The BR 700 backpack blower is STIHL’s most powerful blower. The ideal blower for landscapers, municipal workers and stadium clean-up crews who would benefit from the extra power of the BR 700 to effectively gather up leaves, clippings and litter. It is equipped with the advanced STIHL 4-MIX TM engine to provide lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions. The ergonomic design of the BR 700 provides enhanced user comfort with a tool-less adjustable length blower tube and handle. The switch position on the control handle is conveniently always in the “on” position for a quick and simple start. The features of the BR 700 make it the superior choice for urban and rural areas that require heavy-duty clean-up.
• Increased blowing force - More cleaning capacity per hour
• Variable blower tube length - Simple and easy to adjust
• Tool-less handle position adjustment - Rapid adjustment to user requirements
• Simplified starting procedure - Automatic choke reset (choke lever returns automatically on accelerating)
• STIHL anti-vibration system - Low back vibration
• Lightweight - Physical strain reduced
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QUALITY AT WORK FOR OVER 90 YEARS.
For over 90 years, STIHL has been a world market leader and innovator in outdoor power equipment. German engineered products featuring the latest pioneering technologies make STIHL the preferred choice for professionals, consistently providing uncompromising quality. STIHL products are only available at independent STIHL Dealers who provide personal advice and expert service. Thank you for the continuous support and for making STIHL the brand you trust.
* “#1 Selling Brand in Canada” is based on an independent market share analysis of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment from 2016. Source: TraQline Canada.
Cover:
BMO Field in Toronto was a busy site in late fall and early winter.
Contents:
GTI’s new home 24
It’s been a long journey for the Guelph Turfgrass Institute in its quest to find a new home after learning its longtime location was slated for development.
Truck King Challenge 28
Pickup trucks representing various makes and models were recently put to the test to determine the best of the best.
Power of worms 31
Earthworms are the “employees” of an agri-business product that helps produce longer and thicker turfgrass roots.
Crumb rubber 35
A new study has determined that crumb rubber used as infill in synthetic turf sports field surfaces is not hazardous to one’s health.
Duffer
Irrigation
12 Our annual Irrigation Issue takes a look at a number of topics relevant to the use of water. Stories in this section include cloudcontrolled watering for turf and plants, slope irrigation and knowing when to upgrade a golf irrigation system.
Volume 30, Number 1 January/February 2017
Feature:
6
Toronto’s BMO Field was put to the test in the fall and early winter as the venue for three different major sports. In late November, it was the site for the CFL’s Grey Cup game. A few days later, Major League Soccer played its Eastern Conference final on the field, followed a short while later by its Cup final. Then, on New Year’s Day, an NHL game was played on a temporary sheet of ice atop the field.
Sports Turf
20
The City of Moncton, N.B. was put under the gun last summer when it was green-lighted as host venue for the Canadian Under 14 Soccer Championships, yet had fields that had been “beaten to death” the previous season. With little time to restore the fields to the desired condition, the city pulled off a major marvel.
THE METAMORPHOSIS OF BMO FIELD
www.turfandrec.com
EDITOR
Mike Jiggens
E-mail: mjiggens@annexweb.com
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Barb Adelt
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Barb Comer
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Bart Crandon
E-mail: bcrandon@annexweb.com
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E-mail: tmarkle@annexweb.com
PRESIDENT & CEO
Mike Fredericks
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We’re off and running with a new year—the 30th already for Turf & Recreation, if you can believe it.
Turf & Recreation begins its 30th year Editorial
The publication was founded in 1987 –owned and operated in Langley, B.C. – and made an immediate impact upon the professional turf and grounds maintenance industry in Canada. In 1994, Turf & Recreation began the second chapter of its existence when it was purchased by Bart Crandon of Delhi, Ont., who chose to relocate its offices to that part of southern Ontario.
A third chapter began only last September when Turf & Recreation was sold to Annex Business Media in Simcoe, Ont., the company which had been printing our magazine the past 22-plus years.
Noticeable changes to both the print edition and our website have already been quite apparent, especially on the digital side. Only a decade ago, our website was about as static as it got. It offered web surfers little in the way of new information and content. Some new life was injected into our website about seven years ago with a modern makeover, but, although it was a vast improvement over what had previously existed, it still wasn’t the be-all and end-all.
With this latest chapter in the life of Turf & Recreation having begun last fall, yet another website makeover was initiated. We’ve now reached the point where we want to be with new content added daily to a livelier, more eye-catching site.
We’re now down to our last couple of issues before our print publication undergoes a significant redesign. We have our own creative department here at Annex, and this pending new look promises to be exciting. I’m not even sure what these talented individuals have in mind, but I’m looking forward to this. We’re confident we’ll be delivering a product that will please our Canadian subscribers and provide a solid one-two punch with our already revamped website.
Now, for what’s inside our January/February issue: It’s our annual irrigation issue that features a selection of relevant topics of industry interest. Also featured is a story of the starring role Toronto’s BMO Field played the past several months and how head groundskeeper Robert Heggie has stayed on top of continually reconditioning the field for such high-profile events as the Grey Cup and the Major League Soccer final as well as getting it back in shape again following January’s outdoor Centennial Classic hockey game.
It’s no wonder he was selected by Sports Turf Canada as its sports turf manager of the year for 2015.
Here’s to another good year for Turf & Recreation with more yet to come.
Stay tuned for all sorts of new and exciting changes. -
Mike Jiggens
Hammering out big jobs over the long haul is what the G-Series Skid Steers and Compact Track Loader do best. That’s because proven and reliable E-Series components made it tough. And customer input made it even tougher. Available in two radial-lift skid steers, two vertical-lift skid steers, and a compact track loader, there’s a machine to knockout virtually every job. And all come easily transportable, in a compact package, to knock them out fast.
GREY CUP, MLS FINAL, CENTENNIAL CLASSIC LEAD TO CHALLENGING SEASON AT BMO FIELD
New Year’s hockey game requires a complete resodding of field in time for soccer opener
By Mike Jiggens
Robert Heggie was aware the 2016 season would prove to be a personal challenge.
With the Toronto Argonauts adopting BMO Field as their new home–sharing tenancy with Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC–the field’s head groundskeeper would face the ongoing task of preparing the playing surface for football, converting it over for soccer and returning it to football standards frequently throughout the season.
There were “growing pains” associated with this cyclical process, Heggie said, but he managed to rise to the occasion each time. The concurrent regular seasons for each of the Major League Soccer and Canadian Football League teams served as a dress rehearsal for Heggie and his staff as they prepared for the ultimate game each league had to offer.
BMO Field was selected as the site for the 104th Grey Cup game, at which the Ottawa Redblacks took on the Calgary Stampeders on Nov. 27. A mere three days later, the field was home to MLS’ Eastern
Conference final between the hometown FC and visiting Montreal Impact. Then, on Dec. 10, the MLS Cup game between Toronto and the Seattle Sounders FC was played at BMO Field.
Although those contests marked the end of play in 2016 for each of the Argos and FC, there was still one more event (two, really) yet to take place at the stadium only a few weeks from the end of the soccer season.
CENTENNIAL CLASSIC
On New Year’s Day, an outdoor hockey rink constructed atop the field served as the venue for the National Hockey League’s first annual Centennial Classic game, featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. A day earlier, the teams’ respective alumni squads faced off against one other in an exhibition contest.
Getting BMO Field back into soccer shape a mere three days after the conclusion of the Grey Cup game might have been considered child’s play compared to what was to lie ahead following the back-to-back
outdoor hockey games. It was hoped the necessary infrastructure required for the hockey games would be removed by about mid-January, at which point the existing turfgrass beneath would be written off.
Returning the adversely affected soil structure to standard was the first order of business for Heggie and his crew. Rototilling was required to achieve that goal to prepare it for a newly sodded surface in time for the FC’s 2017 home opener in early April. To accomplish that, sodding would have to begin by the latter half of February, Heggie said.
“They (Toronto FC) want to be out on their home field as soon as they can in 2017,” he said.
About 3½ acres of unrolled bluegrass sod from Greenhorizons Sod Farms is being stored in a rented greenhouse in Jordan, Ont. until conditions are right for sodding. Heggie said he was concerned about sodding in February because it can be an unpredictable month, but added, “Usually in February you’ll get a week of four degrees or five degrees (Celsius). Once we see that
BMO Field was in pristine condition for the MLS Cup game on Dec. 10.
week, we’re going to go all out to get it rolled up and brought down to BMO Field.”
Upon the new sod’s arrival at the stadium, an inflatable cover shipped from Europe will be deployed to provide the heat needed in February to root the sod and have the surface ready for play in time for early April.
“We won’t need to remove the grow cover to mow and spray and do everything we need to do,” Heggie said. “We just inflate it and go underneath it.”
He said the inflatable cover serves as a greenhouse, meaning the sod will essentially move from one greenhouse to another.
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, owner of both BMO Field and the FC franchise, is “very ambitious” in its quest to have the field newly sodded and ready for soccer in plenty of time before the soccer team’s 2017 home opener, he said.
“I don’t see why we can’t do it,” Heggie said, admitting there might be a minor “hiccup” or two experienced along the way.
BMO CREW HITS HOME RUN
In all, he suggested the 2016 season was a “worst case scenario” year. Knowing well ahead of time of the back-to-back championship events scheduled for late November and early December, and that 2016 also marked the Argonauts’ inaugural season at BMO Field, Heggie said he expected some “growing pains.” But, considering how effectively his staff dealt with the challenges, he believes they “hit it out of the park.”
Heggie said he has fielded calls from around the world, asking how he and his staff managed to achieve field conditions that were satisfactory to all parties in both sports.
He described the field conditions for the Grey Cup game as “next to perfect.” No other events were booked for the field for three weeks leading up to the championship game, ensuring such perfection. During those weeks, ample time was spent conditioning the turf beneath the Evergreen grow cover while grow lights did their job on top. The cover was removed every week to mow, spray, fertilize and seed where needed, “just nurturing the lawn like any greenkeeper would for three or four weeks leading up to that event.”
