Industry Update

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com

News from around the Green industry

New England Grows Attracts Large Crowds, Sells Out Exhibit Hall

An exhibit at New England Grows.

More than 14,250 green industry professionals attended New England Grows, which was held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Massachusetts. Education sessions covered such topics as creating lifetime customers, climate change, merchandising techniques, organics, sustainability, insect and disease management, and unique new plants.

During this year’s event, New England Grows contributed to the six New England cooperative extension systems and continued its support of the Boston Schoolyard Initiative, which connects children with horticulture.

New England Grows is an educational partnership between the New England Nursery Association, Associated Landscape Contractors of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Arborists Association and Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association.

GolfLocker.com Adds Superstore in Tampa

GolfLocker.com, an online retailer of golf shoes and apparel, announced the opening of its new 10,000-square-foot superstore in Tampa, Fla. The Golf Locker Retail Superstore specializes in golf shoes and apparel, but also carries golf bags, gloves, rain gear, socks, balls and more.

Online since 1999, Golf Locker is owned and operated by Bart Patterson.

Peterson Appoints New Regional Sales Manager

Peterson appointed Rick Conde to the position of regional sales manager for the Southwest. This area of responsibility includes Arizona, New Mexico and the southern halves of California and Nevada. Conde has wide experience in sales of industrial and power generation equipment.

Fultz Joins Grigg Brothers

Grigg Brothers Foliar Fertilizers added Charlie Fultz to its staff as the technical and distributor representative for the Southeast. Fultz has been in the course-maintenance business since 1992, having worked as a superintendent in Virginia for the past 13 years. Most recently he was posted at Shenvalee Golf Resort in New Market, Va. Fultz holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Longwood University.

Maruyama Announces Commercial Warranty

Maruyama U.S., Inc. has introduced a five-year commercial warranty. The new warranty will protect commercial, industrial and residential users against manufacturing, material and workmanship defect for five years from the date of purchase. Maruyama will continue to warranty the ignition modules and inner drive shafts of trimmers and brush cutters for the lifetime of the product.

Bernschein Joins Woodland Valley

Bill Bernschein has joined Woodland Valley Country Club in Loris, S.C., as the head golf professional. Bernschein previously served as general manager of a property management and vacation rental company. He has an extensive background in golf package sales, Internet marketing and Web site construction. Bernschein has over 16 years’ experience as a golf professional and has been a Class A member of the Professional Golfers Association of America since 1997.

New Corporate Office & Locations for Skinner

Skinner Nurseries has moved its headquarters to a new location in Jacksonville, Fla. The single-story, 12,000-square-foot office houses the company’s accounting, purchasing, marketing, human resources and information technology staff.

Skinner has acquired two Pike Wholesale Nurseries located in Alpharetta and Buford, Ga. With existing branches in Marietta, Norcross and Peachtree City, Ga., Skinner’s most recent acquisition brings the company’s total distribution center count to five in the metro Atlanta area. Skinner operates 23 distribution centers across the southern United States.

STI Honors Top Performers

During its annual awards banquet, Smith Turf & Irrigation recognized several individuals whose efforts set them apart as leaders during 2007. Honorees included Jeff Corn, Salesman of the Year, commercial equipment division; Todd Armstrong, Salesman of the Year, golf course irrigation division; Nick Tewell, Salesman of the Year, STI Turf Care Equipment; and Clark O’Neill, Team Star Award for volunteer participation in community projects.

Spring Garden Acquires Briggs Nursery

The Spring Garden Group, Inc. has completed the acquisition of the business of Briggs Nursery, Inc. Based in Elma, Wash., Briggs provides products based upon the production of tissue culture plantlets, as well as finished woody ornamental plants.

Under the new ownership, Dave Jarzynka, who had previously spent 10 years as vice president of finance and then as president of Briggs, returns as president and chief executive officer. Other senior members of management will also continue in their positions in the company.

Davis Joins Seago

Don Davis has joined Seago International, Inc. as a manufacturers’ representative for all equipment distributed by the company. Davis’ territory will include Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle. He has almost 20 years of experience in the turf industry.

Mid-Am a Success

More than 11,500 green industry professionals gathered in Chicago for the 2008 Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show. The three-day event featured exhibits from 548 industry companies, filling 104,600 square feet of space.

