News archive 2012
18/12-12 - 6/2-13
Professional Seed Technology™
DLF-TRIFOLIUM is working intensively with seed Treatment and DLF´S "Professional Seed Technology" covers a wide range of technical additions created to improve establishment of grass.
Read more about basic terms used in Seed treatment and about iSeed®50 and promicro.
18/12-12 - 5/2-13
Modern Beef cattle production requires top performing grassland
DLF-TRIFOLIUM has created three new mixtures in the ForageMax range for the season 2012/13. Two of them are for the profitable beef production.
Read more.
07/11-12 - 07/01-13
New beet varieties are as good as expected
Bangor, Solid, Energarci and Enermax, the complete beet harvest fulfills the expectations. 
This year beet harvests in Denmark are proceeding and the results are promising. A cold and relatively wet growing season shows nevertheless fantastic yields.
Peter Krog-Meyer, Business Development Manager on complementary crops in DLF-TRIFOLIUM says:
“Like 2011 we have a fantastic year regarding growing conditions for beets. The biggest problems experienced were in the beginning of the growing season and in many areas there was a problem in timing the weed spraying due longtime rainy and windy conditions. But the growing season has been very good overall seen. The beet harvesting is compared to the maize harvest more easy to handle, the beet fields are better in draining off after the longtime rainfalls we have had the last two months.
Also we experience a change for the better, in the use of equipment. This year a number of self propelled beet lifters are lifting beets for forage and biogas. We now face that an increase of the beet area is no problem, the challenge of enough capacity is solved in a technical very effective way using these large capacity machines. Additional they have not bigger problems driving in the fields than trailed lifters”.
In 2012 new beet varieties from DLF-TRIFOLIUM were launched.
A new standard for beet growing with improved yields and a better disease resistance. Additional a superior low dirt tare which result in the cleanest beets after lifting. Already the first year the Enermax beet has been the biggest variety in beets for forage and biogas. A number of trials are lifted in now and the preliminary results honor the great expectations.
02/11-12 - 5/2-13
High Quality demands for turf renovation project at Novo Nordisk
Landscape contractor, Skælskør Anlægsgartnere, has recently completed a 10,000 m² turf renovation project for the amenity areas of Novo Nordisk production facilities in Hillerød, north of Copenhagen. The pharmaceutical company wanted a solution where the existing turf was replaced and the soil surface leveled out. As Novo Nordisk required a high quality solution and to have the final result immediately, it was decided use a sod solution from DLF-TRIFOLIUM.
"One of the big challenges in the project was that the quality requirements for the performance were very high," says team leader and gardener Henry Bøgh from the contractor company that operates within the amenity sector.
"Around the training center, Favrholm Campus, there was absolutely no tolerance ". This meant that the contractor had to level out the whole area, to ensure that the soil surface was horizontal and 100% plane.
The high quality demand also reflected the materials used in the project. "It has been great to work with the DLF-TRIFOLIUM sod", says Henrik Bøgh. "It has been easy and precise to work with, and we didn´t need to discard any rolls, as the sod fully meet the quality tolerances required, he says".
The sod from the Danish production by DLF-TRIFOLIUM is used in a wide range of projects e.g. as an architectural element and it can turn bare soil into a stadium pitch within a few days. Søren Drejer Jensen, amenity sales manager on this project says: "The task for Novo Nordisk has been exciting because the customer demanded a high quality from the construction work, and because the area is incredibly beautiful. The training center is a very special construction, which fits perfectly into the surroundings. As a supplier it is rewarding to be part of such a project – and the cooperation with the contractor has worked very well".
The sod solution was established 14 months ago and is composed by top quality turf varieties of:
20% Perennial Ryegrass (10% Sauvignon and 10% Grenfair)
65% Smooth-stalked Meadowgrass (30% Julius and 35% Cocktail)
25% Red Fescue (5% Greensleeves C and 10% Cezanne T)
30/10-12 - 03/01-13
Several years of intensive screening and research has now paid off for grass breeder Niels Roulund and the team of scientists and technicians at DLF-TRIFOLIUM and Aarhus University who recently filed a US patent application on a new animal safe forage grass endophyte.