The final cut of the field made prior to the Sunday Grey Cup game was made the preceding Monday, at a height of 1¼ inches. Heggie
Robert Heggie (wearing scarf) and his crew at the field.
BMO Field as it looked on Nov. 27 (above photo) for the Grey Cup. Three days later, field conditions were restored in time for the Major League Soccer conference final.
said he figures the height by game day had risen to 1½ inches which, he reasoned, was beneficial in a couple of ways “to protect the crowns of the plant and give it (the field) a little more shock absorption for the football players.”
Heggie said the feedback he received afterward from the football players about the field conditions was largely positive. The Redblacks players said they loved the turf, but not all members of the Stampeders shared the sentiment. Some of the Calgary players weren’t impressed by the transition from natural to artificial turf in the end zones, claiming the synthetic surface led to slippery conditions that may have been a factor in the outcome of the game.
The negative feedback was simply a matter of “athletes being athletes,” Heggie said, adding that if things don’t go as planned for the players, they tend to blame it on poor conditions rather than a lack of athletic ability.
Some of the Stampeders, however, said they enjoyed playing on a natural surface and wished they could do so for every game.
“Only good things came out of the Grey Cup from the football players, really.”
The slightly longer turf served another important purpose.
“Because it was so long, you’re painting the top of the leaf blades and not the crown of the leaf blades. It made it a lot easier to remove the logos and some of the advertising.”
The field’s lines and logos used for football are painted with a product imported from Australia. Heggie said the paint is removed with relative ease by spraying it with a removal product, hosing it down and brushing the pigment away. The process does “rip out” the turfgrass blades a little bit, “but it’s the lesser of two evils.”
Although logos are commonly painted onto the field for football games, such corporate advertising is not permitted for Major League Soccer games.
Within an hour of the presentation of the Grey Cup to the victorious Ottawa Redblacks, work got underway to remove the gridiron and logos from the field. Paint removal began about 11 p.m. and was finished by about 9 a.m. on Monday.
GREY CUP ‘AGGRESSIVE’ TO FIELD CONDITIONS
Heggie said the Grey Cup game was perhaps the most aggressive contest he’s seen so far at BMO Field in terms of field wear from a single match. Unlike most games played in the National Football League, the majority of wear wasn’t concentrated down the centre of the field.
“It was just a lot of divoting here and there and all over the place.”
In spite of the narrow three-day window to restore the field to soccer standards, Heggie and his crew managed to successfully pull off the task.
“When you saw the field three days later, you couldn’t really pick out one spot on the field that was really destroyed. The worst part of the field was probably in front of the players’ benches where the team runs on and runs off.”
Most importantly, there were no outstanding playability or safety issues in the aftermath of the football game. Restoring the field to acceptable standards for soccer did not come without effort. Heggie said he and his crew worked around the clock, essentially going 33 straight hours with only a nap in between. He said he personally began working at 9 a.m. on the Sunday of the Grey Cup game and continued until 4 a.m. Monday, at which point he went home, slept four hours and returned to BMO Field to continue working until 9 p.m.
Paint removal was the aesthetic portion of the field’s transformation from football to soccer. The playability treatment was addressed next. The process included topdressing with a camera-appealing green sand and giving the turf a shot of quick-release foliar fertilizer “just to give it some life.” Grow lights were placed on the field
said he would have rated his team’s efforts to have the field soccer-ready with an A-plus grade. But, he said, a more realistic grade was B-plus, due only because of the late season limitations.
“For what we were against, no other groundskeeper could do any better, and when you have that limited light source
that was then topdressed, rolled, aerated and provided with a green pigment and fertilizer to mask any other imperfections. All that remained was mowing soccer lines and painting the field.
BMO Field’s sub-air system remained in operation throughout the process, heating the field to between 15 and 17 degrees Celsius, proving ideal for the Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass plants.
Heggie said that considering a Grey Cup game had been played only a few days earlier and that is was late in November, he
and with cool temperatures, there’s only so much you can do. Considering we had only a three-day turnaround, we hit it out of the park.
“It’s still not the perfect field. We’re not going to kid ourselves. We wish it could be better, but it’s November. We don’t make the schedule. We just try to do what we can with it.”
Unlike the 1½-inch mowing height for football, the playing height for soccer was pared back to three-quarters of an inch in time for the Eastern Conference final. The
field was actually mowed twice between the two contests—initially at 1.1 inches and finally at three-quarters.
Heggie confessed a lot of what he does isn’t considered to be “agronomically correct.”
“It’s about getting the game going and getting the show on the road.”
The Toronto area was blessed with reasonably good weather during the time the field was unused prior to the Grey Cup game. Leading up to the game, however, it rained almost daily, and the field wasn’t as dry as many were led to believe. Because of the rain, painting had to be done twice.
By the first weekend in December, temperatures dropped rapidly. Even with the aid of grow covers, a heating system and a limited amount of light, it was difficult to achieve much growth at that time of the year, Heggie said.
Early December snowfall was not an issue at BMO Field because the playing surface was tarp-covered daily and the field temperature was about 17 degrees. The tarp was placed Dec. 1 and removed Dec. 8. Team practices took place on Dec. 9, and the field was covered again overnight before the MLS Cup game on Dec. 10. -
BMO Field was converted into an outdoor hockey rink for the Centennial Classic on New Year’s Day.
Golf Distributors
AtlAntic Provinces
Irri Plus Inc. (902) 405-4774 Quebec Triad Solutions (514) 333-1315
Vanden Bussche Irrigation 1-800-263-4112
Consolidated Turf Equipment (204) 632-7643
Consolidated Turf Equipment (306) 653-5444
Consolidated Turf Equipment (403) 203-7550 or (780) 413-3173 british coluMbiA Corix Water Products 1-800-667-2445
CLOUDCONTROLLED WATERING FOR TURF AND PLANTS
Internet has allowed us to tap into modern technology for smarter irrigation
By Lorne Haveruk
Tr y to kill a plant and most survive. Why? Plants are intelligent. They have evolved to develop themselves with multiple modules, so Stefano Mancuso notes. These modules function together and, if damaged, the plant continues to function. The Internet functions with multiple computers, but if one is damaged the system continues. So do plants.
So, next time you are working with plants, be it millions of turf plants or a rose that you are caring for, watch what you say and do as the plants are sensing your actions and reactions.
How many of us like to go without water? We are told that we can survive two days without water and about a week without food. During a hot, intense sun, dry spell when the irrigation system breaks, or the watering ban is implemented, how do you think your plants will react? It’s well-known that they change colour, like us when we hold our breath, start to wilt, again like us when we begin to lose our strength at the end of a physically tough day, and go dormant, similar to us when we go to sleep. The difference is that when we finally do get replenished by drinking lots of water we survive and revive.
(604) 931-6565 (514) 820-6778
Do the plants? If they go long enough in extreme conditions, they may not. Weeds are tougher and can take over the space that a dormant or dying plant occupies.
Irrigation, utilizing the new advances in design, efficiency, application, and monitoring can achieve amazing results in the hands of a knowledgeable irrigator, and with far less water than has been required in the past. And this is a good
thing as we experience water restrictions, shortages, bylaws restricting consumption and full water bans due to limited supplies.
Once connected, SMRT provides a secure connection to your irrigation controller and landscape features with no need for Wi-Fi passwords. And it does not compete for bandwidth with other Wi-Fi devices on the same wireless network. Wireless communication to the irrigation controller and landscape features is achieved through a proprietary radio technology that can travel approximately three times farther than standard Wi-Fi-connected devices.
HYDRAWISE WI-FI CONNECTIVITY
• The Wi-Fi irrigation market is a new and fast growing sector in the irrigation industry.
• The ability of a controller to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi provides potentially exciting new functionality to traditional controllers.
• Abilities such as: monitoring, weather station information, alerts and notifications, remote access, homeowners, contractors, software/firmware upgrades
Visit rainbird.com/DefendYourTurf to watch a video about how top courses like The Club at Admirals Cove are getting more from their irrigation—and their turf. Follow us @RainBirdGolf
Rain Bird innovation gives The Club at Admirals Cove total control. When The Club at Admirals Cove decided to renovate in 2016, they chose the Rain Bird® IC System™ for its real-time diagnostics and single-head control. From running instant pass/fail tests and voltage checks to quickly controlling individual rotors from anywhere, they have the power to defend their turf with Rain Bird.
• These all provide the opportunity for customers to save water and hence money, as well as feel connected and informed about their irrigation system.
What does all this mean to those of us who work with water?
Control! Control from anywhere in the world at a low cost and high potential returns. How? You could be overseas sitting on a beach that has Wi-Fi connectivity and know what is going on at the sites you manage. This control was only available in the past through central irrigation control systems. I know because my firm was the first in Canada to offer private client connection to a central control network that was monitored and watered by the weather, not by time, as the
older, and still in use, water wasting irrigation controllers do.
The old controls systems are not much better than an alarm clock that wakes you up each morning. The new products that can be combined to form a superior operating system, that allows you to be aware of what the plants are doing is here now ready for you to adopt.
The Internet opened the world. Are you ready to jump in and take advantage of what might make you a wealthier person? The technology is now. It’s time for you to THINK outside the BOX and utilize your creativity to model your business for success. As always, if you are slow to the starting line, you may become obsolete to companies that already operate systems to water the plants and landscapes utilizing the Internet capabilities through products developed to control irrigation.
Lorne Haveruk, CLWM, CID, CIC, CLIA, CGIA, WCP, Principal, DH Water Management, educator and author, is one of Canada’s leading water resource consultants. DH Water is focused on all aspects of water resource management, educating those who manipulate water for outdoor uses. For educational offerings and other services, visit www.dhwatermgmt.com. To contact the author directly, email lorne@dhwatermgmt.com. Manu tends to a number of tasks as an employee of Watson’s, including construction work and such maintenance jobs as mowing, hedge trimming and tree planting.
