Industry news

Nick Shebert of TurfPro, Sacramento, Calif., befriended an alligator during an Everglades airboat tour attendees went on during the R&R portion of the DuPont event.
Grubs, gators and more
Networking and product/pest education headlined DuPont’s first lawn care symposium.
NAPLES, Fla. – Grubs, gators and gearing up for the busy season were the talk of the DuPont ProBusiness Exchange Acelepryn Lawn Symposium held here in March.

About 80 attendees convened to learn about Acelepryn, an insecticide with the active ingredient Calteryx. It’s the first turf product featuring an active ingredient from the anthranilic diamide class of chemistry. Acelepryn’s main foe is the white grub; it also controls other key turf pests like billbugs and caterpillars and can be used on landscape ornamentals.

Andrew Adams, owner of Capital Turf Management, Willow Grove, Pa., said several of the product’s characteristics – such as having no signal word on the label – make it a good point of discussion for homeowner associations and school districts.

The DuPont team also offered a preview of Imprelis, a broadleaf herbicide that’s shown to be effective against ground ivy, wild violets and henbit. Imprelis has a new active ingredient, aminocyclopyrachlor; it’s expected to receive EPA registration in the third quarter of 2010.

In addition to learning more about products and pests, symposium attendees networked with their peers and were treated to some R&R. – Marisa Palmieri

TruGreen, Earth Day part ways
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A month before TruGreen was to sponsor the Earth Day Network’s event on the National Mall touting organic and sustainable lawn care, the organizations parted ways. The event was slated to take place on April 25.

“Due to unanticipated events, Earth Day Network and TruGreen regrettably announce their relationship for the 40th anniversary event has been suspended,” a joint statement said. “TruGreen continues to respect the commitment Earth Day Network is making to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and Earth Day Network recognizes TruGreen’s efforts on behalf of organic and sustainable lawn and land care.”

Soon after Earth Day and TruGreen announced their partnership, antipesticide community rallied to criticize the relationship, including the creation of several Facebook pages dedicated to stopping the sponsorship.
That criticism grew when the New York Department of Environmental Conservation announced a $500,000 fine against TruGreen for pesticide violations.

N.Y.’s New Leaf purchases Lion Landscaping
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – New Leaf Landscape Maintenance acquired Lion Landscaping of Sag Harbor, N.Y. 
New Leaf has been serving the Hamptons since 2003 and specializes in landscape design, installation and maintenance.  President and Owner Michael Regolizio also owns Blue Tides Irrigation, Regolizio Management and Arrow’s Rest. He has more than 15 years of landscape experience.

Better hearing conservation efforts needed
GREELEY, Colo. – A study conducted by researchers at the University of Northern Colorado shows that hearing conservation efforts are needed for urban tree service workers and others who operate chainsaws, chippers, stump grinders, leaf blowers, water trucks, rotochoppers, tractors, and brush and weed trimmers. These efforts could include hearing testing, hearing loss prevention training and using ear protection.

Twenty men ages 21-57 from seven employers participated in the study last summer. Their length of service ranged from one month to 28 years. The research highlights include:

• Research found that 95 percent of workers (19) worked in conditions that exceed either OSHA and/or NIOSH limits for on-the-job noise exposure.
• Using a noise dosimeter to measure exposure in working conditions, research showed that ear protection should be used when operating chainsaws, chippers, stump grinders, leaf blowers, water trucks, rotochoppers, tractors, brush/weed trimmers.
• Workers ranked chippers (measured at 112-119 dBA) as emitting the loudest noise. Noise exposures above 115 dBA are not permitted by OSHA.
• 80 percent routinely wore hearing protection of earplugs, earmuffs or combination earplug/earmuff. The researchers recommended users wear both earplugs and earmuffs when dBA is 100 or greater (operating leaf blowers, chippers, chainsaws.)
• Three of the seven employers had components of hearing loss prevention programs, but only one had a comprehensive hearing conservation program as required by OSHA.

Syngenta videos explain pesticide formulations
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Syngenta  now offers an explanation of the science and the ingredients that go into the formulations of its control products.

The series of eight short video segments, covering topics ranging from the importance of surfactants to the value of long-standing research and development efforts, is available at www.greencastonline.com/
FormulationVideo/. The videos include information on how Syngenta transforms active ingredients into formulations, the role that various inert ingredients and manufacturing processes have in delivering a product that performs well in a wide range of conditions and the company’s stewardship efforts to support long-term usefulness of its products.

Jacobsenrolls out dealer inventory system
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Jacobsen introduced a tool that it says has helped improve its fill rate for service parts.
The new electronic tool allows each dealer in the Jacobsen network to upload its parts inventory, which is then viewable on a private intranet so that all Jacobsen dealers can check availability across the group.

“We have consistently maintained a strong 97 percent fill rate of service parts over the last few years, something Jacobsen customers and dealers have taken note of,” said Britton Harold, Jacobsen’s product manager for parts and accessories.

