Industry Update

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

New Holland Construction Sponsoring Extreme Dream 2011 Contest

New Holland Construction is sponsoring the Extreme Dream 2011 contest, and the winning entry will be provided with a free L218 skid steer loader. Simply tell us about your biggest, best and/or most challenging landscape project, and three winners will be selected to receive a trip to the GIE+EXPO trade show in Louisville, Ky., where the grand prize winner will be announced in the New Holland Construction booth. Enter your project today at www.newholland.com.

Toro Acquires Lawn Solutions

The Toro Co. announced that it has acquired Lawn Solutions Commercial Products, Inc. The acquisition, which includes a dedicated lineup of aerators, seeders, power rakes and brush cutters, adds key product categories to Toro’s portfolio to support growth across its core global businesses. Lawn Solutions, based in Louisville, Ky., was founded in 2006. Owner David Cook will continue to consult with Toro.

Fockele Names Project Manager

The Fockele Garden Co. named Jason Somerville as its landscape maintenance project manager for Magnolia Trace in Huntsville, Ala. Somerville oversees the maintenance of the 42-acre ACTS Retirement-Life Community. He holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Clemson University.

Fecon Announces Southeast Regional Manager

Fecon, Inc. has added Frank Plotts as Southeast regional manager. His territory includes Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Most recently, he served as general manager of a Bobcat/Kubota dealer in North Carolina.

Becker Launches Nematode Forum

Becker Underwood introduced a forum to help professionals connect to exchange knowledge, ideas and resources about the use of beneficial nematodes in insect pest management programs. This online community is an expansion of the Nematode News blog. Members of the forum can post questions for researchers, start discussions, upload videos and photos, and learn more about beneficial nematodes. Visit www.beckerunderwood.com for more information.

North Carolina School Wins Grand Prize

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute Education & Research Foundation and Discovery Education announced that Deborah Icard’s fourth-grade class at Cloverleaf Elementary School in Statesville, N.C., won the grand prize from the TurfMutt “Landscapes Across America” contest for a creative classroom presentation on their local environment. The class will receive a $5,000 grant to implement an eco-friendly classroom program at their school, a $500 teacher award and trees to be planted in the U.S. in honor of each member of the class. Second-place winners included Wendy Palese, Elmwood Elementary School, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Christine Tang, Eastover Elementary School, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Mary Beisert, West End Elementary School, Industry, Texas; and Ellen Raieta, Marshall Street Elementary School, Norristown, Pa. Learn more at http://turfmutt.discoveryeducation.com.