FMC rebates help superintendents save while targeting sedges

Spring into savings with BASF

BASF has launched a summer holiday spray promotion that will help superintendents save up to 8 percent in earned credit on qualifying fungicide purchases.

Par Aide says spruce up those tees

The Andersons buys Kay-Flo

Irrigation Association offers training courses

Toro recognizes Reinders

Judge upholds $12 million award for LidoChem

The ruling by Judge Robert Wonker of the United States District Court, Western District of Michigan, upholds a 2014 decision when a jury awarded LidoChem $12 million for what it decided was Stoller’s violation of the Lanham Act, which regulates interstate commerce.

Army drafts Toro for maintenance duty

The U.S. Army Installation Management Command chose The Toro Co. to provide equipment to help maintain nearly 50 golf facilities at installations worldwide. The recent contract award renews Toro’s relationship with the U.S. Army that began in 2009.

“We are extremely honored to have been chosen by the U.S. Army to continue providing turf equipment and support to help create the best course conditions for members of the Armed Forces and their families to enjoy,” said Darren Redetzke, vice president of Toro’s commercial business. “These facilities provide an environment for individuals and families to come together, and we are excited to contribute to that experience.”

Established in 1984, IMCOM’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation branch provides guidance and oversight for Army garrison programs and services that benefit soldiers, families, retirees and civilians around the world, including golf facilities on installations in the United States, Germany, Japan and Korea.

Rounds down nearly 3% in February

BioSafe names new research engineer

Hunter taps Wagner for sales lead

Jacobsen recognizes top dealers

Asia-Pacific dealers recognized were Mikuni Shoko Company (Japan), which was named winner of the Asia-Pacific Outstanding Service Award, Power Turf (New Zealand), which received the Asia-Pacific Investment in After Sales Support Award, and McIntosh and Sons (Western Australia), winner of the Asia-Pacific Sales Conquest Award.

Wiblishauser joins Grigg Brothers

Reicher named to Bayer team

Bayer recently named Frank Wong, Ph.D., to the position of senior regulatory affairs consultant working in stakeholder engagement. A former turf pathologist with the University of California at Riverside, Wong had been a member of the Bayer Environmental Science Green Solutions Team since 2011.

UT Herbicide-Resistance Field Day set for April 7

Toro releases new dripline

Schiller names new product manager

Ditch Witch introduces mini skid steer

Bernhard recognizes top distributor

Jenkins named Old Tom winner

E-Z-GO offers improved battery charging

Standard Golf names new marketing head

United Turf launches azoxystrobin fungicide

Engage reaches deal to market fungicide/animal repellent

Engage Agro USA has reached a distribution agreement with Taminco U.S. Inc. to be the exclusive U.S. distributor of Defiant fungicide and animal repellent.

Jacobsen at the World Cup

As teams from around the globe compete in the World Cup in Brazil, they will be doing so on turf maintained with Jacobsen equipment.

Grigg Brothers goes Down Under

Arysta taps Maravich to fill top T&O slot

Bar code offers info on Vanguard engines

Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power recently launched its Power Code quick response code for its Vanguard single-cylinder and V-twin engines.

The Vanguard Power Code is a square barcode located on the engine that, after being scanned with a smart phone barcode reader, directs the user to information specific to that engine model. Most notably, the Vanguard Power Code will provide the equipment operator with troubleshooting information especially suited for in-field support.

In addition to jobsite troubleshooting guidelines, other highlights of the Vanguard Power Code include: dealer locator via GPS or zip code search; answers to frequently asked questions; parts lists; maintenance recommendations and schedules; owners manuals. All information is available in English or Spanish.

For more information, visit www.vanguardengines.com.

Kubota Tractor names new president

Kubota Corp. has appointed Masato Yoshikawa as president of its Torrance, Calif.-based tractor division.

Yoshikawa is a 32-year veteran of Kubota, which is based in Osaka, Japan. Most recently he held the position of general manager, corporate planning and control.

During his tenure with Kubota, Yoshikawa has spent nearly 13 years in U.S.-based assignments, most recently as President, Kubota Credit Corporation, from 2003-2007. In that capacity, Yoshikawa played a significant role in developing the retail credit segment of KTCs business, which has greatly influenced the companys growth in recent years.

For more information, visit www.kubota.com.

Trailer-mounted toolbox makes use of wasted space

Backyard Pool Products has launched a line of trailer tongue boxes that convert unused space into valuable storage area.

The boxes mount on the front of A-frame style trailers and are ideal for storing and transporting equipment, tools and accessories and minimizing the need to secure items in the trailer.

The trailer tongue boxes are rotationally molded in a single piece from waterproof polyethylene for high-impact strength, lightweight, and resistance to inclement weather conditions, harsh marine environments and chemical intrusion.

The plastic trailer tongue boxes come with a steel hinge pin and a steel hasp for installing a lock. Measuring nearly three feet in length for high capacity yet with a low profile for safe operation.

