In addition to Todd’s presentation on the technical aspects The Plant Health Effect with Insignia® SC Intrinsic brand fungicide and Honor® Intrinsic brand fungicide, we also asked key Turfgrass Extension Agents to give updates on their research.

Photo: BASF Intrinsic Launch Team—Todd Burkdoll (top) and Fred Eckert (bottom).

Turfgrass Extension Agents to give updates on their research
Dr. David Kopec, Extension Turf Specialist from the University of Arizona reported on root mass and turf quality studies he conducted on cool and warm season turf using Insignia SC Intrinsic Fungicide, Honor Intrinsic Fungicide and Heritage. Insignia was the clear winner followed by Honor and Heritage. Dr. Kopec stated, “Based on these studies, you can see that not all strobies are created equal.”

Dr. James Baird, Extension Turf Specialist from the University of California at Riverside is in the middle of his Plant Health Effect studies. In addition to measuring root density and turf quality, he will also be measuring turf stress through canopy temperature readings with a LiCor infrared measuring device. Final results from this study should be available in the next few months.

Sedona Arizona is an amazing place to visit, as well as having a meeting. Superintendents and distributor reps went away from this meeting with a better understanding of how you can get plant health benefits beyond the fungicidal effects of these materials.

Photos: James Baird, Ph.D., University of CA at Riverside, Intrinsic Cooperator (using Lycor Stress analyzer on his Honor & Insignia plots) (top). Chris Olson, Bayer Tech Services Rep discussing Stressguard research (middle). Dave Kopec, Ph.D., Univ of AZ, Turfgrass Extension Specialist discussing results of data sent that morning from Rene (bottom).

A new part of the educational program that turned out to be a real hit was Brian Thompson’s Superintendent Roundtable Discussion. Brian facilitated a discussion that focused on new issues for superintendents at their courses. We had many in the group who were pretty tech savvy. Our discussion turned to ways that superintendents communicate with their membership. Some use Twitter and many use Facebook as easy and quick ways to keep their memberships updated on projects and other happenings on the course. Brian discussed how BASF is using some of these vehicles effectively as well.

During the BASF Technical presentation, there was quite a bit of interest about our research on the Plant Health Effect we see when using Honor and Insignia. Brian’s focus on this is very helpful.

Superintendent’s “good catch

During the first day when most participants were golfing and/or trap shooting, I had the opportunity to fish with one of my old customers, the Superintendent at La Cumbre CC in Santa Barbara and probably the best fisherman I have every known (of course, I have never fished with Mr. Huhn). We pulled out a few fish this size and many in the 2-3# range. The weather was good and the fishing was great.

Thank you to everyone who visited the BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals team today at GIS. It was great interacting with golf course superintendents who participated in our booth activities.

This morning, Thomas Nikolai, Ph.D., generously donated his time and stopped by the booth to sign 60 of his books, which were given to a group of golf course superintendents. And astoundingly, this afternoon more than $6,000 in combined cash prizes were awarded to 12 lucky superintendents who played BASF Superintendent Thousandaire.

If you missed us, be sure to stop by our BASF booth 3039 tomorrow for Coach Ditka, more education and activities!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

• 9:00 a.m. – Show floor opens
• 10:00 a.m. – Meet Da Coach Mike Ditka, one of only two people ever to win a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
• 2:00 p.m. – Watch a special edition of Superintendent Thousandaire featuring editors Larry Aylward, Golfdom; Seth Jones,Golf Course Management; and Pat Jones, Golf Course Industry.
• 3:30 p.m. – Watch Superintendent Thousandaire for your chance to win up to $1,000!
• All Day – Superintendents can enter to win a Spectrum® WatchDog Plant Disease Weather Station and fill out a quick survey for a chance to win an Apple iPod® Touch!

Get real-time updates on Twitter at @BASFTurf_us or search the hash tag #GIS10 to find related discussions.

Digital turf gadgets
Mobile phone applications can now help turfgrass pros conveniently access tools that streamline their work. Get up to speed on the turf tech tools making waves:
- Golf Course Industry “Mobile Mileage
- From the Desk of GCM Blog
- iTurf Apps and Tech by William Brown, CGCS
Not familiar with mobile device functions? Visit the GIS Test Drive Technology Booth – Presented by GCSAA, NGCOA and CMAA
According to the Golf Industry Show Web site, “This lab on the show floor offers you and your team the opportunity to experience the newest technology solutions in the industry and “test drive” state-of-the-art hardware and software ranging from iPhone® applications to Panasonic Toughbooks®. The solutions you find here are intended to help you more effectively and successfully manage all aspects of your business.”

