PLANT DEFENSE ACTIVATION USE AT MEADOW BROOK CLUB JOHN D. CARLONE, CGCS 0
MEADOW BROOK CLUB 18 Hole private, golf only facility on Long Island, NY 260 members 12,000 annual rounds 9,000 members and guests 3,000 corporate/charity outings 2015 operating budget - $1,675,000 Annual capital budget - $250,000 $150,000 equipment replacement $100,000 golf course improvements Playing surfaces: Bent/Poa Staff: 6 Full-time year round 14 Full-time seasonal; March 15 December 15 5 Part-time seasonal
MEADOW BROOK CLUB 270 total acres: - 6 acres of greens and approaches - 3 acres of tees - 30 acres of fairways and intermediate rough - 60 acres of maintained rough - 22 acres of maintained native rough - 10 acres driving range Large green surfaces, 170,000 sq. ft. of green surface. 20 greens = 8,500 sq. ft. average. Largest is 12,200 sq. ft.
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HISTORY OF CIVITAS USE AT MEADOW BROOK CLUB 6
HISTORY OF CIVITAS USE AT MEADOW BROOK CLUB Introduced on Long Island in 2008 did no use that year After talking to other superintendents, reading tech sheets, researching on Internet and, of course, talking with sales rep, decided to try it in 2009 Applied two applications to fairways only in 2009. Used at higher label rate of 14 oz. /1000 sq. ft. Once in May, once in late August Did not like the dark color of the heavy rate. Decided in 2010 to expand use to tees, continue limited use on fairways. However, dropped rate to 10 oz. /1000 sq. ft. Made three apps on tees and fairways, in May, June and late August In 2011, used identically to 2010 on tees and fairways. Used for first time on greens for snow mold control in December at 10 oz./1000sq. ft. In 2012 expanded use to roughs. Expanded use on tees and fairways to 7 apps each. Reduced rate to 6 oz./1000 sq. ft. for all apps except snow mold apps on tees and greens. Continued this app at 10 oz./1000sq. ft. Used in same fashion in 2013 and 2014
OBSERVED VALUE OF CIVITAS USE 8
OBSERVED VALUE OF CIVITAS USE 1. Enhanced Color
MEADOW BROOK CLUB 18 hole private, golf only facility on Long Island, NY 260 members 12,000 annual rounds 9,000 member and guest rounds 3,000 are corporate/charity outing rounds 2015 annual operating budget of $1,675,000 Annual capital budget of $250,000 $150,000 on equipment $100,000 on golf course projects Playing surfaces: Bentgrass / Poa annua Staff = 6 full time year round, 14 full time seasonal, 4 part time seasonal 10
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OBSERVED VALUE OF CIVITAS USE 2. Control of Annual Bluegrass Weevil This is not a scientifically proven fact. This is an observation over the period of three years of expanded use of Civitas. I have not seen the same amount of damage from ABW that I was accustom to seeing from this insect. This was especially true in my indicator areas. I have also reduced control applications of insecticide form six apps to three apps per year. Control of Adult ABW only.
OBSERVED VALUE OF CIVITAS USE 3. Improved Disease Control This has amounted to a bit of a savings in fungicide expenditures. By using other compounds at lowest rate, we use less of them. Biggest difference, we don t see break thru of disease like we used to at the end of a spray, meaning at day 13 or 14 after a spray.
OBSERVED DRAWBACKS OF CIVITAS 14
OBSERVED DRAWBACKS OF CIVITAS 1. Cost Currently spending $21,000 per year on Civitas. You cannot eliminate the use of conventional fungicides, but you can reduce the amount you use by using lower rates so, some possible savings here. However, you will have to find some additional money for Civitas.
OBSERVED DRAWBACKS OF CIVITAS 2. A Lot of Material to Store 130 5 gal buckets + 65 boxes of harmonizer is our yearly use. That is about 5 pallets of material.
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OBSERVED DRAWBACKS OF CIVITAS 3. Staining Non-Turf Surfaces Asphalt Belgium Block Sand Golf Cart Tires
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OBSERVED DRAWBACKS OF CIVITAS I have not experienced this at Meadow Brook. However, I have heard of superintendents using it at high rates during times of high temperatures in a desperate attempt to control anthracnose curatively, and damaging turf. This does not work! It is not the intended way to use plant defensive activation products. 20
SPECIFIC DEFENSE ACTIVATION USE AT MEADOW BROOK 21
SPECIFIC DEFENSE ACTIVATION USE AT MEADOW BROOK Greens One application per year for snow mold in first week of December at 10 oz./1000 sq. ft. Mixed with Interface at 5ozs./1000 sq. ft. The harmonizer does not get mowed off. It keeps good color on greens all winter, and seems to give turf a boost in spring recovery.
SPECIFIC DEFENSE ACTIVATION USE AT MEADOW BROOK Tees Begin around May 1. Make applications on 14-21 day intervals at 6ozs/1000 sq. ft. until July 4. Stop applications until August 15, and then begin applications again on same intervals at same rates. The last application will be mid to late October. Then will apply around December 1 for snow mold control at 10 ozs/1000 sq. ft. This usually results in about 7 applications per year on tees. Civitas applications are always mixed with another fungicide such as Banner, Daconil or Honor at its lowest labeled rate.
SPECIFIC DEFENSE ACTIVATION USE AT MEADOW BROOK Why stop use of Civitas in Summer? We stop applications from July 4 to August 15 for the following reasons. First it is the worst time of year for disease development and I refuse to take a chance with low rates at this time of year. I do not want to incur the expense of applying Civitas if I am applying higher rates of conventional fungicides. Second, we apply pigments that are a little less expensive, but still give us the benefit of enhanced color.
SPECIFIC DEFENSE ACTIVATION USE AT MEADOW BROOK Fairways Seven applications per year, all at 6 ozs/1000 sq. ft. May 1 st May 20 th June 15 th August 20 th September 15 th October 15 th December 1 st Once again, another fungicide such as Banner, Daconil or Honor is mixed with Civitas at its lowest labeled rate in each of these applications
SPECIFIC DEFENSE ACTIVATION USE AT MEADOW BROOK Roughs Three applications per year all at 6 oz./1000 sq. ft. Around May 15 th -20 th mixed with pre-emergent herbicide and fertilizer Around June 20 th -25 th mixed with grub control, fertilizer and phosphite Around September 1 st mixed with fertilizer and phosphite I think this has been where we have seen the biggest improvement. We previously never used any type of disease control in roughs. We are now spraying roughs four times per year (Spray roughs in August without Civitas) when we never sprayed them before. We have reduced fertilizer in roughs from 2lbs of granular N /1000/year to about 1.2lbs of sprayable N/1000/year. If weather is particularly favorable to disease development, we may include a generic form of Banner in tank with Civitas at 1 oz./1000 sq. ft.
FUTURE USE OF PLANT DEFENSE ACTIVATION Continue same program on greens and fairways. Expand use on tees to every application. Goal is to never use more than lowest labeled rates of fungicides on tees. Eventually, expand to a fourth and maybe even a fifth application in roughs. This will depend on weather of any particular year.
QUESTIONS? 28