For more information, visit www.BackyardPoolProducts.com.

Franklin Electric adds booster pumps to portfolio 

Bernhard names new U.S. territory manager 

Rossi among speakers at NYSTA event

Syngenta closes deal on DuPont acquisition

Jacobsen supports education with scholarships

Underhill adds new nozzle

Profile completes plant upgrades

Deere expands distributor network

Underhill to acquire KALO 

Valent names two territory managers

Winfield buying Matrix Turf

Turfco offers new solutions for overseeding

Ewing restructures for improved efficiency

Magro joins Stevens Water

Deere goes mobile with parts platform

John Deere has launched a mobile version of its parts Web site that allows customers easier access to much-needed parts.

Lebanon tabs Bially as new product manager

Hunter controllers earn EPA nod for saving water

Quali-Pro launches Negate herbicide

Quali-Pro, a division of Control Solutions Inc., launched Negate 37WG herbicide.

Netafim adds dripline-building app

Georgia DNR recognizes superintendent’s efforts

Echo introduces quiet, powerful backpack blower

Echo Inc. recently released its most powerful, low-noise backpack blower, the PB-760LN.

Miltona vexes bare spots with hex plugger

GCSAA taking applications for chapter outreach

Rossi, Wong, Vittum highlight NYSTA conference

TurfNet contributor Frank Rossi, Ph.D., of Cornell University will be among the featured speakers at the New York State Turfgrass Association Adirondack Regional Conference.

USGA regional conference set for Richmond, Va.

Dow AgroSciences adds new sales rep

Shaffer named an ELGA winner

Matt Shaffer of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., is among this year’s winners of the GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf awards.

Valent delivers SureGuard for weed control in Bermuda

Florida GCSA continues to support research, charitable causes

Architect/consultant launches app to measure water, energy use

Staples Golf Resource Group, a golf course consulting firm headed by president Andy Staples, recently launched a mobile energy and water savings calculator designed specifically for golf course development.

The Energy Snapshot for Golf allows users to analyze energy and water use and costs. The tool then calculates potential cost savings. Staples, also a golf course architect, developed the tool after years of research.

Matching those calculations with the golf course’s energy and water costs, the tool is then able to provide an estimate of annual dollar savings and carbon emissions reductions. A series of savings tips and a 90-day action plan are also provided.

E-Z-GO names new marketing director

E-Z-GO recently named Gary Johnson as its director for golf marketing and strategy.

Johnson has more than 20 years of experience in the golf business including the last seven as product manager for E-Z-GO’s golf and turf vehicle product lines.

In his new role, Johnson’s responsibilities will include product management, new product development, market research, marketing communications, and development of new go-to-market strategies in the golf industry.

NGCOA names Course of the Year finalists

The National Golf Course Owners Association has nominated a handful of courses for its 2013 Course of the Year Award.

Finalists for the award are Oak Quarry Golf Club in Riverside, Calif., Redstone Golf Club (Tournament Course) in Humble, Texas, Sand Creek Station in Newton, Kan., and The Old Course at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.

The award recognizes member-owned courses that excel in course quality, ownership and management, contributions to the community and contribution to the game. The Course of the Year winner, which will be announced Feb. 6 at the NGCOA Annual Conference in San Diego, will come from a group of modern-era courses that are distinguished in each area. The NGCOA conference is held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show.

NGCOA to honor Homestead’s Cascades layout

The National Golf Course Owners Association named The Cascades Course at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va., as the winner of its 2013 Jemsek Award for Golf Course Excellence.

The award honors the worlds top golf courses, which are widely known for superior quality, having hosted major amateur and professional tournaments and for being venues to which golfers travel from far and wide. The award will be presented during the NGOA Annual Conference held next month in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show in San Diego.

The NGCOA also will recognize winners of the Award of Merit for long-term contributions to the game, the Don Rossi Award for significant contributions to the NGCOA, the Champion Award for service to course owners at the state level, the Player Development Award for success in attracting new players to the game and the Paul Porter Award for commitment, service and leadership to a chapter or international affiliate. The winner of the Course of the Year Award also will be announced during the awards ceremony.

Jacklin Seed launches mobile app

Jacklin Seed by Simplot recently introduced its new mobile application for the turf industry.

Available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices, the app was developed in conjunction with turfgrass research, scientific and education experts and offers superintendents and others the ability to research data, product information, site-specific recommendations for any of the company’s 200-plus turf seed products.

The mobile application can be downloaded from respective app stores or by clicking on the link on the Jacklin Seed Web site.

Blasi strikes out on his own

After many years of learning from and working with Robert Trent Jones II, golf course architect Jay Blasi is hanging out his own sign.