Educational sessions drew 929 registrants for the Midwinter Conference and preshow Management Workshop. Mid-Am’s education partners, including the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), the Irrigation Association and Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, held classes that attracted another 207 registrants. The Student Career Center registered a record 992 students from more than 37 high schools, colleges and universities from around the Midwest who visited with 66 employers.

The next show is scheduled for January 14-16, 2009. Mid-Am is sponsored by ILCA, the Illinois Green Industry Association and the Wisconsin Green Industry Federation.

SLT Relocates

Super Lawn Trucks, Inc., a manufacturer of trucks for the lawn and landscape industry, has relocated its manufacturing facility and administrative offices to Fort Valley, Ga. The relocation from Bonaire, Ga., allows SLT to expand its manufacturing capabilities and bring jobs to the area.

SLT is currently operating in a temporary manufacturing plant while it makes plans to build a permanent facility by the end of the year. The company purchased a 16-acre parcel in Peach County to include approximately 20,000 square feet for manufacturing and assembly and 5,000 square feet for administrative offices.

Kenworth Names Dealer of the Year, Dealer Council Members

Custom Truck Sales was named 2007 Kenworth Dealer of the Year for the United States and Canada. Custom Truck Sales has been a Kenworth dealer since 1965 and operates dealerships in Regina, Saskatoon and Estevan, Sask., and Winnipeg, Man., Canada. The 2007 Gold Award winners included Edmonton Kenworth, Inland Kenworth-U.S., Kenworth of South Texas, Kenworth Sales Co. and MHC Kenworth-Oklahoma.

Silver Award winners included Cooper Kenworth, Inland Kenworth (Canada), Kenworth Northwest, Kenworth of South Louisiana, Kenworth Toronto, Long Island Kenworth, Motor Power Kenworth-Great Falls, Truck Enterprises-Chesapeake, Wallwork Kenworth, Worldwide Equipment and MHC Kenworths of Colorado, Kansas City, Tennessee and Texas.

Kenworth has named its 2008 Kenworth Dealer Council members. The council’s goal is to help promote program consistency across the dealer network. The members are Chairman Jay Ellison, Brent Leach, Harry Mamizuka, Dan Penksa, Alex Sykes and Ron Whiteford. In addition, Kyle Treadway serves as the Kenworth ATD line representative.

From left, Gary Moore, Kenworth assistant general manager for marketing and sales; Ken Leach, Custom Truck Sales; Bob Christensen, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president; and Brent Leach, Custom Truck Sales.

USCC Conference a Success

The U.S. Composting Council’s 16th Annual Conference and Trade Show drew nearly 1,000 composting and organics recycling professionals and more than 100 exhibitors to Oakland, Calif. Hosted by a record 48 sponsors, the conference attracted representatives from nearly every state and 19 countries.

The conference featured three days of training courses, educational and technical sessions, and equipment demonstrations. Awards were presented for outstanding achievements in the composting industry. Winners included Walter Carey, Hi Kellogg Award for Outstanding Service to the Composting Industry; Roger Tim Haug, Rufus Chaney Award for Research Excellence; Chuck Wilson, Composter of the Year; Claire and Rusty Orner, H. Clark Gregory Award to Promote Grassroots Efforts in Composting; and Britt Faucette, Clean Water Award.

Next year’s conference is scheduled for January 26-29 at the Westin Galleria in Houston, Texas.

PacLease Adds 14 New Locations

PACCAR Leasing Co. continues its expansion with 14 new locations throughout the United States and Canada, bringing the total to 328. The new United States locations are Inland PacLease, Farmington, N.M.; Allstate PacLease, St. Paul and Rogers, Minn.; Gabrielli PacLease, Dayton, N.J.; and Golden State Peterbilt PacLease, Porterville, Fresno and Bakersfield, Calif. The new Canadian locations are Inland PacLease, Prince George and Kamloops, B.C.; Bayview PacLease, Saint John, Fredericton, Sussex and St. Stephen, N.B.; and Edmonton Kenworth PacLease, Lloydminster, Alb.

Calhoun Appointed as Yanmar President

Yanmar America appointed Thomas H. Calhoun to the position of president and COO. He succeeds Akihiko Nakaoka, who will remain through 2008 as the industrial division manager and senior special advisor. Calhoun will operate from Yanmar’s facilities in Adairsville, Ga., while Nakaoka will remain at the industrial division offices in Buffalo Grove, Ill.