After more than 10 years of dedicated research DLF-TRIFOLIUM is now ready for commercial release of the new superior endophyte for forage tall fescue. In order to reach this far the endophyte has undergone several investigations including chemical profiling, insect trials, and animal grazing trials both in Australia and in Oregon. All tests have been passed with great success; this endophyte-plant interaction has proven non-toxic to grazing animals and at the same time providing excellent insect tolerance to the grass host. The endophyte will be introduced into the US, Australian, and New Zeeland markets through top tall fescue varieties, such as Tower and Martin 2.
18/10-12 - 07/11-12
DLF-TRIFOLIUM starts up forage grass trials in Russia
Early 2012 DLF-TRIFOLIUM established a new trialing station near Moscow. The aim is to develop new, improved forage varieties to satisfy increasing demands from a blooming meat- and dairy industry.
Read more in this edition of prograss
01/10-12 - 14/12-12
Highest number of New Forage Varieties launched
Homegrown forage and protein is one of the keys in competitive milk and meat production. By choosing this route it is possible to increase the economic margins on farm level dramatically. For this critical decision it is a perfect fit that DLF is launching the highest number ever of new quality forage clover and grass varieties out of crop 2012.
White Clover: TRIPLE
Perennial Ruegrass: BOYNE int. 2n, MASSIMO int. 2n, DIWAN int. 4n, TODDINGTON late 2n, GRAZIANNE late 4n, LOGIQUE late 4n.
Italian Ryegrass: KURI 1 2n, KIGEZI 1 4n, GOLDONI 4n, ELVIS 4n,
Westerwoldicum: SURREY NOVA 2n, MAGLOIRE 2n,
Festulolium: FOJTAN; Tall Fescue, grazing type
Cocksfoot: ALDEBARAN late
01/10-12
Forage Newsletter, September 2012
Read the latest edition of Forage Newsletter here
01/10-12
Professional Turf Newsletter, September 2012
Read the latest edition of Professional Turf Newsletter here
01/10-12
Prograss, September 2012
Read the latest edition af Prograss
29/9-12 - 30/12-12
Extra production from marginal soils?
With increasing demands for feed, food, and fiber, the agricultural production system faces a future where marginal soils will be used for low-input farming to a much larger extend than what is evident today. The conditions at such areas are generally very stressful comprising exposure to extremes in pH, salinity, drought as well as nutrient efficiency. It is expected that perennial grasses are among the most well suited plants for these production conditions. The question is which species will do the job most efficiently, both in terms of biomass yield, stress tolerance, and convenience for biomass utilization and transportation.
This big question is currently being addressed in a major EU project called GrassMargins, in which DLF together with 11 other partners from Academia and Industry, will examine and develop new varieties of Tall Fescue, Festulolium, Cocksfoot, Reed Canary Grass, and Elephant Grass (Miscanthus) for marginal soils.
At first these five species will be tested for tolerance to various types of stress, including salinity, drought, flooding, and cold by different partners. Salinity test will be conducted by DLF-TRIFOLIUM who has developed a great expertise in screening large populations for salt tolerance using soil-free media.
Data from all tests conducted in the consortium will guide the future breeding process in making the most robust varieties for growth on marginal soils. So better start now looking in your back yard for exterior land to spike your future agricultural production – perhaps with tough grasses from DLF-TRIFOLIUM.
20/9-12 - 30/10-12
Green Ribbon Cutting in Denmark
The expansion of DLF-TRIFOLIUM’s department in Højme was celebrated Friday the 14th of September 2012. Here the mayor of Odense Anker Boye and DLF’s Chairman Benny Kirkebække Christensen performed the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Speeches and a tour of the impressive new facilities also marked the opening. Mayor Anker Boye began his speech by complimenting DLF: “To plant a seed and watch it grow is a symbol of life, performance, value and creation. This is what we are celebrating in DLF-TRIFOLIUM today, and what we have seen happen for several years.” DLF-TRIFOLIUM’s CEO Truels Damsgaard appreciated the effort and commitment in the DLF-group – also leading up to the opening-event: “We are really good at what we do, but we are also good at marketing it. And this is significant, because things don't happen on their own.”