Diagram shows how modern technology is an asset to irrigation. Courtesy of Hunter.
PITCHER’S MOUND ASSESSES NEW IRRIGATION PRODUCTS
Th e Irrigation Association’s version of ABC’s popular reality TV show “Shark Tank,” Pitcher’s Mound, debuted at the recent 2016 Irrigation Show and Education Conference. Pitcher’s Mound was designed as an avenue to help inventors, entrepreneurs and business people in the irrigation arena bring new products to market.
Six entrepreneurs each had 10 minutes to present his product to a panel of umpires, earning either a “home run,” “base hit” or “strikeout” based on how they felt the product would do on the market.
Though the all-star cast of umpires did not always agree on their perceived success of the product, the participants all acknowledged the constructive feedback as beneficial.
The umpires for the event included
Mike Mason, chief executive officer of Weathermatic and sponsor for the event; David Zoldoske, EdD, director of Center for Irrigation Technology at Fresno State University; Rob Sampson, national water management engineer for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Warren Thoma, president of Warren Thoma & Associates, LLC; and Greg Hunter, president of Hunter Industries and the new IA president.
According to Mason, this inaugural event was a “home run.” Mason has committed to a multi-year Pitcher’s Mound sponsorship. “The Pitcher’s Mound is a great source for acquiring technology or partnering with the brightest minds and talent in our industry,” he said.
Jeff Moskal kicked off the event with his presentation of the Evaluator Pro, a smartphone/tablet app specific for landscape and irrigation companies.
The Evaluator Pro allows users to create PDF proposals within seconds using irrigation-specific drop-down menus to generate proposals.
“The intent is to help a contractor go paperless and save time in responding to customers,” Moskal said.
Bret Berry and Bert Sacket teamed up for the second presentation of the day as they introduced the H20 Flow Pro, a wireless “smart” flow monitoring system that allows for real-time monitoring of water flow. This system learns the flow rate and can communicate with a controller interface to suspend irrigation for any station where excess flow is detected. The H20 Flow Pro allows real time data to be accessed via Wi-Fi with any connected device giving the irrigation manager information to make management deci sions.
Continued on page 38
REINTRODUCING THE ICC2 CONTROLLER. The ICC is back and packed with all the features you need, like increased station countup to 54 stations, four independent programs (any two can run simultaneously), and a large, easy-to-read backlit display. Like all Hunter controllers, the ICC2 is simple to install and program. And with its competitive pricing, the ICC2 will soon be your favorite for large residential and commercial projects.
ICC2 EXPANSION MODULE
Canadian Turf Distributors
Atlantic Provinces
Irri Plus Inc. (902) 405-4774
Quebec Triad
Ville St. Laurent, QC (1 location) (800) 567-2473
Central Irrigation Supply
Ville St. Laurent, QC (514) 788-5884
Atlantic Irrigation
Ville St. Laurent, QC (514) 913-6719
Ontario
Site One Landscape Supply
Concord, ON (4 locations) (800) 347-4272
Vanden Bussche Irrigation
Milton, ON (5 locations) (800) 263-4112
Central Irrigation Supply
Mississauga, ON (4 locations) (905) 795-8088
Atlantic Irrigation
Toronto, ON (416) 244-5551
Manitoba
Consolidated Supply
Winnipeg, MB (204) 632-7643
Site One Landscape Supply Winnipeg, MB (204) 694-9442
Saskatchewan
Consolidated Supply
Saskatoon, SK (306) 653-5444
Site One Landscape Supply Saskatoon, SK (306) 931-2440
Alberta Emco
Calgary, AB (403) 278-1470
Corix Water Products Calgary, AB (5 locations in AB) (800) 242-3176
Consolidated Supply Calgary, AB (403) 203-7550 Edmonton, AB (780) 413-3173
Site One Landscape Supply (2 locations in AB) (403) 236-0102
British Columbia
Consolidated Supply
Kelowna BC (1 location) (250) 863-8291
Corix Water Products Surrey, BC (11 locations in B.C.) (800) 667-2445
Site One Landscape Supply (4 locations in B.C.) (250) 544-0401
Van-Kel/EMCO Corporation (8 locations in BC) (800) 667-8825
Vancouver Irrigation Supply Vancouver, BC (604) 251-2258 (4 locations)
Rain Bird International Inc. www.rainbird.com/ca
Turf and other plants growing on a slope need special attention when it comes to irrigation. Applying water efficiently and effectively can be challenging.
DEALING WITH SLOPE IRRIGATION
Using too little or too much water will have profound impact on plant growth
Meeting plant requireme nts and managing irrigation systems can be a difficult task under normal circumstances. When slope plantings are involved, applying water efficiently and effectively can be extremely challenging. Too little water and plants won’t grow, and too much water and you’ve got other problems.
Several tactics can be utilized to help you deal with these ups and downs. Following are 10 design and product application tips for effective slope irrigation.
TIP #1: TO REDUCE RUNOFF, SELECT AN IRRIGATION TIMER THAT CONTROLS YOUR WATER APPLICATIONS.
Choose an irrigation timer with at least four start times per program. Determine how long a station can be on before runoff occurs. Divide the run time necessary to meet the plant water requirements by this factor. If necessary,
use each start time and reduce runoff that results from running valve stations too long. Better yet, use an advanced controller with a feature like Cycle+Soak™. This will allow the total irrigation run time to be simply split into usable cycles, and the application of water in intervals that the soil will easily accept.
TIP #2: USE MASTER VALVES AND FLOW SENSING EQUIPMENT AS AN INSURANCE POLICY.
It’s important to use a master valve when irrigating slopes. Strategically locate the master valve to reduce the length of constantly pressurized mainline around the slope, and before the zone valves. A normally closed master valve will supply a mainline with water only when a cycle is initiated from the controller. This equipment will reduce the time that a damaged sprinkler, a broken pipe, or a defective valve will have to wash away the landscape.
Continued on page 39
Photo courtesy of Rain Bird.
TAKE CONTROL
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KNOW WHEN TO UPGRADE AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Tendering for a project is best done during winter trade show
By Myron Love
For more than 25 years, Tim
Fredericks has been designing irrigation systems. On Friday, Nov. 18, the partner in Fredericks McGuire Ltd., based in Bolton, Ont., shared his experiences in the field with the members of the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association as one of a roster of speakers at the annual Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association annual general meeting.
“Over the past 20 years, there has been a lot of improvement in technology,” he said in his opening statement. “Often, though, what hasn’t change in irrigation systems is what’s currently underground. That is why a lot of golf courses need to upgrade their systems.”
How do you know if it is time to upgrade your system? Among the warning signs that Fredericks points out are pipe failures caused by excessive pressure or surges, fittings failing on a regular basis, poor splices or nicks that are leading to costly repairs, and wiring issues leading to loss of turf, to mention a few.
Fredericks’ presentation focused in turn on each of the components – pumps, fittings, pipes, valves, sprinkler heads and more – that make up an irrigation system.
“The first thing you need to do in designing a new irrigation system or upgrading your current system,” Fredericks noted, “is to identify your specific needs and criteria. How long do you want your system to last? That will determine what hardware you require.
“Do you want polyethylene piping or PVC? PVC joints have a longer life than polyethylene. High-density polyethylene is more effective in challenging terrains such as heavy soil, but there can be a lot more difficulties with polyethylene as the pipes age.”
If a sprinkler system is providing inadequate coverage, he suggests trying a two-headed sprinkler system for more efficient watering. One must also consider how much water is available and how long the system should run.
“The industry norm is six to eight hours at a time,” he said. “If you want to run more water in a shorter time period, you will need
season
larger pipes.”
Topography also has to be taken into consideration, Fredericks noted. Topography will affect water pressure, he pointed out.
“The ideal is 10 psi,” he said. “Depending on topography and at what level the piping is placed, you can gain or lose 10 pounds of pressure that can affect the efficiency of the system.”
The skill set of the golf course maintenance staff should also be taken into consideration when determining the choice of components in upgrading an irrigation system, he noted.
“It can make a difference in future costs if you have staff with the ability to do repairs on parts of the system as required,” he said.
Fredericks recommends that when designing an irrigation system, the superintendent price out the different components to help
meet his budget. He should also look for contractors with a lot of experience, especially in installing PVC piping.
The best time of year to tender an irrigation project, Fredericks said, is in the winter during golf shows.
“Only accept complete tenders and evaluate the tenders for experience and quality of previous work.
“Do not let prospective contractors know what your budget is,” he adds. “Do not let cost be the only criteria in contractor selection. Do not try to play contractors against each other. And do not use neighbouring clubs’ project costs as a guide.”
In terms of budgeting, Fredericks recommends getting unit costing for larger projects, and he warns against underestimating inflation and currency fluctuation. -
Sprinkler heads are only one component of an irrigation system. Others include pumps, fittings, pipes and valves.
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Moncton beats clock to have fields soccer-ready
Soccer Canada in awe over condition of natural fields used for national tournament
By Mike Jiggens
Often is the case when an individual does his best work when faced with the pressure of a deadline. Such was the circumstance in Moncton, N.B., last summer when four natural turf soccer fields needed to be whipped into shape in time for the Canadian Under 14 Soccer Championships played in October.
Gord Horsman, caretaker at Moncton’s CN Sportsplexe, site of the quartet of natural fields, said the playing surfaces were in dismal shape at the end of the 2015 season and were far from being in tournament condition when officials from Soccer Canada visited the city in mid-June.
“They had absolutely been beaten to death,” Horsman said, adding Field 3–the only one of the four equipped with lights–had been subjected to upwards of 800 hours of play from football, rugby and soccer heading into the new season. “It just got
beat to pieces.”
A senior official from Soccer Canada–the governing body for the championships–expressed grave concern that Horsman and his staff would be hard-pressed to have the fields ready in time for the tournament.