Calhoun joined Yanmar in 1999 as a marketing director. Most recently, he served as vice president and then president of Yanmar Marine.

Aquascape Announces Extreme Pond Build

Aquascape, Inc. announced a one-time summer event that is replacing its annual Pondemonium week in 2008. By invitation, a group including Certified Aquascape Contractors, Water Garden Excellence members and authorized AquascapePRO distributors will gather at Aquascape headquarters for the “World’s Most Extreme Pond Build” from July 14-18. The 250-by-90-foot water feature will reside at the entrance of Aqualand, the company’s corporate headquarters.

In addition, the week includes classroom seminars, networking opportunities, pond and garden tours, and social events such as Pond Olympics.

Pondemonium will return for a 10th anniversary celebration in 2009 and will be open to anyone wishing to attend.

Nufarm & Etigra Reach Agreement

Nufarm Americas, Inc. and Etigra have reached an agreement for Nufarm to acquire Etigra’s assets. Etigra is a privately owned supplier of crop-protection products, specializing in the U.S. turf and specialty markets. The proposed acquisition will strengthen Nufarm’s existing position in the turf and specialty segment by providing additional products and a complementary distribution platform.

NTEP Discusses New Trials

The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program policy committee met to discuss items related to its programs, upcoming trials and potential new trials. Trials slated for establishment in 2008 include bentgrass (putting green and fairway/tee) and fineleaf fescue. Other items discussed include NTEP’s efforts to strengthen its data collection protocols and methods, visits to NTEP trial sites and two new trials in the planning stages. These new trait-specific trials focus on the evaluation of drought and traffic tolerance over multiple species. The trials are planned for establishment in fall 2009.

NTEP will partner with the Sports Turf Managers Association through the SAFE (Safer Athletic Fields Environment) foundation in developing and funding the traffic tolerance trials. STMA members and turfgrass researchers with traffic tolerance experience will be involved in determining trial protocols and locations.

Kinservik Joins Jacklin International Sales Team

Jim Kinservik has expanded his role at Jacklin Seed Co. by joining the international sales team. He will be responsible for various existing export accounts and will continue his previous duties within domestic markets. Kinservik has over 23 years’ experience at Jacklin.

Briggs & Stratton Celebrates its First 100 Years

Briggs & Stratton Corp. announced a yearlong celebration honoring its first 100 years in business. The company plans to celebrate by giving back to the community through numerous festivities in Milwaukee, Wis., home of its corporate headquarters, and at many of its locations worldwide.

Stephen F. Briggs and Harold M. Stratton founded the company in 1908. Today, the company employs more than 8,000 people with 10 manufacturing facilities globally. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in more than 100 countries.

Precision Announces Alliance With Agrium

Precision Laboratories, Inc. and Agrium Advanced Technologies announced a product alliance to manufacture and market 0-0-20 Turf Fertilizer with 10.6 percent Cascade Plus throughout Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency granted registration of the product after validating safety, efficacy and product label claims. Agrium will produce, distribute and sell the product through Precision’s existing network of turf distributors.

NTEA News

Dennis Jones, vice president of sales and marketing for Auto Truck Group (Bensenville, Ill.), was installed as the 44th president of the National Truck Equipment Association. Jones has been in the truck industry for over 30 years and has served on the NTEA board of trustees since 2003. Auto Truck Group has been a Distributor member of the NTEA since 1973.

Leggett & Platt Commercial Vehicle Products of Atlanta, Ga., won the Work Truck Show 2008 New Product Innovation Award for its mobile workspace shelving, storage areas, docking stations and vehicle mounts featuring eCoupled technology, created by Fulton Innovation. The show was held in conjunction with the 44th Annual NTEA Convention.

Show attendees voted for the most innovative product introduced by exhibitors participating in the New Product Spotlight program. Leggett competed against 78 other companies. The company’s eCoupled-equipped products will hit the market in 2009.

Thomas Enters Agreement With ST Engineering Subsidiary

Thomas Equipment, Inc. has entered into an agreement in principle for the production of Thomas skid steer loaders with Singapore Technologies Engineering’s Guizhou Jonyang Kinetics (GJK) subsidiary. Thomas also signed a letter of intent for GJK to distribute the machines in its markets.

