With climate change an increasingly hot topic in turf management, Barenbrug launched a host of new products at BTME which demonstrated that through continued research and technical expertise it is leading the way in finding long-term solutions to these challenges.

BAR 10 with RTF and BAR 30 with RTF

These two new grass seed mixtures contain Barenbrug’s unique Rhizomatous Tall Fescue (RTF). They have both been designed to provide greenkeepers and groundsmen with mixtures capable of withstanding the toughest weather conditions – from drought to waterlogging. RTF is aggressively rhizomatous for high tensile strength and unrivalled recovery and has a deep rooting capability down to 1.5m.

BAR 10 with RTF is specially formulated to provide excellent wear tolerance on heavy wear areas such as golf course walkways and for heavy-duty sports pitches, polo pitches and racecourses.

BAR 30 with RTF is the ultimate mixture for drought recovery combined with low input requirements. It is ideal for golf course tees, fairways, bunker surrounds and landscaping.

Barbirdie and Barswing

Barenbrug is unveiling two new Chewings fescues – Barbirdie and Barswing. Barbirdie performs well under close mowing regimes and offers excellent winter green colour for year-round consistency. Recommended for golf and bowling greens, the cultivar is available exclusively in BAR 2, BAR Platinum and BAR Fescue.

Barswing germinates exceptionally well in cool soil temperatures, has superb shoot density and outstanding resistance to dollar spot and red thread. It is available exclusively in BAR Fescue and recommended for cool temperature renovation of greens, tees and fairways.

Temperature germination trials

With our increasingly unpredictable climate, germination temperature has a very practical significance. Barenbrug is playing a leading role in developing cultivars which germinate in cooler temperatures – to extend the renovation window – and others for warmer temperatures which can help with reinstatement following combined heat and drought damage.

The company has been carrying out extensive temperature germination trials and revealed the results at BTME. These trials are testing cultivars for minimum, maximum and optimum temperature germination.

Barlennium has excellent performance across the complete temperature range.
It even achieves 50 per cent germination at 10-12°C after just 10 days.

Barlennium – Perennial Ryegrass

The cultivars Barswing and Baroxi are an excellent choice in mixtures for divot repair of golf tees and fairways in cool soil temperature conditions.

New 20kg bag

At the show, Barenbrug also reminded customers and distributors that its BAR range grass seed now comes in new super-strong 20kg bags.

What makes this bag so tough is the mix of paper bonded to an inner layer of woven polypropylene. Also, the base of the bag is made as a block bottom instead of being sewn, making it easier to stand and giving it a much smarter appearance when stacked on a pallet. The small reduction in weight from 25kgs is designed to meet health and safety regulations and make handling much easier.

The new bag will withstand quite severe punishment when in transit, and is much less likely to rip.

Amenity catalogue

BTME was the venue for the launch of Barenbrug’s new BAR range Sports & Amenity Grass Seed Catalogue for 2007. As well as being a comprehensive guide to the company’s wide range of products, it is packed with useful information. This includes a new ‘global solutions’ section, which addresses the issue of climate change and the trials and research Barenbrug is carrying out to develop products for these requirements.

There are also new technical sections which cover subjects such as mixture selection for golf and sports, and results from Barenbrug’s comprehensive trials programmes.

Barenbrug UK headquarters is based at Rougham Industrial Estate, Rougham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 9ND. Telephone: 01359 272000, fax: 01359 272001,  website: www.barenbrug.co.uk