Conferring with his own limited staff and other city officials, Horsman said the only way he could address the issues related to Field 3 was to till the field under and start over. He hired Turf Masters, a contractor from Nova Scotia, to till the field as best as possible with a Blecavator, a British-manufactured machine that cultivates the ground by digging down between 10 and 18 centimetres, lifting and screening stones and other debris, burying the lifted material, raking the ground level, and compacting the soil with a rear packing roller.
The leveled field resembled “a parking lot” during the Soccer Canada visit in midJune, Horsman said.
Field 3 was then seeded with a 70-30 mix of Kentucky bluegrass/perennial ryegrass at a rate of 250 pounds per acre. Along with the other three fields, it was fertilized and aerated with time ticking away until the start of the Canadian championships.
’MOVING’ FIELDS PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY
An advantage of dealing with the other three fields was the flexibility they afforded in being “moved.” The permanent light fixtures on Field 3 allowed no such shifting, but the other sites provided some flexibility.
“With Fields 1 and 2, for example, there was enough space to give me the ability to jog the field way down to the east, and a month before the tournament I brought the nets and everything over to the west, away from all the wear areas.”
“Shifting” Fields 1, 2 and 4 allowed previous wear areas to be barely in play for the
Field 3 at Moncton’s CN Sportsplexe is the only field at the facility equipped with lights.
tournament’s regulation games.
“We were very limited with our space, so I had to pull a rabbit out of my hat because moving three soccer fields and getting them bang on with just a measuring tape has its challenges.”
To save both time and effort, Horsman asked a surveyor friend if he could help put in corners and points for the fields. Grade sticks were placed in each corner, penalty kick, and goalmouth and goal box areas using global positioning system (GPS) technology. Horsman said properly aligning the penalty kick areas was particularly challenging, but using GPS technology allowed measurements to come within three-quarters of an inch in accuracy.
‘Thedensity was fantastic. It grewinlikeyou wouldn’t believe.’
“What we did in three or four days would have taken me at least a week,” Horsman said of using a measuring tape as an alternative.
He said it was especially time consuming to move the fields into areas where there was no wear and have everything line up.
“You can well imagine what it would have been like with a measuring tape, trying to get these things squared.”
The city has “tinkered” with GPS in the past, he said, but mostly for grades and elevations on baseball diamonds. Adopting the technology for the pre-tournament soccer field preparations was something that came to mind suddenly. While Horsman placed grade stakes, his crew was right behind with string and paint.
“When Soccer Canada came to town, they couldn’t believe their eyes.”
An official with the organization told Horsman at the time of the tournament he was “concerned” during his June visit, skeptical the field preparation work wouldn’t be accomplished in time and to Soccer Canada’s specifications. For their efforts, Horsman and his crew were presented an award of merit in January from Soccer New Brunswick, the provincial arm of Soccer Canada.
Soccer Canada feared Horsman and his staff wouldn’t have the required turf density
established at the fields in time for the tournament. Determined to reach his goal, Horsman aerated three or four times prior to the event, coring with three-quarter-inch hollow tines.
“The density was fantastic. It just grew in like you wouldn’t believe.”
AERATING, FERTILIZING ASSURE CONSISTENCY
Horsman attributed the turf density to the amount of aerating and fertilizing done.
In the end, all four fields were consis -
tent. Each is sand-based and irrigated. Although they are not constructed with USGA sand, they are “very, very close to USGA,” Horsman said, adding they drain at 12 inches an hour.
“We have a very good, consistent product to work with which makes my job a lot easier.”
Ten or 11 tractor-trailer loads of sand were used to level the fields and get them consistent.
“I don’t fool around with sand anymore.
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We have good sand fields and don’t want to mess them up.”
Horsman said he has used inferior quality sand in the past and had bad experiences. Not wanting to take any chances, he opted for the better quality, albeit expensive, sand.
Bad weather wasn’t an issue during the tournament week, but one of the biggest challenges Horsman faced was addressing the wear areas of the fields that were still in play. It meant resodding the affected areas “which made me a little nervous.” Most of the worn areas were confined to the goalmouths.
Turf Masters was called in again to look after the sod work.
“They came in with their crew and laid the sod… bang, bang, bang. They were done in a day with all the goalmouths. That was the biggest concern. Do I have enough time to make the grass grow or do I just dig it up and sod it?”
A decision was made to pursue the latter approach.
Soccer Canada dictated the mowing height for the fields during competition. Horsman no longer has any reel mowers in his fleet of equipment yet achieved a desired 1½ inches using rotary mowers.
“They were very happy with an inch and a half.”
Each of the four fields at the CN Sportsplexe measured 60 metres by 100 metres and shared consistent turf density. Also used during the Thursday-to-Monday
competition were the city’s artificial fields as well as the stadium field at the University of Moncton where the finals were played.
DIVOT MIX COVERS IMPERFECTIONS
Three to four games per field were played each day of the tournament. Buckets of divot mix featuring dyed green sand were placed at each bench. If a divot was spotted that wasn’t to the liking of the game referee, the sandseed mix was used to cover the imperfection.
Among the feedback Horsman received from a Soccer Canada official was that the Moncton fields were some of the best he experienced in 25 years.
“He was very, very generous with his compliments.”
Horsman worked with a limited staff due to budget cuts, but he praised their work ethic in getting the job done.
“We were lean and mean and we got it done.”
Horsman will be working on a pilot project
for skinned infields on ball diamonds during the upcoming season. He found an irrigation cannon that shoots upwards of 100 feet that he plans to install on the infields.
“That means I can do my skinned infields in five minutes, by myself with the push of a button, rather than three guys with a hose out there trying to fight the dust.”
He said the problem with skinned infields is that they are high in maintenance, citing the wind and dust can wreak havoc. The diamonds at the complex are situated in an open area and are subject to high winds.
“Sometimes you can’t see one field from the other because of the wind and the dust. The only way to fix it is with water. There’s no other way.”
Horsman found the ideal irrigation head, but didn’t have the time to install it in 2016.
“We have all the parts and all the materials, and in the spring the first thing we’re going to do is go out and put one of the heads behind the mound so it won’t be in play and there’s no danger in tripping over it.”
He expects the infields will be wetted down to the point where they are playable. Adding a conditioner to his infield mix along with water should require about five minutes’ time every hour or after every game.
“I’m really hoping it works because if it does work, it’s going to be the cat’s meow. I can stand at the shop, push a button, five minutes later off she goes, and away they go and play.” -
Aggressive aerating and topdressing helped achieve the desired turf density at the CN Sportsplexe soccer fields.
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NEW GTI TO BE BIGGER, BETTER, MORE ACCESSIBLE
Work underway for new research facility at University of Guelph
The Guelph Turfgrass Institute (GTI), a recognized worldclass hub for turfgrass education, research, extension and professional development, will soon have a new home on the University of Guelph campus.
The GTI is the only of its kind in Canada, officially established by the senate of the University of Guelph in 1987 as a partnership between the Ontario government, the university and the private sector. The GTI was built on the Guelph Research Station, owned by the Province of Ontario, and the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation enabled the current GTI facility to become a reality with the sod-turning ceremony for the current facility happening in 1991. The G.M. Frost Research and Information Centre was completed in 1993 as a focal point for the research station. The building was named
in honour of Mac and Beth Frost, who spearheaded fundraising with a significant donation to the project.
The mandate of the GTI is to conduct research, provide education, and deliver information on turfgrass production and management to members of the Canadian turfgrass industry. The current GTI is a partnership between the University of Guelph, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and various groups within the turfgrass industry.
The GTI is home to the University of Guelph’s annual turf manager’s short course, and is used for many associate diploma-inturfgrass management activities and functions.
The GTI is also home to three professional associations—the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation (OTRF), the Ontario Golf Superintendents’ Association (OGSA) and Sports Turf Canada (STC). These long-
standing and important relationships will continue to be maintained moving forward, and the new GTI will continue to provide a home for its association partners.
A NEW LOCATION FOR THE GTI
The Province of Ontario owns the Guelph Research Station, the current location of the GTI. With its lease expiring, and the City of Guelph re-zoning the land for development, the government has identified the land for development. To enable this, the province is supporting moving the GTI and the other research being conducted at the Guelph Research Station to new locations.
The new GTI will be located on University of Guelph land, at the northwest corner of the arboretum property, adjacent to the golf course at Cutten Fields. In addition, some land will also be developed at the Elora Research Station for large-scale GTI projects.
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FUNDING FOR THE MOVE
The Ontario government has committed substantive funds for the project and is following a matching model it has used for other recent University of Guelph infrastructure projects, requiring 20 per cent matching funds for the project. A fundraising committee has been created, and a campaign to raise the 20 per cent matching funds (cash and in-kind) has commenced.
Close to 30 years ago, turfgrass industry leaders raised funds to establish the existing GTI. Since that time, the GTI has helped to establish the University of Guelph as a globally recognized turfgrass research centre and has supported the turfgrass industry through
graduate student and service research discoveries, outreach, education, professional development and turfgrass information. The requirement to move the GTI is an opportunity to re-vision the infrastructure requirements and to build a GTI 2.0. The vision for the new GTI is to build a research, teaching and outreach facility that will continue to enable the University of Guelph to be a globally recognized centre for turfgrass research and expertise.
The new GTI will be a bigger, better and a more accessible hub for turfgrass innovation, with direct benefits to the turfgrass industry. Service research studies are important components of the research program at GTI, with
Conceptual rendering of the future Frost Centre that will house classrooms, a research laboratory and associated offices on the lower level of the building. Partner association offices, GTI offices, flex use/break-out space and the boardroom are located on the upper level in the conceptual plans.
emphasis on testing sustainable, lower-risk alternative products and providing information on tools for turf managers as its benchmark. The new grounds and buildings will also showcase innovations in turfgrass and urban landscape industries to educate both students and the general public. The current fundraising effort will evolve the GTI to a new level of excellence.
THE NEW GTI AND G.M. FROST CENTRE
Site plans have been developed with input from turfgrass researchers and industry partners, and development and research plot construction has already begun. The site plan includes a new G.M. Frost Centre, a turf maintenance facility, turfgrass research plots and greens, trial gardens, an irrigation pond and two storm water retention ponds.
