BIGGA Midlands Section

Bigga Midland Section Education and Training Page

Paul Woodham

Education and Training Co-ordinator

13/06/08

Irrigation Master class Workshop

Evaluating Your System Performance

Gay Hill Golf Club

Monday 18th August 2008

Following the great success of the previous irrigation training days, Bigga Midlands Section are again joining forces with Evenproducts Ltd to present a one-day workshop focusing on irrigation performance.

The day will commence 08.30 & end 15.00 with breaks for morning tea and lunch (after lunch will be divided between a course irrigation inspection & then more inside material).

08.45 -09.45: Better management of your existing system

How the pump system relates to the sprinkler system.
The importance of pipe diameters; how these affect sprinkler operation.
How to determine how many sprinklers can be operated simultaneously.
How to maximize sprinkler coverage & irrigation uniformity in your existing system.
Theoretical system performance; pump pressure, pump flow rates, sprinkler (operating) pressures.
Introducing variable speed drives (VSD’s) on pumps.

10.00 -11.00: Determining how much water should be applied:

Based on daily evapo-transpiration (E.T.) rates.
Based on sprinkler flow rates & area of sprinkler coverage.
Introduction to crop coefficients
Determination of daily required irrigation to equal what the turf has lost.
Introduction to measuring devices, especially soil moisture sensors.

11.00 – 12.00 Inputs that will make your life easier:

Making your irrigation controller work harder for you:

Introducing cycle & soak options to maximize water adsorption into the root-zone area.
Daily irrigation versus deep watering on fairways.
Decoder systems versus multi-cable systems.

Introducing other instruments to improve your irrigation system:

Pressure regulating valves.
Worm-drive butterfly mainline isolating valves.

Water Hammer… what it is & how to control it.

Introducing air-release valves
Control valves; good versus bad ones.

12.30 – 13.30: Practical session in the field:

Testing sprinkler operating pressures
Sprinklers at low operating pressures
Sprinkler spacing
Different sprinklers for different jobs.
Pump system (at the pump shed); Hydrovar variable speed drive.

13.30 – 15.00 Problem-Solving in your irrigation system:

A “tick the boxes” approach to determining what is wrong with an irrigation system when something isn’t right.
Determining whether it’s a controller problem or a hydraulic problem.
Is it the controller or the wiring?

The cost of the workshop is just £50 including lunch. Delegates can reserve their place by contacting Paul Woodham on 07880 734197 or email paul@ghgc.org.uk. Delegate places are limited to just 12 places.

13/06/08

Pesticides Update Training

Gay Hill Golf Club

Wednesday 10th September

Bigga Midlands Section has joined forces with Jon Allbutt Associates to deliver a one day Pesticides Update course. The training is essential for all NPTC qualified operators as it will bring users up to date with recent changes in legislation and provide useful spraying and maintenance techniques.

The practical workshop will allow delegates to refresh their calibration and spraying skills on a range of mounted and hand held sprayers. Delegates will also be provided with lunch and a free CD copy of the Pesticides Code of Practice.

There are only 10 delegate places available at a cost of £90. Delegates can reserve places by contacting Paul Woodham on 07880 734197 or by email; paul@ghgc.org.uk

The programme for the day is as follows (full details will be sent with booking confirmation);

0830 -1030
THE FOUNDATION MODULE – (THE NPTC TEST SCHEDULE)

CHANGES IN HEALTH/SAFETY/ENVIRONMENTAL AND PESTICIDES LEGISLATION. PRODUCT LABELLING AND CONTAINER DESIGN.
LERAPS AND PROTECTION OF WATER.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF SPRAYER OPERATIVES (NRoSo) SCHEME

THE MAINTENANCE AND TESTING OF SPRAY EQUIPMENT (PUWER REGULATIONS AND THE NSTS SCHEME)

1045 – 1230
THE USE OF GROUND CROP (BOOM) SPRAYERS AND HAND HELD SPRAYERS (PA2A/6A)

SPRAYER SPECIFICATION – NOZZLE CHANGES – CALIBRATION UPDATE

1300-1430
CALIBRATION (PRACTICAL SESSION)

1430-1600
THE SAFE USE OF SPRAYING EQUIPMENT (PRACTICAL SESSION)
HAND HELD AND BOOM SPRAYERS

1600-1630

DISCUSSION SESSION AND END OF COURSE

01/04/08

Midland Section Training and Education We enjoyed yet another successful days training workshop held at Gay Hill GC for the Irrigation Electrics Workshop. Tony Ware, Tonick Watering really blew our minds whilst trying to explain Faradays theory of electrics. Fortunately there were plenty of practical exercises for the delegates to do which brought us back down to earth, fortunately not with a bang. Mike Woolcock, Kiem Water was on hand to keep us all on track and show us how the repairs should be done. Tony even treated us to a few bomb making methods. I wasn’t sure how best to use this advice but as the classroom also double as Gay Hill’s committee room a few ideas suddenly sprung to mind. Can’t wait for the next meeting! I have already sent my apologies. We hope to run the event again so please get in touch if you would like to book your place. Plans are underway for a Pesticides and Spraying Techniques Update which will again be a practical refresher workshop aimed at keeping the operator up to date with the latest legislation, equipment and techniques. Anyone interested in booking a place on either event should contact me by email at paul@ghgc.org.uk

Paul Woodham

03/01/08

Education and Training News

After a busy few weeks which have seen the Irrigation Workshop, Excavator Training, and Noise & Vibration Management seminars, I have just about had time to site down and digest some of the feedback from the events. It appears that there would be sufficient Interest in running a one day "Irrigation Electrical Fault Finding " workshop. The subject was briefly covered during the event at The Belfry but a purpose hands-on day maybe worthwhile. Please let me know if you are interested. I have also had enquiry about running a "Pesticides Update and Refresher" course. This again would be a hands-on refresher covering latest legislation, calibration and techniques. We would need a minimum of 10 candidates for this event. There is also a possibility of running another excavator course. It is important that you confirm your interest as soon as possible so I can make arrangements according to the demand.

Regards,

Paul Woodham

You can contact me at any time to discuss your training needs.

Paul Woodham

07880 734197

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