OUR BIGGEST, BADDEST AND MOST POWERFUL BACKPACK BLOWER
Landscapers, parks and recreation crews and golf courses…be prepared to be blown away. To tackle large properties and heavy debris, there is nothing like the clean-up power of the BR 800 C-E. The most powerful backpack blower in the STIHL line offers maximum blowing force as well as optimal comfort, ideal for professional landscapers, it features a multi-function control handle allowing users to effortlessly access all the controls on one comfortable hand. With a 4.4 kW engine power, the BR 800 C-E offers 20% more power than the BR 700, allowing you to clear leaves, grass and heavy debris faster and more efficiently. You need to add the BR 800 C-E to your fleet…you won’t regret it!
• Robust Blowing Force – 4.4 kW engine power; offers 20% more power than the BR 700
• Sturdy Performance – Best power-to-weight ratio in STIHL gasoline blower line; machine is more compact and easy to carry
• Ergonomic Carrying System – S-shaped shoulder straps, chest strap and hip belt; provides operator comfort
• Telescopic Tube – Quick adjustment of the length for various conditions; no tools required
• Pull Cord – Handy access to the side starter cord; machine can be restarted after taking a short break VISIT US AT THE LANDSCAPE ONTARIO CONGRESS SHOW, BOOTH #428.
PRO-FLEET COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE PROGRAM
STIHL’s Pro-Fleet Commercial Landscape Program is designed to provide commercial landscapers a volume discount on major purchases of 5 or more landscaping power tools. Visit your STIHL Dealer today to find out more and take advantage of the savings!
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 2017. Source: TraQline Canada.
Withtubeatnozzleend.
DEPARTMENTS
06 | In the news
Separating the scammers from legitimate snow contractors.
12 | Health & Safety
Practise noise abatement, save your hearing.
More equipment options are becoming necessary as the workforce continues to age.
From the editor
By Mike Jiggens
The ultimate act of giving to another
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
– Winston Churchill
Earlier this year, one golf course superintendent gave new life to a fellow superintendent when, in the ultimate act of selflessness, he donated one of his kidneys to his ailing colleague.
Scott Dodson, superintendent at the Park Country Club in Buffalo, N.Y., had been in the throes of kidney disease for about 15 years and realized two years ago when his health began to slip that it was in his best interests to be placed on the kidney transplant wait list.
Dodson is a Canadian citizen who lives in Fort Erie, Ont. and crosses the Peace Bridge daily to go to work. He marked his 26th season this year at the Park Club and was featured in the July/August 2017 issue of Turf & Rec, recognizing his then milestone quarter-century at the private club.
Interestingly, he is a third-generation superintendent whose father and great uncle also served as superintendents at Ontario golf courses. His family also includes two superintendent br others, a superintendent nephew and a niece who is a turfgrass researcher at Olds College in Alberta.
I wasn’t aware of Dodson’s kidney ailment when I originally interviewed him in Buffalo for the Turf & Rec story more
than a year ago. The news didn’t reach me until earlier this fall when I read a random Twitter post that acknowledged the successful transplant.
Then, this past October, at a combined gathering of members of the Western Ontario and Western New York golf superintendents associations, Dodson formally introduced the man whose donated kidney helped change his fortunes for the better.
Twenty members from each of the associations were ready to do battle at the Grand Niagara Golf Club in the 18th annual Fall Classic – a friendly cross-border match play event conceived as a fitting end to yet another growing season. But, first, Brian Conn was properly commended for his personal sacrifice, earning well-deserved applause.
Conn is the superintendent at the Transit Valley Country Club in East Amherst, N.Y. and learned about Dodson’s condition through a mass email circulated among members of the Western New York Golf Superintendents Association. Grieving over the sudden loss of his father a few years ago, Conn
said he was stirred by his Christian faith to leap into action, saying it took only 10 minutes for him to understand what needed to be done. He went through the testing process and learned he was a compatible donor.
Dodson had no idea that a new kidney was awaiting him. Conn arranged to visit Dodson at the Park Club in the guise of discussing the course’s recent set of renovations. There, Conn told Dodson of his true reason for the visit.
Through Conn’s sacrifice, Dodson has seen a tremendous improvement in his strength and overall health.
Prior to the journey that brought the two superintendents together, Dodson and Conn were professional acquaintances at best. They w ould cross paths at association meetings but barely exchanged more than just a few minutes of conversation. Today, Dodson considers Conn a “brother,” and a special bond has developed between not only the pair but among their spouses and families as well.
I’ve played golf twice with Conn during the annual Fall Classic, including last year when we opposed one another in singles play. A soft-spoken gentleman, he truly is the epitome of a giver.
A moving mini-documentary of the Dodson-Conn story has been produced by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and has been uploaded onto YouTube. It perfectly chronicles the recent intersecting of both men’s journeys and will likely leave viewers misty-eyed.
www.turfandrec.com
Editor Mike Jiggens mjiggens@annexbusinessmedia.com
National Advertising Manager
Rebecca Lewis 519-400-0322 rlewis@annexbusinessmedia.com
Group Publisher Scott Jamieson sjamieson@annexbusinessmedia.com
President & CEO Mike Fredericks
Printed in Canada ISSN 1186-0170
PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT #40065710
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Published 7 times a year – Jan/Feb, Mar, Apr/May, Jun, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec Canada – 1 year $34.00; 2 year $44.00 3 years $54.50 (plus applicable taxes HST 86717 2652 RT0001
Mail: 111 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400, Toronto, ON M2H 3R1
Occasionally, Turf and Recreation will mail information on behalf of industry related groups whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive this information, please contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above.
No matter what your mowing preference is, we’ve got the perfect zero-turn mowers for your business. For those who prefer to sit, our Z930M mower hits the sweet spot where value-driven performance, and day-in, day-out driving durability come together. And our QuikTraks give you tremendous stability even on tricky hills. Or you can take advantage of No Interest, No Payments until May of 2019, followed by 3.9% APR for 48 months.2† But hurry: this offer ends February 28, 2019. Get 0.9% APR
Grey Cup players found field surface more like ice
Members of both champion Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Redblacks found the playing surface at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium was more ice than it was turf during the Grey Cup game..
The artificlal turf blades commonly found on a football field are situated straight up, but the stadium was outfitted in 2015 for the women’s FIFA World Cup with crooked blades, enabling moisture to gather underneath and freeze over.
Burlington’s tree canopy shrinking to dangerous levels
Burlington, Ont.’s tree canopy is in serious crisis, and if trees continue to disappear at the current rate, the city’s canopy may fall as low as eight per cent by 2042.
Environment Canada recommends a canopy ranging between 30 and 50 per cent as a healthy tree canopy is one of the best tools to absorb carbon and mitigate flood damage.
Parks Canada not interested in golf course operation
Parks Canada, the landowner of much of the property occupied by the Terra Nova golf resort that is currently in receivership, says it’s unlikely the federal agency will assume operation of the Port Blandford, NL golf course. Seventeen of Terra Nova’s 18 holes are situated on Parks Canada land. Operation of a golf course is “not something we’ve ever done in this province, and it’s not something we see the need to undertake,” Parks Canada superintendent Bill Brake said. The golf course is a significant draw for the region in terms of tourism.
Separating the scammers from legitimate snow contractors
Projected tree canopy for Burlington in 2042
The Better Business Bureau for Canada’s Atlantic region is warning homeowners to be cautious this winter before hiring a contractor to look after snow removal work. Its president says any homeowner can fall prey to a snowplow scam. “If something seems too good to be true, oftentimes it is.”
Peter Moorhouse, CEO and president of the Better Business Bureau for the Atlantic region, said hasty decisions made by homeowners sometimes result in bad decisions.
Each year, he said, complaints from the public are fielded regarding promised services that don’t materialize or services rendered that don’t meet customer expectations.
Perpetrators of scams often target the elderly or those with limited mobility.
Moorhouse recalled the case of a Halifax “contractor” who scammed people out of cash deposits.
“He had a full page contract full
of terms and conditions you would see in a contract like this,” he told the CBC. “The only problem was that all of the contact information on the contract was completely bogus.”
The company in question wasn’t registered, the contractor had no website, the email address didn’t exist and the telephone number printed on the contract directed callers to a nail salon in Florida.
Moorhouse suggested a contractor’s references be checked out in advance. Those in need of snow removal services can also contact others they know who are provided with winter cleanup and are satisfied with the service.
He added companies that ask for upfront payment for an entire season’s worth of service should be looked upon skeptically. Caution should also be exercised with those whose prices seem too low, “especially if they’re saying, ‘This will cover you, no matter how much snow we get.’”
Find the latest turf-related news, stories, blogs and analysis from across Canada, and access our forum . . . www.turfandrec.com
the number of Terra Nova’s holes situated on Parks Canada land
Meet the utility vehicle that goes from summer to winter-ready in a matter of seconds. The RTV-X series is powered by Kubota’s durable and high-performing diesel engine, giving you up to 24.8 horsepower. We also pioneered the Variable Hydraulic Transmission, giving you more power where you need it and we were the first to add a factory installed utility cab. The weather may be cooling down, but for the RTV-X series, things are just heating up.
Equipment addresses an aging workforce
With age comes a greater propensity for worksite injuries.
By Mike Hale
Lifting and handling 100 pounds can be a difficult task, even for young and fit individuals. For many workers, it’s a quick ticket to the emergency room – followed by a costly workers’ compensation claim for their employer.
Sprains, strains and tears are the leading injuries among all jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most require an employee to take time away from work to recover, sometimes as long as 10 days. Meanwhile, the proportion of U.S. workers 55 or older increased to 39.4 per cent in 2008 from 31.3 per cent in 1998 and is expected to reach 43.5 per cent this year. (Statistics are proportionally similar in Canada). Studies show that with age comes greater propensity for worksite injuries. This combination of injuries and aging is driving more companies to turn to their equipment for solutions.
When it comes to fence and deck building, landscaping and sign installation, the earth drill market has evolved to accommodate. A unique class of drills – towable and hitch-mounted – lessens the toll on operators and provides a solution for the challenges of an aging workforce. The design of these compact and lightweight machines deliver safety, ease of use and the manoeuvrability to go virtually anywhere, as well as the productivity and power of a skid steer auger attachment.
EQUIPMENT MANOEUVRABILITY
In general, the easier equipment is to move, the easier it is to use. Whether used by homeowners or contractors, mobility is key to earth drill productivity.
Towable and hitch-mounted drills excel in their ability to be transported to and from, and also manoeuvred around jobsites with ease.
With either a hitch for towing or a hitch mount bracket that acts as a drill carrier, these drills’ transport systems require very little operator effort and eliminate the need to lift the drill on and off of a trailer or into the back of a pickup.
Manoeuvrability doesn’t end at the curb, however. Once on site, it’s important to have a drill that’s easy to move from hole to hole, wheel around the site and navigate through narrow spaces, such as between gates and buildings. Most towable and hitch-mounted rigs feature either pneumatic or semi-pneumatic tires to easily push around site and glide across the ground without damaging turf.
The towable drill features a handle users can rotate 180-degrees for safe operation near buildings and in hard-to-reach areas.
OPERATOR-FOCUSED DESIGN
Beyond portability, towable and hitch-mounted drills are often designed so their frame bears the brunt of the operating weight, not the operator. Many feature a “teeter-totter” design that allows the weight of the auger to be offset by the engine, lessening the impact on the operator during operation.
With wheels incorporated near the centre of the machine and optimal balance, operators can easily pivot the drill into place and reduce the physical push down force on the drill. This design can reduce operating weight by as much as 50 per cent over traditional earth drills and requires as little as 20 pounds of force to pivot the drill.
