Turfhugger: When we last spoke the product was still fresh in America with some trials in Canada, how has customer feedback been?
Reinie Drygala: Customer feedback is very good. With most new products there is a learning curve when you become familiar with the new product. Once superintendents become familiar with the product they are very satisfied with CIVITAS.
Turfhugger: Is the formulation the same or has customer feedback caused some changes?
Reinie Drygala: The formulation of the product is the original formulation that was released in the USA in 2009. However, with customer feedback and additional academic testing we have made some improvements in our suggested IPM programs. In addition, we continue to find added benefits of using CIVITAS.
In 2011/12 we plan on bringing a new product to market that is specifically targeted at greens. Our customers shared with us that the look that they received with CIVITAS may be considered too "vibrant" for greens. With this feedback, our R&D team set out to find a solution to the feedback and this new product addresses it and brings some additional benefits as well.
The Merit Club Testimonial_Final Red Folder and Customer Approved
Turfhugger: How have sales been? Above/below expected?
Reinie Drygala: Sales have been very encouraging. We initially targeted cools season grass zones in the U.S. Northeast and Midwest. With our distributor partners in these areas we have already had over 1600 courses in these areas (over 30% of the courses in these geographies) that have trialed, tested and begun to use CIVITAS.
We are anticipating another strong year in 2011 as those courses who trialled CIVITAS in 2010 now begin to use CIVITAS as a platform or foundation for their IPM programs in 2011.
Based on the response that we received at the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association show in Vancouver, this year's launch in Canada will be promising. As this is new technology, I anticipate that in 2011 many Superintendents in Canada will trial and test the product and become comfortable with it.
Turfhugger: How many courses are using it in Canada? USA? Outside of North America?
Reinie Drygala: CIVITAS is only being sold in the USA and Canada currently. We are excited about expanding into warm season grass zones, hopefully, later this year. Our testing in these regions over the last several years show that CIVITAS provides the superintendent with a new and viable option for their turf management programs.
Turfhugger: Registered as a fungicide, but not a fungicide? Explain...
Reinie Drygala: CIVITAS' unique mode of action, which works with the plant's natural defense system to fend off the disease rather than relying on the input/chemical to deal with the pathogen, is what sets CIVITAS apart from traditional fungicides.
Several years ago, when it came time to start discussing commercialization of the product, we made the decision to register the product as a fungicide with both the PMRA and the EPA. With so many new products coming onto the marketplace, we wanted to ensure that the product would be viewed as a legitimate product that superintendents would consider for their courses. One way to do that was to formally register the product with the governing bodies. With these registrations came the credibility that we had sought out through the strict standards, guidelines and requirements that the governing agencies require.
Turfhugger: Your now available in Canada, from what distributors?
Reinie Drygala: Yes, we are proud to say that CIVITAS is now available for sale in Canada.
In Canada, our distributor of choice is Syngenta Crop Protection Canada Inc.. In choosing our distributor, we met and discussed the CIVITAS with many interested and capable distributors. It was a difficult decision; however, the national coverage combined with their solid turf management knowledge made Syngenta Crop Protection Canada Inc. a strong choice for the launch of CIVITAS in Canada.
The following is a list of retail distributors throughout the country the will be selling CIVITAS:
Name Contact Number and Email
Halifax Seed Mike Barclay mike@halifaxseed.ca
Novaturf Mike Young mikeyoung@eastlink.ca
OJ Company Don Gordon don@ojcompagnie.com
Ferti technologies Martin Bisaillon mbisaillon@fertitchno.com
MGS Horticulture Kelly Devaere kelly@mgshort.com
Ontario Seed Dave Schmelefske dave@oscturf.com
Allturf Rocco DiPasquale rocco@allturf.ca
Maple Turf Dave Moore moored@maplefarmsupply.com
Plant Science Rob Field rfield@plsci.com
Evenspray Todd Thompson toodt@mts.net
Earlys Kevin Bloski sales@earlysgarden.com
Pro Gardener Al Nielson progar@telusplanet.net
Terralink Gary Hunt gary@terralink-horticulture.com
Evergro Jerry Sihota jerrys@evergro.com
Here's a few links from Turf Disease Blog too!
Turfgrass disease updates for golf courses: Civitas shows promise ...
18 Aug 2009 ... This year, we evaluated a mixture of Civitas + Civitas Harmonizer for control of brown patch and dollar spot on creeping bentgrass putting ...
Turfgrass disease updates for golf courses: Civitas Update....By ...
30 Nov 2010 ... Several people have asked what happened to the Civitas update, so here it is: Civitas is a new product for disease and insect control in ...
Turfgrass disease updates for golf courses: November 2010
31 Oct 2010 ... Several people have asked what happened to the Civitas update, so here it is: Civitas is a new product for disease and insect control in ...
Turfgrass disease updates for golf courses: European Turfgrass ...
25 Apr 2010 ... Induced Systemic Resistance of Civitas: Dr. Tom Hsiang of the University of Guelph gave another entertaining (Great Introduction about ...
Turfgrass disease updates for golf courses: Trinity and Triton
26 Nov 2010 ... What happened to the Civitas update? Lane said... November 30, 2010 1:44 PM. Stay tuned for the Civitas update! ...
Theme Week: "New" Fungicide Reviews - Turfgrass disease updates ...
14 Nov 2010 ... Tuesday 11/23: Civitas. Wednesday 11/24: Honor. Thursday: 11/25: Renown (posted 11/28). Friday 11/26: Trinity/Triton ...
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