Industry News

Bernhard and Co. to send GCSAA members to England

Bernhard and Co. is sending 10 GCSAA Class A members to the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association's Turf Management Exhibition, Jan. 21-26, 2007, in Harrogate, England.

Winners will have the opportunity to attend the conference and exhibition, participate in education seminars, network with greenkeepers from the UK and Europe, and visit golf courses in England.

To enter, register online at http://www.bernhard.co.uk/gcsaa_regform.0.html or call 888-474-6348. Deadline for applications is Nov. 15. Bernhard and Co. will notify the winners by Dec. 19, 2006.

Bernhard and Company, manufacturers of Express Dual and Anglemaster grinders, will cover expenses for airfare, accommodation, conference registration, education seminars and transportation.

For more about the company, visit www.expressdual.com. For more information about BIGGA, visit www.bigga.org.uk.

H-2B extension announced for "returning workers"

Golf facilities will continue to have access to an expanded pool of seasonal immigrant laborers under the H-2B visa program now that President Bush has signed into law a one-year extension of the "Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act," which was set to expire Oct. 1.

The extension, which passed as part of the Defense Authorization bill, exempts returning seasonal workers from counting against the national cap of 66,000 seasonal immigrant visas. The one-year extension will remain in effect until Sept.30, 2007.

In order to qualify, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must have previously counted the "returning worker" against the H-2B numerical cap in one of the previous three fiscal years (Oct. 1, 2003 to Sept. 30, 2006).

Any worker not certified as a "returning worker" is subject to the numerical limitations for the relevant fiscal year. Petitions received after the final receipt date which contain a combination of "returning workers" and workers subject to the current H-2B cap will be rejected with respect to non-returning workers, and petitioning employers will receive partial approvals for those aliens who qualify as returning workers if otherwise approvable.

USCIS will continue to process petitions filed to:

• Extend the stay of a current H-2B worker in the United States;
• Change the terms of employment for current H-2B workers and extend their stay;
• Allow current H-2B workers to change or add employers and extend their stay; or
• Request eligible H-2B "returning workers."

For more on the H-2B visa program, contact GCSAA's department of information and public policy at 800-472-7878. More information can also be found at www.uscis.gov or by calling 800-375-5283.

New Lesco Service Centers open

Eight new Lesco Service Center locations opened their doors during the third quarter of 2006. The newest Lesco locations are in eight different states:

• Rochester, N.Y.
• Jamesburg, N.J.
• York, Pa.
• Westminster, Md.
• Gastonia, N.C.
• Lutz, Fla.
• Traverse City, Mich.
• Franklin, Wis.

This year, the company has opened 27 new Service Centers in a total of 16 states, bringing total to 328 Service Centers in 39 states.

"We know how important time is to our customers. They save money when they save time," noted Jeff Rutherford, Lesco's president and chief executive officer. "Our goal is to supply reliable products, helpful advice and unmatched convenience. Doing this helps our customers grow their businesses and earn more money."

Lesco has identified opportunities to open at least 250 new Service Centers across the country, and the company ultimately plans on 40 new locations in 2006.

To locate the nearest service center, visit www.lescodirect.com or call 800-321-5325.

Construction of Agrotain production site underway

Agrotain International and parent company Lange-Stegmann have begun work on a $20 million expansion the company's St. Louis fertilizer transshipment facility. The expansion includes a stabilized nitrogen technology granulation production center, with a plant capacity of 125,000 tons, and a new storage facility.

"The plant will be at the core of our expansion plans, and will provide a consistent and uninterrupted supply of high-quality, stabilized nitrogen products," said Mike Stegmann, president of Agrotain International. "The production center utilizes a superior falling curtain technology for enhanced quality control and production efficiency."

When it will add 60,000 tons to Lange-Stegmann's existing 80,000 tons of dry and 15,000 tons of liquid storage. The expansion is expected to increase handlings up to 1 million tons. The new projects will be completed in the summer of 2007.

IA New Product Contest features efficiency and ease of use

Irrigation efficiency and ease of use are common themes among entries in the 2006 Irrigation Association New Product Contest, which received more entries than ever in its fifth year.

The contest, which includes 43 entries in three categories, will be judged at the 27th International Irrigation Show in San Antonio. Winners will be announced Nov. 6 at the IA keynote breakfast in conjunction with the show.

The contest, which includes products introduced to the market in the last year, is open to International Irrigation Show exhibitors. Categories are agriculture, golf and turf/landscape.

In all three categories, the contest includes a variety of products from soil moisture sensors to filters, controllers and controller add-ons designed to promote irrigation efficiency. Also featured are tools for irrigation professionals and products related to fertigation, filtration, metering, lighting and water garden products.

All the entries will be showcased in a special enclave on the exhibition floor.