SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/96775
Tools&Equipment New "in-line" option for wetting agent applicators Underhill's Pellet Pro wetting agent applicators now feature a new "in-line" option for more efficient operation. The inline applicators can be connected directly to a water source, such as a quick coupler or Underhill HoseTap, taking the weight off the hand-held nozzle for more comfortable and consistent applications. PelletPro is used on golf courses and sports fields to efficiently apply wetting agents over large turf areas at up to 48 GPM. The applicator accepts all wetting agent tablets and provides a powerful, yet ultra-soft spray that applies surfactants to tight, hydrophobic soils. Pellet rotation at one revolution per second (RPS) evenly dissolves the tablets. PelletPro features Underhill's Precision Cloudburst™ nozzle, which attaches to the hose-end and applies droplets in a broad fan pattern. Underhill New Blindside herbicide A new, fast-acting herbicide offering a unique solution for challenging postemergence weeds like doveweed, dollarweed, buttonweed and sedges in warm-season turf is now available from FMC Professional Solutions. Blindside herbicide can be applied to most types of warm-season turfgrass, even St. Augustinegrass, as well as Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue, providing transition zone flexibility. Dual-action Blindside works through both foliar and root uptake to deliver faster control of more than 70 broadleaf weeds and sedges. It is registered for use on established turf areas including residential, commercial and institutional lawns, athletic fields and golf course fairways and roughs. FMC Professional Solutions Turfco CR-7 topdresser The Turfco CR-7 topdresser and material handler is designed to handle the mid-range level of topdressing and renovation. The CR-7 is the perfect choice for sports complexes with multiple fields or for completing renovation work. The CR-7 uses Turfco's patented WideSpin technology, which gives operators the most accurate spread from light to heavy and patterns as wide as 40 feet, making it easy to topdress multiple fields. An adjustable spinner angle allows operators to drive topdressing into the turf for better integration with a total range of 26 degrees up and down. "The CR-7 was designed for sports turf managers who need to utilize a spinner topdresser with a smaller tractor, but want larger capacity to cover multiple fields quickly and efficiently," said Scott Kinkead, executive vice president of Turfco. Turfco's new CR-7 topdressers have a 3-year warranty. Turfco Manufacturing John Deere Golf adds reel and bedknife grinders John Deere Golf has launched a new family of reel and bedknife grinders under John Deere's Frontier Equipment brand name. The grinders provide precise reel and bedknife maintenance, ensuring turf professionals have the tools available to provide a premium quality of cut every single day, across a wide range of course conditions. Featuring integrated tooling decals that allow for quick and efficient setup, the Frontier Reel and Bedknife Grinder line is the perfect complement to John Deere Quick Adjust 5 and Quick Adjust 7 cutting units. All models are also capable of providing a precision grind on reels and bedknives from any manufacturer. John Deere New adjuvants and colorants Harrell's Introduces SprayMAX, a new line of adjuvants and colorants, developed to help turf and ornamental managers stretch their budgets and get more from their turf and ornamental management spray programs. From Harrell's Crop Oil Concentrate to Harrell's Nonionic Spreader Sticker, turf managers can count on a product that will strengthen the hard work they already put into taking care of their turf and plants. Two products many turf managers use regularly to improve turf are pH buffer's and fungicide activator's, which Harrell's has included as part of their SprayMAX line. High pH of tank mixes increases the chance for alkaline hydrolysis, a process where some insecticides and herbicides decompose or split reducing the efficacy of their applications. Harrell's Pro-Turn 200 XDZ Mowers now available w/ Kohler closed loop-EFI engines The Gravely Pro-Turn 200 XDZ series of commercial zero-turn mowers are now available with a Kohler 29 HP Closed Loop-Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) engine. The 200 series mowers feature a simplified design that minimizes maintenance, downtime and input costs. When equipped with the Kohler Closed-Loop EFI, the Gravely Pro-Turn 252 and 260 mowers' performance and efficiency are further enhanced, making the top-of-the-line system even better. The Kohler engine improves fuel economy on the Pro-Turn 252 and 260 by as much as 20 percent, according to calculations by Gravely product engineers. Kohler calculates with gasoline at $3.70 a gallon, the Closed-Loop EFI will pay for itself in less than 400 hours. After payback, savings continue at approximately $0.96 per hour at $3.70 per gallon for gas. Kohler Engines 42 SportsTurf | December 2012 www.sportsturfonline.com