“But sometimes the 3 percent that goes on backorder can present a challenge,” Harold says. “Some of those parts that make up this minimal shortfall can have long lead-times or, in some cases, are just hard to get because of the quantities needed or the prohibitive cost of producing a one-off item.”

Although Jacobsen dealers routinely contact each other when trying to source parts not in stock, previously there was no quick reference system, similar to a central bulletin board, to help source the urgently required items.

Brickman was one of about 40 companies exhibiting at the Student Career Days career fair. Enthusiasm reins at Student Career Days
ATLANTA – Host school Chattahoochee Technical College took home first prize at this year’s Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) Student Career Days. The event was held at the school’s North Metro Campus last month.

Student Career Days is an annual three-day competition among students and college landscape horticulture programs. Students compete in business-related and technical events and attend a career fair where they look for internship and job opportunities.

With more than 1,000 students and faculty attending from 68 participating colleges and two FFA-affliated high schools, it was the largest representation of schools the event has seen in its 34 years. The event also boasted its first ever international attendees, Bridgwater College in England and the Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture from Ontario.

Garden designer and media personality P. Allen Smith was the keynote speaker. He shared his advice for students entering what he calls “the best industry on the planet.” He was inspirational, but tough in his graduation speech-esqe delivery.

“If you don’t have a strong work ethic, get one. Or just turn around and walk away,” he said. “Don’t go into your career with an attitude. Go into it with the attitude that you’re going to do whatever it takes.”

Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for Stihl, who sponsors Student Career Days, said at the career fair that the students’ contagious enthusiasm was similar to the buzz he heard from the contractors who attended the event.

“In talking with a few of the landscapers here, they’re beginning to see things turning around,” he said. “The energy at this event is reflective of the cautious optimism we’re hearing in the market.”

Rounding out the top five schools were 2). Brigham Young University - Provo; 3). Brigham Young University - Idaho; 4). North Carolina State University; and 5). University of Maryland.  – Marisa Palmieri 

CLCA certification program gets WaterSense label
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) received the WaterSense label from the U.S. EPA for its Water Management Certification Program. Previously a WaterSense Program Partner, CLCA’s Water Management Certification Program was requested to include an irrigation system auditing component to the certification program in order to receive the WaterSense label.

As requested, CLCA’s Water Management Certification program now includes irrigation system auditing, which allows individuals to conduct irrigation audits on new landscape projects that fall under California’s newly updated Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.

YardApes participates in Greencare for Troops
NEW MILFORD, Conn. – YardApes, in partnership with Project EverGreen, will again participate in “GreenCare for Troops” in the greater New Milford area. Project EverGreen is a nationwide outreach program initiated to connect local area lawn and landscape firms with families of the men and women serving their country in the armed forces.

“Lawn and landscape maintenance becomes a definite hardship when a family’s primary source of income is on active duty and away from home,” said YardApes founder Shayne Newman. “By maintaining a healthy lawn and property, we hope to contribute to the families’ overall well being during a very stressful time in their lives. It’s a sincere gesture of support.”

Companies interested in providing services can visit www.projectevergreen.com for more information. 

Stihl debuts new models
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Stihl’s two new chainsaw models, the MS 311 and MS 391 improve fuel efficiency by up to 20 percent and reduce emissions by up to 50 percent as compared to previous models, meaning longer run times between refueling and lower fuel costs, the company says.

Both models offer a pre-separation air filtration system that requires fewer filter changes, allowing for longer run times between filter maintenance, and an advanced anti-vibration system that reduces vibration, resulting in operator comfort.

The MS 311 and MS 391 also feature a toolless fuel and oil cap with retainers, translucent fuel tank, and side access chain tensioner. The platform design concept allows for streamlined parts and maintenance.

People in the news
Kevin Thompson joins the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association as executive director. Thompson brings more than 10 years of association management experience, having served most recently as executive director of the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation and the Ohio Lawn Care Association.  

HydroSense Irrigation Design & Consulting, Toronto, hired James Riddell as business development manager-conservation.

Joe Weiss, a sales associate with Bluegrass Lawncare, Bridgeton, Mo., not only achieved his sales quota for 2009, but was named corporate employee of the year. Weiss has worked for the company for three years, bringing his 14 years of experience and knowledge to the lawn, landscape and snow removal business.

Bill Bewlay, vice president of operations, was appointed COO of Cleary Chemical Corp. in February.

The Davey Tree Expert Co. named James Stief a corporate officer. Stief is a 32-year veteran of the company.

The National Truck Equipment Association elected three new members to its board of trustees. Distributor trustees Jim LoPresti, president and CEO of Auto Safety House, Phoenix, and Jeffrey Messer, president of Messer Truck Equipment, Westbrook, Maine, and manufacturer trustee Dave Zelis, director of sales and marketing of Buyers Products Co., Mentor, Ohio, join the group.

The Irrigation Association hired Marcia E. Cram as foundation and membership manager and Eva R. Hornak as communications manager.