South Carolina and North Carolina turf pathologists, Bruce and Lane, respectively, are doing a tremendous job in putting Insignia in the spotlight with Pythium volutum.  BASF’s program at Clemson is getting thumbs up with all audiences. The tank mix of Emerald & Insignia is being explored by many of those who hear his talks. 516 may be a possibility, especially when the PH initiative is implemented.

However, several DSRs are having a difficult time distinguishing between R zeae and R solani. I’ve gotten several calls from them stating that Bruce is really hammering strobi’s on brown patch control.  I will be sending a message to all distributors in the Carolinas stating that Bruce is correct in his assessment that the strobi’s are not the best alternatives for R zeae in warm season turfgrasses.

Today, BASF Turf & Ornamental is focused on being the market leader and preferred choice for its end users and distribution partners.

To reach this goal, we have a focus on objectives and clear metrics. And in the last several years T&O has made huge strides among its customers by expanding its product portfolio.

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Combining hard science in a fun, Web-based learning environment, BASF has launched a new online training module to educate golf course superintendents on its Trinity™ fungicide.

For current and future Trinity users, the new module at betterturf.basf.us explains use sites, key benefits, recommended turfgrasses and diseases controlled. Interactive narrating by Kyle Miller, senior market development specialist at BASF, creatively adds turf insights.

 BASF will launch more training modules targeted at lawn care operators and commercial growers later this year.

On Tues., Feb. 19, nearly 200 Minnesota GCSA members attended a free BASF Research Update Seminar at the Golden Valley Country Club in Golden Valley, Minn. BASF sales specialist David Oberle hosted the seminar with help from BASF senior market development specialist Kyle Miller and northern regional manager Rich Kalik. The seminar, co-sponsored by the Minnesota GCSA, was focused on best practices in disease and plant care and attendees earned continuing education credits with the GCSAA.

Dr. Bruce Clarke, director of the Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science, presented research on developing pest management practices for the control of anthracnose on greens.

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Spent the early part of the week meeting with Genesis Turf and its end users and shared how to use Insignia prior to aerification to control these three major diseases: anthracnose, summer patch and pythium root dysfunction. Those diseases become active during springtime root development, usually when it’s around 50 to 70 degrees.

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