BASF Turf Talk

Spread the Word

tbucci1 — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:30:51 +0000

At BASF Turf & Ornamentals we want to be the first choice of turf professionals across the U.S. Part of that means a sharp focus on what customers want in new products and delivering solutions that fulfill their unmet needs.

Today, identifying those needs can sometimes be clouded by noise from special interests for “green” or organic products. The appeal of these products is usually tied to the notion that they are better for the environment. Manufactured pesticides are thought by many to be harmful and their benefits somehow artificial.

After all, alternative “non-chemical” treatments must be better. If it’s “organic” that means the turf has been grown and kept healthy naturally, without the aid of pesticides, right?

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Poole Side with McGee Poole

mpoole1 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:25:08 +0000

My Territory is seeing everything from low humidity to severe storms and flooding
The last few weeks have been somewhat typical for June. It has dried out as fast as it was too wet. A weather pattern of low humidity along with some windy conditions dried things in the lower part of my territory. Unfortunately, Indianapolis and areas south of Indy were hit hard by storms that led to severe flooding. At least one golf course superintendent we know of around Columbus, Ind., lost everything in his home.

Tough golf times make it challenging to spend coin on mild turf diseases
Disease pressure on fairways has been limited to dollar spot and the severity is low to moderate. Greens have seen other disease pressure such as anthracnose, summer patch, waitea patch, and other secondary diseases. Altogether, there is a feeling of very tough times in the golf business.
Most golf course superintendents are really pushing spray intervals, using less preventative sprays, and overall taking a good hard look at their input costs. Of course, there are exceptions.

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John’s Red Sox Nation Recap

jbresnahan1 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:36:48 +0000

Boston Sports are on top of the World
Top-of-the-morn’in from the CITY OF CHAMPIONS!!! Yes that’s right another Boston team has won a World Championship! Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics—and yes—the Red Sox are in first place again with the Evil Empire (Yankees) taking the year off. And this Championship run started at the same time I joined BASF… we are living the dream in the city of champions.

University of Massachusetts Field Day—presents turf research findings

The UMASS Field Day was an educational experience that featured new research findings about disease resistance in turf.

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Robby’s Run Down

rmarionneaux1 — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:15:28 +0000

FarmLinks helps build rapport between golf course supers and assistant supers
I spent the entire week of June 9th to the 13th at FarmLinks with my counter part from Texas…Mr. Travis Klosterboer.

As always the golf course superintendents in attendance were blown away with the Experience. We definitely are building strong relationships with those who come to FarmLinks—golf course superintendents really enjoy talking and learning about turf from our own BASF’s on-site staffer Brian Thompson. He’s experience and knowledge as a former super, makes him a great resource for customers. I opted to bring in a few assistant golf course superintendents from a couple of high-end courses. From the golf course superintendents’ standpoint, it gives them an opportunity to reward and train their guys. I really enjoyed my time with these up and coming assistant supers.

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Turf bloggers add value to industry Web resources

hmueller1 — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:23:23 +0000

Social media is growing in the green industry. As climate conditions change, pests spread and restrictions on water use and chemical applications ensue, industry professionals are increasingly seeking information and advice from their peers through personal blog forums.

A recent post by Scott Hollister on “From the Desk of GCM,” the official blog of GCSAA’s Golf Course Management magazine, names four golf course superintendents who are using a Web page to vent about daily pest control challenges, discuss course maintenance schedules, convey weather reports and describe “a day in their life” to industry peers (and in some cases club members).

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Down on the Farm with Brian

bthompson1 — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:21:34 +0000

After a month of being on-site here at FarmLinks, I’m happy to post my first entry on the BASF Turf Talk blog! These are exciting times here at FarmLinks…

Building on their reputation of offering a one of a kind, first class educational experience for golf course superintendents and turf managers alike, FarmLinks is stepping into the future with the construction of a state of the art Educational Pavilion and FarmLinks Headquarters.

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Turf Time with Ted

thuhn1 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:06:56 +0000

Preventative sprays influence summer disease severity in turf grass
Spring has been very nice to the golf course superintendents this 2008 season. We are having a record wet and cool spring. Supers have told me and turf product distributors too, that they have missed a dollar spot spray this spring. Some are bragging about their savings. My personal belief is that the 55 to 65 degree preventative sprays influence summer disease severity.

Application skippers don’t count your chickens just yet. These supers may become frantic in the very near future as 90 degree temperatures head our way in the coming weeks, combined with high soil moisture and very high humidity. I sure do wish I had air conditioning.

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Kropp’s Cut

mkropp1 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:11:21 +0000

Hi All. The last couple of weeks I have been on the road close to home with several trips fanning out to NV/Fresno/Visalia/North Coast areas.

Turf maintenance programs spring into preventative summer applications
Golf applications are right on schedule with temperatures in the mid seventies, humidity in the 20%, and nice cool evenings. Superintendents are having success with preventative sprays on their greens every 3 weeks.

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Poole Side with McGee Poole

mpoole1 — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:09:37 +0000

It seems official that we’re off to a somewhat slow start to Spring/Summer in my Midwest territory. Most superintendents waited until this last week in May to make their first fairway spray application—this is not quite as late as last year. The precipitation levels are above average for this time of year (for the most part). So, we may see normal amounts of disease pressure for pests like dollar spot.

Last year dollar spot outbreaks were slow coming as many approached drought-like conditions across most of the lower Midwest. Many superintendents were hand-watering and syringing greens in May. I’ve learned that spring in the Midwest is ever changing.

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Soup to Nuts with Campbell Cox

ccox1 — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:40:09 +0000

Just a quick recap of last week, the meetings in the Key’s were great. Everyone involved in the planning, execution, delivery did an amazing job. For proof, arguably one of the hardest working members of our team, Mr. Robert T. York, did in fact display he possesses another talent—that talent being Flats Fishing Guru. Please view the attached photo of his prize.

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