A range of exciting new services have been added to the innovative turf management web site, www.GreenCast.co.uk designed to help turf managers achieve better and more consistent turf quality.
Along with a fresh new look, the new features include a High Risk Fusarium Patch Model, which now includes specific forecasts for high risk situations. Syngenta Turf products manager, Simon Elsworth, explains, “The new model, developed in conjunction with STRI, takes account of the higher severity of disease seen in turf where Poa annua is dominant, or turf that is shaded for long parts of the day and typically suffers an increased level of disease.
“As soil temperatures continue to cool, any spells of wet weather will see the risk of Fusarium increase. The GreenCast forecasts will give the essential early warning of when to apply fungicides to gain the greatest protection; the aim is to hold back application when the risk is low, but ensure the best results can be achieved when the risk increases.”
Mr Elsworth highlights that new extended Soil Temperature Information and easy to use maps will help assess Fusarium risk, as well as prove invaluable other turf management operations throughout the year – such as timing for spring fertiliser application and Primo MAXX growth regulator use.
Demonstrating the new GreenCast web site to turf managers, Mr Elsworth reports the new Radar Page has proven especially popular, enabling users to track the progress of weather fronts across the UK and see when clear windows for turf operations will be available.
Comprehensive Historical Weather Data now holds over 13 years of records for registered users’ own locations, enabling turf managers to compare current conditions with long-term trends.
A new GreenCast Search facility – based on the easy-to-use Google search – will also help turf managers access the specific information they require quickly and easily.
“The new developments enable turf managers to tailor the GreenCast information ever more precisely to the individual circumstances experienced around their own courses or pitches, according to Mr Elsworth.
“Over 600 turf managers have already registered on the web site. For many it now plays an integral part in their daily turf management decisions and long-term planning.” As part of the web site upgrade all users will be requested to update their details.
Turf managers can currently gain a no-obligation free access trial to the full GreenCast web site, including the premium GreenCast Select services. To register, simply log on to www.greencast.co.uk
Syngenta www.syngenta.com