While ease of operation is key for reducing worksite injuries, it shouldn’t come at the expense of power.
Drills need to operate with high torque to maximize productivity, but if that torque transfers to the operator, it can take a significant toll on his body. The frames of towable and hitch-mounted drills absorb drilling torque, keeping the operator in complete control of the drill without worrying about kickback.
Operator-friendly design features also come into play should an auger get caught under tree roots or hit large objects such as rocks. Having reverse rotation goes a long way toward easy and safe operation. The feature allows the operator to simply reverse the auger if it becomes stuck, as opposed to manually turning and lifting the auger from the hole. For added safety, some drills feature pressure relief valves to stop the auger if the drill reaches a certain hydraulic pressure.
The un-towable slide-in-hitch is designed to fit any two-inch receiver commonly found on pickups and SUVs.
CONVENIENCE
Operators often work near buildings and in hard-toreach areas, which is why it’s important for drills to feature a two-position handle. This allows operators to position the handle in a manner that prevents it from getting between the drill and the structure, allowing for safe work near buildings and walls.
For even greater productivity and safety, drills featuring a variable auger tilt will allow for vertical drilling in uneven terrain, such as on hills with varying slopes. This greatly reduces strain as well as the strength needed to control the drill. By having the drill tilt to offset the slope, the operator can remain level and simply adjust the auger to the desired position.
Snap-on augers and adaptors also lessen the operator’s effort when drilling and come in a variety
As the existing workforce continues to age, more equipment options are necessary
of sizes, compatible with nearly any drill. This makes it easy for one operator to quickly switch augers on the jobsite as drilling conditions change. This requires less physical effort while saving time and increasing ROI, so contractors can quickly move on to the next job.
DRILLING DOWN TO THE POINT
It’s no secret that it’s hard to find people willing to do manual labour. The wear and tear on one’s body along with jobsite risks and injury are just a few of the reasons the younger workforce prefers other work.
As the existing workforce continues to age, more equipment options are necessary to provide the ideal solution for each business’ unique workforce challenges. Towable and hitch-mounted drills are just one way to maintain productivity with an aging or inexperienced workforce.
Mike Hale started his career in the fence industry in 1974. In 1996 he began working at Little Beaver Inc., a leading manufacturer of portable earth drills and accessories. As the sales manager, he offers expertise on fencing and hole digging equipment. Questions or comments can be directed to him at mikeh@littlebeaver. com or (800) 227-7515.
Little Beaver serves the needs of end-users from professional contractors to rental centres. For more information, call (800) 227-7515, email sales@ littlebeaver.com or visit www.littlebeaver.com.
Workplace injuries among both older and younger workers can be reduced when workplace health and safety programs are introduced. Workplace Safety and Prevention Services of Ontario recommends:
• Conduct a hazard assessment to identify hazards that workers may be facing.
• Inform yourself of the nature of the hazards, recommended injury prevention strategies, and available resources.
• Develop and implement prevention strategies, with worker input that address specific hazards and tasks and are suitable by language and literacy level.
• Ensure ongoing hazard identification is conducted by knowledgeable people at the beginning of each workday, and before work begins at other sites throughout the day.
• Use tailgate or toolbox safety training techniques, and repeat and reinforce safety topics regularly. Make the safety topics specific to the tasks, location and season.
Many towable and hitch-mounted drills feature a “teeter-totter” design that balances the weight of the auger and handles with the engine, lessening operator strain.
Health & Safety
By the CCOHS
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) promotes the total well being of workers in Canada by providing information, training, education, systems and solutions that support health and safety programs and injury and illness prevention. www.ccohs.ca
Save your hearing, wear protection
Exposure to noise, too often, is more than just annoying and disruptive – it can permanently damage our hearing. Occupational noise is one of the most common health hazards in the workplace and can affect people differently, depending on how susceptible they are.
Low or moderate noise levels that may be found in an office setting are most likely to cause annoyance and stress and may make it difficult for people to talk to and hear one another or to talk to a customer. Louder, “industrial-grade” noises, which may be found in a manufacturing facility, used by landscapers using machinery, or used on a farm, can cause permanent hearing loss.
HOW LOUD IS TOO LOUD?
Occupational exposure limits (OELs) for noise are usually given as the maximum length of exposure permitted for various noise levels measured in decibels (dBA). The noise exposure limits vary within the different jurisdictions in Canada. CCOHS has more information on Occupational Exposure Limits for Workplace Noise in Canada on its website.
Even without technical measurements, however, certain telltale signs can help you determine if your workplace has a noise problem. Do people have to raise their voices? After a shift, do their ears ring, and do they need to play their car radios louder than on the way to work? After working in a noisy environment for a few years, do the employees find it hard to understand conversations at parties, restaurants or other crowded places?
HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO NOISE
We immediately think about noise affecting our hearing, but it can be blamed for other health effects as well. Though it’s difficult to pinpoint noise as the culprit in some cases, researchers believe it may act as a general stressor and cause some symptoms that are totally unrelated to hearing – such as changes to blood pressure (e.g. high blood
Noise can be blamed for other health effects as well
pressure) and heart rate. A noisy environment can also affect how a worker sleeps and can have a negative effect on the worker’s physical and mental health.
Hearing-related health effects range from tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing in the ear), to temporary hearing loss that may improve over time in a quiet place, to permanent hearing loss. A person who is exposed to noise for long periods of time, is exposed often, or exposed to high frequencies may experience permanent hearing loss. Permanent
Wearing hearing protection on the job is vital. Once hearing is gone, it’s lost forever.
hearing loss gets worse for as long as the noise exposure continues. Sometimes, just one short burst of extremely loud noise such as a gunshot can cause acoustic trauma that damages hearing. However, noise-induced permanent hearing loss is most often a cumulative process. Also known as permanent threshold shift, initially, noise-induced hearing loss is most pronounced at a frequency of 4,000 Hz, but it spreads over other frequencies over time and as the noise level increases.
Besides noise, other factors that affect a worker’s hearing may include vibration (e.g. from a jack hammer), the worker’s age, certain medications and diseases, and exposure to “ototoxic” chemicals such as toluene and carbon disulfide.
Exposures to noise outside of work (e.g. recreational activities such as playing in a rock band, skeet shooting) are also factors that contribute to the person’s overall noise exposure.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
A noise assessment and an employee survey can help determine where the noise is coming from, how much noise there is, who is exposed and for how long. The most obvious and effective solution to noise, of course, is to eliminate it, but that’s not always feasible in the workplace. The next best option is to control noise at its source by lowering it to acceptable levels with engineering controls. Administrative controls and the use of appropriate personal hearing protection are also used.
Engineering controls substitute or modify the noise source itself or the workplace environment (e.g. enclosing the noise source, using mufflers on equipment, etc.). Administrative controls involve rotating work schedules to keep noise exposure time within acceptable limits. Where technology cannot adequately control the problem, workers should wear appropriate personal hearing protection such as earmuffs or plugs, but ideally only as an interim measure until noise is controlled at the source.
Controlling noise and preventing work-related hearing loss is essential. Once your hearing is lost, it’s gone forever.
Slit drainage helps keep fields in play
Sports fields equipped with slit drainage see fewer cancellations, better field playability.
By Mike Jiggens
The evacuation of water on a sports field is that much faster when it has been prepared with slit drainage. This leads to fewer cancellations, better field playability and less wear.
John Van Roestel of TDS Turf Drainage Systems Ltd. explained the concept of slit drainage and its benefits to those attending September’s Sports Turf Canada Ontario Field Day in Belleville.
The difference between slit drainage and conventional drainage, he said, is that slit drainage gets rid of the native soil and backfills the trenches with
coarse sand, allowing water to percolate faster. The shallower drains are put in on the grade using precision laser guidance.
Van Roestel has been installing drainage systems in sports fields and on golf courses for 20 years.
Two-inch perforated pipe is put into the ground at a depth of 12 inches in a simultaneous operation with the removal of the native soil and backfilling with sand. Slit drainage is designed to eliminate surface water that much faster while conventional drainage takes the water longer to move down following a significant rain event.
“ This allows that to happen quicker,”
he said.
Slit drains are usually spaced between six and 12 feet apart on sports fields. The installation machine is laser controlled, allowing for a one-pass operation. A sand buggy runs alongside the machine, filling in the trenches with sand. Another truck runs alongside to collect the native soil while a packer packs the sand.
On sports fields, drains are put in parallel to the irrigation lines. Because the depth is only 12 to 14 inches, the work remains atop the irrigation lines. Slit trenches collect excess water as it moves across the surface, channeling the water to collectors and finally to an
A demonstration of slit drainage was conducted at Sports Turf Canada’s annual field day in Belleville, Ont.
outlet. Drains should run across the ground perpendicular to the direction of the runoff water.
For an average sports field with 10 feet of spacing, about 6,000 feet of drain is put in, or about 20 lines of about 300 feet in length.
BannermanTrilo:Layout 1 7/25/16 10:41 AM Page 1
On sports fields crowned about one per cent on top, drain lines should run parallel to the crowns. On a crowned field, rain will run toward the sides of the field.
When installing slit drainage on golf greens, the sod is removed first before the system is installed. The removed sod is then put back in place. On sports fields, straight sand of about three millimetres in size is put back in to allow water to percolate through at about 30 to 40 inches an hour.
“That’s what we’re looking for. With greens, that’s a little too fast and it will get a little too droughty.”
Greens are usually a 60-20-20 mix, respectively of sand, topsoil and peat or are a 60-40 sand-soil mix.
The possibility of trench lines caving in on sand-based fields is usually not an issue, Van Roestel said. It’s a onepass operation, but he said if the trenches were left alone for any time “you could have issues. We’ve modified everything so that we can do this in one pass.”
The recovery time for the field begins about a week after the drainage has been installed, “and that grass starts creeping across and it’s down to about two inches (width of the line). After about three weeks, it’s down to about an inch wide. After four weeks, it’s pretty much grassed over.”
Sodding over the drain lines is not recommended. Allowing the turf to re-establish itself atop the sand will
‘After four weeks, it’s pretty much grassed over’
help water move through faster than it would move through layered sod. When sand is used, a filter-wrapped pipe will help prevent clogging, but the technique is not recommended if stone is to be used as a backfill.
In a golf course application, slit drainage is especially effective on older pushup greens that have little or no subsurface
drainage and have heavy native topsoil that is easily compacted, resulting in surface pooling. Slit drainage allows the excess water to escape before it can freeze and cause ice damage.
Slit drainage on golf greens also allows for more uniform watering in situations where high areas had drained well while lower areas didn’t.
Enhanced efficiency fertilizers increase plant uptake and reduce loss to the environment.
By Mike Jiggens
Best management practices for fertilizer application will differ from golf superintendent to golf superintendent, but it’s all about making the optimum use of available resources.
Speaking in October at the Nutrite/Ontario Seed Company regional fall seminar at Pine Knot Golf & Country Club in Dorchester, Ont., Dr. Eric Miltner, agronomist with Koch Turf & Ornamentals, spoke of the importance of best management practices (BMPs) and how to incorporate them in the optimal and most efficient manner.
“It’s important to think about nutrients more holistically and not just what you buy in a bag,” he said.
Miltner said superintendents should think about how they manage the nutrients in their soils and consider fertilization as supplemental.
Each superintendent’s BMPs depend on available resources, including his budget, his equipment, the knowledge and expertise to which he has access, and the property’s physical nature,
“You have to do it within your own bounds.”
The most common references to BMPs online involve nutrients and water quality, yet BMPs can apply to many things within a superintendent’s operations, Miltner said.