The project has been broken into two phases:
• Research plot construction
• Frost Centre construction, maintenance facility construction, parking area construction and landscape finishing
Phase one is active and progressing well. Site development for phase one began in late September 2016 with site surveying and installation of silt and tree protection fencing. By the end of October, earthmoving operations were well under way to facilitate grading, drainage installation and research plot construction.
Due to the excellent construction weather in late fall, at the time of writing this update (mid-December) major earthmoving operations were near completion, and drainage installation in the greens research areas and preliminary shaping and excavation of the irrigation pond area had commenced.
The research plot construction process is scheduled to be completed in spring 2017 with seeding and turf grow-in maintenance to follow.
Phase two has entered the planning process with the trajectory to achieve municipal approvals in 2017. Groundbreaking on the new G.M. Frost Centre building and maintenance facility are scheduled to follow pending municipal approvals.
The proposed Frost Centre building will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED) certified and feature many advanced green building technologies. Green technologies such as green roofs, rainwater harvesting, ecologically friendly building
Drainage installation in one of the green research areas. The golf course at Cutten Fields can be seen in the background.
materials and associated features will be prevalent in the new facilities.
HELPING BUILD THE NEW FROST CENTRE
In recognition of the Frost family-founding donation, the new facility will also bear the G.M. Frost Centre name. However, a full range of other prominent naming opportunities are available both in the new Frost Centre and outdoor research areas. The new Frost Centre will feature two technological ly advanced classrooms, a larger research laboratory and student office space, a stateof-the-art boardroom for industry meetings, and enhanced partner association offices. The new facility will also be in close proximity to University of Guelph main campus, enhanc ing overall accessibility for students and turfgrass events.
Several lead donors have already lent their support to the project, including the Ray and Shelley Chyc Family Foundation, Landscape Ontario, Marc Vanden Bussche of Vanden Bussche Irrigation & Equipment, Bayer CropScience, the DeCorso Family from Victoria Park East and Victoria Park Valley, and Turf Care Products Canada.
“These individuals and industry partners have generously supported the GTI vision without hesitation,” said Dr. Rene Van Acker, dean of the Ontario Agricultural College. “We are very grateful for their commitment to the future and for the momentum they’ve created for the project.”
Individuals and industry members inter ested in supporting the new GTI and Frost Centre are encouraged to consider making a donation to the effort. A number of different levels of giving are possible, and every dona tion is considered important as the facility moves forward into this new era.
Giving levels:
• Leader: $200,000+
• Patron: $100,000-199,000
• Supporter: $25,000-$99,000
• Sponsor: $10,000-24,999
• Friend: up to $9,999
“Support what will become a new stan dard of excellence in Canada, and see your giving go farther,” the GTI fundraising team states. “Gifts of all sizes are powerful as the University of Guelph works within the Gov ernment of Ontario’s 80:20 matching funding formula. For example, a donation of $10,000 becomes a donation of $50,000. Every dona tion is important in helping reach the $3
million fundraising goal. All donations can be pledged over a period of time in order to support the GTI and the research, outreach and education it provides to students and the industry.”
For more information, contact any of the following:
• Primary fundraising team: Doug Hubble, fundraising chair, (519) 546-0903; Rene Van Acker, dean, OAC, (519) 824-4120 x 53533 or vanacker@uoguelph.ca.
Additional fundraising team members
include Amy Atkinson, Ron Craig, David DeCorso, Shawn Hunter, Corey Janzen, Dr. Eric Lyons, Ron Schiedel, Dr. Clay Switzer and John Watson.
For general inquiries and to stay up to date on the fundraising campaign, project progress and GTI news, contact John Watson, GTI communications, at (519) 824-4120 x 52784 or watson01@uoguelph.ca
Progress can also be followed at guelphturfgrass.ca, facebook.com/GuelphTurf or twitter.com/GuelphTurf. -
The 2017 Canadian Truck King Challenge
Pickup trucks are put to the test in various challenges to determine their strengths and weaknesses
By Howard J. Elmer
The Canadian pickup truck market is huge. It caters to the multiple needs of work, institutional and personal trucks–sometimes all of them in one package. In fact, pickups that serve the workplace and family are becoming the norm–this fact alone makes choosing the right one simply that much more complex. Trying to offer buyers an unbiased perspective is one of the reasons that I started the Canadian Truck King Challenge 10 years ago. Since then, each year, my group of journalist judges continues to fulfill that original mandate: testing pickup trucks and vans the same way that owners use them.
This “real world” competition includes empty evaluations but more importantly testing while loaded and while towing. The judges are members of the Automobile Journalist Association of Canada; men and women who devote their entire year to driving, evaluating and writing about the Canadian automotive marketplace. Collectively, they brought more than 200 years of trucking experience to
this year’s testing while driving a combined total of almost 4,000 kilometres, over three long days.
This year judges travelled from Quebec in the east and British Columbia and Saskatchewan in the west to attend the event that takes place at a private 70-acre site in the Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario.
WHAT DID WE TEST?
Each year the market offers up different trucks; often depending on what’s new. However there are rarely more than two new trucks in a given year, so we also look to fill out each group to offer a decent sized comparison. This year we had a field of 11 2017 pickup trucks; falling into four classes: mid-size, full-size half-ton and full-size ¾-ton that were tested in the Kawarthas. The full-size one-ton trucks were tested in London, Ont. a few days later. No commercial vans were tested this year as there was not enough “new” from what we did last year.
THE TESTING METHOD:
Each judge drives every truck empty, then
with payload on board and finally towing a trailer over this same route, one after the other, back to back. Yes, it gets repetitive, but this is the best way to feel the differences between the trucks. Trucks are scored in 20 different categories; these scores are then averaged across the field of judges and converted to a percentage out of 100. Finally the “as tested” price of each vehicle is also weighted against the average price of the group (which adds or subtracts points) for the final outcome.
The route we use is called The Head River test loop. It’s a combination of public roads spread over 17 kilometres. It starts on gravel, moves to a secondary paved road and finally highway. Speed limits vary from 50 to 80 kilometres per hour, and the road climbs and drops off an escapement several times, giving good elevation changes–at its lowest point it crosses the Head River twice–hence the name.
Finally four-wheel-drive equipped trucks (which all our entries were) are driven on an internal off-road course built for that purpose at the IronWood test site.
This year the mid-size trucks carried
a payload of 500 pounds and towed 4,000 pounds. The full-size half-tons hauled payload of 1,000 pounds and towed 6,000 pounds; while the ¾-tons towed 10,000 pounds and also used 1,000 pounds for payload. We choose these loads by taking into consideration the owest manufacturer set limits among each group of entries. The weights we use never exceed those published limits.
For the one-ton trucks we changed locations to London, Ont. Here we have access to two partners who loan us the weight and trailers necessary to test the big pickups. Patene building supply and IKO let us use 4,000 pounds of singles for payload, while CanAm RV centre lets us tow 15,000-pound fifth-wheel travel trailers.
• Chevrolet Colorado - 2.8L Duramax turbo-diesel, 6-speed auto, 4WD, Crew Cab, Z71 trim
Price as tested: $44, 695
Between the two mid-size trucks, the Honda impressed the judges. As with anything new, it had an edge—while the Colorado diesel was a big splash when it debuted last year. However, it wasn’t just the new factor that pushed its score past that of the Colorado. The prior generation of Ridgeline was a niche, quirky truck that appealed to a select buyer–this time Ridgeline has moved closer to the mainstream while retaining some of its unique characterises. It did most everything (payload, towing, even off-road) well and still offered the most “car-like” ride. The judges rewarded Honda for a significant generational update. Toyota opted not to give us a Tacoma (which we did test last year), and the Nissan Frontier was also not offered, no doubt because it’s in the last year of its current cycle before a major upgrade.
• Toyota Tundra – 5.7L V8 gas, 6-speed auto, 4WD, Crew Cab, TRD Pro trim
Price as tested: $60,025
The full-size, half-ton category is the meat of the market. In Canada it makes up slightly less than 80 per cent of total pickup sales. As such it is one of the most competitively fought over among the builders, and for us at the challenge it’s a segment that we annually consider carefully, as in, what to test.
This year we came up with an idea that should appeal to this large group of buyers. We asked each of the manufacturers to give us one half-ton—the one that was its best seller—as in the most popular combination of body style, trim and powertrain. This way we’d test the trucks that Canadians buy most often.
Some, like the Nissan Titan, are all new. Others like the Chevy and Ram are midway through their current lifecycle. Toyota chose to give us an off-road version of its Tundra: the TRD Pro. This is the newest truck they had; not really the most often purchased. But
that was their choice to enter it. As you’d expect it did really well off-road. The other entries were exactly what we asked for. The Ram emerged as the judges’ choice for best all-round half-ton. However all the scores were close and the Chevy also did well.
Ford did not supply a test vehicle for the first time since 2006.
Ram 1500: final score of 79.4 per cent
Chevy Silverado 1500: final score of 76.7 per cent
• Chevrolet Silverado 2500 – 6.6L Duramax V8 turbo-diesel, 6-speed auto, 4WD, Crew Cab, LTZ trim
Price as tested: $82,560
In the ¾-ton category, note each of the
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trucks was diesel-powered. As these are the most common big haulers being bought by Canadians, we stressed them by towing 10,000 pounds of concrete. The judges made a point of saying that under load was when they really felt how the trucks behaved. The scoring here was close as each truck did well, however, the Ram 2500 with the Cummins 6.7L diesel did come out slightly ahead. What was more interesting was the Nissan HD tied with the HD Silverado.
The Titan XD is the lightest (GVWR) of the three trucks and has the lowest tow and payload limits. That is also reflected in its price, which elevated its overall score. These lower limits are not a disadvantage, though. If anything it means that the segment is growing and offering up more choices for consumers.