Visit our BASF 2010 Golf Industry Show booth 3039 during show hours Feb.10-11 to speak one-on-one with our turfgrass technical specialists. From challenging weather or moisture, to infesting nutsedge and dollar spot disease resistance—our technical specialists want to discuss what’s ailing your turf and offer advice and solutions. Stop by the booth to ask questions and chat about what our technical team is seeing at golf courses nationwide.

Meet Todd Burkdoll, Technical Specialist – Western U.S.
Since 2001, Burkdoll has provided technical support and training for BASF. He develops pest management programs for superintendents and growers, while seeking new market opportunities for BASF’s product portfolio through trial research. Burkdoll holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Plant Science from California State University-Fresno. Burkdoll is a licensed State of California Pest Control Advisor and Qualified applicator. Todd is one of the best in the business, but I am a bit biased because he supports my customers on the West Coast.

Meet Kyle Miller, Senior Technical Specialist – Northeast and Midwest U.S.
With more than 25 years in the turf industry, Miller develops market opportunities for new and existing BASF products through university and end-user trials. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science degree from Auburn University, both in Turfgrass Science. Kyle knows his turf; if he cannot help you no one can.

Meet Kathie Kalmowitz, Ph.D., Technical Specialist – Southern U.S.
Dr. Kalmowitz has been providing turf and ornamentals technical support in the South, from North Carolina to New Mexico, since 2003. She is involved in local research projects, with university and industry consultants, as they address regional uses and help provide the technical fit of BASF Turf & Ornamentals products across these regions.

Kalmowitz received her master’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Clemson University for research on Phytophthora/weed control in container nursery production. She holds a Ph.D. in Horticultural Science from North Carolina State University for research on Poa annua control in golf course turfgrass using the pathogen Xanthomonas compestris. Kathie is an expert in plant pathology and weed science, she’s got it all covered for you.

View our full BASF Booth Schedule here and get real-time Twitter updates at @BASFTurf_us.

When asked what they make in a U.S. Open, he said it depends on the agreement with the course. He also said that they earned approximately $50 million in revenues from the Torrey Pines tournament event. The U.S. Open is the USGA’s main money maker of the year.

Torrey Pines talks about preparing for 2008 U.S. Open golf tournament and turf care
John Maddern (formerly of FarmLinks), the Director of Golf for Torrey Pines gave a talk on preparing for the 2008 U.S. Open. It was a three year process converting greens to Poa annua and fairways and roughs to kikuyugrass. Insignia® fungicide is still in the rotation and they are also using Drive™ herbicide. During the Open, they were required to keep the greens with a Stimpmeter reading of 13 throughout the day. Pretty impressive for 100 percent Poa annua greens in So Cal.

Their mixture of generic glyphosate and Scythe was failing to show any weed control results. Postemergent weed control was so bad, they started purchasing a Ready To Use Roundup/Contact herbicide from Home Depot. Not only is this completely illegal for them to use, it was also costing them “an arm and a leg.” The PCO wanted to know about mixing ratios, compatibility and anything else that could be causing the weed control failure.
He wasn’t able to get answers from the generic supplier. At this point in time, the small increase in price he would have paid for the Roundup seemed like a pretty good deal. He was dealing with a significant number of callbacks.

What value do you receive when dealing with a branded product manufacturer like BASF and others?
*Local sales support
*Local technical support
*Consistent formulations and packaging
*Support and reinvestment in the industry
*Support of University and private research programs
*Support of branded products assists basic manufacturers in developing new and innovative products.

Landscape mulch benefits from Pendulum AquaCap herbicide application
Landscape managers in California and across the country can apply Pendulum AquaCap herbicide over the top of mulched areas for preemergent control of a wide variety of broadleaf and grassy weeds. Generally, after a couple years, most mulched areas start to get weed breakthrough. Because of its unique microencapsulated formulation, Pendulum AquaCap easily moves through the mulch barrier down to the soil to form an effective control zone.

LA may see more grass and weeds on streets as gas prices affect DOT maintenance budgets
I just read today in the LA Times that due to the rising gasoline prices, California may suffer a big reduction in its federal highway construction and repair funds. Because people are purchasing less gasoline, there are fewer tax dollars going to this fund which supports 30 percent of many state projects. This is having an impact on weed control budgets for many state DOTs.