The nutrient management concept has a “cradle to grave” idea that’s not just about thinking about the fertilizer in the bag and how to apply it, but what happens to it afterwards, he added.
Many BMPs are unwritten while others haven’t even been thought about.
“I think there’s a lot to be said about writing down your BMPs and formalizing it.”
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America has been making a big push in the United States to ensure written BMPs are in place in all 50 states by 2025. The association has been going around to its local chapters that are putting together “boilerplate” BMP documents that individual golf courses can take and apply to their specific properties.
Miltner said there is a lot of value to having written BMPs that can be referenced. Some states require written nutrient management plans on file – including at golf courses –that are approved by certified professionals. This helps to standardize procedures, he said.
“If you have a set of parameters within which you operate, it reduces the chances of you making a bad
mistake.”
When a superintendent hires a new employee and charges him with a specific task, the new hire can be provided with pertinent sections of a BMP manual specific to the job.
“This also demonstrates a commitment to your position and your profession that you take it seriously.”
Miltner recalled a Seattle-area superintendent with whom he had once worked, noting the local county was able to better stay on top of its water quality monitoring at his course because of the superintendent’s BMP documentation. The superintendent kept extensive BMP written documents he reviewed with county staff that afforded them the confidence to understand he knew what he was doing. The superintendent had the technical knowledge and a process in place to do the best he could to protect water quality while maintaining his golf course.
“If you don’t have written BMPs, think about it,” Miltner said.
FOUR R NUTRIENT STEWARDSHIP
Part of the process is to understand the concept of “four R” nutrient stewardship: right source, right rate, right time, right place. Miltner said it’s easy to understand and convey to groups that don’t possess the technical expertise to educate them about nutrient management. Such groups include greens committees, boards of directors and those involved in the administration of
Dr. Eric Miltner, agronomist, Koch Turf & Ornamentals
municipal golf courses.
“It’s a great agronomic tool with regard to managing fertilizers.”
Miltner recommended a website called nutrientstewardship.com as a site to learn more. Although it is geared mainly toward the agricultural sector, much of the information is applicable to golf and landscaping and urban nutrient management in general.
“If we all start thinking about this model and start speaking the same language, it’s going to help a lot of people outside our little bubble to understand and appreciate what we do.”
Knowing how to use fertilizers most effectively on a golf course is a “big decision-making matrix,” he said, adding, “There are lots of different right ways to fertilize and it’s going to be different for everybody.”
Miltner said there are also several wrong ways to fertilize.
When considering the right source, he said soluble sources are effective but need to be managed correctly for efficient use to prevent notable loss and unfavourable water conditions. By incorporating enhanced efficiency fertilizers into a program, better nutrient use will be realized as well as stepped up environmental protection and cost efficiency.
In determining the right rate, it’s important to know that there are discrepancies between the amounts of nitrogen to be applied to fine fescue versus that of Kentucky bluegrass. The plant’s growth cycle and the season must be considered.
“Try and provide nutrients when the plant needs it.”
Plants tend to be a little more
stressed during the summer and their growth starts to slow.
“What are your objectives in applying that fertilizer?”
The source will have a significant Impact on the rate, Miltner said, adding quick release sources will keep rates lower. If a seasonal fertilizer is applied and the objective is to have it last five months, enough nitrogen must be put down – perhaps 2½ pounds instead of the traditional one-pound application.
He said it’s important to know how the Rs interrelate.
“You might pick the right product – the right source – but if you use it wrong, it’s not going to work for you.”
Generally, a superintendent might think about using a halfpound or full pound of nitrogen per month during the growing season.
Canadian Commercial Distributors
British Columbia
Oakcreek Golf & Turf Inc.
Kelowna 250-860-5090
Surrey 604-882-8399
Duncan 250-701-0766
Alberta
Oakcreek Golf & Turf Inc.
Calgary 403-279-2907
Edmonton 780-469-2332
Saskatchewan
Oakcreek Golf & Turf Inc.
Saskatoon 306-975-1110
Manitoba Mazergroup
Winnipeg 204-253-2900
Ontario Turf Care Products
Canada Limited
Carp 613-821-1880
Medina 519-349-2400
Newmarket 905-836-0988
Québec
Les Produits Turf Care
Canada Limitée
Vaudreuil-Dorion 450-218-4544
Atlantic Canada Vesey’s Equipment
York, P.E.I. 902-892-8873
1-866-455-TURF (8873)
One pound was the norm in the not-toodistant past but, today, .7 pounds is considered right. Miltner said that because enhanced efficiency fertilizer products work more efficiently, less product could be applied to get the same amount of nitrogen into the plant.
Product longevity and application rate are closely related.
“So make sure you understand what’s in that fertilizer you’re using, how long it’s going to last and how that might impact the rate.”
The right time must be determined by trying to match nutrient availability with periods of growth. The plant is not growing when it is stressed and has difficulty taking up nutrients. This must be taken into consideration when using longer-term products, he said.
As temperatures begin to cool, release rates slow down. If it gets cold enough, they’ll shut down. Fertilizer will sit there and overwinter and be ready to release nutrients in the spring. A three-month product that can work in the fall and spring might last seven months because it is overwintering.
There are plenty of options for the right source and right time relationship, Miltner said.
ENHANCED EFFICIENCY FERTILIZERS
In an earlier presentation, Miltner outlined the benefits of enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs), including controlled release, slow release and stabilized nitrogen variations.
Anything that can be done to a fertilizer to increase plant uptake and reduce loss to the environment enhances its efficiency. Quick-release soluble sources such as urea or ammonium sulfate work fine, he said, but they can be enhanced so that they work better.
Studies of urea found that about 52 per cent of the nitrogen gets into the top of the turfgrass plant, meaning a pound of nitrogen put down from a urea source will result in only about half of it reaching the plant. If a pound of nitrogen from an enhanced efficiency fertilizer is applied,
about 20 per cent more nitrogen gets into the plant.
“That’s a pretty big boost in efficiency.” EEFs also lead to reduced leaching, less volatilization and reduced denitrification.
Readily available sources that are non-enhanced, such as ammonium sulfate and urea, release quickly. When applied and watered in, nitrogen becomes available within a day or two as long as there is adequate water for dissolving. Once dissolved, the nitrogen is pretty much available, the plant greens up and responds quickly.
“There are certain times when that’s what you really want. But in order to use them efficiently, you have to apply them at pretty low rates and apply them frequently. The reason for that is because the plant can only take up so much at once.”
If more nitrogen is applied than the plant can use, the surplus has to go somewhere else.
Miltner cited a Cornell University study that looked at the plant response of nitrogen when applied in one-tenth-pound increments up to a pound, measuring the amount of uptake versus loss. Different turf species and soil types were examined in the study that found significant inefficiencies were realized with single applications between .3 and .5 pounds of nitrogen.
“After you got beyond one-third or half
Quantifiable benefits are realized when best management practices are incorporated into fertilizer application.
a pound, that’s when you started to lose it.”
When using non-enhanced efficiency fertilizers, they must be applied at low rates, Miltner said, adding they work well when spoon feeding greens, but volatilization is an issue.
PROVING
“Applying a pound of N from a soluble source in most cases is a pretty inefficient way to do it. You’re losing a lot of the nitrogen you’re paying for.”
Among the enhanced efficiency fertilizers, stabilized nitrogen is “the new kid on
Y E T A G A I N M A N ’S A BI LIT Y TO ADAP T TO A N Y E N V IRONMENT.
A NEW WORLD DEMANDS NEW HOLLAND.
When you need a reliable workhorse to stand up to challenging landscapes, turn to New Holland 200 Series compact track loaders. They hold fast to steep slopes and use low ground pressure to float easily over muddy, sandy terrain in any weather condition. Choose from 6 models with rated operating capacity from 2,700 to 4,500 pounds. Learn more at newholland.com
the block,” even though it’s been around for about 15 years. It is produced when a nitrogen stabilizer is added to urea, extending the amount of time nitrogen remains in the soil as either urea or ammonium. The technology doesn’t change the fertilizer – it is still urea and still soluble – but the stabilizers or inhibitors change the way urea is transformed in the soil, creating more plant-available nitrogen.
Urea breaks down in the soil through a chemical process called hydrolysis whereby the urea essentially converts to ammonium. An enzyme from microbes called urease is critical in catalyzing the reaction. If the reaction occurs too quickly, significant amounts of nitrogen can be lost to volatilization. An NBPT (N-[nbutyl] thiophosphoric triamide) urease inhibitor slows down the reaction, keeping the nitrogen as urea for a longer period of time. It slows down the rate of hydrolysis and isn’t lost to volatilization. Volatilization is more likely to occur in soils that are high in pH, such as those commonly found in southern Ontario that range between seven and eight.
Miltner said single inhibitor products generally have only the NBPT, resulting in more nitrogen getting into the plant. NBPT lasts only a couple of weeks in the soil and doesn’t do much to extend the longevity of nutrient availability. More uptake will occur but without the slow release effect.
With dual inhibitors, both volatilization protection and protection against leaching and denitrification are afforded.
Low analysis fertilizers are less expensive than high analysis formulations, and they contain filler that “doesn’t bring any agronomics to the table.” Although more expensive, the high analysis fertilizers will prove to be more efficient in the end. The cost per bag will be more, but the bigger picture shows there will be a cost savings without filler, he said.
The higher the percentage of EEFs, the more efficiency and longevity are realized.
“The bag might cost you more, but in the end it will save you money.”
Next generation pickup offers more
By Howard J. Elmer
Jackson Hole, WY – Trucks, currently, have never been more important to a manufacturer’s bottom line – not only because they are selling in ever increasing numbers, but because there just doesn’t appear to be a price ceiling. Customers keep loading up new pickups with luxuries that only a few years ago were found only in sedans. It’s this hunger for constantly increasing content that pushes prices up as these up-market extras quickly add up, and of course this is where builders earn the most money.
Ford knows this full well. It currently offers nine distinct trim packages and an extensive list of options. So, each year in this pickup war, Chevrolet responds to Ford’s increasing number of trim levels with its own increase in luxury, accessories, special editions and personalization. This is the current state of the heated pickup market and it shows no sign of cooling down.
For 2019 that’s why we not only have an all-new generation of Silverado (the fourth since 1999) but also, simply put, more of everything.
The new Silverado now offers eight trim levels, six different engine and transmission combinations – and for the first time – a new Duramax 3.0L turbo-diesel. These trim packages not only offer groups of conveniences, but they also cover the necessary work truck (WT) market right up to the opulent High Country. Yet within each trim level, customers still have ample options when it comes to custom building the truck they need. Cabs, box lengths, powertrains, gearing and sundry equipment –Chevy does not believe in one-size-fits all.
Being that Chevrolet has now been building trucks for a hundred years – for this generation of Silverado Chevy is mining its history and adding elements from previous gens of trucks. The notable one is the “Chevrolet” name stamped on the tailgate that harks back to the 1950s and ’60s. The centre grille-mounted bowtie is also iconic, however the new look is anything but rounded as the
designs of previous trucks. This new body is square, tall and slab-sided, offering a powerful profile. Sitting on up to 33inch tires just amplifies that impression.
Though this next-gen Silverado is larger than its predecessor (1.2 inches wider, 1.5 inches taller, 1.7 inches longer, with 3.9 inches added to the wheelbase), it is lighter by some 450 pounds. A mixed materials approach to construction is the reason for this. Strategic use of aluminum and more hi-strength steel have lowered the weight, yet the frame is actually 10 per cent more rigid than the outgoing model.
