Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina
June 27, 2008
Weather across much of the Midwest
this spring has created conditions that are favorable for
increased disease pressure and risk of reduced yields.
“Late-planted and stressed corn crops are prime candidates for
late-season disease and ultimately reduced yields,” said Nick
Fassler, Technical Manager for Plant Health with
BASF. “It’s a
well-established fact that later-maturing crops are often
subject to increased late-season disease pressure that builds
after the reproductive stage. This is made worse by the fact
that unfavorable spring conditions have stressed this year’s
crop, making it difficult for it to get off to a good, strong
start.”
“Crops standing in water face pressure, such as susceptibility
to disease, stalk weakening, and reduced nitrogen utilization,”
continued Fassler. “ Headline® fungicide provides growers with
exceptional disease control, stalk strength and standability,
and ultimately provides a positive ROI contributing to improved
yield and crop quality. These are important considerations,
particularly at a time of record commodity prices.”
Plant Health Benefits Are Key
With a planned application of Headline® fungicide on their corn
crops, growers can expect broad spectrum foliar disease control
from a range of common corn diseases. With increased disease
pressure from the extended wet weather that has been experienced
in the Midwest, effective disease control will take on even more
importance. “In addition to disease control, Headline delivers a
number of other significant Plant Health benefits, including
growth efficiency, stress tolerance and improved
harvestability,”
said Fassler.
Fassler also points out that research demonstrates a link
between disease control, Plant Health and the efficient use of
nitrogen. Excessive rainfall depletes nitrogen through leaching
and denitrification. Headline helps plants make better use of
nitrogen, resulting in more yield-producing growth. It also
helps plants improve their own natural defenses to cope with
stress conditions, such as those being experienced this year,
and also maximizes stalk strength.
Positive ROI
With commodity prices approaching $15 for soybeans and $7 for
corn, the benefits of Headline translate into a positive ROI in
both crops. “The disease control and Plant Health benefits of
Headline – and the resulting yield advantages – are well
established,” said Fassler. “In a year of record commodity
prices and challenging weather conditions, the importance of
protecting the yield potential of crops takes on even more
significance.”
Headline is the most researched fungicide on the market today,
with proven ROI and yield advantages. In more than 5,000 on-farm
trials conducted over four years under a variety of conditions,
Headline-treated corn has demonstrated an average yield increase
of 12 to 16 bu/A over untreated corn. In soybeans, the yield
advantage in Headline-treated fields was 4 to
8 bu/A.
For more information about Headline fungicide and 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. BASF shares are traded on the
stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich
(AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet
at www.basf.com.
Always read and follow label directions.
Headline is a registered trademark of BASF. |
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