Thomas will supervise all phases of production and quality control. Thomas’ marketing, sales, quality control and related staff in Centerville, N.B., Canada, will spearhead all Thomas activities and oversee production.

Irrigation Show Results; New Name

The official results of the 2007 International Irrigation Show are complete. Over 600 exhibitors and attendees responded to separate Irrigation Association surveys sent after the show. Overall, there was an increase in attendance and exhibitors as compared to the previous three years. With attendance at nearly 7,000, 2007 broke the record for total attendance since the show began in 1979. Over 250 certification exams were taken, nearly 900 class seats were filled and 380 companies exhibited on the show floor.

The IA has announced a new name for the annual trade show, “Irrigation Show 2008.” The name will replace “29th Annual International Irrigation Show.” To accompany the new name, the IA has also released a new logo that will be used for the 2008 show.

The show will be held in Anaheim, Calif., November 2-4, 2008. A full slate of education courses will be offered November 1-4.

News From Bayer

David Crank was named national accounts manager for the green professional products division of Bayer Environmental Science. Crank will be responsible for several national accounts in the golf, lawn care and formulator business segments. Previously, he was the lawn care and landscape market specialist for Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. He holds a master’s degree in agribusiness from Santa Clara University and a bachelor’s in animal science from West Virginia University.

A new, water-dispersible granule formulation containing triticonazole, Chipco Triton 70 WDG fungicide is now registered for disease control in golf and lawn turf. It provides broad-spectrum, systemic, residual disease control. Banol fungicide is now registered for use in California on golf courses and sod farms, as well as on ornamentals in greenhouses and nurseries. Available in a liquid formulation, Banol delivers protection for foliar and root Pythium species.

The biggest business-related stresses for golf course superintendents are labor, followed by turf quality and playability, according to the results of a stress-related survey taken by golf course superintendents attending the 2008 Golf Industry Show. The survey, sponsored by Bayer, was taken over a two-day period.

News From Jacobsen

During Jacobsen’s annual dealer and customer event held at the Golf Industry Show, the company announced the recipients of its 2007 Dealer Awards, given for extraordinary customer service efforts and overall performance. The winners included Mike Bertlesman, Will McClelland, Brian Powers, Brian McCoy, Mike Korvas and Jaime Ovalle, Pacesetter Award for outstanding performance in sales and customer satisfaction; Wisconsin Turf Equipment Co. and Malvese Equipment Co., Dealer of the Year; and S.V. Moffett Co., Inc., CustomerCare Dealer of the Year.

Pebble Beach Resorts in Pebble Beach, Calif., has signed a new national agreement with Jacobsen. Pebble Beach extended its relationship with Jacobsen as its official supplier of turf care maintenance equipment for the next five years.

Jacobsen has committed to participate in the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’s Partner Recognition Program as a Gold sponsor.

Toro Partners with Nicholson Kovac

The Toro Co. announced Nicholson Kovac, Inc. as their new integrated marketing communications partner. Nicholson Kovac will provide research, strategic planning and public relations support for Toro’s U.S. golf course management, sports field and grounds and professional irrigation markets.

McCloskey Unveils New Facility

McCloskey International began construction of a new 100,000-square-foot facility in Dungannon in Northern Ireland. The facility will house the company’s growing engineering team, along with four manufacturing bays dedicated to specific product lines.

Based in Peterborough, Ont., Canada, the company’s North American facilities will continue as its worldwide center for trommel engineering, manufacturing and service support. The new facility in Dungannon is projected to commence operations by fall 2009.

Personnel Changes at Scag

Scag Power Equipment has appointed John Crowson to the position of president. Crowson is a 23-year veteran of the outdoor power equipment industry. He joined Scag in 1992 as national sales and marketing manager and was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing in 2000. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southern Illinois University and a master’s in finance from the University of St. Thomas. Crowson succeeds Jerry Bailey, who is retiring after 34 years with Metalcraft of Mayville and Scag.

Chris Frame was promoted to director of marketing and technical services. He joined Scag in 1996 as an assistant manager and was promoted in 2000 to manager of marketing and strategic technologies.

Dennis Opalacz was promoted to national sales manager. He joined Scag in 2006 as a regional sales manager.