Blasi spent a total of 11 years with Jones at his firm in Palo Alto, Calif. In that time, Blasi was the project architect on Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash., and Stanford University’s Siebel Varsity Golf Training Complex in Palo Alto. His Jay Blasi Design firm will be based in nearby Los Gatos.

Blasi will continue to work with the San Francisco Public Golf Alliance at Sharp Park Golf Course, an Alister MacKenzie design in Pacifica. He also will begin work with his former employer on a collaborative effort of restoring SentryWorld in Wisconsin.

Oregon State taps ABAC professor to fill post

Alec Kowalewski, Ph.D., has been named the new turf specialist at Oregon State University.

Most recently an assistant professor of turf management at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Georgia, Kowalewski replaces Rob Golembiewski, Ph.D., who left Oregon State last year for a position with Bayer Environmental Science.

A Michigan State alumnus, Kowalewskis position is funded in part by an endowment created by the family of OSU alumnus Nat Giustina. He will be aided by research assistant Brian McDonald.

Among some of the research projects he is considering at Oregon State include performance of low-input turfgrasses as well as organic pesticides.

Nufarm buys Cleary

Nufarm Americas recently acquired Cleary Chemical Corp., the Dayton, N.J.-based marketer of fungicides, insecticides and plant growth regulators to the turf and ornamental horticulture industries.

The acquisition, which closed December 31, 2012, will expand the portfolio of Nufarm, which will continue to offer the entire line of Cleary-branded products. Nufarm is telling customers to continue to contact their Cleary representatives for information on that product line.

According to Nufarm, Cleary had sales of about $11 million last year.

For more information, visit www.nufarm.com.

Florida OK’s Arystas XONERATE

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has approved Arysta LifeSciences XONERATE herbicide for sale and distribution.

A total of 45 states have approved label registration of the herbicide that contains the active ingredient amicarbizone for control of annual bluegrass on golf course and athletic turf.

Available in a water-dispersible granular formulation, XONERATE can be used on warm-season grasses such as Bermudagrass and Seashore Paspalum.

For more information, visit eliminatepoa.com.

Virginia GCSA clarifies fertilizer applicator licensing questions

The Virginia Agribusiness Council has worked with the Virginia GCSA in determining whether golf courses are required to have fertilizer applicator licenses. According to the states consumer protection office: Unless the golf course is a licensee or contractor-applicator who applies fertilizer for commercial purposes or the golf course is owned by a state agency or locality, the golf course does not need to employ or retain the services of a certified fertilizer applicator.

A licensee is a person who received a license to distribute fertilizer. A contractor-applicator is a person required to hold a permit because he applies certain regulated products, including fertilizer, for profit. Golf courses that do not distribute fertilizer or apply fertilizer for profit would not be required to employ or retain the services of a certified fertilizer applicator. If a golf course hires a third party to apply its fertilizer, that third party would likely be required to employ or retain the services of a certified fertilizer applicator.

A golf course that is owned by a state agency or locality is required to employ or retain the services of a certified fertilizer applicator.

The next Bandon coming to a course not so near you

The golf course design firm of Fry/Straka soon will begin work on a new project that its architects believe could be akin to the next Bandon Dunes or Sand Hills. Theres one catch not only will the course be located halfway around the world in China, it will be in the remote reaches of Inner Mongolia.

According to GolfCourseArchitecture.net, Batu Bay Golf Club will be part of a resort overlooking the Batu Bay reservoir, a three hour drive from the regional capital, Ordos. The golf course, along with a hotel, will be built among sand dunes above the reservoir.

According to architect Dana Fry (pictured here), managed turf areas will be about 50 percent wider than that on a normal golf course because of the high winds on the site that is about 100 feet above the lakes surface.

Construction of the course is scheduled to begin in May, with the opening planned for summer 2014. For those thinking of playing the layout, the closest airport is in Yulin City, about an hour’s drive away.

Irrigation Association offers online education, too

The Irrigation Association recently updated online learning tools for irrigation professionals. Online education classes are back up and running, alongside new irrigation seminars, allowing certified professionals to satisfy their CEU requirements.

Six online courses at four CEUs each are available.

A series of 17 one-hour irrigation seminars videotaped at the 2011 Irrigation Show and Innovations in Education Conference for one CEU each.

Online courses include:

Agriculture Irrigation Hydraulics

Agriculture Sprinklers and Precipitation Rates

Landscape Irrigation Hydraulics

Electrical Troubleshooting for Landscape Irrigation Systems

Landscape Irrigation Precipitation Rates

Landscape Irrigation Scheduling

Lessons are hands-on and interactive, allowing students to assess their performance and move forward at their own pace.

The irrigation seminar videos offer a great opportunity to add to your knowledge base while gaining CEUs. Irrigation seminars address irrigation industry best practices the underlying concepts and implementation of efficient irrigation. With nine turf/landscape and eight agriculture sessions to choose from, the new irrigation seminars offer CEU opportunities across industry segments.