RECENT EVENT
TURF TALK W
ednesday, October 2nd marked the inaugural Turf Talk event for the Arkansas Turfgrass Association. The event was sponsored by Jerry Pate Company, SiteOne and Scott DeMott Insurance. Lunch was sponsored by Big Red Convenience Stores. Scott DeMott gave attendees some great advice about the types of insurance that small business owners in the industry should consider, including an umbrella policy to raise your limits, employment practice liability and pollution coverage. The biggest exposure in the lawn care industry is auto and equipment rollover. DeMott noted that you should always have your best drivers when towing equipment and to check their driving records frequently. DeMott also noted that 22% of auto crashes occur while turning left. You can reduce your risk by reviewing your routes and reducing the number of left-hand turns. Jerry Pate Company’s Matt Roe covered basic equipment maintenance. Attendees learned the importance of cleaning spray equipment and what can void equipment warranties. Roe also gave important hints about how to extend the life of hydraulic hoses, pumps, and seals. He also emphasized the importance of daily checks before and after the equipment is used and good record keeping. Tim Johnson, Key Account Manager with SiteOne, covered both irrigation troubleshooting and the basics of landscape lighting. The pros and cons of two-wire irrigation systems were discussed along with common design mistakes. Tim tackled two big topics for us, and we hope to have him present again soon. We owe a big THANK YOU to everyone who attended and to our speakers and sponsors. •
Scott DeMott
Matt Roe Tim Johnson
SPONSORS
Winter 2019
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ARKANSAS TU R FGRASS
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