Purdy, Missouri
August 5, 2008
BASF co-sponsor of landmark
event
He’s the grower who put Southwest Missouri on the map with
back-to-back world soybean yield championships and numerous
National Corn Yield Contest wins. And this week he’s giving
thousands of growers a first-hand look at how yields that were
previously thought impossible are within reach for any grower
who uses leading technologies and careful management of their
fields.
“Ever since I broke the world record for soybean yields in 2006
I’ve had a steady stream of requests to visit the farm,” said
Kip Cullers, who co-owns K&K Farms near Purdy, Missouri. “But
this is the first time we’ve opened it up to so many growers –
all interested in how to increase their yields.”
Cullers, who manages more than 5,000 acres of corn and soybeans,
believes there’s a simple formula any grower should follow to
get the most out of their acres: plant the right genetics, and
be proactive about protecting the crop throughout the season
from weeds, diseases and insects. That’s the advice he was
giving out today as the first wave of growers boarded trams for
the field days that continues until Thursday.
It’s advice that Cullers has proven works. While not as well
known as his world record, Cullers achieved a 74 bu/A average
soybean yield across his farm last year – almost double the
Missouri state average. His corn did just as well.
“That’s no accident,” says Markus Heldt, Group Vice-President,
BASF. “Kip understands that it takes season-long vigilance in
protecting his crops and he applies that to routinely double the
kind of yields seen by other farms in his area. We’re very
pleased that he chooses the
BASF portfolio of
crop protection innovations to help him manage his fields and
get the most of out every acre – including, but not limited to,
his record-breaking fields.”
Leading BASF crop protection technologies were on display during
the field tour, including the flagship product, Headline®
fungicide. Controlling diseases, Headline has delivered a
consistent 12 to 16 bu/A yield advantage in corn and 4 to 8 bu/A
yield advantage in soybeans in thousands of field trials over
the past few years.
“Of course, Kip achieved much more than the average,” says
Dennis Belcher, Ph. D., BASF Technical Services Representative
based in Missouri. “That’s significant at a time when demand for
grain is at an-all time high, particularly after flooding in
many areas of the Midwest earlier this season.”
The respect is mutual as Cullers has come to count on Belcher
for advice over the years.
“Dennis is one of the people I trust to give me sound agronomic
advice,” said Cullers. “I know when I have a question, he’s just
a phone call away. Dennis is very responsive and will come out
to look at a field on short notice.”
Cullers acknowledges that he’s also faced weather challenges
this season and is convinced Headline will make the difference.
“The weather increased disease pressure everywhere and added a
lot of stress to the crops,” said Cullers. “To me, applying
Headline was more important this year than ever. The last thing
my soybeans or corn needed was to have to handle diseases too.
It’s where you really see the importance of Plant Health.”
Several other crop protection products from BASF are also being
showcased to growers this week, including Respect® insecticide,
and Status® herbicide, Prowl® H20 herbicide and Extreme®
herbicide. These products have all been part of Cullers’ efforts
to maximize yield and win contests in past years.
In addition, Kixor™ herbicide, a new product in development by
BASF but not yet registered by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), is being evaluated in field trials this summer,
with one location at Culler’s farm.
Pioneer Hi-Bred partnered
with BASF to sponsor the week. Cullers grows Pioneer genetics in
all his award-winning fields and throughout his farm.
Pioneer seed technology, new hybrids and varieties were
introduced on the tour.
For more information about the BASF portfolio of crop
protection products, visit
www.agproducts.basf.com.
With sales of €3,137 million in 2007, BASF’s Crop Protection
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 Crop Protection 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.
BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products
you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.®
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is
the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
BASF has more than 15,000 employees in North America, and had
sales of approximately $16.4 billion in 2007. For more
information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign
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www.basf.com/usa.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical
Company. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas to chemicals,
plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine
chemicals. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in
virtually all industries to be more successful.
With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF
plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges
such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and
mobility. BASF has more than 95,000 employees and posted sales
of almost €58 billion in 2007. Further information on BASF is
available on the Internet at
www.basf.com.
Always read and follow label directions.
Headline, Respect, Status, Extreme and Prowl are registered
trademarks of BASF.
Kixor is a trademark of BASF. |
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