Turf

cuTS & cOnTOurS Budget Survey Results Released an online survey was sent to super- intendent members of GcSaa in the united States in February 2012. The final result of completed surveys totaled 2,024 of the distributed 8,441, an impressive 24 percent response rate. The purpose of the Maintenance Budget survey is to establish baselines, trends and allocations of resources as they relate to golf course operational budgets and today's golf course man- agement. respondents were asked to provide their total maintenance budget includ- ing all labor expenses and excluding capital expenditures for 2010, 2011 and 2012. In total, there are 25 budget line item categories, and all data is shown by region and facility type. The nation- wide average maintenance budget for an 18-hole golf course is $696,524. Golf course budgets in the Southwest region appear to be the larg- est. Over 19 percent of southwestern courses have budgets in excess of $1.5 million. To get the full report, call Matt Brown at (800) 472-7878, ext. 3601 or log on to www.gcsaa.org/course/ maintenancebudgetsurvey.aspx. Industry News & Notes Changes and Acquisitions Syngenta will acquire the duPont Professional Products insecticide busi- ness, including a number of registered trademark brands. duPont Professional Products insecticide business special- izes in the development and market- ing of innovative branded products for the professional turf and pest control markets. The acquisition price is $125 million. BaSF plans to acquire Becker underwood for a price of $1.02 billion. The company, headquartered in ames, Iowa, is one of the leading global pro- viders of technologies for biological seed treatment, seed treatment colors and polymers, as well as products in the areas of biological crop protection, turf and horticulture, animal nutrition and landscape colorants and coatings. The J. r. Simplot company, a lead- ing global supplier of crop nutrient products, has purchased the patented Florikote technology from Florikan, a specialist in polymer-coated fertil- izer technologies. The two companies will jointly promote and distribute this new controlled-release fertilizer in the worldwide turf, ornamental and spe- cialty agriculture markets. First Tee Golfers Get Education Young north carolinian golfers from across the raleigh-durham area participated in the first-ever "First Tee of the Triangle" event in September. Bayer cropScience partnered with The First Tee of the Triangle, a nonprofit organization, to help educate young golfers on the science behind keeping a golf course healthy and in superb play- ing condition. The First Tee of the Triangle's mis- sion is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational pro- grams that build character, instill life enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. event participants learned about insect behavior through demonstra- tions conducted by dr. Tom Macom. also, participants had the opportunity to hear from dr. dave Spak and Gary ryan on the research and scientific inquiry that goes into making golf courses green and healthy. They also learned basic turf principles, including how grass is mowed so low, how a golf course stays so green and what deter- mines the speed of golf greens. Getting Faster Control on Ground Ivy new research indicates that Solitare herbicide from FMc provides faster and long-lasting control of ground ivy when pitted against industry standard triclopyr. a study conducted in 2011 by dr. david Gardner of The Ohio State university examined control of ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) on Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Gardner found that regardless of the rate, Solitare provided much better control of ground ivy early on (3, 7 and 14 days after treatment) and as good, if not slightly better, control later (28 and 60 days after treatment). "With Solitare, not only do you get control that's as good or better long- term, but you get much more rapid control in the near term," said Gardner. Turfgrass professionals with both 10 www.westernturfmag.com warm- and cool-season turf struggle with the pernicious weed. "Its cell walls break down rapidly, making it difficult to get an herbicide through the whole plant," said Gardner. "So it may not be as pervasive as dandelion or clover, but it's much more difficult to kill." as for timing of treatments, Gardner says there are two schools of thought. 100 % 80 60 40 20 0 Treatment Professionals can 1) treat after the weed flowers in May, when the plant is weak from reproduction, or 2) treat in the fall, when weeds are actively translocat- ing below ground, causing the herbi- cide to get piggybacked up to the roots. according to Gardner, "neither is bad; they both work." Solitare is an all-in-one post-emer- gence herbicide for crabgrass, sedges and more than 60 broadleaf weeds. It provides results three to five days after treatment, while also impacting the plant's seeds, reducing its ability to reproduce in the current season and into the following season. For information on Solitare herbi- cide, visit www.fmcprosolutions.com. For information on The Ohio State Solitare 1.0 lb/A Triclopyr 2 pt/A university turf program, visit www. buckeyeturf.osu.edu. 3 Day 7 Day 14 Day 28 Day 60 Day 3 Day 7 Day 14 Day 28 Day 60 Day

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