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Environmental Science, a division of Bayer CropScience LP, today announced that it is accepting applications from GCSAA Class A and superintendent members through June 5 for the inaugural Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow Plant Health Academy. The Academy is the first of four Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow educational opportunities available to superintendents since Bayer launched the program in collaboration with the GCSAA’s Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG) earlier this year.
The Academy’s two-part immersive plant health curriculum will involve in-the-field training at the Bayer Training and Development Center in Clayton, N.C. (September 25-27), and classroom training at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan. (March 3-5, 2014). Twelve GCSAA members will be selected based on merit to participate in the Academy, with travel, accommodations and meals paid for by the Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow program.
“Bayer designed the Plant Health Academy to allow GCSAA members to study plant health and then see it put into practice, learning valuable strategies that they can use on their own courses,” said Jose Milan, head of Bayer’s Turf and Ornamentals business. “We are committed to providing superintendents with the knowledge and tools to integrate and promote plant health practices in a real-world setting.”
Attendees will receive instruction on a wide range of topics related to plant health, including how to measure plant health and its benefits, available treatments and preventive products, and issues such as nutrient, water and pest management.
Candidates can apply through June 5 by visiting the Plant Health Academy web page at www.backedbybayer.com/plant-health-academy. To be considered, superintendents must complete the application and respond to two short-answer essay questions, which will be evaluated by a selection committee of GCSAA and Bayer representatives. The program is open to GCSAA (class A or SM) members who are also enrolled in the Bayer Accolades® program and are currently employed as a golf course superintendent within the United States.
“The Bayer Plant Health Academy is an excellent opportunity for our members to learn some best practices in plant health management, obtaining knowledge that will keep their courses thriving for a long time,” said Rhett Evans, Chief Executive Officer of the GCSAA and its philanthropic organization, the Environmental Institute for Golf. “We appreciate Bayer’s continued commitment to the EIFG, GCSAA and the education of our member superintendents.”
Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow is a multi-faceted program aimed at advancing plant health research and education for superintendents to help ensure the health of their courses – and the industry – for the future. In addition to the Plant Health Academy, the Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow program also includes plant health-related webinars, demonstration courses and scholarships.
To fund Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow, Bayer will invest a percentage of its StressGard™ Formulation Technology (FT) product sales each year for three years, which is expected to generate a minimum of $100,000 per year for the EIFG. This will be used to fund both the new program, and also the EIFG‘s research, education, advocacy and scholarship initiatives executed by GCSAA.
“Bayer is committed to supporting the industry through all available avenues,” said Milan. “By investing in superintendent education, we hope to help develop plant health experts with whom we can collaborate to develop long-term solutions for their courses and the golf industry.”
Bayer has been developing products with plant health attributes for nearly 20 years, starting with the origin of StressGard FT, a technology now featured in four Bayer fungicides including Tartan, Chipco Triton Flo, Interface, and Chipco Signature. StressGard FT helps fortify natural plant defenses and promote plant growth. To learn more about StressGard FT and other Bayer solutions, please visit www.BackedByBayer.com.
