The innovative Syngenta on-line turf management decision support tool, www.greencast.co.uk is proving an invaluable tool for around 600 registered users. The combination of pro-active advice to assist with disease control decisions, combined with a detailed reference tool to enable more informed actions, has helped to cope with the extreme conditions encountered this season.

Information in the new Turf Action Notes section give the latest independent advice from Ruth Mann of the Sports Turf Research Institute, highlighting what disease to look out for, and the best Integrated Turf

Management practices to minimise risk of damage. The advice includes links to information on disease identification and technical details of control options available to turf managers.

Ruth points out that with the unusual weather patterns occurring more frequently, the turf diseases being encountered are also changing. “Turf managers need to expect the unexpected, and be prepared to manage turf for diseases they may never have had to cope with before,” she says. GreenCast gives important and up-to-date information for an Integrated Turf Management approach.

Many users now have GreenCast set as there web browser home-page – receiving important information on the impending disease risk and accurate weather forecasting when computers are switched on first thing in the working day. Another idea is to have a dedicated member of the team prepare a disease and weather report of key points for the site each morning.

The areas of the web site most frequently used by turf managers include:

Weather forecasting – a five-day localised weather forecast giving hour-by-hour information on expected conditions, temperature, risk of rainfall and other important details, constantly updated throughout the day.

Disease forecasting – a five-day forecast of the risk of key turf infections, highlighting what turf managers need to be looking out for, and the optimum timing for preventative fungicide application.

Spray window timing – advice on possible opportunities for spraying over the coming five days; helping plan work schedules (for spraying and other turf operations), as well as identifying chances to fit in work around competitions on the course or playing fields.

Product information – readily accessible information on recommended product application rates, timing and disease management solutions.

Syngenta Professional Turf Products Manager, Simon Elsworth, reports new developments on the GreenCast web site will see the range of diseases covered increased, along with taking account of changes in disease profile experienced this season.

“We are also looking at introducing further valuable new tools for turf managers. New services look to include local information on turf growth potential, soil temperatures, evapotranspiration and historical weather data,” he adds. “The information being provided will prove essential in helping managers operate more pro-actively in future.” ers

FREE GREENCAST TRIAL OFFER

Turf Managers can currently gain free trial access to the full GreenCast site, including the GreenCast Premier services, until the end of this year. Registration on the site gives no commitment to future subscription, with plans for significant areas of important information to remain freely available for all turf managers.