Over the last couple of months I have been reminded of the responsibilities we have as professionals working in the turf industry.

First, I was reading the Whit’s World column in the October issue of Landscape Management.  Marty Whitford, LM’s editor-in-chief, was reminding readers not “to sit quietly as others attack our reputations, professionalism and livelihoods.” He was addressing some criticism leveled at the lawn care industry by another media outlet outside of our industry.

Then in early November, I presented a webinar to a group of golf course superintendents on TurfNet.com. The topic of my presentation was understanding the chemical registration process. During the webinar I touched on the fact that public and political pressures regarding pesticide use continue to be a hurdle to overcome year after year.

Both cases underscore that we as professionals need to communicate with the public, media and local, state and federal organizations about our responsible development, stewardship, and use of pesticides.

It’s up to us to defend ourselves and our business practices and what some may consider a problem is really an opportunity.

Thoughtful letters to media outlets, public forums about the issues and communication with your elected officials can do a world of good in debunking the myths of what turf care professionals and basic manufacturers do to keep lawns, golf courses, parks and sports fields healthy and looking good.

I encourage you to be part of the dialog. While it can be annoying, and sometimes intimidating, we should really be thankful we have the opportunity to share information.

I relish the interaction with customers and hearing their concerns about everything. It helps me grow as a professional and helps BASF serve them better.  And when arguments arise, sometimes you win and sometimes you learn.

So as the year draws to a close I am grateful to be part of such an industry and to work with turf pros like all of you.

BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals is here to stay and our voice is being heard.

Make sure you are part of the dialog on all the issues too.

You’ll be thankful you did your part.

Thank you,

Dr. Toni Bucci
Business Manager
BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals

As another summer closes we see some expected and unexpected challenges for turf professionals. Those pesky weeds, diseases and insects arrived again like clockwork, although pressures were light in some areas this year.

Unexpectedly, some golf courses dramatically loosened their membership requirements and lowered fees to retain and gain members in a tough economy. But that meant little relief for the superintendent as all old and new members want a beautiful and healthy course in trade for their hard earned money.

We learned some lawn care operators (LCO) began targeting only homeowners that have invested in irrigation systems. The logic being those customers are investing in lawn care for the long term and so want an LCO to help them maintain a healthy spotless lawn.

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Perhaps the most exciting thing about leading the Turf & Ornamentals business for BASF is our commitment to innovation. As a basic manufacturer we work hard to bring new products and innovations to market to meet the needs of the turf professional.

Last year, we brought four new herbicides into our portfolio including postemergents Drive® XLR8, Onetime™, and Segment™, as well as FreeHand® 1.75G, a preemergent for landscape ornamentals. In 2009, we’ll begin to see and hear success stories from end users on all of those products.

Also this year our pipeline of innovation will bear two new products for use in the golf market, Honor™ fungicide and Tower® herbicide. Honor is a combination of boscalid and pyraclostrobin and brings good broad spectrum disease control to golf course superintendents by combining these two highly effective active ingredients.

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Finally! The election is over, so now what? The outcome won’t instantly change the fortunes of the stock market, home values and job opportunities. But we have to trust that our elected officials can make decisions that will improve upon those most critical issues.

So what can we do in our corner of the world – here in the Green Industry?

Trust, when you think about it, is a keystone to all our successes.

If you are a turf professional, your customers trust that you are working hard at keeping the course healthy and playable and the homeowner’s lawn both lush and green.

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At BASF Turf & Ornamentals we want to be the first choice of turf professionals across the U.S. Part of that means a sharp focus on what customers want in new products and delivering solutions that fulfill their unmet needs.

Today, identifying those needs can sometimes be clouded by noise from special interests for “green�? or organic products. The appeal of these products is usually tied to the notion that they are better for the environment. Manufactured pesticides are thought by many to be harmful and their benefits somehow artificial.

After all, alternative “non-chemical�? treatments must be better. If it’s “organic�? that means the turf has been grown and kept healthy naturally, without the aid of pesticides, right?

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