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Bobcat Introduces TL623 Telehandler
Jessica Schwartz
OPEI: 12 Questions To Ask Before Powering Up The Snow Thrower
With Winter just around the corner and snow slowly creeping into forecasts across the U.S., it’s important for anyone who will have to tackle the flakes head on to make sure they’re prepared. Winter storms can be unpredictable and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) encourages lawn and landscape business owners to prepare in advance before bad weather hits. Here are OPEI’s 12 questions to ask before operating a snow thrower: Have you read your owner’s manual? Know safe handling procedures and how to operate the controls of your machine. If the manual cannot be found, look it up online and store a copy on the computer. Have you checked your equipment? Equipment should be powered off when checking it. Adjust any cables and check the auger. If you forgot to drain the fuel before storing equipment last year, empty the gas tank. Have you purchased the right fuel? Be sure to use the fuel recommended by the equipment manufacturer. Fuel that is more than 30 days old can phase separate and cause operating problems. Buy gasoline ahead of a storm. For more information see LookBeforeYouPump.com. Is gasoline used safely? Never add fuel to a running or hot engine. Store gasoline in a fuel container and label with date purchased and ethanol content. Make sure fuel is stored safely and out of reach of children. Are batteries charged (for battery-powered equipment)? Make sure batteries are fully charged before a storm, in case electricity goes out. Is the yard clear of obstructions? Snow can hide objects. Doormats, hoses, balls, toys, ...
2022 U.S. Winter Outlook: How Busy Will You Be?
Wondering how busy the snow and ice management part of your business might be this winter? A wet winter is predicted for many northern parts of the U.S., while drought is expected to persist in Great Plains, and parts of the West. From December 2022 through February 2023, wetter-than-average conditions are predicted for areas of the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes, northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest. The prediction comes from NOAA’s U.S. Winter Outlook by the Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. Meanwhile, La Niña returns for the third consecutive winter this year, which will drive warmer-than-average temperatures for the Southwest and along the Gulf Coast and eastern seaboard. NOAA predicts drier-than-average conditions across the South. “The hardworking forecasters at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center produce timely and accurate seasonal outlooks and short-term forecasts year-round,” said Michael Farrar, Ph.D., director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. “NOAA’s new supercomputers are enabling us to develop even better, more detailed forecast capabilities, which we’ll be rolling out in the coming years.” NOAA forecasters, in collaboration with the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), continue to monitor extreme, ongoing drought conditions that have persisted in the Western U.S. since late 2020, as well as parts of the central U.S. where historic low-water conditions are currently present. “Drought conditions are now present across approximately 59% of the country, but parts of the Western U.S and southern Great Plains will continue to be the hardest hit this winter,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief, ...
Turf Winter 2021 Issue
Editor’s Letter: Raise Your Glass “At the end of each landscaping season most owners are either raising their glasses or scratching their heads,” writes Josh Currivan, owner of Currivan Green Landscaping in “Optimizing Your Profits.” And it’s true. It’s only after the craze of busy, daily work do most owners have a chance to sit, tally up the numbers, and realize how their year truly fared. The New Year is a time of reflection and resolutions for everyone—but it’s especially true for landscapers whose “off-season” occurs at the same time. What went right? What went wrong? How can 2022 be better? Currivan’s article speaks to the heart of this analysis and reminds us that client numbers—or even how busy you were—don’t always equal a great bottom line. He urges peers to do business homework now, in January, and provides a timeline and solid strategies for realizing true profit in 2022 and beyond. In many ways, it’s the most important work you’ll do all year. Even with numbers-based decisions, growth is not without risk and Currivan details his tumultuous 2021. Joel Schaubel, Senior VP of Lending at LMN, addresses this risk/reward dynamic in “Investing In Equipment.” While providing a formula for “lease vs. own vs. keep,” he points out that choosing not to buy new equipment carries its own risk of downtime and lost opportunities. In terms of opportunities, Winter is also the perfect time for exploring new revenue sources. Want billable hours on rainy days or in the off-season? This ...
Turf Winter 2021 Issue
Editor’s Letter: Raise Your Glass “At the end of each landscaping season most owners are either raising their glasses or scratching their heads,” writes Josh Currivan, owner of Currivan Green Landscaping in “Optimizing Your Profits.” And it’s true. It’s only after the craze of busy, daily work do most owners have a chance to sit, tally up the numbers, and realize how their year truly fared. The New Year is a time of reflection and resolutions for everyone—but it’s especially true for landscapers whose “off-season” occurs at the same time. What went right? What went wrong? How can 2022 be better? Currivan’s article speaks to the heart of this analysis and reminds us that client numbers—or even how busy you were—don’t always equal a great bottom line. He urges peers to do business homework now, in January, and provides a timeline and solid strategies for realizing true profit in 2022 and beyond. In many ways, it’s the most important work you’ll do all year. Even with numbers-based decisions, growth is not without risk and Currivan details his tumultuous 2021. Joel Schaubel, Senior VP of Lending at LMN, addresses this risk/reward dynamic in “Investing In Equipment.” While providing a formula for “lease vs. own vs. keep,” he points out that choosing not to buy new equipment carries its own risk of downtime and lost opportunities. In terms of opportunities, Winter is also the perfect time for exploring new revenue sources. Want billable hours on rainy days or in the off-season? This ...
