Join the disease management journey at BTME
As greenkeepers are feeling the pressure of curative fungicides disappearing from the market, Bayer will be showcasing how a preventative and integrated approach can help overcome disease threats at BTME this year.
The Turf Solutions Team will be on stand 260, in the red hall to guide visitors through an interactive turf 'canopy' tour.
Steve Bishop from Bayer explains that the company is working in partnership with BIGGA to further educate the industry with a novel and innovative approach.
The tour will cover five key areas of an integrated approach to preventative Microdochium patch control and those that complete the tour will be rewarded with a BIGGA CPD point.
"90% of golf courses suffer with Microdochium patch annually, so we hope this learning opportunity can help many members of the industry," says Steve.
"Preventative treatment will soon be the only option to control disease, as more curative fungicides are being taken off the market. However, preventative measures only work if they are put in place early enough. Without curative treatments there is no control once the disease is established and the chemical options are severely limited."
The canopy tour
Visitors to the Bayer stand will be able to immerse themselves in the turf canopy and the Bayer Turf Solutions team will be on hand to answer questions. "The early stages of Microdochium patch can be very difficult to spot, so we'll provide tips and guidance to help identify the very first signs and symptoms of upcoming infections.
"Moving through the stand, the next stage looks at biological and cultural controls highlighting the importance of non-chemical practices as part of an integrated disease management programme," explains Steve.
"Key cultural controls are examined such as the importance of monitoring the weather, which is a feature of the free to download Bayer TurfXpert app. The different turf fungicide families and active ingredients are also explained here, to highlight the importance of rotating fungicide groups.
"The penultimate section focuses on turf specific formulations, which ensures preventatively applied fungicide treatments target the correct area of the plant and maximise control. We'll demonstrate the importance of turf specific formulations in not just delivering the disease control but additional plant health benefits as well." says Steve.
The journey finishes with a preview of our new product that will be launched later this year. "We're always working hard to bring new innovative formulations to the market, with this being the second new active ingredient we've launched in the last two years.
"This new product delivers improved disease control, plant health performance and application flexibility for greenkeepers. More details will be unveiled in the New Year," explains Steve.
For more information Visit www.environmentalscience.bayer.co.uk