REPORT ON AN INTENSIVE TURF MONTH


IN EUROPE By Professor Martin Bocksch


An intensive turf month in Europe—four weeks, from June 3rd


to July 4th , that had it all! DRV Summer Field Day


Te series of events began in and around Uelzen in Lower Saxony, Germany. Once a year, the German Turf Producers Association (DRV) invites members to its DRV summer field day. Tis year it was the Besenthal family who hosted this annual event. It was an early date, but the hosts always set it in such a way that it fits into their processes and for the guests as well.


savings, their irrigation does indeed offer some advantages, but they also cost money.


Tis was followed by the introduction of Rob van Dijck, as founder and managing director of the Rovadi Company. He had taken over the estate/remains of the VanMac company over the turn of the year. It seems to have been quite turbulent at the end. At least, as one could hear from his descriptions, he could have imagined an easier start. In addition to VanMac, the agricultural technology company also has other turf technology in its range and offers extensive workshop service for the devices.


It began with short greetings in a modern, cool theater that belongs to the family, and was then followed by comments from Benedikt Wullengard, chairman of the association. I then also provided some comments, as did the Besenthal brothers, Christian and Carsten. What has been built up here from small beginnings through good family cooperation is impressive. Agriculture, potatoes, onions, grain, sugar beet on over 1,000 hectares (2,471.05 acres), and then, of course turf, inspired by their brother-in-law.


Today, after seven years, it is a supporting pillar of the company. On the one hand, I was personally impressed by the consistent implementation of the guiding theme on the Besenthal farm: "Only full trucks leave this farm," as Christian Besenthal never tires of emphasizing. Tis is how it is done with potatoes and onions, and now also quite stringently with turf. And secondly, the palpable family harmony and unity. Further details on the Besenthal farm can be found at the end of this section.


Now returning to the DRV summer field day, company presentations followed: Fasterholt (from Uelzen with a home game) has developed well after the realignment. Te sales manager, Julia Dorau, introduced the company and went into detail about the technical features of the Fasterholt irrigation machines, their possibilities, and innovations. In view of the indicated water and energy


38 TPI Turf News September/October 2025


In any case, Rovadi presented himself very sympathetic and Dutch relaxed to his listeners. And there were quite a few! Exactly 60 participants had signed up for the list of participants. A nice result that shows how attractive the summer conferences in particular are for our members.


After a delicious lunch buffet, we went with our own car to the lawn, where the technology mentioned in the morning and much more was already waiting for the participants. With the wide range of products on offer in all technical areas - i.e., from soil cultivation and sowing, irrigation and mowing to harvesting, transport and robotics—the audience quickly spread out on the spacious lawn. And this also gave no cause for complaint; on the contrary, the quality of the pitch commanded some respect.


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