Snow Work And Staff Safety
This information from the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) appeared in a past year on turfmagazine.com. The advice remains timely, especially as many contractors are facing lower than usual staffing this year, or have new employees on board who may not be experienced with the rigors of the work. Read on… Winter can be vicious to snow and ice removal teams. Long hours, tough climate conditions and the perceived snow warrior mentality to power through can literally be a danger to your health. It is tough to consider attention to health and wellness when snow is flying, customers are complaining, and there is no end in sight. But if you don’t, your crews can get locked into a cycle of poor nutrition, sleep deprivation and fatigue—all of which have been scientifically proven to have negative physical and cognitive consequences. Not only are there physical ramifications, but damages and injuries related to fatigued driving and poor self-care can be costly. Identify the major risks and seek better ways to mitigate them—break the cycle before it breaks you. Nutrition And Hydration Stopping for meals may not be an option during a snowstorm, so many rely on fast food and energy drinks to keep going. Poor nutrition can lead to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other long-term health issues. Plan in advance some time for your team to stop for short breaks to refresh, grab a healthy snack, and stretch. Require your teams to drink plenty of fluids ...
Snow Work And Staff Safety
This information from the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) appeared in a past year on turfmagazine.kinsta.cloud. The advice remains timely, especially as many contractors are facing lower than usual staffing this year, or have new employees on board who may not be experienced with the rigors of the work. Read on… Winter can be vicious to snow and ice removal teams. Long hours, tough climate conditions and the perceived snow warrior mentality to power through can literally be a danger to your health. It is tough to consider attention to health and wellness when snow is flying, customers are complaining, and there is no end in sight. But if you don’t, your crews can get locked into a cycle of poor nutrition, sleep deprivation and fatigue—all of which have been scientifically proven to have negative physical and cognitive consequences. Not only are there physical ramifications, but damages and injuries related to fatigued driving and poor self-care can be costly. Identify the major risks and seek better ways to mitigate them—break the cycle before it breaks you. Nutrition And Hydration Stopping for meals may not be an option during a snowstorm, so many rely on fast food and energy drinks to keep going. Poor nutrition can lead to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other long-term health issues. Plan in advance some time for your team to stop for short breaks to refresh, grab a healthy snack, and stretch. Require your teams to drink plenty of fluids ...
Turf Fall 2021 Issue
Editor’s Letter: Winter Is Coming Right now there’s a squirrel causing a ruckus outside. Last night I could hear the crickets. It’s that lovely, fleeting time—sandwiched between the heat and humidity of summer (requiring A/C) and the cold of winter—when you can open the windows, enjoy the fresh air, and hear the sounds of nature. So it seems hard to believe that the quiet chaos of snow and ice will be upon some of us soon. But it will. And unless you’re preparing now, you could be left out in the cold. So Turf Editor-in-Chief Anne Cosgrove interviewed Phill Sexton of WIT Advisers and Neal Glatt of Snowfighters Institute to talk about changes impacting the snow industry this year. The result is a discussion of specialized equipment, handling the labor shortage, and chemical runoff concerns. The Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) also contributes to this Turf edition with tips for employee safety, both seasonally and year-round. It’s an especially important topic for companies who may have an abundance of new-hires. Naturally, to get that snow and ice work, or any landscape work, you’ve first got to win that bid. And this is where software can help you know your real costs, assess past wins and losses, provide timely estimates, and more. Clearly, bidding is one of the most important aspects of business management, and it’s why things like work-life balance often take a back seat. In an interview with Turf, Chant Singvongsa, owner of Singvongsa Landscaping in Jackson, MN, ...
Turf Fall 2021 Issue
Editor’s Letter: Winter Is Coming Right now there’s a squirrel causing a ruckus outside. Last night I could hear the crickets. It’s that lovely, fleeting time—sandwiched between the heat and humidity of summer (requiring A/C) and the cold of winter—when you can open the windows, enjoy the fresh air, and hear the sounds of nature. So it seems hard to believe that the quiet chaos of snow and ice will be upon some of us soon. But it will. And unless you’re preparing now, you could be left out in the cold. So Turf Editor-in-Chief Anne Cosgrove interviewed Phill Sexton of WIT Advisers and Neal Glatt of Snowfighters Institute to talk about changes impacting the snow industry this year. The result is a discussion of specialized equipment, handling the labor shortage, and chemical runoff concerns. The Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) also contributes to this Turf edition with tips for employee safety, both seasonally and year-round. It’s an especially important topic for companies who may have an abundance of new-hires. Naturally, to get that snow and ice work, or any landscape work, you’ve first got to win that bid. And this is where software can help you know your real costs, assess past wins and losses, provide timely estimates, and more. Clearly, bidding is one of the most important aspects of business management, and it’s why things like work-life balance often take a back seat. In an interview with Turf, Chant Singvongsa, owner of Singvongsa Landscaping in Jackson, MN, ...