THE CARGO BOX
We all know that the cargo box on the truck is what makes it a pickup – a feature that’s been the same from day one. It’s also the feature that changes the least generation to generation, but not this time. Chevy has spent time and money on the business end of this new Silverado firstly by increasing the cargo volume to best in class. By widening the inner box walls to mimic the outer body panels, they have increased the available space by as much as 20 per cent. This space also boasts 12 fixed tie-down points with a sheer force of 500 pounds each (twice the previous rating). There are also nine moveable tie-downs. To see
Silverado is bigger than its predecessor yet lighter.
The 2019 Silverado is bigger than its predecessor yet is also lighter in weight.
what you‘re doing in the box it has task lighting and a 120V power outlet in the sidewall. Getting in and out of the box is also easier now, with even larger cut outs in the CornerStep bumper and large stake-hole handholds.
B elow it all is the rolled steel bed floor that is now using an even higher grade of hi-strength steel. Silverado also offers four versions of its tailgate. A standard, manual un-sprung gate, a manual gate with lift-assist, a power-locking version and even a power up-and-down gate with automatic release. Each of these is lockable. Making use of this additional space in the new bed are available storage bins that fit over the wheel wells that still leave the floor clear.
Multiple Powertrains are another feature that give customers necessary choices, and Chevy has some veterans and also some new mechanicals in its 2019 line-up. I’ve already mentioned the coming diesel, however that isn’t till late in the year and details are being kept under wraps till then.
Gas engines include updated versions of the 5.3L and 6.2L V8s along with an all-new 2.7L turbo engine that is now the base engine on the high-volume Silverado LT and RST. It offers 22 per cent more torque and greater fuel efficiency that the 4.3L V6. However, this V6 and the 5.3L V8 will still be the chief options on the entry-level and WT models.
A NEW DEVELOPMENT
An exciting development in fuel efficiency for this new gen is a technology called Dynamic Fuel Management. Unlike the current Active Fuel Management (which runs as either an eight-cylinder or four-cylinder), the new DFM can fire on as few as two cylinders. Studies have shown that under normal usage a DFM-equipped engine was running on less than eight cylinders 60 per cent of the time. This translates to a nine per cent improvement in fuel efficiency over the old AFM system.
The stretched body on the new Silverado translates to more room inside the cab – starting with an added three inches of rear-seat legroom for a total of 43.4 inches which almost equals the 44.5 inches available to the front seat driver and passenger. The other benefit of more space is storage, and Silverado has built new features into the second row, starting with two 10L bins integrated into the seat backs. Under the rear seat there is a moulded, compartmentalized, 24L storage tray.
In the front, by going with a traditional gear shift lever, the entire centre console/armrest is a massive storage space organized into several transforming spaces that will accommodate pretty much anything your daily life requires – along with all the electrical inputs and outlets necessary to run them. The interior itself is better seen than described. However, it is, without a doubt, the best interior Chevy has ever put forward.
For transmissions there are three versions. Each is coupled to the appropriate engine, as needed. At the lower end (power and price-wise) is the automatic sixspeed. The new base 2.7L turbo pushes power through an eight-speed gearbox. It also is the main choice for the 5.3L V8. The new 10-speed is found on the 6.2L V8 and will power the coming 3.0L turbo-diesel.
Most truck owners know, and certainly sense, that each generation of 1500-series pickup is becoming more and more towing capable. It’s actually funny that many of us still refer to this size of truck as “half-tons” – we left that territory long ago.
The new numbers for the 2019 Silverado are 12,200 pounds - towing (max), up 400 pounds over 2018. New maximum payload has increased 340 pounds to a hefty 2,500 pounds. Now to handle these new weights, Chevy has added some very welcome and slick towing technologies. First, up to four cameras offer different views while hitching. This includes hitch guidance lines on the centre display and a choice of views. After the driver has lined up the hitch and shifted to park, the parking brake sets automatically – avoiding that slight roll that wrecks the alignment. A new trailer light check system runs the lights in sequence as you watch. This feature can be activated from inside the truck or via a MYChevrolet trailering app on your Smartphone.
The new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado
will be coming to dealers this fall. Pricing for Canada has not been set at this time.
Change to propane is easy, affordable
Propane consistently costs less than gasoline or diesel, according to historical records
By Jeremy Wishart
Landscape contractors across Canada may still be reeling from paying high gasoline prices throughout this summer, which reached a four-year high in August across all of North America. Fuel price fluctuations like those seen this summer can wreak havoc on a landscaper’s budget and dramatically impact the business’ bottom line. If it increases enough in a single summer, it could even be the determining factor as to whether a contractor makes money or is left in the red at season’s end. Unfortunately, the price per gallon of gasoline is predicted to remain high for the 2019 cutting season as well.
But there are ways contractors can protect their business from the whims of the oil market by considering a switch to propane-powered commercial mowers. Using propane not only can safeguard a contractor from an unpredictable fuel market, it can also cost less per gallon than gasoline or diesel – and significantly so when oil prices are high.
PROPANE COSTS LESS PER GALLON
Fuel is frequently the second-largest expense for landscape contractors – as well as one of the most variable costs. However, propane consistently costs less than gasoline or diesel fuel, according to historical records kept by the Canadian
Depar tment of Natural Resources. The data shows propane is consistently less expensive across the southern provinces where it’s more likely to be used as a fuel for mowing. On average, contractors using propane mowers will pay as much as 30 per cent less in fuel costs compared
to a fleet using gasoline or diesel mowers.
Canada also produces significant exports of propane and has high-energy security from imports from the U.S., which help insulate the price of propane from fluctuations in the global energy
Mowers powered by propane at work on a jobsite.
In addition to available incentives, contractors who make the transition to propane do not have to switch away from the mower brand that they currently operate. More than 20,000 propane mowers were in use at the start of the 2018 cutting season – and more OEMs are including propane models in their equipment lineups all the time. In fact, 14 OEMs now offer a variety of zero-turn, wide-area walk-behind, and stand-on units. Several propane mower conversion kits are also available in Canada, meeting U.S. EPA certifications for emissions reduction that typically also meet Canadian emissions regulations. Because of this growth in models, it’s easier than ever for a contractor to add propane to their mower fleets.
Oxford2016:Layout112/16/153:36PMPage1 market. These differences are more pronounced during periods of high gasoline prices.
PROPANE CAN INCREASE CREW PRODUCTIVITY
Contractors using propane mowers can actually increase crew productivity alongside reducing costs. For contractors who refuel at public refueling stations, propane allows for on-site refueling to eliminate the need for employees to waste time at gasoline refueling stations throughout the day. Crews can hit the ground running in the morning with fully-filled propane cylinders, either filled at the end of the day by crews from a bulk propane tank or by a propane retailer that stops by to meet a contractor’s fuel needs.
Propane cylinders can also be safely transported on trucks or trailers to sites throughout the day. Crews need only to
exchange the full tank with an empty tank from their equipment and are ready to go. Because propane mowers also use a closed-loop fuel system, there’s no need to worry about spills in the field, on trucks and trailers, and on equipment or crews – a common accident with gasoline that wastes fuel and may require time spent cleaning up.
TRANSITIONING TO PROPANE IS AFFORDABLE AND EASY
With the use of the Propane Education & Research Council’s Propane Mower Incentive Program, contractors will not need to pay more to transition to a new propane mower. The program at www. propane.com provides $1,000 for every new propane mower purchased by a contractor – enough to offset the additional cost of most units. Contractors can also receive $500 for each certified conversion of an existing mower.
Contractors using propane mowers can actually increase crew productivity alongside reducing
High gasoline prices and fluctuating oil markets can create challenges for landscape contractors. But by considering propane mowers and other propane equipment, contractors can help themselves stay ahead of the price at the pump and in the black on budgets.
For more information on propane mowers, visit propane.com/commercial-landscape.
A propane cylinder is installed on a mower.
OGSA, WCTA ready for ‘ 19 conferences
Jones, Weeks to serve up keynote addresses.
Anew venue has been selected for the winter conference of the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association following a healthy run in Niagara Falls. The association is moving its annual conference and trade show to Blue Mountain Jan. 15-17.
The conference will feature 2½ days of education sessions, a tabletop trade show, the OGSA’s annual general meeting, the OGSA’s awards luncheon and a welcome reception.
Keynote speaker for opening day is Pat Jones of Golf Industry magazine, who will speak about “the good, the bad and the ugly.”
Other speakers and topics:
TUESDAY, JAN. 15
• Soil testing for golf: David Smith, DCS & Associates
• Managing putting greens during weather extremes: Adam Moeller, director, USGA Green Section Education
• Developing more effective tree management, newest technology: Steve Mann, SJM Arboricultural Consulting Ltd.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16
• Towards sustainability: Dr. Eric Lyons, University of Guelph
• Innovative trends in golf course management: Adam Moeller, director, USGA Green Section Education
• Architect panel – designing for enhanced sustainability: Ian Andrew, Jeff Mingay and Keith Cutten with Pat Jones as moderator
• Well management and permit to take water: Steve Kajan, water resources engineer, R.J. Burnside & Associates Ltd.
• Honing your leadership skills: Bruce Williams, director, California Alliance for Golf
THURSDAY, JAN. 17
• Beekeeping: Peter Chorabik, Toronto Bee Rescue
• Maple syrup production for beginners: Al Schwemler, Toronto Golf Club
• Managing change and mastering communications skills: Bruce Williams, director, California Alliance for Golf
• Bill 148 update: Patrizia Piccolo, partner, Piccolo Health LLP
For more information about the conference or to register, visit www.ogsa.ca.
WCTA CONFERENCE
Canada’s premier golf media personality, Bob Weeks, will deliver the keynote address on Thursday, Feb. 21 to open the annual conference of the Western Canada Turfgrass Association in Richmond, B.C.
The 56th annual winter conference will be held once again at the River Rock Casino Resort Feb. 20-22.
Weeks is a golf analyst for TSN and had previously served as editorial director for SCOREGolf magazine. He also provided the narrative for the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association’s video called Today in Ontario which took a behind-the-scenes look at the role of the golf course superintendent as well as highlighting golf’s environmental benefits.
Joining Weeks as “mini keynotes” on the morning of Feb. 21 are Grant Cantin, head groundsman at Wimbledon, and Mike Jiggens, editor of Turf & Rec magazine.
The education theme for the 2019 conference is “Protect your natural capital,” which references golf courses, sports fields, bowling greens and other recreational turf areas.
Confirmed speakers include Dr. Bruce Clarke of Rutgers University and Jerad Minnick of the Natural Grass Advisory Group.
Four pre-conference workshops are planned.
To register, visit www.wcta-online.com.
Fifth straight win squares Canada, U.S.
Western N.Y. watches its 9-4 series lead evaporate with 22-18 WOGSA win.
In 2013, 20 members of the Western New York Golf Superintendents Association pulled off a three-point victory over a 20-man team of their counterparts from the Western Ontario Golf Superintendents Association to win a third straight Fall Classic match play championship and take a commanding 9-4 lead in the annual cross-border competition.
Today, the series is all squared up at nine wins apiece.
The Canadian squad scored a 22-18 victory over their American rivals in October at the Grand Niagara Golf Club, winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive time to even the 18-year-old series.
Each team fielded 10 twosomes who were either superintendents or association affiliates. Four points were at stake in each of the
10 matches during which twosomes from each side played six holes of scramble play (one point), six holes of best ball (one point) and six holes of singles play (two points).
The Canadians won six of the 10 matches and tied another to secure the win. Only two of the matches resulted in 4-0 sweeps – one for each side.
John Taylor, host superintendent and captain of the Canadian team, said there are no plans to change the format of the competition, even though it has gone through a metamorphosis of sorts since the early years of the event.
