Award-winning growers also counted on herbicides from BASF to maximize yield
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, February 4, 2008 — For the second consecutive year, more than half of the winning participants in the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) annual yield contest relied on BASF crop protection products, particularly Headline® fungicide, to propel them into the winner’s circle. In fact, no other fungicide was used by any first-place winner.
This year, 15 of the top 27 winners of the 2007 NCGA National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) applied Headline on their winning field. Specifically, Headline was used by six of the nine first-place winners, four of the nine second-place winners and five of the nine third-place winners. BASF herbicides, including Status® herbicide were also used on a number of winning fields.
“We’re very pleased that Headline was the only fungicide applied among the first-place award-winning fields,” said Gary Fellows, technical manager at BASF. “With the majority of national winners using Headline, this confirms that innovative growers rely on Headline to help maximize their yields with a planned application of Headline.”
Using Headline for its superior disease control extends to other benefits. Headline also delivers improved Plant Health. Corn treated with Headline fungicide showed increased stalk strength resulting in less lodging and fewer dropped ears – which makes for a faster and easier harvest.
Yield contest entrants were not the only winners with Headline® fungicide. In the more than 1,150 on-farm trials conducted in locations across the country in 2007, the average yield increase of Headline treated corn ranged from 12 to 16 bu/A, while Headline treated soybeans increased by an average of 4 to 8 bu/A. Those average yield numbers have been remarkably consistent over the four years BASF has been doing on-farm comparisons.
Headline aided top yield in contest
In addition to boasting a majority of all national winners, Headline also helped deliver the disease control and Plant Health that David Hula of Renwood Farms in Charles City, Virginia, needed to earn the highest yield among all nine contest categories. His first-place finish with 385.58 bu/A in the No Till/Strip Till Irrigated category was tops in the contest overall.
“Headline is an integral part of Renwood Farms,” said Hula. “If growers are trying to improve yields and generate more revenue, they need to look at a fungicide program and Headline is the best option we have.”
BASF solutions help maximize corn potential
Controlling weeds that compete for nutrients is another important management practice in protecting yield potential at a critical time in corn development. National winners also turned to BASF herbicides, using Guardsman Max® herbicide and Prowl® H2O herbicide to reduce early season weed competition with a foundation level of soil-applied weed control. In addition, national winners discovered the power of control with Status® herbicide and saw the benefits of its superior broadleaf weed control and crop safety.
“Growing an award-winning crop takes excellent management of all the inputs, from seed selection to weed control to protecting the plant from disease,” said Dr. Dan Westberg, technical manager for corn and soybean herbicides at BASF. “We are committed to helping growers increase yields and succeed by providing a portfolio of solutions. This year, National Corn Yield Contest winners relied on the power of control offered by Status herbicide. In addition, growers used Guardsman Max and Prowl H2O herbicides to keep their fields clear of competition from the toughest weeds.”
BASF is a proud sponsor of the NCGA’s annual National Corn Yield Contest.
For more information about BASF crop protection products, visit www.agproducts.basf.com.
About the Agricultural Products Division
With sales of €3,079 million in 2006, BASF’s Agricultural Products division is a leader in crop protection and a strong partner to the farming industry providing well-established and innovative fungicides, insecticides and herbicides. Farmers use these products and services to improve crop yields and crop quality. Other uses include public health, structural/urban pest control, turf and ornamental plants, vegetation management, and forestry. BASF aims to turn knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASF’s Agricultural Products division is to be the world’s leading innovator, optimizing agricultural production, improving nutrition, and thus enhancing the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web at www.agro.basf.com.
About BASF
BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF employs more than 15,500 in North America and had sales of approximately $14.3 billion in 2006. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF’s high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has approximately 95,000 employees and posted sales of €52.6 billion (approximately $66.1 billion) in 2006. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
