AUSGAP PITCHES TO PADDOCKS

Turf Pitches to Turf Paddocks

By Michael Sutton AusGAP General Manager

The last 12 months have been busy, exciting, daunting and intriguing. It has seen me leave the hands-on roll of greenkeeping, in which I have been to the following;

part of for nearly 30 years in some shape or form and commence the role as General Manager for AusGAP.

Having worked in hands-on roles within both the turf and horticulture industries (most recently as Campbelltown Sports Stadium’s Sports Turf Manager) for such a long time, the transition into my new role within turf certification for AusGAP has not been without its challenges. However, it has been a tremendous change and everyone that I work with and have worked with along the way so far, has made this transition easier gratifying with the welcoming I received

than expected.

The Role

AusGAP is an independent turf quality assurance business that operates under the International Turfgrass Genetic Assurance Program (ITGAP) system and is the only be endorsed by the owned and governed Georgia Crop Improvement Association.

The key objectives of the AusGAP program are to ensure quality assurance and genetic purity for turfgrasses and provide an operational system to support turf producers nationally, with the tools to improve farm practices and also turf quality for the end user.

Turfgrass research and development (R&D) is incorporated and undertaken in the AusGAP program, involving but not limited

assisting farms with their own varietal R&D, undertaking trial work on varieties such as Hybrid Bermuda, Zoysia japonica, Zoysia macrantha and Zoysia matrella at NSW office site, participation in ongoing STRI trials with turfgrass comparisons.

The Road to Date

My first few months were extremely authorised agent outside of the USA to

from the AusGAP Certified turf growers and their staff when meeting everyone during the initial farm visits, from South East Queensland to Victoria.

My first week with AusGAP started in November and involved AusGAP training followed by a quick trip to Brisbane, the AusGAP flags in a research area

Sunshine Coast, before the return drive all the way back to the AusGAP office in NSW. It was a journey of nearly half of the southeast coast of the country, where I had the pleasure of visiting several turf farms – all unique, but all showing the highest standard of turf production.

In mid-November I was part of the design and construction of a golf hole at the research facility. This particular construction was conducted in order to assess the real-life application of new turfgrasses bred for the golfing market within Australian conditions.

Construction included the establishment of a bunker, fairway and green, tee box and rough areas, and irrigation installation.

In late November through to early December we planted and laid turf on this area with the following turf varieties being used:

Sir Grange Zoysia – Laid on the tee box, fairway, bunker and green surrounds. Cutting height ranging from 10mm to unmown using both cylinder and rotary mowers. Mowing assessment conducted to assess suitability to different practices. Primo Zoysia – Planted from grow cells to form the green and cut with a cylinder mower only with a current cut height of 4mm. 11 new Zoysia varieties under research and development were planted from

grow cells in the main body of the fairway to study them in the fairway and rough area to see how they perform at different cut heights and under both cylinder and rotary cutting.

The varieties listed above are also being used in a current fertiliser trial. This trial sees different types of fertiliser applied, as well as a control area to see how they behave and respond.

In February of this year, Billy Skaggs of ITGAP came to Australia with whom I was able to continue and complete my ITGAP training to become an accredited AusGAP auditor. Billy Skaggs was also here to conduct independent audits at New South Wales and Victorian turf farms. This was a very informative visit as I not only received formal training, but I also gained some great insight into how a representative from ITGAP goes about the auditing process.

The standard observed during these farm visits has been more than remarkable. Compliance areas including WHS, production procedures and product, together with overall farm sanitation and order were assessed, with the farms performing at a very high standard.

The proceeding months has seen AusGAP driving to all regions of New South Wales and South Eastern Queensland to visit another 27 turf producers’ farms. The AusGAP audits completed over this time providing a clear assessment of the quality of these growers. These are not only some of the best turf farms in Australia, but perhaps the world.

AusGAP has also established a social media presence during this 12-month period, which has provided a steady rise of AusGAP Certified awareness to both domestic and commercial consumers. This has been a great way to create awareness and promotion within the turf and consumer markets of the effort being put into creating quality turf by certified turf grower farms. This being of particular relevance during a time when travel and supply have been greatly hampered due to the restrictions imposed as a result of Covid-19. Billy Skaggs visits Grech’s Turf Supplies

AusGAP visits Daleys Turf

AusGAP & Billy Skaggs visit Lilydale Instant Lawn

The 2020 year has seen the inaugural AusGAP Scholarship program delivered through consultation with key stakeholders, in which four recipients from the turf industry were awarded a share of remittance to upskill and/or upskill themselves for the betterment of their position or companies within the industry. This year there were four recipients lucky enough to receive an AusGAP Scholarship and I am excited to see what they achieve within the industry in the years to come.

and delivery of the AusGAP Certified Representative (ACR) program. Which has seen turf farms nominate one delegate to be their ACR and undertake training.

The ACR’s have commenced a training program that is being delivered as follows:

1.

2.

3. Webinar on the roles and responsibilities of the ACR – delivered in May. Online knowledge test to qualify to complete part 2. On farm audit assessment. On completion of the above 3 steps a certificate is awarded, certifying, the individual as an AusGAP Certified Representative.

As things are slowly returning to normal again, it is hoped that AusGAP will be able to complete this training process with all the nominated ACR’s around the country that have yet been able complete their assessments.

Into the Future AusGAP also conducted the introduction

Since Billy Skaggs’s February visit, the world was hit with COVID-19 which has seen the cancellation of all trade events and travel creating uncertainty around future events and interstate visits. The AusGAP interstate road trips will continue eventually when right to do so, and I really look forward to seeing some of the more remote turf properties in North Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia. I also look forward to attending trade events and turf associated shows where I can continue to convey to all what AusGAP delivers to the turfgrass industry.