“We (he and Western New York captain Scott Dodson) have been pretty happy with how things have been going right now, especially since Canada has been on this great winning streak,” he said.
The series will switch to American soil in 2019 for the penultimate match before the event’s 20th anniversary the following year. Choosing a golf course close to the border is a prerequisite, Taylor said, noting it keeps travel simpler for both teams. There have been two exceptions to the rule over the years, however.
“We have strayed a bit over the years, going to the Mississaugua Golf Club once (in 2004) by special request,” he said. “It is the only event that guys usually volunteer their course without being asked.”
In 2011, the Fall Classic was played at the Irondequoit Country Club in Rochester – a venue of significant distance from the traditional U.S. location of the immediate Buffalo vicinity.
Taylor and Dodson haven’t looked too far
A jubilant WOGSA team is all smiles following a fifth consecutive win at the Fall Classic.
ahead toward the 20th anniversary of the competition, although Dodson said he wishes to host the 2019 matches at Buffalo’s Park Country Club.
“At our ages, Scott and I don’t like to plan too far ahead,” Taylor said. “A lot can change in a few years.”
For the 2018 matches, golfers from both teams braved the extreme wind and cooler-than-normal temperatures.
“It was a little breezy today, but sunshine and happiness made it all good,” Taylor said.
The scores of each match were tabulated as groups returned to the clubhouse following the shotgun start. The participants from the fifth match were the last to arrive and submit their score, with the outcome of the Fall Classic hinging on the result. The U.S. side needed a perfect 4-0 sweep to re-claim the Fall Classic Cup from Canadian hands, but fell short when Don Liska of Deerfield
Golf Club and Angelo Capannelli of Hutcheson Sand & Mixes upended Western New York’s Rich Gladhill and Drew Thompson, 2½ to 1½.
Taylor offered his take on the Canadian team’s run of five consecutive victories:
“I think the success is directly related to the core group of players from each side who enjoy each other’s company and seem to get along very well.”
MATCH RESULTS
• Match 1: Craig McCutcheon & O.J. Piccolo (Canada) lost 2½ to 1½ to John Fleck & Brian Conn (U.S.A.)
• Match 2: Corrie Almack & Ian McIsaac (Canada) won 2½ to 1½ over Adam Mis & Jim Baldwin (U.S.A.)
• Match 3: Tom Newton & Andrew McQuillan (Canada) won 4-0 over Gary Hughes & Jack Leising (U.S.A.)
DEPENDABILITY
• Match 4: John Taylor & Gavin Kellogg (Canada) won 3-1 over Scott Dodson & Thad Thompson (U.S.A.)
• Match 5: Don Liska & Angelo Capannelli (Canada) won 2½ to 1½ over Rich Gladhill & Drew Thompson (U.S.A.)
• Match 6: Tracey Boerkamp & Mike Jiggens (Canada) lost 3-1 to Eric Tuchols & Nick Ciaccio (U.S.A.)
• Match 7: Duane Schmitz & Steve Phillips (Canada) won 2½ to 1½ over R.P. Stringfellow & Jon Cuny (U.S.A.)
• Match 8: Jerry Richard & Mike Giblin (Canada) lost 4-0 to Bob Kelly & Matt Plosila (U.S.A.)
• Match 9: James Raynor & Trevor Hunter (Canada) halved 2-2 with Gary Keppell & Dave Meeter (U.S.A.)
• Match 10: Jeremy Julie & Dan Lavis (Canada) won 3-1 over Zak Farkas & Anthony Tosh (U.S.A.)
KEGS bests GLAGS with dramatic end
Syngenta Cup series tied 5-5 in 10th anniversary showdown.
The 10th anniversary of a friendly match play competition between two neighbouring southern Ontario golf superintendents associations – perhaps appropriately – finished with one side squaring its decade-long duel to allow the event to start its next chapter with a fresh start.
In dramatic fashion, the Kent-Essex Greenskeepers’ Society (KEGS) scored a final pairing victory to erase a one-point deficit, narrowly defeating the Greater London Association of Golf Superintendents (GLAGS) 11-10 at Kingsville Golf Club on Oct. 17 to claim the Syngenta Cup.
It marked KEGS’ second consecutive win in as many years to knot the series with GLAGS at five victories aside.
“It came down to the last group, and it was only a point, so you can’t get any better than that,” host superintendent Paul Lemieux said.
Trailing 9½ to 8½ after the first six of seven matches, KEGS’ anchor duo of Derek Brown (Talbot Trail Golf Club) and Greg Brown (Essex Golf Club) scored a decisive 2½ to one-half win over Jamie Spencer (Westminster Trails Golf Club) and Tim Hornick (Arkona Fairways) to claim the cup for the home team.
One point was awarded for each segment of the seven matches: best ball (first six holes), alternating shots (middle six holes) and scramble (final six holes).
GLAGS dominated the first four matches, winning 2-1 in each pairing to secure an 8-4 lead. But a 3-0 sweep in the fifth match
by Richard Froese (Oxley Beach Golf Course) and John Pickard (Maple City Golf Club) over Patrick Brennan (The Fox Golf Club) and Mike Burch (Forest City National) gave the home team a fighting chance to come back.
The penultimate match resulted in a split of 1½ points apiece to set the stage for the dramatic seventh and final match.
As the event sponsor, Syngenta puts up a cash prize for the winning side to use in
a charitable fashion, whether it’s to support an association’s endeavours or sponsor a group to participate in the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation’s annual fundraising golf tournament.
“This is all about giving back to the associations and trying to encourage people to play in the events,” Syngenta turf specialist Ryan Beauchamp said, noting both KEGS and GLAGS have monthly meetings and golf outings during the season. He said the
Paul Lemieux, Kingsville Golf & Country Club superintendent, is fitted with the Syngenta Cup championship belt on behalf of Team KEGS by event furnisher Ryan Beauchamp of Syngenta.
Syngenta Cup has helped to boost attendance at both associations’ events.
Beauchamp addressed the assembled group at the post-tournament dinner, promoting a new superintendent university event in December offered by Syngenta and the Ivey School of Business.
“That’s been a fantastic thing we’ve done with superintendents from across the country,” he said. “Next year, in 2019, it looks like we’re going to do an assistant superintendent university event. They’re very high value experiences. I wish I had that training when I was a superintendent when you think about the different opportunities. It’s all about networking. That’s why we’re here.”
Next year’s Syngenta Cup competition will be played at the St. Thomas Golf & Country Club in Union where the event was first played in 2009.
MATCH RESULTS
• Match 1: Mike Jiggens (Turf & Rec) & Deana Dougan (River Valley Golf Club) of GLAGS 2-1 over Ryan Beauchamp (Syngenta) & Paul Lemieux (Kingsville Golf Club) of KEGS
• Match 2: Doug Wilson (Black Horse Golf & Country Resort) & Dan Lavis (Tarandowah Golfers Club) of GLAGS 2-1 over Dan Friesen (Orchard View Golf Club) & Vince Gagnier (Rochester Place Golf Club) of KEGS
• Match 3: Kyle Brodhagen (Stratford Municipal Golf Course) & Jason Pickering (Tamarack Ridge Golf Club) of GL AGS 2-1 over Chris Andrejicka (Essex Golf Club) & Jason Hebert (Roseland Golf Club) of KEGS
• Match 4: Eric Kirkpatrick (Pine Knot Golf Club) & Kent Rimmer (Redtail Golf Course) of GLAGS 2-1 over Steve
• Match 5: Richard Froese (Oxley Beach Golf Course) & John Pickard (Maple City Golf Club) of KEGS 3-0 over Patrick Brennan (The Fox Golf Club) & Mike Burch (Forest City National) of GLAGS
• Match 6: Mark Trudell (Bluewater Golf Course) & Steve Phillips (Mt. Elgin Golf Club) of GLAGS halved 1½1½ with Steve Percy (Ambassador Golf Club) & Josh Mallot (Belleview Golf Club) of KEGS
• Match 7: Derek Brown (Talbot Trail Golf Club) & Greg Brown (Essex Golf & Country Club) of KEGS 2-1 over Jamie Spencer (Westminster Trails Golf Club) & Tim Hornick (Arkona Fairways) of GLAGS.
Much to see and do at 2019 Congress
Seminars, trade show, networking, symposiums all part of package
Canada’s premier horticulture and green industry trade show and conference – Landscape Congress –will be held Jan. 8-10 at the Toronto Congress Centre. The 46th edition of the event will feature more than eight acres of show floor space, three days of educational seminars and workshops, and networking opportunities.
Feature events include an IPM symposium, landscape designer conference, new product showcase, live hardscaping presentations, a garden centre symposium, and a garden centre awards ceremony.
Featured speakers and their education session topics include:
TUESDAY, JAN. 8
Take back 40 per cent of your workday with leadership and communication. (Laura Cole, Your Latitude, Dundas, Ont.). Research indicates managers spend 40 per cent of their time dealing with “non-task related issues,” such as employee disengagement and difficult behaviour. Participants will learn proven leadership and communication techniques, specifically designed to support managers in taking back lost time.
Managing your plant community: creative approaches to site preparation, installation and maintenance. (Thomas Rainer, Phyto Studio, Arlington, Va.). A new way of thinking is emerging, looking at site characteristics such as heavy clay, deep shade, high pH, or dry soil, not as stress-
es, but as assets on which long-term planting is built. New strategies on working with a site, rather than fighting it, will be discussed.
Creating culture in your organization. (David Lammers, Garden Grove Landscaping, Waterdown, Ont.). Company culture is key to both team building and long-term success. Lammers will share insights on the owner’s role in creating, defining, and fostering culture, and the steps to take for implementation.
Log cabin or Taj Mahal: are you really listening? (Bobbie Schwartze, Bobbie’s Green Thumb, Shaker Heights, Ohio ). Landscape designers, landscape architects, and landscape contractors should k now that working with new clients is not as easy as it might appear. All too often, the installed design that clients get is not what they wanted. Schwartze will outline her approach during the initial meeting with the client plus the
Nike Jabbour
Bobbie Schwartze
Thomas Rainer
Laura Cole
Christina Salwitz
Paul Zammit
ensuing discussions about goals, budget, the importance of soil amendment as it relates to successful planting, and phasing of the installation.
Promoting gardening in the landscape of media clutter. (Frank Ferragine, aka Frankie Flowers, FrankieFlowers.com). With mor e than 140,000 followers online, Flowers has utilized social media to promote gardening and his brand and will show how he did it.
It’s the end of the world as we know it: prompt payment, adjudication and the new construction act. (Robert J. Kennaley, Kennaley Construction Law, Toronto, Ont.). The Construction Lien Act is now the Construction Act. Many of its new provisions, such as longer lien timeframes, bonding requirements on public projects and broader rights to request information, came into force on July 1,
2018. Other significant changes, including those that establish prompt payment and adjudication regimes, come into force on Oct. 1, 2019. Kennaley will review the changes and outline how they might be used to better protect one’s business.
Pots of bold: designing with containers for drama. (Christina Salwitz, The Personal Garden Coach, Renton, Wash.). Containers have become a practical option in the pricey world of garden design. Key points used in selling containers and designs include choosing containers for customers that sell, colours, styles, and price points; creating designs that sell, demographic information that might not have been considered, and getting repeat sales; designers and buyers working together; and timing for the most efficient container sales.
pte7halfpg5triline_17tnr 18-01-02 3:08 PM Page 1
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9
Painting with perennials: a landscape artist’s perspective. (Bobbie Schwartze, Bobbie’s Green Thumb, Shaker Heights, Ohio). For years, perennial gardens were designed as side-by-side blocks of colour. Due to European influences over the past 10 to 15 years, these designs have become more impressionistic. In addition, more importance is being given to foliage, deadheads, and lengthening the seasons of interest. The degree of maintenance is also affected by these changes in design and by plant selection.
