Full Answer
What types of chemical sprays are available for golf courses?
There are three types of chemical sprays available within the golf course environment: Broadly speaking fungicides are broken into two categories. Contact Fungicide remains on the plant surface, literally wherever it contacts, from here it is able to eradicate and/or protect the plant from disease.
How are pesticides used on golf courses?
Most courses have a certified pesticide applicator on staff to handle these chemicals. Golf courses use four to seven times the amount of pesticides per acre that agricultural growers use. Golfers are exposed to these toxins mainly through direct skin contact with turf, usually on the ankles, legs, hands and arms.
How do you calibrate a hand held sprayer?
To calibrate a hand-held or knapsack sprayer for applying pesticides, first fill your sprayer with a known amount of water. Spray an area of known size (e.g., 20 feet x 50 feet = 1,000 square feet). Be sure you keep your spray pressure up by regularly pumping your sprayer (perhaps a single pump of the handle per step).
Why calibrate your turf sprayers and spreaders?
Calibrating sprayers and spreaders is one of the most important steps in proper application of pesticides for turf pest control. Without knowing how much spray or granular product is being applied by a sprayer or spreader, an applicator cannot confidently control a pest with maximum efficacy.
What do they spray on golf courses?
Paraquat, a chemical herbicide and effective weed killer, has been sold by Syngenta and Chevron since the 1960s and has been widely used on golf courses, recreational areas, such as parks, and extensively within the agricultural industry.
What is the green spray used on golf courses?
ChlorpyrifosChlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide used extensively in the agricultural industry, as well as on golf courses, green houses, and as mosquito adulticide.
Do they use Roundup on golf courses?
Roundup is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, and, in my ex- perience, is applied on most U.S. golf courses. So, when people raise concerns about glypho- sate's carcinogenicity — its potential to cause cancer — golf course superintendents are a particularly interested party.
Do golf courses spray pesticides?
The Pesticide Specialist explained that pesticides are used on golf courses and other recreational areas to maintain the health and appearance of the turf. James learned that most golf courses have highly trained golf course superintendents who manage the course, including turf management and pest control strategies.
How do golf courses get their grass so green?
Deep roots help the grass stay strong, lush and green. Golf course turf receives adequate nutrients from regular fertilizing. Fertilizers typically contain a balance of potassium and nitrogen, which helps the grass stay strong, even when it's subjected to extreme temperature and heavy traffic.
What is the white foam on the golf course?
Marking foam. As the name suggests, superintendents use it to mark ground they've already sprayed, so they don't inadvertently double up on tasks. The foam is nothing more than soap and water — “basically, detergent,” Guilfoil says — dispensed from containers on the side of spray rigs.
Is paraquat sprayed on golf courses?
As an effective weed killer, paraquat has historically been used by golf courses in groundskeeping. Today, however, paraquat use is banned on golf courses by the EPA. The powerful herbicide is classified as a “Restricted Use” chemical and applicators must be licensed.
How often do golf courses spray?
To the casual observer, spraying greens every one or two weeks may appear to be overkill. However, short spray intervals allow superintendents to observe putting green performance throughout the season and apply products only at the appropriate time to maximize their efficacy.
Is it toxic to live on a golf course?
Toxic Fairways People living near a golf course may be affected by sprays and dusts blown from the golf course onto their property and into their homes. Finally, pesticides applied to the turf may run off into surface waters or leach down to groundwater, which can then expose people to contaminated drinking water.
Do golf courses use urea?
Urea is also the most inexpensive nitrogen source the turf manager can use. *Salt Index based on equal amount of Nitrogen supplied. Every golf course superintendent knows their course and its grasses better than anyone else.
What type of spray tip is used for turfgrass?
Flat fan spray, full or hollow cone and flood tips are the more common spray tips used in turfgrass spraying. A flat fan is the most widely used tip and under varying ranges of pressure is a good selection for many contact and systemic pesticides.
How to use a calibrating drop spreader?
Some drop spreaders have collection pans for catching dropped material, usually attaching to the bottom of your spreader. If your drop spreader does not have a collection pan, it is easy to make one and attach it with bungee cords. The collection pan should be oversized to collect all material dropped, but not very deep. This allows the pan to hang between the bottom of the spreader and the ground.
Fall Prep Guide - 2018 Fall Planning Guide
Review important safety guidelines with your crew to ensure the most impactful fall chemical program.
Right product for the task
I don’t know if you’ll change anyone’s mind if they are already convinced that pesticides are dangerous, but if you explain how you only use products that have been thoroughly tested and approved for use on golf courses, at least they’ll know you’re doing your due diligence in selecting the safest products.
Properly maintain and calibrate your spray equipment
One of the key factors in handling pesticides safely is controlling your exposure to the concentrated product and the spray solution. In the court case mentioned above, the groundskeeper claimed that once, while spraying, a hose broke, covering him with Roundup spray solution.
Handle pesticides correctly and safely
When OSHA adopted the Hazard Communication Standard in 1983, golf course turf managers started putting together MSDS books and added hazardous materials training to their safety programs.
What pesticides are used to maintain golf courses?
It doesn’t get that way on its own. Benomyl, rotenone, paraquat and other toxic weed and insect killers are used routinely to maintain golf courses. Most courses have a certified pesticide applicator on staff to handle these chemicals.
How many times does a golf course use pesticides?
Golf courses use four to seven times the amount of pesticides per acre that agricultural growers use. Golfers are exposed to these toxins mainly through direct skin contact with turf, usually on the ankles, legs, hands and arms.
What is the chemical used to protect crops from fungus?
Therefore, it’s best to just avoid them. Benomyl. Known commercially as Agrocit or Fundazol , this chemical is used to protect many crops from fungus, including fruits, mushrooms, ornamental shrubs and grass.
How to protect yourself from pesticides?
Other ways to protect yourself from pesticides: 1 Buy organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables. Knowing where your produce came from will help you know what it’s been exposed to. 2 Wash fruits and vegetables before eating. Use a diluted solution of water and dish soap and a scrub brush. Click here are more tips on washing produce. 3 Know which fruits and vegetables are more likely to be contaminated. Refer to EWG’s Dirty Dozen 4 Have a ‘no-shoes’ policy in your home to minimize the amount of toxins brought in on shoes that have walked through treated grass. 5 Throw away the outer layers of leafy vegetables. This may seem wasteful, but you’re getting rid of a lot of pesticide exposure by doing this. 6 Consider cleansing your system periodically. The right herbs and supplements will go a long way to removing accumulated toxins from your body.