This was the first time we tested all new 5L Cummins diesel V8. Meanwhile it’s worth noting that Chevy’s veteran 6.6L Duramax diesel will be generationally updated next year.
Ram 2500: final score 77.0 per cent
Nissan Titan XD: final score 74.9 per cent
Chevy Silverado 2500: final score 74.9 per cent
FULL-SIZE – ONE-TON GROUP
• Chevrolet Silverado 3500 – 6.6L Duramax V8 turbo-diesel, 6-speed auto, 4WD, DRW, Crew Cab, High Country trim
For the one-ton trucks we had a field of two. Again, we missed having Ford, particularly because its 2017 Super Duty trucks are all new. However, we still performed a full field of tests on the Ram 3500 and Silverado 3500. After a full day of driving both trucks back to back, the judges awarded the win to the Chevy Silverado 3500. Both trucks worked well. The key difference that judges noted was ride-quality when towing. They preferred the Chevy.
Chevy Silverado 3500: final score 75.1 per cent
Ram 3500: final score 71.8 per cent
FUEL ECONOMY DATA:
For the fourth year in a row, we have contracted with MyCarma of Kitchener, Ont. to
collect and translate fuel economy data during the Challenge. Using data loggers plugged into the OBD readers of each truck, these results are as real world as it gets. The report gives the fuel consumption results for each condition during testing: empty runs, loaded results and even consumption while towing. The averages include each judge’s driving style, acceleration, braking and idling (we don’t shut the engines down during seat changes). The results are found here separately.
CONCLUSIONS:
It’s worth noting that all the trucks performed well, and as a group you’ll note how close all the scores are. If anything, this makes it tough for the judges to crown a winner because none of these trucks is “bad.” It also reflects on how fierce the competition is among the truck builders. Frankly, there are few segments where the profits per unit are higher, which compels them to bring their A game. This competition is good as it brings sharp, constant innovation. Consider Nissan. This year it’s a virtually new player in the market while others have brought significant improvements to powertrains. These changes give buyers an ever-widening range of choices. As for electronic conveniences and luxury appointments, the variety and range of content for 2017 continues to expand unabated.
The overall winner of the 10th annual Canadian Truck King Challenge, with the highest collective score of 79.4 per cent, is the 2017 Hemi-powered Ram 1500. -
THE POWER OF WORMS IN HELPING TURF ROOT DENSITY
Millions of worms are at the core of Worm Power’s success
An agri-business product developed a dozen years ago has already proven to grow healthier crops and produce a larger yield, and is now making a name for itself in the turfgrass world, specifically at golf courses.
Dr. Tom Herlihy, who has more than 20 years of experience in organic waste management, founded Worm Power in 2005. As the name suggests, it is the power of worms that drives the business and represents its key “employees.”
Jeff Corcoran, superintendent at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y., site of six PGA Tour major championships, has been using the vermicomposting product for a few years and swears by its propensity to increase root activity. He presented an account of his experiences with Worm Power in the fall at the 28th annual Professional Turfgrass Seminar in Waterloo, co-sponsored by Ontario Seed Company and Nutrite.
He presented a history of how the business came into being and spoke at length about how the product works. The Worm Power
(1-0-3) product used in turf is manufactured at a facility in Avon, N.Y., a short distance from Rochester. There, water-extracted bovine manure mixed with silage is composted in oxygenated bins for at least 40 days at sustained temperatures exceeding 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The composted material is layered into beds where millions of “red wiggler” type worms begin their work, digesting it and producing castings that, along with the wormworked original material, is harvested after six weeks and extracted as a liquid.
Countless microbes in the worm castings
1. Plant Nutrition:
• Enhanced availability of plant nutrients: Unlocks the available nutrient potential in the soil and makes it plant available
• A viable source of macro and micro-nutrients
2. Enhanced Efficiency of Water Use:
• Increases water holding capacity of the soil, reducing irrigation frequency and increasing stress tolerance during harsh conditions
• Surface runoff will not contaminate water supply
3. Soil Inoculation:
• Delivers robust and diverse microbial populations
• Enhances soil fertility, by fostering the development of complementary soil micro-organisms
and worm-worked material begin to consume nitrogen when the product is introduced to soil, producing a plant-favourable material that promotes growth and health. In addition to the microbes, Worm Power contains fulvic acid, humic acid, micronutrients and a trace of plant growth hormones.
The water extracted from the manure is stored in a lagoon at a nearby farm and is used to fertilize its crops.
Worm Power helped solve an ecological problem that had developed in that part of New York. Dairy farmers were unsure what to do with the immense quantities of manure their livestock generated. Typically, waste was put out on the field, but there were concerns about its impact on water quality.
All materials used in the production of Worm Power are stored under cover and blended with large agricultural equipment to a specific “recipe” at a rate of 33,000 pounds a day. Corcoran said consistent mixes produce consistent final products.
“That’s the big thing about Worm Power, is making sure the product is consistent every single day.”
The consistency is attributed to the fact the manure-producing cows consume the same feed each day, leading to a more uniform manure product.
Corcoran first visited the Worm Power facilities about eight years ago to learn more about the product. He said it performed well in trials conducted by Cornell University researchers in Ithaca, N.Y., adding he thought it could be used as an aerification amendment.
An extract of Worm Power, similar to a “tea,” was developed a few years later. The extract is like a tea bag seeped in water at a certain temperature. Originally a granular product, he said it is a stable material that he has tested up to 120 degrees and has frozen in a block of ice and then reheated and reused.
Corcoran said he started using the Worm Power product at Oak Hill’s east course, and
4. The Role ofHumic Acid:
• High content: More than 5% by weight
• Makes nutrient delivery more efficient over an extended period
5. Effective Bio-Stimulant:
• Accelerated root initiation, establishment and development
• Encourages pore development in native soils and nutrient uptake
6. Soil Disease and Pest Suppression:
• On-going tests show a potential mode of action interferes with pathogens’ access to plant roots
• Foliar spray shows anecdotal evidence for mildew and fungal suppression, and reduction in insect damage
noticed significantly longer turfgrass roots in July at a time of year when roots are traditionally much shorter.
He said he could clearly see the difference in root density and length with the use of Worm Power than that of control. The increase in both density and length helps promote drought tolerance.
Recommended Worm Power application rates for turf are:
• Golf course tees and greens: a bi-weekly application throughout the season, starting two weeks after core aeration at a rate of eight ounces per 1,000 square feet as a soil spray.
• Golf course fairways’ repair or renovation: apply monthly as a soil spray starting 45 days after emergence at a rate of 16 ounces per 1,000 square feet.
• Sports turf: apply monthly through the growing season at a rate of 16 ounces per 1,000 square feet.
• Commercial lawns: apply at the same rate and frequency as sports turf.
Among its benefits, he said, include improved stress tolerance–the turf can withstand the pressure from the pest itself–and improved vigour. When used on greens, they are firmer, drier and more playable, and the plant is more efficient.
In addition to increasing root density and depth, thatch is reduced with Worm Power use while water-holding capacity is increased.
Germination, soil structure and soil nutrient availability are improved. There is reduced transplant shock and timely nutrient release to prevent fertilizer burn. It is easy to spread, safe to handle and is odourless.
One part Worm Power can be used with eight parts sand and one part diatomaceous earth to form a divot mix, and can be mixed with sand in a 9:1 ratio for use in topdressing following core aeration.
The vermicomposting product is sold in North America by Aqua-Aid. -
The art of mowing a baseball field
Mowing patterns contest winner outlines how to achieve the right design
By Britt Barry
This December, my crew and I were honoured by being named the 2016 Sports Turf Managers Association’s “Mowing Patterns Contest” winner for our opening day mowing pattern at Fifth Third Field, home to the Dayton Dragons (Class A affiliate, Cincinnati Reds).
A lot of planning and work goes into designing an intricate mowing pattern, but having a dedicated crew willing to put in the time and get the details correct is the biggest factor. Similar to field quality, the “last 5 per cent” is what really makes the pattern. Straight lines, different line sizes, defined corners and spacing all help to make the pattern “pop.” Having our crew dedicated to doing the best job possible is what helps to make the patterns so great. When laying out this particular pattern,
we started mowing our field both straight ahead (centre field to home) and side to side (foul pole to foul pole). This transformed our outfield into a grid to help lay out the logo. We then took our logo and stretched it vertically by one third. This helps to account for the lower line of site from the stands and makes the logo look normal instead of short and compressed.
Using the expanded logo, we measured and added a grid to the printout and began to use irrigation flags on the field, placing them where the logo meets the grid on paper. The grid system can be a bit confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, the project goes quickly and effectively, keeping the exact shape and showing the details of the original logo. Once the flags are down on the field, we used a walk-behind greens mower to burn in the
The winning field of Britt Barry: Fifth Third Field, home of the Dayton Dragons.
edges and small areas, and our triplex mower for the larger areas. You may also use a broom for definition in tight areas, or even a hose to help lay the turf down in the direction needed.
Once the logo was defined, we started on the rest of the field, using the walk-behind mower to showcase the logo and then working into the triplex lines for the checkerboard pattern.
It takes time to mow a pattern, so don’t expect instant results after going over it once or twice. The first couple times mowing, you’re just looking to get it close. The lines should be correct in the starting and finishing spots, but don’t necessarily have to be laser straight the first pass. They will straighten up and fade in after a couple times over it, so don’t worry about making it perfect the first time. You also want to make sure not to go overboard and push the grass to the point that it can’t recover.
Take a few days to dial in your new pattern and don’t rush it. You will also need to switch up your mowing patterns over time. We try to mow two directions with each pattern, so we’re not going the same direction each day. To mow out a pattern, just mow it the same way you normally would, except in the opposite direction. This helps the plant blades to stand up straight and removes the pattern.
