BASF Agricultural Products division has entered into an agreement with Triumph Seed providing technical support, marketing support for CLEARFIELD sunflowers and the provision of marketing assets such as CLEARFIELD trademarks. BASF is pleased to complete this agreement with a company that focuses on the US sunflower market and provides a strong presence in both the central and northern plains regions, says Bruce Cranfill, BASF Marketing Manager for CLEARFIELD sunflower in the United States. Hybrids developed under the agreement must meet BASF tolerance standards to be marketed under the CLEARFIELD brand.

Triumph will launch its first CLEARFIELD sunflower hybrids in the United States in 2004. This agreement with Triumph Seed Company from Ralls, Texas, concentrates on the United States sunflower market. Triumph has been breeding imidazolinone tolerance in sunflowers for a number of years now in a non-commercial situation, says Noble Koepp, President of Triumph Seed. The success of the CLEARFIELD sunflower program encourages both companies to work together with commercial activity immediately. The commercial launch of CLEARFIELD sunflower hybrids diversifies Triumphs hybrid offering and this leading technology helps our customers be successful controlling weeds and growing sunflowers.

The CLEARFIELD* Production System for sunflowers has proven to be an effective practice for achieving one-pass weed control and higher yields. An important element of the CLEARFIELD sunflower production system is the breeding of strong CLEARFIELD hybrids by BASFs seed partners. While the imidazolinone tolerance gene has been globally distributed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the support of BASF ensures that seed partners activities are consistent with BASF standards. BASF believes that this is important in supporting the development and commercialization of CLEARFIELD sunflower hybrids that will increase yields and profits for farmers.

The CLEARFIELD Production System has been used extensively in since 1995. The system matches carefully selected advanced seed varieties/hybrids with custom-designed imidazolinone herbicides. These herbicides have demonstrated over many years that they provide effective, extended weed control in high yielding crops. The imidazolinone family of herbicides offer broad-spectrum weed control with both contact and soil activity.

All current CLEARFIELD varieties and hybrids as well as those that will be developed using this technology are recognized as non-GMO by US and EU authorities. At the present time, BASF possesses the worlds largest portfolio of non-GMO herbicide tolerant traits and has established relationships with over 100 seed companies throughout the world. This strategy of worldwide alliances supports the CLEARFIELD program with an unmatched offering of seed alternatives to meet the specific local needs and preferences of individual growers.

For more information about the CLEARFIELD Production System for sunflower, visit the BASF Web site at www.agproducts.basf.com.

Triumph Seed Company, a Texas based company, is celebrating its fortieth year in the seed industry in 2005. Triumph markets a full line of sunflower, corn, and grain sorghum in the U.S. A leader in the U.S. sunflower seed industry, Triumph marketed the industrys first NuSunTM oil sunflower hybrid in 1997 and the first short-statured NuSun hybrid in 2003.

With sales of €3,176 million in 2003, BASFs 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 yields and quality of agricultural crops. Other uses include public health, structural/urban pest control, turf and ornamental plants. BASF aims to turn knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASFs Agricultural Products division is to be the worlds 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.agriculturalproducts.basf.com.

BASF is the worlds leading chemical company. Our goal is to grow profitably and further increase the value of our company. We help our customers to be more successful through intelligent system solutions and high-quality products. BASFs portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. Through new technologies we can tap into additional market opportunities. We conduct our business in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. In 2003, BASF had sales of about €33 billion (circa $42 billion) and over 87,000 employees worldwide. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

Always read and follow label directions.
CLEARFIELD is a registered trademark of BASF.
NuSun is a trademark of the National Sunflower Association.