During the 65th Annual Meeting of the Southern Weed Science Society (SWSS), BASF presented research related to Engenia™ herbicide, the company’s next-generation formulation of dicamba.

“Engenia will be an important new tool for soybean growers battling herbicide- resistant weeds, like Palmer amaranth, waterhemp and marestail,” said Paul Rea, Vice President, U.S. Crop Protection, BASF. “Research presented at the half-day symposium at SWSS showed that Engenia will provide a valuable, new herbicide option as part of a comprehensive weed control system to help growers protect their crops from yield-robbing weeds.”

Engenia will be used with the dicamba-tolerant soybean system currently in development. BASF anticipates making the Engenia submission to the regulatory agency in the United States in 2012. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval of Engenia is anticipated prior to commercialization of Monsanto’s Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield® dicamba-tolerant soybean system. U.S. commercialization of the new system for soybeans is expected mid-decade with cotton, corn and canola to follow.

“BASF is committed to providing innovative, effective solutions that help growers get the most out of every acre,” said Paul Rea, Vice President, U.S. Crop Protection, BASF. “Headline and Headline AMP continue to be powerful tools for growers looking to control yield-robbing diseases, maximize yield potential and realize Plant Health benefits.”

You can find a full list of winners here:

Following is a listing of 2011 award winners by category, along with honorable mentions:
• No-Till Product of the Year: 20/20 SeedSense/AirForce system, Precision Planting.
• Fertility: Agrotain, Agrotain International. Honorable Mention: Avail, SFP; Bio-Max Defender G4, FHR Farms.
• Fungicides: Headline/Headline AMP, BASF. Honorable Mention: Quilt/Quilt Xcel, Syngenta Crop Protection; Stratego, Bayer CropScience.
• Insect Protection: Herculex Insect Protection, Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Honorable Mention: Warrior insecticide, Syngenta Crop Protection.
• No-Till Equipment: 1770NT Planter, John Deere & Co. Honorable Mention: Early Riser planter, Case IH; U-Trough system, FHR Farms.
• Planter/Drill Attachments: Keeton Seed Firmer, Precision Planting. Honorable Mention: Martin-Till 1360 Floating Row Cleaner, Martin Industries.
• Precision Tools: 20/20 SeedSense/AirForce system, Precision Planting. Honorable Mention: AgGPS Auto-Pilot, Trimble Navigation.
• Residue Management: Bt Crusher/Chopper Stalk Rolls, Calmer Corn Heads. Honorable Mention: 600C Series Corn Heads, Deere & Co.; Stalk Stomper, May Wes.
• Seed Treatment: Poncho 1250, Bayer CropScience. Honorable Mention: CruiserMaxx, Syngenta.
• Application Equipment: Apache 20 Series Sprayer, Equipment Technologies. Honorable Mention: 4830 Sprayer, Deere & Co.; Patriot Sprayers, Case IH.
• Strip-Till: Blu-Jet StripTill systems, Thurston Mfg. Co. Honorable Mention: Pluribus Strip-Till Unit, Dawn Equipment Co.
• Weed Control: Ignite herbicide, Bayer CropScience. Honorable Mention: Roundup PowerMax, Monsanto; Sharpen herbicide, BASF.

According to BASF, Armezon helps growers maximize their yields by controlling tough, yield-robbing weeds while being safe to all corn types.

A post-emerge herbicide solution for corn, Armezon controls problematic grasses and broadleaf weeds such as common lambsquarters, waterhemp, giant foxtail and crabgrass – including those with resistance to glyphosate, triazines, PPOs, and ALS inhibitors.

Armezon also has a wider window of application when compared to most other post-emerge corn herbicides on the market. It is an excellent cross-spectrum tank-mix partner, which makes it particularly helpful for growers who rely on post applications of atrazine or glyphosate to manage tough weeds.

Find out more about Armezon from BASF.

BASF is sponsoring a series of educational podcasts for the American Soybean Association. Here are three currently in the list that you might be interested in:

This podcast recaps the 2011 soybean growing season with BASF Technical Market Manager, Nick Fassler. Developed by the American Soybean Association, this educational podcast is designed to provide growers with the latest information about soybean production, including ways to maximize their soybean yields. Fassler reviews harvest results and factors affecting this year’s soybean production.

Listen: ASA Educational Podcast - Weed Resistance Prevention

Chris was already pretty familiar with the crop protection business before he took the job with BASF, since his family owns Valley Sprayers in Park River, ND. Chris also has a master’s degree in plant pathology from North Dakota State University. “In my role with BASF, I get the opportunity to work with many people all throughout agriculture – including growers, retailers, distributors, university folks, consultants,” he said.