Mowing patterns can help to make a field stand out and serve as a great tool to promote your playing surface. As important as aesthetics are to playing surfaces, playability should always come first. Mowing patterns that are intricate and time consuming are fun to do, and even better to look at when finished, but should never be a priority over field safety and playability. Most importantly, have fun with it, share it and appreciate your hard work. Your fans surely will! -
Britt Barry’s turf management career began at the parks and recreation department in his hometown of Montpelier, Ohio as a summer employee. As a 2011 graduate of Wilmington College in Ohio, he majored in agriculture with a concentration in agronomy. While in college, he worked on the campus grounds crew, interned for Hyde Park Country Club in Cincinnati, the Brooklyn Cyclones and the New York Mets. After college, he was the assistant groundskeeper with the Dayton Dragons before taking over the head groundskeeper position for the Lexington Legends. Barry is now entering his fourth year as sports turf manager with the Dragons. He enjoys watching baseball, basketball, football and NASCAR.
New Products
WIRELESS LANDSCAPE CONTROL HAS VAST RANGE
The Toro Company’s irrigation division has introduced a new web-enabled, smart controller platform. The SMRT Logic works with the SMRTscape app to enable mobile wireless control of irrigation systems, outdoor lighting and other applications by using a smart phone, tablet or PC.
The technology allows for one innovation to meet contractors’ needs for mobile landscape control. The SMRT Logic device is plugged in and syncs with the cloud-based SMRTscape app. The technology allows the device to operate at ranges up to three times greater than other Wi-Fi irrigation systems. The SMRT Logic doesn’t tap into a homeowner’s Wi-Fi network. A contractor can operate the system on a homeowner’s behalf while the owner’s network remains secure.
The SMRT Logic works with such systems as the Toro Evolution, TMC-424, TMC-212, Custom Command Controllers, Irritrol Kwik Dial, Rain Dial and Total Control.
One account on SMRTscape can control up to 10 different locations with multiple irrigation and landscape control devices at each location.
The SMRTscape companion is available for free for Android and iOS devices at www.SMRTscape.com.
Britt Barry, left, and assistant turf manager Brandon Moravec at the Fifth Third Field.
DUTCH STUDY FINDS CRUMB RUBBER HEALTH FEARS UNFOUNDED
Industry groups pressure EPA to reach same conclusions
In spite of a recent study from the Netherlands that fears associating synthetic turf’s crumb rubber infill with health concerns in unfounded, the artificial turf industry in the United States has called upon the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to step up its own findings and concur with the Dutch analysis.
Both the Safe Fields Alliance and the Synthetic Turf Council wish to obtain answers soon so that parents and policy makers can be properly informed about the safety of synthetic turf fields and its crumb rubber infill.
For years, the safety of crumb rubber has been questioned. A typical artificial sports field’s infill is made up of the ground rubber from about 20,000 tires.
An Italian study conducted in 2014, for which nine synthetic turf fields were examined, found that children in crucial growth stages might be exposed to toxic chemicals when materials evaporated at high temperatures. The release of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons continuously occurs, rendering the turf unsafe for public health, the study stated.
In 2010, the Atlanta-based Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry determined the level of lead in turf fibre material, taken from samples collected from synthetic fields, exceeded the limit for children’s consumer products. It concluded that dust from deteriorating synthetic turf contains sufficient amounts of lead to pose a health risk among children.
ABOVE: The safety of crumb rubber infill for synthetic turf sports fields has been debated for years, but a recent Dutch study has found there are no significant health concerns associated with the product.
A joint initiative of the EPA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) was launched over concerns about crumb rubber safety. Industry groups, however, have argued more than 90 scientific studies have been conducted to look into the safety of synthetic fields and their infill, pointing to the conclusions reached by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). The groups are confident the EPA will reach the same conclusion as the Dutch agency and will bring clarity to the issue of health and safety.
Carcinogen-containing crumb rubber isn’t necessarily dangerous to the human population or a cause of cancer, a research professor at the Knight Cancer Institute of the Oregon Health & Science University has concluded after spending 10 years investigating the causes of childhood cancers. Dr. Archie Bleyer said there doesn’t appear to be a trend that links crumb rubber and childhood cancers.
A 2013 review of evidence suggested
the risk of oral absorption of crumb rubber, through skin absorption or inhalation among athletes competing on synthetic turf was insignificant. It further stated an elevated health risk from inhalation would affect only those installing the turf if they worked in poorly ventilated quarters and had a long history of exposure.
20,000ground
tires fill one field.
Critics, however, say the means by which crumb rubber interaction is studied may not reflect the way some soccer players come in contact with the material. Goalkeepers, for example, dive to make saves and their mouths and nostrils may be only inches away from the playing surface. They are more likely to ingest or breathe in contaminants that other players may not. Amy Griffin, associate head coach of the women’s soccer team at the University of Washington in Seattle, noted a couple of goalkeepers contracted
lymphoma and she began to question the methods of study.
Until the findings of the recent Dutch study were made public, several clubs prevented the public from using synthetic turf fields because of the health fears. Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem had stopped play on its artificial training field due to health concerns, but said the team will resume play on the field in the spring following the results from the country’s study.
Bleyer said artificial turf shouldn’t be eliminated, noting a lack of exercise over a person’s lifetime is much more dangerous health-wise than exposure to crumb rubber.
Griffin concurred that a bigger problem would exist if children ceased playing sports due to a fear of developing cancer. She said her own children immediately shower after playing and their clothing is laundered to ensure no lingering contaminants are present.
About 100 sports fields were tested in the Dutch study. The research group said it would also look at American data because synthetic fields have been in use in the United States for a longer period of time than in Europe. -
CGSA conference moves to Victoria, B.C.
Three days of education sessions offered to golf conference attendees
Three days of education programming are on tap Feb. 28 to March 2 in Victoria, B.C. at the Canadian Golf Course Management Conference.
The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association is experimenting this year with the Vancouver Island city as the venue for its annual conference and trade show. Traditionally the event takes place in Vancouver as the west coast leg of its conference circuit.
Education sessions to take place at the Victoria Conference Centre are aimed at providing golf superintendents with up-todate information about key turf matters and topics related to leadership, business and human resources.
Speakers and their topics include:
TUESDAY, FEB. 28
• Hire smart the first time, presented by Patrick R. Finlen, the Olympic Club, San Francisco; and John Cunningham, Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis, Mo. The top 10 ways to hire smart will be presented, including case studies and samples of best hiring practices. The session will give instruction toward attracting and securing the best candidates to fit the culture of a golf facility.
• Success doesn’t come from being lucky, presented by Jill Philmon, Ballantyne Country Club, Charlotte, N.C. The general manager and COO at Ballantyne will share the skills she believes helped her climb the ranks at her club and will offer tips for succeeding and keeping members
and staff engaged. She believes the faster-paced world in which we live today demands a special skill set that enables success and future sustainability.
• High tech, low budget, presented by Jason Haines, Pender Harbour Golf Club, Madeira Park, B.C. The session will tell the story of how one facility entered the 21st century technology-wise for almost no money. Productivity tools used for high tech work don’t have to be costly. The session will demonstrate how to effectively collect information with digital tools. Free digital tools can notably improve productivity.
• Five characteristics of a weak leader
(and how to avoid being one),presented by Steve Keating, The Toro Company. The session will explore the makings of a good leader and how to use the skills to become one.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1
• Ryder Cup experience: from growing grass to reality presented by Chris Tritabaugh, Hazeltine National Golf Club.
• Drones A to Z, presented by Thomas Bastis, California Golf Club; and Paul Robertson, Victoria Golf Club.
• Green is the new black: better budgeting and financial outcomes, presented by Jenifer Bartman. The session will provide a basic understanding about how budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis processes work to improve departmental and organizational performance. Many individuals have strong technical and service backgrounds but lack financial knowledge. This can present challenges when matters such as budgeting, monitoring and improving financial performances are undertaken.
THURSDAY, MARCH 2
• Putting your best foot forward: being prepared for in-person and online interviews and presentations, presented by Jon Kiger, Turf Net. Advice on advance preparation to ensure a smooth interview will be covered, helping attendees become more organized and confident when interviewing or presenting to their club.
• The seven characteristics of successful superintendents, presented by Rob Witherspoon, DCS and Associates. Whether just starting in the industry or a seasoned veteran, successful superintendents are identified by seven different characteristics. The session will offer ideas and actions to inspire and guide superintendents toward a more successful career and life.
• Hire, motivate and mentor millennials…. and all employees, presented by Bruce Mayhew, Bruce Mayhew Consulting. The session will show how to communicate with, motivate and mentor all employees, including millennials, to
encourage effective, productive and creative people.
• Cover what you can: what to include in your contract, presented by Deborah Cushing, Lawson Lundell LLP. The session will review provisions that can be used in employment agreements for golf course managers and non-union staff. Covered will be the termination of employment and severance packages. Attendees will learn when to use an employment agreement, will learn to identify terms and conditions to be included in an agreement, and understand a notice of termination and severance provisions and whether they can be enforced in court.
• Email etiquette: habits to demonstrate professionalism and save time, presented by Bruce Mayhew, Bruce Mayhew Consulting. The session will explore the best approaches for working professionally and productively. The objective is to spend less time reading and writing emails while feeling more confident building a professional reputation. -
Continued from page 15
The thir d pitc her was Bill Hurst. Hurst introduced the ValveCommander by Colt Irrigation, LLC as the world’s first AC latching solenoid that can operate from 24 to 120 volts. The ValveCommander saves wire and energy and enables variable rate control for centre pivot machines.
Rick Hansen took the mound next and presented the AirWave by Apitome, LLC. This plant/flower bed multinozzle device is built to replace/retrofit
traditional nozzles on pop-up spray head bodies or fixed risers as demonstrated by Hansen during the presentation of the product. The AirWave allows for easy directional application of water where needed.
The fifth pitcher of the day was Jim Etro who introduced the Hawk-Eye Systems by ItriCorp, a visual and thermal-image data collection system that measures and highlights crop stress and creates indexes to communicate crop stress and water
need. This fully autonomous, 24/7, system can interface with irrigation equipment and communicates field conditions that need attention via text messaging with the crop manager.
