Grapevine, Texas
February 27, 2009
New technology, innovation and
collaboration key to managing yields despite a challenging
growing season
More than 1,400 growers gathered at the National Corn Growers
Association’s (NCGA) annual banquet Friday evening to honor the
winners of the 2008 National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) sponsored
by BASF and the NCGA.
Adam Burnhams, Marketing Manager, U.S. Crop Protection Products
at BASF, served as
a keynote speaker and congratulated participants on their
success, many of whom had to overcome sometimes daunting
weather-related challenges in 2008. Burnhams remarks also
addressed future demand.
“The demand for corn will continue to rise and this demand will
be driven particularly by ethanol,” Burnhams said. “To seize
this opportunity, we must continue to embrace technology,
continue to innovate and continue to challenge our crop
management practices so we can identify new ways to break the
yield barrier.”
Burnhams praised the NCGA and growers in attendence for their
leadership in the corn industry and for their willingness to
take calculated risks to meet the needs of the marketplace. This
entrepreneurial spirit, Burnhams said, is one reason average
U.S. corn yields have increased from 50 bushels per acre when
the NCGA was formed in 1957 to 180 bushels per acre last year.
Some NCYC winners nearly doubled the 2008 U.S. average yield.
“We’re here tonight honoring corn yields of more than 300
bushels per acre, which is a testament to the amazing potential
that can be realized with the help of new technologies,
innovation and collaboration,” Burnhams said.
“But we won’t be satisfied with that for long. We will have to
continue working to increase yields even further to meet the
demands of tomorrow.”
Nearly 60 percent of the 2008 NCYC winners treated their test
acres with Headline® fungicide. Burnhams used that fact as
evidence for the results that innovative products can bring to
the field.
“Our mission at BASF is to help you get the most out of every
acre you plant. Our portfolio of products, including Headline,
was designed to help you achieve that,” Burnhams said. “As a
technology developer, BASF is proud to be a sponsor of the
National Corn Yield Contest for almost 20 years and proud to be
your partner in these exciting times.
For more information about Headline 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 $17.5 billion in 2008. 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 and
performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals,
as well as oil and gas. 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 approximately 97,000 employees and posted
sales of more than €62 billion in 2008. 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. |
|