See photograps from the site in Højme here.
10/9-12 - 01/10-12
Which Turf Perennial Ryegrass gives you the very best establishment – also at low temperatures, a good wear tolerance, the very best disease tolerance and an improved drought tolerance all in one hand?
Click here to watch the video that gives you the answer
23/8-12 - 18/10-12
Homegrown protein – clover and lucerne do the job
Legumes like clover and lucerne are able to utilize free nitrogen from the air and turn it into proteins. Pure grass will need more than 400 kg of fertilizer-nitrogen to obtain a protein level close to legumes. Lucerne and clover grass offers an outstanding opportunity to improve dairy and beef farming results.
1.5 -2 ton protein per hectare
With a yield level for legumes of – at least – 7 to 10 ton dry matter per hectare, the crude protein yield can be 1.5- 2 ton or more. This quantity can replace almost the same amount of i.e. soya-protein, which has to be bought at market price.
Up to 250 kg nitrogen for free
Most often clover is grown in a mixture with grasses. This makes sense from a feeding point of view, but it also brings benefits in the fields as legumes produces up to 150-250 kg “free” nitrogen per hectare. This can be utilised by the grasses in the field and it saves costs for bagged nitrogen.
Read more about the DLF ForageMax clover grass mixture programme here
22/8-12 - 24/9-12
Optical analysis of seeds
A current research project could enable a more efficient analysis of seeds with regards to germination capacity.
Read more about DLF-TRIFOLIUM's involvement in the project together with The Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation, Aarhus University and Videometer among others.
7/8-12 - 28/9-12
In Northumberland in UK they are creating a 34m high and 400m long sculpture of a woman designed by the famed artist Charles Jencks. The sculpture will be open to the public early 2013. For the cover of the sculpture a microclover mixture from DLF-TRIFOLIUM has been chosen. The very difficult sowing is being done by hydro seeding and is finalized bit by bit as the sculpture is accomplished.
See the fantastic project here.
2/8-12 - 10/9-12
Overseeding with AXCELLA and 4turf is a success
Having seen the benefits from using the Johnsons Sports Seed mixture J Premier Pitch in the UK for several years, Martin Knight Head Groundsman at Worcester Warriors Rugby Club was very keen to sow the new Johnsons Sports Seed mixture J Rescue which contains AXCELLA Annual Ryegrass and 4turf Tetraploid Perennial Ryegrass after visiting DLF’s UK Didbrook breeding station to view the Amenity Demonstration plots in September 2010.
Martin overseeded the main Stadium pitch at the Sixways venue with J Rescue just before the UK entered a period of extreme cold weather towards the end of the year. He commented that despite sowing it during very cold conditions, J Rescue really impressed him with its speed of germination and ground cover during this difficult period.
Pitch at Sixways Stadium – home stadium of Worcester Warriors Rugby Club
12/7-12 - 23/8-12
President's opening of the ISF congress in Rio
Truels Damsgaard, president of the International Seed Federation (ISF) opened the ISF Congress 2012 in
Rio de Janeiro.
His speech commented on seed applied technologies, natural grass and the challenge of feeding the world in the decades to come, given that the world’s resources are under great pressure. Read the Extracts from the opening speech here
.
12/7-12 - 17/8-12
Britain's Jonny Marray and Denmark's Frederik Løchte Nielsen, the wild card men's doubles champions, showed that tales of the improbable also happen in the doubles. This fantastic partnership of the Englishman and the Dane was performed on the high quality tennis grass pitch at the Wimbledon tournament this year. As supplier of top quality grass for some of the most prestigious tournaments, DLF-TRIFOLIUM congratulates the champions.
25/6-12 - 22/8-12
Possible health risks by using artificial grass
A number of questions pop up when talking about the extended use of artificial grass:
• How does the dust from the rubber-infill affect our health and our environment?