Thomas Deane was the closer for IA’s first ever Pitcher’s Mound. Deane presented the Drip Decoupling Tool by LucyCo, a new, patent-pending tool that can easily remove drip tubing from compression-type fittings reducing labour and allowing the fittings to be reused. -
Flow sensing equipment can detect excessively high flows when a problem occurs. If calibrated properly, the flow sensing equipment will work in conjunction with the master valve to shut the system down and eliminate significant damage during an excess flow condition.
TIP #3: USE REVERSE-FLOW VALVES TO REDUCE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH A WORN DIAPHRAGM.
The inner workings of a reverse flow valve will prevent water from continuously flowing if the diaphragm is torn. In other words, it is effective because it will fail in the “off” position. A valve without a reverse flow feature can fail in the open position, run continuously and erode the slope until it is repaired.
TIP #4: USE PRESSURE COMPENSATING/REGULATING DEVICES TO GET THE BEST SPRINKLER COVERAGE.
When used in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications, pressure-regulating modules can be installed on valves to adjust the operating pressure of sprinkler heads down stream.
Built-in pressure compensating or regulating devices provide the best option since the optimum operating pressure is delivered directly to each sprinkler head. This will eliminate misting caused by high pressures
Project2:Layout 1 8/21/14 10:08 AM Page 1
TIP #5: ADJUST THE DISTANCE BETWEEN LATERAL LINES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE SLOPE.
On a 2:1 slope, a properly adjusted sprinkler will throw about 80 per cent of its radius above the head and 120 per cent of its radius below the head. This concept is difficult for many people to understand because, on
the site plan of an irrigation project, slopes appear to cover less ground than they actually do, and the effect of the slope cannot be accurately portrayed.
Therefore, sprinklers can be spaced consistently along the lateral, but the distance between bottom and middle laterals should be reduced and moved up toward the top of the slope to obtain head-to-head coverage and compensate for the true effects of the slope.
TIP #6: SPACE LATERAL LINES ACROSS THE SLOPE RATHER THAN WITH THE SLOPE.
When installing the lateral lines, make sure they follow the contours of the slope. If lateral lines are incorrectly installed from the top to the bottom of a slope, the pressure differential resulting from the elevation change could create severely uneven pressures at each of the sprinkler nozzles. This will cause irregular water distribution.
TIP #7: LIMIT SPRINKLER HEADS ON A VALVE ZONE TO DECREASE POTENTIAL DAMAGE.
As you add more sprinkler heads to a zone, the size of the delivery system components and infrastructure will increase. In this case, bigger also means that more water will be available to cause damage in the event that something on a system breaks. Consequently, large zones are not recommended.
TIP #8: LIMIT SPRINKLER HEADS ON A VALVE ZONE TO INCREASE PERFORMANCE.
Tailor the irrigation system to meet the specific water requirements of the slope areas. Separate zones to apply water to slope sections with considerably different plant material, as well as different exposures to sun, wind and other climatic influences. If you mix zones together, it will be hard to keep
plant material healthy because one side of the slope will get too much or too little water.
TIP #9: PLACE PART-CIRCLE SPRINKLERS ON SEPARATE ZONES OR USE MATCHED PRECIPITATION RATE NOZZLE PACKAGES.
Uniform water distribution is critical for effective slope irrigation. To achieve this, separate part-circle sprinklers from full-circle sprinklers, and then adjust the station run times. Using matched precipitation rate nozzles on the same valve system reduces the chance that your system will put down too much water with some heads and not enough from others. This will help to diminish the potential for severe soil erosion.
TIP #10: INSTALL SPRINKLERS WITH CHECK VALVES TO CONTAIN EROSION.
When used properly, a check valve will contain the unpressurized water in the lateral lines after the zone valve has completed its watering cycle (if the valve is located at a higher elevation). Without a check valve, the elevation difference from a valve above to the sprinklers below could generate enough internal pressure to force water out of the sprinkler.
A check valve will prevent the water that remains in the pipe from draining out of the sprinklers after the valve has shut off—thus reducing the chance of erosion of the landscape areas around or on the slope.
Effective slope irrigation is a mixture of good upfront planning, proper installation, and a solid maintenance technique. If all three are done properly, many emotional, financial, and physical problems can be avoided–and a healthy, aesthetically pleasing slope planting will be the result. -
This article was provide by Rain Bird International.
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UPDATED CONTROLLER BUILDS ON PREDECESSOR’S LEGACY
Hunter’s ICC commercial controller has been an industry leader for more than a decade with its simplicity, reliability, and power in a super competitive package. Now it’s back with eye-catching enhancements that will not hurt your wallet.
ICC2 builds on its predecessor’s legacy with an increased station count, a large backlit display and enhanced surge protection. The new facepack and modules are even backward compatible to keep older ICC systems operational for years to come.
“The ICC2 is positioned between the Pro-C and I-Core controllers and offers tremendous value to designers and contractors alike,” said David Shoup, product manager, commercial controllers. “It retains many features of the original ICC, and exceeds it in several regards.”
Specifically designed for larger projects, the ICC2 comes in a plastic cabinet version with 38 stations, and a metal cabinet model that can handle up to 54 stations. It has advanced features, including Easy Retrieve® memory backup, cycle and soak and seasonal adjustment. The ICC2 can be given EPA WaterSense approval by adding an optional Solar Sync® weather sensor for daily water-saving adjustments. A ROAM or ROAM XL remote can be added for easy field service calls.
With its large backlit LCD display, the ICC2 is easy to read and allows for easy programming. The customizable language overlay also makes the ICC2 appealing to an international audience. It has forward and backward compatibility with the original ICC controller modules in four and eight-station increments. Optional matching metal pedestals in grey or stainless are also available. The ICC2 is aggressively priced and has a five-year warranty. The ICC2 made its debut at the Irrigation Association Show in Las Vegas last December.
For more information, visit www.hunterindustries.com/irrigation-product/controllers/icc2.
David Schmelefske• KentMcDonald • Trevor Hunter • Victor Freiberg • Ken Graham www.oscseeds.com•E-mail:seeds@oscseeds.com www.oscturf com www.oscturf.com•email:seeds@oscseeds.com
There are certain rites of passage in the lives of parents and children, some good… some so painful that if you’d seen them coming, you would have had a vasectomy at 15 and become one of those crazy cat or dog people.
You know the ones. They populate their homes with animals too numerous to count, knit them sweaters, use baby talk with them and, when the pet dies, have to take a week off to work through their grief. And they pay serious money to have the dead critters interred at a pet cemetery, stone marker and all. Since reading Stephen King’s Pet Sematary, I wouldn’t go to one of those places if you paid me.
OK, maybe it’s better to have kids instead.
But those rites of passage are still killers.
One of them is when you send your son to summer camp for the first–and second–time.
When he went off to camp last year, my then nine-year-old boy was nervous and worried. He never owned a teddy bear or anything (he started tossing them out of his crib as soon as he could use his arms), but he did own a “blankie.” You can no longer tell that when it was new, it boasted brightly coloured pictures of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger.
Now it’s a ragged and disreputable thing that no self-respecting wino would pull around his shoulders while trying to sleep on a park bench.
But Jake slept with it for years and it became, like it was for Linus of Peanuts fame, his security blanket.
So last year, he made sure the blanket was shoved down to the bottom of his sleeping bag where he could feel it with his feet while at camp, and nobody would know he had it.
Because although he’s a little boy, he’s still a guy, and the Guy Code basically says that if you get caught with a blankie at camp, your testosterone status drops from Arnold Schwarzenegger to somewhere between Milhouse from The Simpsons and the blond fellow from Queer Eye For the Straight Guy.
(Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)
First time he left, it was heart wrenching for both of us. He catapulted into the unknown with his guilty little secret blankie, and I was left… alone.
When I saw a crow eating a dead mole in the alley, there was no one I could run to and say, “Wanna see something really gross?”
A nine-year-old boy replies: “Sure!” and then after he’s seen it says, “That’s really disgusting. Cool. Lemme get a stick and we’ll poke it.”
I said to my wife, “There’s a crow eating a dead mole in the alley! Want to come see?”
“Sure,” she said, not even looking up from her book. “I’ll go look at your dead mole right after we come back from shopping for tea towels and intimate feminine products.”
“Never mind,” I said.
Nobody to play catch with, watch Family Guy with, engage in contests won by whoever makes the loudest rude noise.
When Jake returned from camp, covered in scratches, bruises and mildly infected leech bites, with a whacko Big Weekend Grin on his face, he informed me that he’d won a certificate in rifle shooting, became moderately proficient with a bow and arrow, and learned to kill
bugs in the cabin with a field-expedient flamethrower (aerosol can and a Bic lighter).
“Didja’ miss me?” I asked excitedly.
“Um… well… um, sure, Dad. Sure, I did. I thought about you…”
“Twice?” I said, hopefully.
“Maybe not that often,” he offered with a grin.
Then came this year. “You wanna go to camp again?” I said, kind of hoping he’d say no.”
“Oh, yeah!”
When the day came, he packed with great excitement. I stood in the doorway watching him march out to the van with his pack with a tear in my eye, and saw that he’d forgotten all about me, and it took his mom reminding him for him to dash back to the house. He gave me a perfunctory hug and said, “Bye, Dad,” and was gone.
When I went back into the house, I went into his room (Yeah, I know, I’m a gigantic wimp loser boy who is way too close to his kids… shut up, OK?) and found… blankie.
It was shoved onto a shelf. I went running out with it, but they were already gone.
When my wife came back, I showed her what I’d found and suggested that somebody–I didn’t want to say whom–but SOMEBODY wasn’t a very good parent.“He left it behind on purpose,” she explained gently. “He said he’s not a little kid anymore, that he’s growing up.”
“Oh,” I said.
“You might consider it yourself,” she suggested.
“Bite me.”
“Good point,” she said, and left.
“I swear… I was this close to going out and buying a cat.
Appeared originally in Turf & Recreation, July/August 2007.