G rowing up your container design and maintenance sales. (Christina Salwitz, The Personal Garden Coach, Renton, Wash.). Maximizing container design sales is easy through simple sales tech -
Continued on page 43
The Progressive ADVANTAGE The Progressive ADVANTAGE
The Slope-Pro® is a steep slope, rotary mower capable of 50º slopes. Designed and built by Progressive Turf Equipment and is another example of our forward thinking.
Steep Slope mower: Slope-Pro® 52” cut * available with bolt-on galvanized deck shells
Contour / Rough Finishing MowersTurf Grass Production Mowers
Sports field, Park and Estate Mowers
Steep Slope Remote Controlled Mower
OTS tackles leading edge of information
February symposium
aimed at lawn care, sports turf, golf and sod industry sectors.
Two days of information aimed at the lawn care, sports turf, golf and nursery sod sectors of the professional turfgrass industry will be presented at the University of Guelph Feb. 20-21 at the 2019 Ontario Turfgrass Symposium.
The theme of the forum is “The Leading Edge of Information.”
Sessions offered include:
Wednesday, Feb. 20
General sessions will run from 8:45-9:45 a.m., including an update from the Guelph Turfgrass Institute by its communications and outreach coordinator, Cam Shaw.
GOLF SESSIONS
• CGSA /OTRF update
• 2018: The summer that just wouldn’t end: David Oatis, United States Golf Association
• Diagnostic clinic review 2018: Dr. Katerina Jordan, University of Guelph
• GPS turf management technolog y – the real benefits: Marcus Thigpen, Turf Geeks
• Adapting to the new economy – finding new ways to do more with less: David Oatis, United States Golf Association
LAWN CARE SESSIONS
• PLCAO update
• Soil testing and interpretation: David Smith, DCS & Associates
• Nematodes – strategies for success: Dr. Katerina Jordan, University of Guelph
• Building client trust in a changing business world: Peter Barrow, Petrona Associates
SPORTS TURF/RECREATION FACILITIES SESSIONS
• Sports Turf Canada/Ontario Recreation Facilities Association update
• Sports turf manager of the year: Sports Turf Canada
• Managing your premises – risks and liabilities: Len Bennett, Frank Cowan Company
• Lawn conversion – best management practices for overseeding: Dr. Eric Lyons, University of Guelph
• Turf infrastructure and lifecycle planning: Dr. Eric Lyons, University of Guelph
A lunch and learn session will be presented at 12:15, entitled “Auditing your irrigation system,” by Gary Taylor, GT Irrigation Services.
Thursday, Feb. 21
General sessions starting at 8:45 a.m. include a diploma in turfgrass management update by Steve Fleischauer, director, associate diploma in turfgrass management, University of Guelph; and a breeding research and seed cultivar update by Dr. William Meyer, director of turfgrass breeding, Rutgers University.
Dr. Eric Lyons (left) of the University of Guelph will speak about turf infrastructure and lifecycle planning at a sports turf session. The University of Guelph’s Dr. Katerina Jordan will speak about nematodes and strategies for success at a lawn care session.
GOLF SESSIONS
• Plant growth regulators’ effect on survival of putting greens during thawing events in late winter: Corey Flude and Dr. Eric Lyons, University of Guelph
• Dollar spot fungus on the move – changes in name and fungicide resistance: Dr. Tom Hsiang and Moez Valliani, University of Guelph
• Using chemistry properly – a discussion of best management practices to ensure the proper use and activity of the chosen product: Rick Fletcher, NuFarm America Inc.
LAWN CARE SESSIONS
• Ministr y of the Environment site check: Suzanne Durst, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
• Understanding the nitrogen cycle:Dr. Eric Lyons, University of Guelph
SPORTS TURF SESSIONS
• Maintenance day panel: Sports Turf Canada
• Ball diamond field lip management: Sports Turf Canada
• Development of natural turf horse racing surfaces: Sean Gault, Woodbine Entertainment Group; and David C. Smith, DCS & Associates
Feb. 20-21, Rozanski Hall, University of Guelph
NURSERY SOD SESSIONS
• Sod soil case studies: Anne Verhallen, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
• Recommended cultivars for sod growers: Dr. William Meyer, Rutgers University
• Compaction – causes and considerations: Alex Barrie, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
A lunch and learn session will be presented at 12:15, entitled “Increasing the nutrient use efficiency and plant vigor by applications of biostimulants and plant growth promoting micro-organisms,” by George Lazarovits, research director, A&L Biologicals.
For more information or to register, visit https://opened.uoguelph.ca/Ontario-Turfgrass-Symposium.
Grass not a foe, but an ally of the environment
Optimally maintained green spaces produce numerous benefits.
Athree-year research program aimed at improving turf grass in residential areas has concluded at the Vineland Research & Innovation Centre at Vineland Station, Ont.
“Often regarded as an environmental foe, grass is actually an environmental ally,” Dr. Michael Brownbridge, research director, horticultural production systems at Vineland, wrote in his summary report, Time to Change the Conversation Around Turfgrass. “It really depends on how you look at it.”
Brownbridge noted grass is an essential part of the living landscape, but is depicted as environmentally costly because of maintenance-associated inputs.
“The reality is there are numerous benefits that accrue from having optimally-maintained green space,” he said.
In his report, Brownbridge cited the value of turfgrass and its resilience to such adversities as heat, drought and
flooding. He recalled an incentive program initiated in California a number of years ago – in response to severe drought conditions – that encouraged homeowners to remove their lawns in favour of planting inert materials. The program was aimed at water conservation, but it backfired when the opposite result occurred.
“B y removing the living landscape, when rain events did occur, the soil could no longer capture and filter rainwater, or hold it on-site where it would be slowly released for trees and other plants to use,” Brownbridge wrote in his report. “Instead, water was lost through rapid runoff, and in the end the denuded landscape w as the least effective water-saving measure. It would have been preferable to encourage planting of drought-tolerant grasses and other plants.”
He said by “deadening” the landscape, the ecological, social and health benefits provided by green spaces are lost.
Turfgrass works in harmony with trees
and shrubs to produce an integrated and diverse landscape. Turf helps improve the environment and helps mitigate the effects of climate change, but Brownbridge noted those benefits can only be realized if grass is healthy and maintained.
“To create and maintain healthy turfgrass, we need to do a better job of selecting and installing grasses that are well suited to our built environment,” he wrote, adding grasses are affected by such biotic factors as insects, diseases and weeds and by various abiotic stresses, including extremes in temperature, drought, poor soil conditions and rainfall amounts that are either too little or too much.
“Selections will vary by location and desired function, and we need to consider the climate of the future when making these choices. Various cultural practices, including fertilizing, watering, aerating, overseeding and topdressing will also help keep turfgrass in top condition.”
Several turfgrass varieties are available
Turfgrass works in harmony with trees and shrubs to produce an integrated and diverse landscape.
based on their environmental performance. Some, for example, perform better in areas where water is limited, while others are more salt-tolerant and can more effectively survive in harsh environments.
Calgary salt tolerance trial
The City of Calgary had conducted a trial in which salt grass (salt tolerant varieties) plugs were installed in a road median and had established into a continuous green sward one year later. In spite of the compacted soil in the area and the challenging environment, grass was able to establish.
“While this approach needs to be fine tuned to make it more utilitarian, there is a potential in using these types of pioneer grasses in this setting,” Brownbridge wrote in his report. “Apart from thriving in a roadside environment, their roots can promote better soil structure over time,
creating more favourable conditions for other plants, including shrubs and trees which can then be integrated into a once inhospitable setting.”
The selection of salt-tolerant turfgrasses in roadside settings is an example of how turf’s functionality can improve in a traditionally adverse environment. More focus should be placed, therefore, on the evaluation of cultivars for such purposes, Brownbridge wrote.
“For residential use, various creeping tall fescues and ryegrasses are a vailable with excellent aesthetic qualities. Many have lower maintenance requirements and, more importantly, are hardy under drought conditions, recovering quickly when rain begins again. Several also exhibit improved insect resistance – a great trait when sowing or overseeding a lawn.”
Brownbridge noted the beneficial relationships plants have with bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms. Microbes can help plants access soil nutrients and promote resilience in situations of biotic and abiotic stresses.
“The use of biostimulants and biofertilizers in lawn care can enhance conditions for beneficial microbes on and around grass roots. Rhizobacteria such as Bacillus pumilus and B. amyloliquefaciens promote root formation and enhance nutrient uptake while also stimulating plant defences against diseases. Such bacteria are now used to coat grass seeds, colonizing young roots as the seeds germinate and providing benefits that can improve turfgrass establishment.”
Benefits of endophytes
The research at Vineland found that high endophyte grasses possess several qualities that make them ideal for urban settings. Test plots were established in 2015 that contained creeping tall fescue, creeping ryegrass, high endophyte tall fescue, high endophyte ryegrass and standard Kentucky bluegrass. No maintenance other than mowing was done at any of the plots.
“In spite of severe drought conditions during the summer of 2016 and a very wet summer in 2017, the high endophyte cultivars and the creeping tall fescue performed exceptionally well. After two and a half years, these grasses still covered more than 80 per cent of the test area with approximately 15 per cent of the space occupied by broadleaf weeds. In comparison, Kentucky bluegrass dwindled to less than 30 per cent coverage over the same period.”
Research showed high-endophyte fescues performed well during summers of drought followed by plentiful moisture. The Kentucky bluegrass plots didn’t fare as well.
‘To create and maintain healthy turfgrass, we need to do a better job of selecting and installing grasses that are well suited to our built environment’
The same grasses were tested on sod farms in Ontario. The high endophyte and creeping grasses covered more than 98 per cent of the plot area after 18 months.
“The grass was so dense that it prevented weed ingress. In contrast, the Kentucky blue blend covered less than 60 per cent of the plots, with at least five per cent covered by broadleaf weeds. The high endophyte grasses also showed some resistance to chinch bugs.”
Brownbridge wrote the endophyte in the grasses contributed to their enhanced performance and insect tolerance.
“One year after sowing, the fungus was detected in more than 90 per cent of the ryegrass samples and around 30 per cent of the tall fescue samples. Levels were still high enough to provide protection against pests, and the proportion of grasses containing the endophyte could be e nhanced through overseeding. They appeared to be durable, low maintenance options for residential use.”
Brownbridge stated that several new grasses are well suited for urban settings and provide a better option than traditional varieties in environments where they are apt to fail. The bottom line, however, is that the turfgrass remains healthy if the benefits are to be realized.
The summary report included additional research data provided by Guillaume Gregoire at the Université Laval who found:
• Runoff was greater in unfertilized plots as compared to plots that were fertilized. The fertilized plots also had thicker canopies that intercepted water, producing denser root growth.
• Phosphate losses were higher in
runoff from unfertilized plots compared to those that were fertilized.
• Slightly higher nitrogen levels were realized in runoff and leachate from fertilized plots that can be expected since nitrogen is extremely water-soluble and mobile in the soil. The use of slow release fertilizers can reduce or prevent such losses because nutrients are not as easily
solubilized during rain events.
• Losses were reduced during split fertilizer applications as compared to one-time applications.
“These are important findings, as some municipalities have adopted bylaws to limit (or ban) turfgrass fertilization. Results clearly indicate that a correctly fertilized lawn will retain more water and nutrients than a poorly maintained area, leading to improved functionality.
