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.