Supplier News

Source: www.TurfMagazine.com


Emak hosted a dealer training in Ohio.

Emak Hosts Ohio efco Dealers for Training

Dealers from all over Ohio traveled to Wooster to take part in an intensive one-day training session for the efco brand and products. The goal for the attendees was to better acquaint themselves with the product line and learn how to market the brand effectively. The day began with an overview of Emak USA’s company history, followed by marketing tactics and resources available to the dealers. A detailed product review allowed the dealers to learn the features and benefits of each piece of equipment that is available to them. Sales strategies rounded out the indoor portion of the training.

In the afternoon, the dealers had the opportunity to run each piece of equipment. Proper starting techniques and safety tips were included in the outdoor demonstration. All attendees also had the chance to run the six new products efco will be debuting soon.

U.S. Lawns Announces Hall of Fame Inductees

U.S. Lawns inducted the father-and-son team of Hank and Bryan Smith of Myrtle Beach, S.C., into the U.S. Lawns Hall of Fame. U.S. Lawns held its annual conference at the historic Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Fla. The final event of the three-day conference was the awards ceremony, when deserving franchisees and their teams are presented awards for their community contributions and their business successes. The awards night celebration culminates with a franchisee being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Agrium Announces Strategic Partnership with TCS

Agrium Advanced Technologies announced it has entered into a new long-term strategic toll manufacturing and marketing relationship with Turf Care Supply Corp. for sales of the XCU and SCU brands. AAT has also entered into a separate long-term strategic supply agreement for production of its Nutralene and Nitroform brands. The TCS production and marketing agreements will involve TCS manufacturing the XCU and SCU technologies and AAT wholesale marketing the products to blenders going forward. TCS will maintain and operate its current blending business, which is unaffected by this agreement. The improved long-term supply agreement regarding Nutralene and Nitroform will further expand AAT’s reach into the North American markets.

Project EverGreen Program Opens Museum Exhibit

After more than a year of planning, Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Communities location in Fort Myers, Fla., opened its “Backyard Nature: Living Green” exhibit at the Imaginarium Science Center. The backyard exhibit is strategically laid out to show how a properly landscaped exterior can have multiple positive impacts on the greater environment. It also showcases the best plants for Florida climates and soils. Volunteers planted the exhibit in a two-day span, under the guidance of an advisory committee that researched and selected the right plants for the right space.


Empire Turf was installed at Southern Living Magazine’s Idea House 2012.

Empire Turf Featured in Idea House 2012

Sod Solutions’ Empire Turf has been selected and installed as the new lawn for Southern Living Magazine’s Idea House 2012. Located about 60 miles south of Atlanta in Senoia, Ga., this year’s Idea House gave a modern overhaul to an 1830s farmhouse.

Empire Turf offers improved benefits like rapid recovery and drought toughness to homeowners. Empire thrives in subtropical climates, like that of southern Florida, to more temperate regions found in places like Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. McIntyre Turf Farms donated two truckloads of sod for the project. Ameriscape Landscaping installed the Empire Turf at the Idea House and is currently maintaining the grass.

Grasshopper Recognized for Sustainability Efforts

On the heels of a state environmental award, Grasshopper Co. received special recognition from Green Biz Wichita for accomplishments in sustainable manufacturing and adoption of sustainable concepts in product design. Green Biz Wichita is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable, environmentally friendly concepts among businesses in the greater Wichita area, which is Kansas’ largest metropolitan area. The organization chose Grasshopper as its featured member in August.

The Pollution Prevention Award, or P2 Award, was presented to Grasshopper in July by the Kansas Department of Commerce in recognition of both raw material conservation through investments in enhanced manufacturing processes and for the MaxTorque Clean Diesel campaign, which enables the company’s customers to reduce fuel consumption and air emissions while increasing productivity and profitability in lawn care practices.

The Grounds Guys Joins Forces with First Lady

The Grounds Guys of Jacksonville owner and veteran, Rick Santo, joined forces with first lady Michelle Obama at Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Fla., for the announcement that more than 2,000 companies had hired or trained 125,000 veterans and military spouses since the initial launch of the Joining Forces White House initiative in 2011.

The Joining Forces campaign was launched in an effort to support American veterans and their families during their employment, education and wellness endeavors. President Barack Obama asked the first lady to direct Joining Forces, while challenging for-profit businesses to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. According to White House officials, this effort has resulted in a 20 percent decrease in veteran unemployment compared to last year.

Howard Continues Southeast Expansion

Howard Fertilizer & Chemical Co., Inc. announced continued expansion in the Southeast, adding two sales veterans and strengthening the company’s service commitment to the professional turf management industry. With more than 30 years’ combined experience, Howard’s new sales team members are growing the company’s market share in the Southeast, including areas in South Carolina and

Georgia.

Ned Mullis, with 13 years of green industry experience, will service the golf market in the Charleston and Hilton Head areas of South Carolina. Mac Fite, an 18-year veteran, will service the golf market in the areas of Atlanta, east Georgia and western South Carolina.


PERC expanded its Propane Mower Incentive Program to include qualified mowers that have been converted to run on propane.

Conversion Mowers Added to Propane Incentive Program

The Propane Education & Research Council has expanded its popular Propane Mower Incentive Program, which offers a $1,000 incentive for the purchase of qualified new propane-fueled mowers, to include a $500 incentive for qualified mowers that have been converted to run on propane. To qualify for the $500 incentive, a conversion mower must be a commercial, heavy-duty mower that has been operated for less than 10 hours, and it must be a dedicated propane-fueled mower, not a dual-fueled model. The mower conversion kit must meet Environmental Protection Agency or California Air Resources Board requirements, and it cannot void the original equipment manufacturer’s warranty on the engine. For more information, visit www.auto gasusa.org/mip/eligible-equipment.

Bayer Names Product Manager, Field Development Rep

Environmental Science, a division of Bayer CropScience LP, announced the appointment of Jeff Michel to the position of herbicide marketing product manager. Most recently, Michel led an herbicide project team at Bayer. Michel has supported Bayer over the past nine years as a field development representative with the southeastern U.S. turf and ornamental business.

Sheryl Wells, Ph.D., was appointed to the position of technical field development representative for the southeastern U.S. Her most recent role was extension specialist in ornamental horticulture, landscape pollution prevention, and landscape water management with the University of Georgia.

ASIC Announces 2013 National Conference

The American Society of Irrigation Consultants resumes its popular national annual conference April 20-22, 2013, at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas in Scottsdale, Ariz. ASIC’s annual conference will be loaded with industry news, technical presentations, open forums, new product applications, tabletop displays, strong networking opportunities and more. Critical issues of alternative water sources and the rapid evolution of codes and standards that affect the irrigation industry will be explored in detail. As the conference committee sharpens the national meeting’s educational component, specific speakers and topics will be announced. For more information, please contact ASIC Executive Director Carol Colein at 508-763-8140 or carolc@asic.org.


Seth Elrod

Ruppert Promotes Elrod, Acquires New River

Ruppert Landscape announced the promotion of Seth Elrod to the position of area manager in the Georgia Landscape Management Branch located in Atlanta, Ga. Elrod began with the company in February 2009 as an intern. Upon graduation from Griffin Technical College in May 2009, he accepted full-time employment with Ruppert as field manager.

Ruppert acquired New River Landscape, Inc., a company based in Raleigh, N.C., that provides commercial grounds management services for many of Raleigh’s prominent properties. The transaction includes the purchase of commercial landscape management contracts, trucks and equipment and the hiring of employees. New River’s Jeff Sosa will join the Ruppert team, playing an integral management role.