• Are chemicals released from the artificial grass?
• How does the carbon footprint for an artificial pitch look compared to natural grass pitch?
Recently a study from California showed that the amount of e.g. cadmium exceeded the allowed limits. A simple test with daphnies showed that all daphnies died after 36 hours in drain water from an artificial pitch. For the comparison, no daphnies died after the same test with drain water from a natural grass pitch. Below you will find a link to a video from the US about possible health risks added to the use of artificial grass.
In the new report from ESA (European Seed Association) you can read more about comparison of artificial and natural grass.
15/6-12 - 12/7-12
Artificial or natural turf?
In our January 2012 issue of the Professional Turf Newsletter we explored the issue of carbon sequestration of natural grass pitches. But when considering investing in a sports surface many different factors have to be taken into account. In this issue we focus on the details about the costs involved.
Read more about the financial benefits of natural grass in the newsletter here.
11/6-12 - 7/8-12
Development of grasses with efficient nitrogen usage
Familiar with input constraints in your plant production system or in your park management?
DLF-TRIFOLIUM is now gearing up research to find the most nitrogen use efficient varieties for forage and amenity purposes.
Read more
8/6-12 - 7/8-12
DLF-TRIFOLIUM
- The preferred grass
seed supplier for
top sports events
6/6-12 - 17/8-12
Prograss Special Edition on European Football Championship and the Olympic Games out now!
Also read the latest edition of Prograss
19/3-12 - 8/6-12
An update on the seed market
1/6-12 - 25/6-12
Stadium grass seminar held in Russia
The seminar for football groundsmen organized by DLF-TRIFOLIUM and partners - Agbina and Compo - took place in Moscow region on 28 May, 2012. The event was attended by groundsmen from stadiums and training pitches in the Russian Premier League and other leagues from all over Russia: Krasnodar, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yaroslavl, Grozny and even Eastern Siberia. DLF presented new innovative products for overseeding of sport fields; AXCELLA and 4turf.
After the theoretical part of the seminar, the participants visited FC Spartak's training base where DLF mixtures are used. Director and agronomist of the base shared their experience of utilization of Masterline mixtures. Groundsman of Ahmat Arena (FC Terek from Chechnya) Mr. Kurbanmagomedov participated at the seminar said: "It's always interesting to meet with colleagues and get information about new varieties and technology to keep sport fields in a good condition during the whole season".
Click here to know more about DLF new products.
23/5-12 - 17/8-12
DLF-TRIFOLIUM provides the coolest grass
When the top European national team’s battle on the football pitches in June, the players will be very aware of the structure and quality of the grass on the different stadia’s and base camps pitches. The Danish grass seed company DLF-TRIFOLIUM has played an important role in developing the best possible grass solutions for this event. Read the press release.
21/5-12 - 11/6-12
Sod visualizes prehistoric Denmark
Besides creating beautiful lawns, repairing worn goal areas and establishing new golf courses, sod can be used for many purposes. At the moment it plays an important role in the visualization of a Viking site in the vicinity of Roskilde in Denmark.
The sod indicates the walls of the Viking houses, halls and royal seat. The sod is build up like a wall measuring 0.5m x 0.5m. They give a very accurate impression of where the buildings were situated as well as the size of the buildings. The largest one was 48.5m x 11.5m with an area of more than 500 m2.
4,000 m2 of sod has been used for this project and the sod was delivered with a thick growth layer of 3-4cm. The normal size of the growth layer is between 1½-2cm. The sod rolls are more "longhaired" than normal and the reason for this is that the longhaired grass decomposes which ensures that the rolls grow together.
11/5-12 - 17/8-12
Keep your nitrogen at home with a catch crop in maize
Using a catch crop of Perennial Ryegrass, Cocksfoot or Red Fescue will reduce the need of bought-in fertilizer. A well developed grass sward can retain up to 50 kg N pr. ha, which can be partly used by the following crop - and at the same time protect the environment.
Read more here.
