Production System debuts with high yields, ‘awesome’ fields 

South Dakota grower Lee Lubbers’ CLEARFIELD^® sunflower crop looked so good this summer that even walkers and joggers noticed his fields when passing his farm near Gregory, S.D.

“The field just looked awesome,” Lubbers said. “A lot of people said that it was among the best field of flowers they’d ever seen.”

But Lubbers’ sunflowers were more than just pretty faces. The yields were “far above average,” he said. His 160 acres of CLEARFIELD sunflowers yielded an average of more than 2,300 pounds per acre, he explained, adding that typical yields in the area range from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds.

Lubbers Farms, which has raised oilseed sunflowers for 20 years, adopted the CLEARFIELD Production System for sunflower during its 2003 introductory season.

“It was easy to use,” Lubbers said. “We used 4 ounces about 30 days after planting. There was no herbicide damage; we never did see any burn, and the fields were clean all through harvest.”

The CLEARFIELD^® Production System for sunflower is a unique production system comprised of herbicide-tolerant hybrids and Beyond^® herbicide to manage nightshade, foxtail species (pigeongrass), marshelder, wild mustard, cocklebur and other tough grasses and broadleaf weeds.

Beyond is intended exclusively for use on CLEARFIELD crops, including sunflower, wheat and canola. BASF and its seed partners also offer CLEARFIELD corn for use with Lightning™ herbicide and CLEARFIELD rice for use with Newpath™ herbicide.

Initially, CLEARFIELD sunflower was not expected to reach the market until 2005. However, the EPA granted Section 3 registration for Beyond applications on sunflower in March 2003, clearing the path for growers to use the herbicide on CLEARFIELD sunflower last year.

Judging by accounts from growers, it was a good addition.

“Best sunflower stand and best weed control we have ever had on this farm,” said Bob Mantey of Edward Mantey and Sons Inc. in Fargrove, Michigan.

In Jamestown, N.D., Bernie Mcllonie said he also was impressed with the stand and weed control he achieved with Beyond herbicide and a CLEARFIELD sunflower hybrid from Seeds 2000.

“They out-yielded my traditional oil sunflowers in a side-by-side comparison by 200 pounds per acre,” Mcllonie said.

“I kept waiting all fall for a negative report to come in and none ever did,” said Bruce Due, district agronomist for Mycogen Seeds in Fargo, N.D. “Our growers had tremendous success with the CLEARFIELD^® Production System.”

But CLEARFIELD sunflowers hybrids could offer the industry something more than a great stand and clean fields. It could offer a viable alternative to soybeans and other crops that have been, until now, more economical to plant in fields under heavy weed pressure.

“Cost-effective weed control has always been a limiting factor in sunflower production,” said Bruce Cranfill, CLEARFIELD sunflower market manager for BASF. “Now CLEARFIELD sunflower with Beyond™ herbicide gives growers an option for flexible, cost-effective weed control.”

All current CLEARFIELD sunflower hybrids are recognized as non-genetically modified organisms (GMO) by international regulators. Globally, BASF and its seed partners offer the largest portfolio of non-GMO, herbicide-tolerant genetics available.

For more information about CLEARFIELD sunflower hybrids and Beyond herbicide see your local retailer, or visit the BASF Web site at www.agproducts.basf.com.

With sales of EUR 3 billion in 2002, BASF’s Agricultural Products division, headquartered in Mount Olive, New Jersey, USA, is a leading supplier and marketer of fungicides, insecticides and herbicides.  Based on its broad experience in R&D, manufacturing, marketing and sales, 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 on BASF Agricultural Products can be found on the web at www.basf.de/en/produkte/gesundheit/pflanzen.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company, offering its customers a range of high-performance products, including chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as crude oil and natural gas.  Its distinctive approach to integration, known in German as “Verbund,” is its strength.  It enables BASF to achieve cost leadership and gives the company a competitive advantage.  BASF conducts its business in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.  In 2002, BASF had sales of EUR 32 billion (circa USD 34 billion) and over 89,000 employees worldwide.  Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

Always read and follow label directions. 

CLEARFIELD, Beyond and Lightning are registered trademarks of BASF.
Newpath is a trademark of BASF.