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While Jonathan Sweat, BASF's director of professional & specialty solutions, may be a relative newcomer to the turf industry, it didn't take long for him to appreciate the responsibility golf course superintendents are entrusted with at their facilities.
"I think the biggest surprise for me has been the level of complexity that golf course professionals must manage," Sweat says of his first impressions. " It’s hard to appreciate everything a superintendent must manage until you work in this industry!"
GCI: When you think about golf course superintendents, what’s the first word that comes to mind?
Jon: Professional – These folks are managing complex businesses. Failure is truly not an option! Their knowledge and dedication to their respective businesses is impressive.
BASF was early to the game with plant health labeling for products. How has that been embraced by customers?
BASF has built a leading position with plant health across North America in both crop and professional markets. Our Intrinsic line of products deliver the highest level of disease control, as well as further enhance the overall quality of turf through the plant health benefits they offer. Our latest innovations, Lexicon and Xzemplar, have gained rapid market adoption and are among the most widely used fungicides in turf today.
If you could magically add another product to your golf portfolio overnight, what would it be?
A new herbicide innovation that picks up tough to control broadleaves and grasses in one easy application would be a great fit. Preemergence would be ideal so that he weeds never emerge and interfere with turf quality.
What’s generated the most attention about your early order program this year?
It’s clear that Lexicon and Xzemplar are continuing to rapidly expand in the market. Interest in those two products is incredible. These two innovations have picked up market share faster than any other fungicides in recent history. After just 1 full year in the market, they are among the most widely used fungicides in turf today. I think it’s a testament to the leading disease control and Intrinsic plant health benefits they offer. It all adds up to higher turf quality!
If you were a superintendent, you would...
I’m naturally inquisitive. I’d probably have a course full of test plots looking at all the different technologies available today. I’m guessing my course would look like a checkerboard of successes and failures!
Final thoughts?
BASF is proud to partner with turf professionals across the US. We are committed to bring the latest innovations to market. We invest approximately $2M every day looking for new innovations that make Superintendents jobs easier. Lexicon and Xzemplar are the beginning of several innovations we expect to bring to market over the next few years.
