Mike Coker and son Troy work on golf courses ... - Backed By Bayer

mold. Most of the New Jersey, Pennsylvania <strong>and</strong> Baltimore
area had extended cool wet weather they experienced
into May.
During June, July <strong>and</strong> August, superintendents in
this area experienced a great deal of wet wilt, brown
patch, dollar spot <strong>and</strong> the worst Pythium they have
seen in 10 years. Something else that had their attention
was Hyperodes weevils. In New Jersey <strong>and</strong> Pennsylvania,
20 to 25 courses lost a great deal of turf. Superintendents
who went out in April with a pyrethroid,
followed with the high rate of Merit tanked mixed with
a pyrethoid in mid-May, <strong>and</strong> continued with
pyrethroid sprays once a month throughout the summer
controlled Hyperodes best.
One superintendent said, “if you can grow grass in
the Mid-Atlantic, you can grow grass anywhere.” Bayer
seemed to have a solid presence in 2005 with the
strongest product line, followed with “Backed by Bayer.”
Consider All
Options in 2006
By David Ravel
Southern Regional Manager/Golf
336-462-7429; david.ravel@bayercropscience.com
THIS year will
bring you more
choices than ever
before. As you begin
looking at these choices,
remember there is much
more to consider than
the sticker on the jug
<strong>and</strong> the product you
spray. Bayer continues to
invest in the future of
the industry through research
<strong>and</strong> development
Dave Ravel
of new products like Tartan fungicide <strong>and</strong> Top-
Choice® fertilizer. Backed by Bayer is not only a slogan,
but an investment in your industry. Here’s an update
from the Southern region.
Trey Warnock (S.C., western N.C., southeastern Ga.):
Now is the time to finalize your fungicide programs. If
you have bermudagrass greens, two to three applications
of Signature during transition will help improve
your turf quality throughout the spring <strong>and</strong> summer.
Brian MacCurrach (southeastern Fla.): Golf course
superintendents are in the height of their sea<strong>son</strong> in
southeast Florida. Ronstar® applications for spring
goosegrass control will begin in late February <strong>and</strong> early
March. Overseeded courses can begin to consider transitioning
back to bermudagrass with low rates of Revolver®,
ensuring healthy transition into the warmer
months.
<strong>Mike</strong> Willey (northwestern S.C., eastern N.C., southern
Va., southern W. Va.): Superintendents will be applying
their preemergence herbicides soon. The next decision
for many of them will be their fungicide programs for
the stresses of the late spring <strong>and</strong> early summer. We
have a full complement of fungicide solutions that meet
your needs <strong>and</strong> they will always be “Backed by Bayer.”
Joe Conoly (northern Fla., southern Ga.): Early crabgrass
<strong>and</strong> goosegrass will be germinating soon. Now is
the time to apply your Ronstar® herbicide. I recommend
using Ronstar on fertilizer on your large areas
<strong>and</strong> Ronstar G around greens <strong>and</strong> on those hard-toreach
areas.
Matt Bradley (southwest Fla.): If you have not yet
booked your Chipco® Choice, now is the time! Revolver
is also a very effective option for cleaning up unsightly
weeds or taking out any unwanted overseeding.
Stop by the Bayer Booth at GIS for more information.
Scott Harms (Tenn., Miss, Ala.): It is evident that you,
as golf course superintendents, underst<strong>and</strong> the message
behind “Backed by Bayer” <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong> what Bayer
brings to our industry. This is reflected by the product
decisions you made this fall on our early order programs.
We appreciate your business <strong>and</strong> value your
commitment to maintaining the highest quality practices
in the golf industry.
Laurence Mudge (Technical representative – Transition
Zone): February <strong>and</strong> March are key months for applying
preemergent herbicides for crabgrass <strong>and</strong>
goosegrass control. Ronstar® is an excellent, effective
product that controls these weeds, but does not affect
the root growth of your turf. This is important if your
turf is recovering from transition stress or nematode
damage.
Jeff Michel (Technical representative – Fla.): Applications
of Ronstar on fertilizer will help your turf receive
the nutrition it needs <strong>and</strong> stop goosegrass establishment
on your course. Ronstar® is not only an excellent
Winter 2006 Golf Advantage 7