“Overall, good lawn maintenance practices deliver value through improved turf quality and resilience, and provide economic, environmental and social benefits. Well maintained and healthy turfgrass is an essential component of a living landscape, contributing to a better environment, better living space and a happier and healthier lifestyle.”
Unique features for pickup series
Sierra has ‘different’ feel than other brands.
By Howard J. Elmer
Each region of Canada has unique geographic features, ones that set it apart from the rest. However, while that description also applies to our newest province – Newfoundland – when you are there, there is also a vaguely perceptible “other world” sense about the place.
I was thinking this as I drove the new 2019 GMC Sierra from St. John’s through the Avalon Peninsula on my way to Conception Bay.
Perhaps this is why GM chose “the Rock” for this debut. It very much wanted to present the Sierra as having a different feel from other brands, but mostly from its other in-house version – the Silverado.
The Sierra’s big sister, the Chevy Silverado, also new this year, has in some ways stolen the Sierra’s thunder by debuting first. It was rolled out as part of the 100th anniversary celebrations for Chevrolet trucks. So, while this later Sierra release could be considered a second act, there are
differences in the Sierra that do make it different. These are vaguely perceptible at first, but then, like Newfoundland itself, they make themselves known in a way that’s indelible.
Style-wise, Sierra continues its separation from the Silverado – a direction that started well over a decade ago. For 2019, the new grille is upright and dominant with a proportional chrome three-bar pattern (Denali, though, continues to get the exclusive “cheese grater” look).
The new lights are large and C-shaped, anchoring the taller hood to the powerful shoulders on the truck’s front end. The wheels have moved closer to the body corners, making it “look” that much longer. These body features are in sharp contrast to the slick, flatter, pulled back look of the new Silverado.
The truck body is actually larger than the old model with the small space increases mostly being devoted to the interior comfort of passengers. For instance, the 2019 crew cab has nearly three inches of addi-
tional rear-seat legroom compared to the current model.
Other new exterior design elements include bright chrome side window surrounds, integrated dual exhaust tips and a wider range of available tires (18, 20 and 22-inch options).
Still, while the look matters, if you want to set a product apart from its competition you have to give it exclusive features. GMC has now done that.
Two unique features
Starting at the business end of this new truck you’ll see that GM has invested in two unique new features, neither of which will be shared with Silverado – first, a convertible tailgate with multiple functions and, second, an industry-first carbon-fibre cargo box.
The new convertible tailgate is called the MultiPro. It features six unique functions and positions. The key is the split function that folds half the gate down to create a second tier for loading and/or to be used as a backstop for long cargo. If the tailgate
The 2019 GMC Sierra was tested in one of Canada’s most rugged regions.
itself is down, the split function now creates an extra wide step up into the cargo bed as well as a cutout for closer bed access. The weight capacity is 375 pounds, and the tailgate will also function as a workstation. This fits nicely with the addition of an 110-volt outlet added to the box nearby. This tailgate will be standard equipment on Denali and SLT trucks.
Working with the tailgate at our lunch stop, it struck me that these innovations are the inevitable next-level evolution of the one-piece tailgate. I mean, ever since the early days of trucks, tailgates have doubled as workbenches, picnic tables and bleachers. We have always used them for more than just keeping cargo in the bed. Now the GM engineers have made it easier and more convenient to do what we’ve always been doing.
The second big deal is this newly formed, one-piece bed that uses purpose specific carbon-fibre composite. Once complete, it is 62 pounds lighter than the base steel version on the Sierra. GMC is claiming best-in class dent, scratch and corrosion resistance for this innovation – and with good reason.
Carbon-fibre is one of those materials normally associated with high-performance race cars and fighter jets. It’s very strong, yet very light – both traits that will benefit any truck cargo bed. This box, called the CarbonPro, is not a standard feature and it will cost more as an option. The standard bed continues to be made of roll-formed steel. This is where it remains to be seen how much value customers are willing to pay for a truck bed.
However, having the option is revolutionary.
Tough testing
This material is tougher than steel or aluminum. Putting a hole through it is virtually impossible – but should it happen, it can be repaired with a propane torch. When I first saw this bed in Detroit, I had a chance to speak to a director of the company (Continental Structural Plastics) that developed
this bed for GMC. We talked about how tough it was and he told me that one of the tests they had subjected it to was loading a snowmobile with a steel-pick studded track into the truck bed, starting it and then pinning the throttle – spin -
ning that track – in place, with those hardened two-inch steel picks tearing at the floor. This uniquely Canadian-ish torture test did not damage the material. Personally. I can tell you I have shredded steel, aluminum and bed-liners doing the
same thing – well, actually trying not to. For power – this is where GMC and Chevy do share – new versions of the 5.3L and 6.2L V-8 engines will be joined by an all-new 3.0L inline-six turbo diesel engine (very late availability). The 6.2L and 3.0L
engine will be paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. But past the usual updates, GM has unveiled a new fuel saving system called Dynamic Fuel Management. This industry-first technology enables the engine to operate in 17 different
power patterns (using from two to eight cylinders) all governed by demand. DFM will be available on both the 6.2L and the 5.3L V8.
Driver-assist technologies are new and found throughout the new Sierra. Key among these is an electronic trailering system called ProGrade. Included in its features is a hitch-view camera with zoom feature for hooking up, side-view cameras to see down the side of the truck and trailer and an auxiliary camera that may be mounted on the back of the trailer for an in-cab view of what’s behind you.
Snow Blowers
…for big-time power to clear more snow, faster!
REIST Two-Stage Snow Blowers built to work with heavy-duty equipment
• Heavy duty augers are driven through self-deicing sprockets
• Large diameter 6 blade fan
• Available in 9 ft. & 10 ft. widths with many factory-installed options
Snow Throwers
…for a big throw on small machines!
REIST Single-Stage Snow Throwers draw 20% less power than 2-stage
• High-efficiency design for smaller tractors, skid steers and telehandlers (>15 HP)
• Models for PTO and hydraulic drives
• Auger diameters 16” to 30”
A nice touch is a new auto electric parking brake assist that automatically applies the parking brake as you shift into park, preventing that one-inch lurch that takes you off the ball. Also part of the package are wireless tire pressure sensors that when installed on the trailer wheels relay tire pressure and temperature information to the in-cab trailering screen. A new trailer light test and diagnostics system is included, too.
Inside the Sierra offers another industry first. A three-by-seven-inch heads-up display projects vehicle info onto the windshield within the driver’s sight line. The standard eight-inch infotainment screen offers a new Smartphone-like experience, faster responses and improved voice recognition. This screen als o stitches various camera angles together for a bird’s-eye view of the truck.
Also new is Adaptive Ride Control (offered on Denali). Using real-time monitoring of road and driver inputs, it reacts (in milliseconds), adjusting shock damping on the fly for the smoothest ride.
No conversation about a Sierra would be complete without talking about the Denali trim package. Since its debut in a 2001 Sierra, it’s taken on a life of its own. This organic marketing coup happens only occasionally in the automotive world. GM knows it and is working to exploit it. They are pumping even more upscale styling and materials into the truck and expanding its stand-alone character.
Walker S18
Equipment Showcase
The S18 continues to build on the Model S platform with an 18 HP engine and Walker’s patented Grass Handling System with Thru-Shaft PTO. It is faster and more powerful, and with reduced weight, the S18 is designed to be productive and efficient. Able to run 36 to 56 inch decks, the new S18 is the perfect choice for residential properties, gated yards, or demanding customers. The S18 is also useful during other seasons with a 48” dozer blade, 36” single stage snowblower, and lawn dethatcher. Request a free, on-site demo today! walker.com/tractors/s18
is easy to install with absolutely no welding required! It is powder coated black for durability during the winter, can easily be swapped between ramp and tailgate, has a universal fit for most major trucks, is lightweight constructed that is both tough and durable, and features spring-assisted folding. It can be used to load any and all equipment from large to small. Additionally, it can be used to load ATVs, motorcycles, furniture, appliances and more. New is a two-foot extension kit that is available and extends length of the loading ramp from eight feet to 10 feet. sportsturfmagic.com
ECHO New X-SERIES PB-8010 Backpack Blower
The Max-Snow snow blower from Agrimetal offers high performance under the worst conditions. Developed in conjunction with professional snow removal contractors, it has been designed to increase productivity as a heavy-duty, light and more manoeuvrable snow-clearing machine. It is also more efficient than other two-stage snow blowers, enabling snow to be removed faster. The frame’s structure is made of high-quality steel. The high-strength QT-400 steel is used in strategic areas to increase structure rigidity while reducing overall weight. The design of the snow deflector makes it virtually impossible to clog the chute, even under wet snow conditions. agrimetal.com/en/max-snow-snow-blower
The all-new Staris is the revolutionary stand-on mower from Exmark.
Reinvented from the ground up, the Staris delivers the commercial performance, durability, ergonomics and ease of service that landscape professionals need to maximize productivity and profitability. An innovative, low center of gravity design optimizes weight distribution for increased stability, traction and maneuverability in a wide range of cutting conditions. The intuitive controls and large open platform design provide maximum comfort and make operating Staris easy. The Staris is available with 32- to 60-inch UltraCut™ cutting decks and Kohler® EFI and Kawasaki® V-Twin engine options. www.exmark.com/products/mowers/stand-on/staris
New ECO 600T – Top Dresser
Attachment
The PB-8010 powered by a 79.9cc engine delivers the highest blowing performance of any backpack blower on the market – 1071CFM/211MPH, with an incredible 44 Newtons – blowing away and outperforming competitive models by over 7%! That’s POWER and only 24.5 lbs! The oversized automotive-style main-filter and foam pre-filter performs well in high-dust environments, and tool-less latches mean easy maintenance. The 83.8 oz. fuel tank delivers long run times, and the ECHO-original cooling vented back, padded backrest and straps ensure all-day comfort.
Loaded with professional features and a two-year commercial warranty the new ECHO X-Series PB-8010 is a number one choice for serious landscapers. www.echo.ca
The ECO 600T 3-point hitch top dresser attachment is unique in Ecolawn Applicator’s line of broadcast top dressers. Equipped with a category 2 3-point hitch and a PTO drive, the new generation ECO 600T makes handling heavier products feasible without sacrificing maneuverability or ease of operation. It has been designed with a hydraulic flowgate system, for effortless adjustability directly from the driver’s seat. Whether applying compost, sand, soil, or a custom blend; the ECO 600T’s large capacity, rear-delivery hopper (22 cu. ft) broadcasts bulk material in a 180-degree arc (22 ft. spread), making topdressing quick, smooth, and effortless. www.ecolawnapplicator.com
Equipment Showcase
Z994R Diesel
Meet the new addition to our line of ZTrak™ 900 Series Mowers: the Z994R Diesel. It’s a Z9 with plenty of power but surprisingly low vibration and noise levels. A 43.5 Liter fuel tank maximizes your mowing day. And all of our three seat options come with ComfortGlide™ Suspension, which allows the seat to move with you, not against you. The Z994R also has classic Z9 features like the 7-Iron™ PRO deck and the cross-porting transmission. JohnDeere.ca/MowPro
Pro-Roll: A New Concept in Wide-Area Rolling
The Pro-Roll 10 and Pro-Roll 15 are versatile wide-area turf rollers with 10’8” or 15’ rolling widths. Ideal for flat or contoured turf, they have been shown to aid in reducing disease pressure and permit a reduction in mowing frequency and chemical usage, while still being gentle enough for use on new growth.
Both models produce consistent compaction as multiple short rollers are able to independently track changing contours. Solid ballast is easily added to or removed from each roller deck providing compaction between 5.8 to 11.6 psi.
