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Record keeping, IPM


Golf Course Superintendents have always been very diligent about record keeping. We keep records on pesticide applications, fertilizer applications, cultural practices as well as budgetary items, health and safety issues and HR related issues.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been a component of turf grass management for as long as I have been in this business. In recent times pesticides have come under rigorous scrutiny both on the municipal and provincial government levels. Currently golf courses are exempt from the pesticide ban.

All golf courses are now required to obtain full accreditation through the IPM Council of Ontario. This is a rather lengthy process that we here at HCC have been working on for the past two seasons. Before you can start the process I was required to write an exam to become the agent for the club. Secondly, we apply for the first annual desk review, this accreditation step requires submission of fertilizer and pesticide application records as well as application equipment calibration forms and course condition monitoring sheets, that are filled our daily throughout the golf season. Finally, we are also required to have an on site audit (scheduled for 2010). As I eluded to earlier in this post, this is really just a formalization of what most of us have been doing for years. In early 2009 we completed the second step and are now awaiting the on site audit. Although, it doesn't end there, we are required to submit all of our application records annually.

This week we are getting our "ducks in a row" and preparing our annual desk review package for submission.

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