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Weather with you ...
Turf managers urged to use the weather forecast to help them maintain playing surfaces
Turf managers must use all the tools available to them, including the long-range weather forecast, in order to ensure playing surfaces are in tip-top condition going into spring.
That’s the advice from Bayer’s Dr Colin Mumford, who says managers can’t afford not to look at the weather forecast as it can dictate so many different things - the windows of opportunity for spraying, re-seeding and maintenance, for example.
“Early control is the key for disease control,” he says. “The sooner you treat, the less likely it is that the playing surface will be affected.”
He suggests turf managers do not delay spraying when early disease
In Brief... Time out!
THE Lord’s weathervane, Father Time, was damaged during high winds in London at the end of March.
It currently sits at almost 90O to its
original position. Staff from Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which owns Lord’s, are working with specialists to restore it to its original position as soon as possible.
This is not the first time the weathervane has fallen foul of the elements: in 1992 it was struck by lightning and the subsequent repairs were featured on Blue Peter.
WHO are you?
FOLLOWING the research by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organisation (WHO), linking glyphosate to cancer, leading scientists have called the findings into question.
Dr Oliver Jones, senior lecturer in analytical chemistry at RMIT University in Melbourne,
10 I PC APRIL/MAY 2015
indications become apparent. “Delaying fungicide applications can be a risky policy as, if there’s a sudden change in the weather and you can’t get out with the sprayer, you can easily get caught out, and end up watching helplessly as the disease takes hold and spreads across your playing surfaces.”
Microdochium patch (commonly referred to as Fusarium) and Grey Snow Mould are two key diseases to watch out for, and Colin advises that turf should be examined every day for any sign of either. “If the long-term forecast says the weather will be alright, then it’s credible to hold back. If not, don’t take a chance.”
Turf managers should be looking
Australia, said: “This sounds scary and IARC evaluations are usually very good but, to me, the evidence cited here appears a bit thin.”
Nick von Westenholz, chief executive of the UK Crop Protection Association, said the IARC report disregarded a substantial body of scientific evidence supporting the conclusion that glyphosate was not a human health risk. “Looking at the summary, the IARC’s conclusions appear to be the result of an incomplete data review that has omitted key evidence, and so needs to be treated with a significant degree of caution, particularly in light of the wealth of independent evidence demonstrating the safety of glyphosate.”
Man that’s embarrassing!
ORGANISERS of a friendly match between El Salvador and Argentina have had to apologise for wrongly playing the national anthem for the Isle of Man.
El Salvador fans whistled in disgust and their players were left baffled as the wrong anthem was played before the game in the United States on Saturday.
Fusarium developing and spreading
for early signs of disease, with preventative, rather than curative treatments vital to ensure the best playing surfaces throughout the year.
Colin urges everyone to be prepared for increased threats resulting from a relatively mild winter in most areas, and also notes the importance of a planned approach to treatment.
“Where conditions are conducive to disease, leaving turf that shows symptoms of a disease or turf stress for as little as five days to ‘see how it goes’, can result in a rampant outbreak.”
“Spraying turf prior to disease symptoms being evident, in other words, preventative treatment,
The organisers said they took “full responsibility for the honest mistake”.
Body of evidence!
Many of you will know Chris Wood, the ECB Pitch Consultant, but did you know that, under the ECB tracksuit, is a body that belies his age; he is in his sixties.
Through his efforts, Chris has been raising money for research into prostate and breast cancer. He takes up the story.
“I have been bodybuilding for many years now ... five sessions a week more than makes up for just sitting on my backside in the office, or in a car, from when I was physically active 24/7 as a practising cricket groundsman.”
“It was after I lost my lifelong best friend, who passed away aged only fifty-two, that I stepped it up to a more serious level, until last year when the owners of my gym - Body Limits - suggested that I was good enough to compete in an over sixties contest. Unfortunately, that was cancelled at the 11th hour due to political circumstances, but not before I had a professional photoshoot done.”
“This, in turn, led to our gym producing a calendar in aid of
charity, which I was happy to take part in despite my ‘corporate’ profile. In combination with the girls’ version, we raised quite a lot of money for Prostate Cancer for men and Breast Cancer for women. I’m rather proud of that, and the fact that I was more than twice the ages of the other participants.”
“I even appeared on on ITV’s Good Morning show with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willougby.”
“I am aware this is really left field but, to me, it’s a serious lifestyle health choice - totally natural - and takes dedication, commitment and bloody hard graft ... precisely the qualities that make for the best cricket groundsmen.”
If you do something ‘out of the ordinary’ in your spare time we’d love to hear from you. Email:
editor@pitchcare.com
Grey Snow Mould
should be based on the environmental conditions, historical disease threat and knowledge of the turf. Curative sprays should take place as soon as any symptoms are seen.”
He notes that, where there are budget constraints, preventative treatments are often avoided to save spending money where there is not yet a need. However, Colin says treatment programmes must be based on a combination of weather information, visual assessments and knowledge of
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