The Pro-Roll 10 and Pro-Roll 15 can be used with either a compact tractor or a wide range of utility vehicles. progressiveturfequip.com/pro-roll_details.php
BR 800 C-E
OUR BIGGEST, BADDEST AND MOST POWERFUL BACKPACK BLOWER
Landscapers, parks and recreation crews and golf courses…be prepared to be blown away.
• Robust Blowing Force – 4.4 kW engine power; offers 20% more power than the BR 700
• Sturdy Performance – Best power-to-weight ratio in STIHL gasoline blower line; machine is more compact and easy to carry
• Ergonomic Carrying System – S-shaped shoulder straps, chest strap and hip belt; provides operator comfort
• Telescopic Tube – Quick adjustment of the length for various conditions; no tools required
• Pull Cord – Handy access to the side starter cord; machine can be restarted after taking a short break www.stihl.ca
SVL65-2 Compact Track Loader
Kubota Canada is pleased to announce the all-new SVL65-2 C ompact Track Loader. The Kubota Diesel engine of 68.0 HP Tier IV compliant makes this equipment a hard-working track loader. With the introduction of the Advanced Multi-Function, this compact loader has improved simultaneous hydraulics for better efficiency and performance. The loader arm has a tight vertical lift, allowing for outstanding dumping height without sacrificing reach. The cab features a roll up door for easy access regardless of the position of the loader arms. Standard features on the SVL65-2 include 2-speed travel, heavy-duty rear door, suspension seat, and convenient self-levelling features. www.kubota.ca
Toro® Outcross™ 9060
Toro recently introduced the all-new Outcross™ 9060, a revolutionary, turf-friendly machine that delivers on the benefits of both a tractor and a super-duty utility vehicle. Designed to allow turf managers to do more with less stress, less labor, fewer resources and less time, the multi-purpose Outcross 9060 is a versatile, powerful and productive addition to any operation. The Outcross 9060 is turf-friendly, thanks to a weight-balanced chassis and four-wheel steering, coupled with full-time four-wheel drive.
For more information on the Outcross 9060, watch the video, visit the website or contact your local Toro distributor. www.toro.com/en/outcross-9060
MS 462 C-M
The unique design of the MS 462 C-M and MS 462 C-M R make them suitable for limbing and working on tough slopes. Equipped with STIHL’s impressive M-Tronic™ fully electronic engine management system, regulating the ignition timing and fuel supply. Other benefits include high engine performance, fast acceleration and optimum handling.
• Instant acceleration due to optimized ignition and electronically controlled carburetion
• High torque in wide speed range
• HD2 air filter with radial seal
• Ematic™ S oil pump – Infinite regulation of the oil flow
• LIGHTWEIGHT – Optional STIHL ROLLOMATIC® ES light guide bar
• Improved ergonomics – Bumper spike to grip the timber better and cutting sight to assist www.stihl.ca
Introducing New Holland’s Largest Compact Track Loader
The NEW C245 Super Boom® compact track loader offers the rugged construction, power and performance needed to excel, on landscape jobs, in rental yards and on construction sites. With 4,500-lb rated operating capacity, and greater breakout force, the C245 lifts more, hauls heavier pallets, and moves bigger boulders so you keep ahead of schedule. With the patented New Holland Super Boom® vertical lift, which delivers optimal height and reach, and combined with its strength and impressive lift capacity, the C245 is ideal for managing the toughest operations.
newhollandconstruction.com
TrailPro
Continued from page 32
niques. When sales are turned into maintenance sales, it has added to the bottom line.
Marketing is about belonging. (Alyssa Light, The Profitable Innovator, Waterloo, Ont.). Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. It has to be strategic and intentional. Positioning statements can be used throughout marketing and, when carefully crafted, will draw potential customers in.
Groom your trails faster with one machine, one operator and in one pass! 3-in-1 heavy-duty unit from Reist Industries. Unique edging discs removes the weeds and grass from the sides of the trail leaving it with clean edges. It reclaims the gravel and stone dust built up along the edge and redistributes it across the trail, eliminating the cost of regravelling. Angled blades remove high spots and level trail, spinning motor pulverizes and separates root balls and stone dust, carbide tipped teeth spin at 540 RPMs, leveling blade leaves the trail smooth and ready for the public. reistindustries.com
Brouwer Aerator
Choice plants, proven performers and impactful additions for gardenscapes. (Paul Zammit, Toronto Botanical Garden, Toronto, Ont.). Gardeners and designers must often make difficult choices when selecting plants to maximize visual impact and benefit a particular garden location. For Zammit, a high performing plant is so much more than showy flowers over a long blooming period. Each plant added to the landscape can and should provide much more.
The edible landscape: incorporating edibles into the modern landscape. (Niki Jabbour, author of The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener.). The popularity of food gardening is spilling over into the landscape. The benefits are many, including higher property values and lower grocery bills. Beautiful, low maintenance solutions for adding food plants to the home landscape will be introduced with simple ideas like raised beds, vertical plantings, edible borders, perennial crops, home orchards, and more.
The NEW Brouwer Aerator is the latest tool to make grass grow and mature sooner! It punctures surface to root level while maintaining ability to harvest or use turf immediately. Allows water, air, fer tilizer and chemicals to penetrate turf and go into the holes to make the rhizomes grow. The Heavy duty frame, follows ground contours and it has special spikes for golf courses. A Single lift cylinder makes it easy for transport. Available in 8 ft. and 12 ft. models and can be used multiple times each year, which makes it the best aerator for sod fields and golf courses on the market. brouwerkesmac.com
Electrically powered equipment for the landscaping profession. (Michael Gucciardi, International Landscaping Inc., Milton, Ont.). The strengths and weaknesses of conventional and electrically powered equipment will be compared, and some of the challenges associated with transitioning between the two will be addressed. Gucciardi will also provide a background on International Landscaping’s decision to use electrical equipment.
THURSDAY, JAN. 10
Leading with landscape: designing and implementing urban ecologies. (Michael Ormston-Holloway, certified arborist, The Planning Partnership, Toronto). Topics in this session include resilient species and sustainable models for urban forestry; arboriculture: the good, the bad and the ugly; trees and soil as infrastructure; and new opportunities for city greening: roof terraces and privately-owned public spaces.
The Apex XA1200, the newest addition to Fecon Industries’ line of hydroseed and environmental spray applicators, has been introduced to the industry. It has a tank capacity of 1,200 gallons, two powerful, variable speed, hydraulically driven agitators, and a Vortex slurry pump that discharges a wide variety of materials without modifications to the pump or adjusting the mixing instructions of mulch manufacturers and allows maximum emptying of the slurry tank.
Designed to maximize productivity and profitability, the XA1200 is ideal for hydroseeding and environmental spray applications such as alternative daily cover or final cover on landfills, mine reclamation, seeding of roadsides, airports, pipelines, golf courses, agriculture sites, oil and gas fields, wind farms, quarries, solar fields, resource stock piles, railway lines, resorts, and post fire rehabilitation projects.
Each component of the APEX is designed for material versatility, durability, extremely low maintenance, and a long service life. A stainless-steel mixing tank with corrosion reducing materials for the tank top and working platform greatly reduces the maintenance required. A raised loading hatch, a fully enclosed engine compartment, and an innovatively designed hydraulic design maximizes efficiency while eliminating the high maintenance demands of traditional hydraulic systems. The innovative APEX power pack design is removable, replaceable, and upgradable to extend the life of your tank while keeping up with the latest technologies and requirements for engines and pumps. The XA1200 features a Tier 4 Doosan Engine.
All APEX Applicators are supported by a 15-year protection against tank corrosion, three-year hydraulic components and two-year engine warranty.
For more information, visit www.apexseeder.com.
Bulletin Board
Craig McCutcheon Toronto West / Niagara craig.mccutcheon@target-specialty.com 905-351-6544
Joey
Quebec South & East
joseph.losito@target-specialty.com 819-571-1677
Jason MacRae Quebec North & West jason. macrae@target-specialty.com 514-712-8006
By Rod Perry
A new twist on TV dating
Remember The Dating Game ? If you’re younger than 50 you may not. How about Love Connection? If you’re younger than 35, you may not.
For those of you who don’t remember either of these TV “game” shows or may possibly have never even heard of them, don’t fret. The Dating Game was a popular daytime television show from the mid-1960s through the 1970s while Love Connection spanned the early 1980s through the early 1990s. At least that’s when their original versions aired. Both shows went on to spawn newer versions with different hosts that continued for several more years, but they weren’t nearly as popular as their forerunners.
The Dating Game featured a bachelorette who asked various questions to three eligible bachelors who were hidden from her view. After listening to their responses, she would choose the one whose answers she felt were the most satisfactory, and then would go out with that individual on a date that was paid for by the show.
Love Connection was similar in nature, but the contestant chose his or her date based on videotaped profiles of three candidates. The two would go on a date together prior to the show being aired, but the viewer saw only excerpts from the three video profiles. Members of the studio audience voted electronically who they thought would be the best bet for the contestant before he or
she revealed which of the three was actually chosen to be dated.
T he concept for a dating-themed show has taken on a few new twists since the days of Love Connection. In fact it’s become fairly risqué. Just when I thought the televised dating concept couldn’t get any more bizarre, along comes the next generation in risqué TV dating. While recently monkeying around on YouTube, I stumbled upon a British show that presented a new take on dating na ked. The show is called Naked Attraction and is completely uncensored.
After watching an episode of this series, I couldn’t get over the fact that a game show featuring full frontal nudity could ever see the light of day on network television. They’re a little more open-minded in Britain than we are on this side of the pond, but this was really pushing the envelope.
A fully clothed male or female contestant stands before six different coloured tubes,
each containing a fully nude individual hoping to be that person’s date. Each tube rises a few feet to reveal the potential date’s body from the waist down. Here we see the uncensored genitalia of the potential date. The show’s host asks the contestant to eliminate the one whose lower body he or she finds the least appealing. Since we’re now well into the 21st century, it’s not necessarily a man choosing a woman or vice versa. Occasionally a gay man will choose from among six men or a lesbian will choose from among six women.
With one potential date eliminated and five remaining, the tubes rise another couple feet to reveal the person from the neck down. Again, the contestant sends another person home whose breasts or chest isn’t to his or her liking. With four people remaining, the tubes are fully lifted so that their faces are revealed. It’s at this stage that we see those not-so-glamorous British teeth when they smile. Another per-
son is eliminated at this point. With three remaining, the host asked each of them a question and the contestant axes yet another based on his or her take of their voices. That leaves two potential dates remaining, but, before one is finally chosen, the contestant goes backstage to disrobe and returns completely nude. The two surviving date wannabes check out the contestant from head to toe and offer their opinions to the host. Finally, the contestant chooses his or her date and they leave the stage hand in hand before going out on a clothed date.
I guess this is what passes for entertainment these days. Naked Attraction makes The Dating Game seem like a Disney production by comparison. On this British show, the camera tends to frequently zoom in on a person’s naughty bits as the female host asks a female contestant, “What do you think about his willy? Do you prefer circumcised or uncircumcised?”
I’m telling you, I’m not making any of this up. Naked Attraction is an actual show. I was curious enough to look into it and it has generated plenty of viewer complaints, but there is no sexual activity involved, and those appearing on the show hold down respectable careers.
I’m sure mom and dad would cringe to see their offspring on this show, but it’s not as if the contestants are all 20-yearolds. Some are older than 50.
TV dating has certainly come a long way since, “Bachelor No. 2, what is your favourite colour?”
Rod Perry, aka Duffer, is a Niagara-based freelance writer.