15/3-12 - 23/5-12
New varieties of beet for energy production
DLF‐TRIFOLIUM has recently introduced new varieties of beet which are suitable for biogas production as well as for traditional forage use. The varieties ENERMAX, ENERGARCI and SOLID have just been accepted on the Danish Variety List after two years of testing.
Read more about the beets in our press realease.
16/2-12 - 21/5-12
ForageSelect - Home for a great new project
DLF-TRIFOLIUM has launched a new website forageselect.com together with Aarhus University (AU). This site contains information about a project, in which the two partners have joined forces to implement Genome Wide Selection (GWS) into grass breeding.
Read more about the project here.
13/2-12 - 15/3-12
DLF-TRIFOLIUM invests €8 Million
With five new mixing and packing lines using the newest technology, DLF-TRIFOLIUM is setting new standards to improve its agility and flexibility to meet customers' demands. The €8 Million investment is made in connection to the existing seed cleaning warehouse in Odense. The new 10,000 m² warehouse will be ready for use in July 2012.
Read more about the project in the latest edition of Prograss.
3/2-12 
- 17/8-12
Best friend of
Carbon Footprint
Do you know that the annual
oxygen production and carbon
dioxide fixation from one hectare
of natural turf exeeds that of
one hectare of forest?
Read more about this in the Professional turf newsletter
31/1-12 - 16/2-2012
Forage Newsletter
Increase your profit with grass/legume
The economically optimal feed diet depends on various parameters; mainly on
the potential yield level of maize, clover grass and Lucerne and on the actual
prices on concentrates.
Read more about how you can increase your profit by having the right grass/legume balance in Forage Newsletter
26/1-12 - 1/6-12
Three good reasons to rely on natural turf!
Being by far the most sustainable, environmentally-and carbon-friendly option, natural turf releases less greenhouse gases and thus contributes in cutting the carbon footprint. Playing on natural grass also reduces the players' stress levels and even heart rate. European Seed Association (ESA) supports natural turf for football, sports and playing surfaces. Last but not least, natural turf also saves local sports clubs a significant amount of money.
In its recently published report entitled "Natural Turf: Why it remains the natural choice for football, sports and playing surfaces", ESA targets key decision makers at the municipality level who are responsible for sport facilities. The aim is to inform them about all aspects of both natural and artificial turf - and to encourage them to "go green" and opt for the natural choice.
Visit the ESA webpage http://www.euroseeds.org/home to read the press release and access the full content.
16/1-12 - 3/2-12
New Export Area Manager
We are pleased to announce that DLF-TRIFOLIUM in the Netherlands has hired Jo Hillewaert as Export Area Manager.
Jo is 42 years and has held several sales positions within various multinational companies in the food processing and packing industry.
Jo has an extensive international sales experience including 9 years of working and living abroad (Luxemburg, China and South-Africa).
After an intensive training and introduction program, Jo is going to be responsible within the DLF NL Export Team for sales to wholesale customers in Portugal, Spain and France.
16/1-12 - 13/2-12
Masterline Newsletter
4turf Perennial Ryegrass with extra power
Tretraploids are well known from forage grass situation and give extra power for yield and stress tolerance. DLF-TRIFOLIUM has managed to duplicate these benefits in genuine turf types of Perennial Ryegrass.
Read more about in Masterline Newsletter
5/1-12 - 11/5-12
Appointment: New Breeder in the Danish R&D Team
Entering 2012, it is a great pleasure for DLF-TRIFOLIUM to present our new grass breeder, Anders Søndergaard Larsen, who will enter the team at Danish Plant Breeding, Store Heddinge.
Anders is 34 years old and has a Master of Science in management of forestry and natural resources from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen. He also holds a Ph.D. degree in plant genetics from Copenhagen University, Faculty of Life Sciences. During the last year he has been working on the potential of grasses for bioenergy production as post-doc at Aarhus University, Department of Genetics and Biotechnology. The employment of Anders is a part of a generational change at the breeding station in Store Heddinge as our turf grass breeder Niels Christian Nielsen is planning to end his long career in the second half of 2012.
