Opposite: Participants in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Women in Turf Program at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, sponsored by John Deere and in conjunction with the ASTMA, were (from left) Sally Benwell, Codi Long and Georgie Chandler
Beyond line marking, repairing divots and setting up the goals, the Women in Turf program extended to producing the grass for the matches. Chandler was part of the team at HG Turf involved in preparing the turf at a farm in rural Victoria and harvesting it before it was transported and laid at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in the lead-up to the World Cup. “It’s very satisfying being part of the team that delivered the turf for such a big international tournament,” says Chandler. “We used a hybrid turf made up of natural and synthetic grass, which gives a more consistently smooth surface to play on.” With her full-time role being in parks and gardens, the Women in Turf event was Long’s first exposure to sports turf management. “It was very different to my day-to-day, but a great learning experience to see everything that goes into preparing a world-class sporting field,” says Long. “I now have a network of women in the turf industry thanks to this program. I really enjoyed hearing their stories about how they’ve reached this point in their careers.”
NEW RYEGRASS VARIETIES ASTMA Bronze partner Advanced Seed has recently launched a couple of new ryegrass seed varieties into the Australian market – Sparkmaster and Sportsman Blend. A new turf type perennial ryegrass, Sparkmaster is a USA-developed variety bred for fast establishment and excellent winter activity. It is designed for high use areas in sportsfields and golf courses and is a perfect overseeding option. Sportsman is an economical blend of perennial ryegrass designed for broadacre application. Boasting a dark green colour, it is quick to germinate, has excellent winter activity and is ideal for overseeding warm-season grass. Sportsman Blend can be mowed as low as 10mm, however, the recommended mowing height in most applications is 25mm. For more information and to view the tech sheet for each of these new ryegrass varieties, visit www.adseed.com.au.
TURF ID GUIDE APP UPDATE ASTMA Silver Partner Envu has updated its comprehensive Turf ID Guide app which offers detailed insights into turf weeds, diseases and insects that occur in turf surfaces across Australia. Featuring high-resolution photographs that offer a
magnified perspective of each weed, disease and insect, the Turf ID Guide ensures quick and efficient identification, enabling users to take prompt and effective action in addressing turf issues. One of the unique features of the app, which is available for free download on both iOS and Android devices, is its personalised identification support. In situations where turf problems present challenges in identification, users can simply capture and email photographs directly to Envu, receiving personalised assistance tailored to their specific needs from Envu’s team of technical experts. Beyond identification, the Turf ID Guide offers expert advice on the situation, occurrence and treatment for each turf problem. Users also receive recommendations for Envu products, complete with active ingredient rates. While the app is specifically tailored for turf managers, including golf course superintendents, Envu expects general turf enthusiasts will also see benefit in the app. The app’s intuitive design and user-friendly features make it accessible to anyone seeking advanced insights into turf management. In addition to identification and advice, the app provides convenient links to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and product labels for turf products.
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DRONE DIAGNOSTIC I n dSERVICES e p e n d e n t , A n a l y t i c a ll , DPROJECT iagnostic and Consultancy Services MANAGEMENT AND AERIAL IMAGERY
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CONTACT THE AGCSATECH TEAM (03) 9548 8600 Senior agronomist - Bruce Macphee bruce@astma.com.au 0409 183 710
Agronomist - Tim Fankhauser tim@astma.com.au 0422 418 038
www.astma.com.au/agcsatech NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023
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