One of the things that BASF does to help aerial applicators is sponsor Operation S.A.F.E. (Self-Regulating Application and Flight Efficiency) fly-ins around the country. “It’s an opportunity for applicators to get their equipment calibrated and do pattern tests,” Chris said. “A little over 1200 planes have gone through these SAFE fly-ins, 150 different locations all over the United States.”

Many aerial applicators, like Valley Sprayers, also do custom ground applications for their clients, which Chris says is very important for cereal crop growers in his part of the country. “We often will make an application of Headline in the tank with our herbicide applications in that 3-5 leaf stage, and growers are consistently capturing a 4-6 bushel yield bump with that application,” he explained. “As the season progresses, we have an opportunity to apply fungicide again at the flag leaf time and our products at that time would be TwinLine® or Headline.” Finally, at flowering time, Chris says they have the head scab product called Caramba®, “again growers are consistently capturing anywhere from a 5-10 bushel yield advantage and reducing the toxins associated with scab infections.”

Listen to or download my interview with Chris from NAAA here: Chris Wharam with BASF

2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

Among the many ways BASF supports NAAA is by sponsoring the convention kick off breakfast, which always features a speaker with an aviation theme. This year, that speaker was Brian Shul, pilot and author of the coffee table book Sled Driver – Flying the World’s Fastest Jet, which is a compilation of the best photos that he took over many years flying the SR-71 Blackbird. It would make a great Christmas gift for anyone on your list who appreciates military aircraft and/or breathtaking photography! You can order yours at SledDriver.com.

I interviewed Brian at the NAAA about the plane, the book, how he got such great shots, and his continuing love of photography – listen to that conversation in this week’s ZimmCast: Pilot and Author Brian Shul

See more photos from the NAAA convention here – 2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

Those of you who visited with BASF at the 2011 Commodity Classic may have gotten a chance to see corporate magician Jon Petz perform there. BASF liked him so much that they brought him to NAAA to entertain the aerial applicator folks. Jon, pictured here in the middle with some of the BASF crew, is a fun and really interesting guy. Not only is his magic amazing, it’s equally impressive how he works in the BASF message at the same time. Entertaining and educating!

Watch him in action below:

2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

Gary participated in a session with a few other crop protection product companies to provide an update on BASF herbicides and fungicides. First of all, Gary talked about the anticipated registration next year of Priaxor for soybeans. “It gives a brand new mix of fungicides for both controlling existing diseases and providing preventative disease control,” Gary says. “It raises the bar with what Headline is today as the standard in the soybean market, with more consistency, better yield and a higher return on investment for the grower.”

Gary says a new liquid formulation of Facet® herbicide has benefits for rice producers. “We’ve been selling Facet as a dry formulation for years,” he explained. “We’re excited to sell a true liquid because of the ease of handling and we also get better grass and broadleaf activity with it.”

In addition, Gary updated the ag aviators on two new label expansions from BASF, for Prowl® herbicide on pasture grasses and for Headline® fungicide in alfalfa.

When I interviewed Gary, he also talked about the importance of ag aviators to agriculture and the overall goal of feeding a growing population. Listen to or download my interview with Gary from NAAA here: Dr. Gary Fellows with BASF

2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

The biggest issue they are dealing with right now is the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, which National Agricultural Aviation Association executive director Andrew Moore told me just went into effect on Halloween. “It’s kind of a scary regulation,” said Andrew of the regulation which impacts pesticide application near water. “The problem is that it’s duplicative of everything that already exists to protect the environment in regard to pesticide regulation.”

Andrew says the NPDES would require a great deal of paper work on the part of applicators. “FIFRA already regulates the safety of pesticides to water, so this is a completely unnecessary burdensome rule.” In addition, Andrew says they are very considered about lawsuits under the new regulation.

So, NPDES was a big topic at the NAAA convention in Las Vegas this week, where workshops were held and applicators were educated about the current status of the federal rule and where it stands at the state level. Andrew says they are also urging aerial applicators – and really anyone in the agriculture industry – to contact their senators about the issue. “Because we’ve been successful in passing legislation that would exempt pesticide applications over water for FIFRA approved pesticides,” said Andrew. The measure has been passed by the House and has gone through the Senate Agriculture Committee. “We believe we have the votes in the Senate but it’s not being brought to the floor for a vote,” he said.

Listen to my interview with Andrew here: NAAA executive director Andrew Moore

2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

Left to right, they are Jayse Wharam, his mother and father Vernie and Glen, and brother Chris. Glen is the owner of Valley Sprayers in Park River, ND and a member of the NAAA board of directors and Jayce is a pilot with the company. Chris is a tech services rep with BASF in North Dakota, and Verni is the glue that keeps them all together.

Glen purchased Valley Sprayers in 1995 because flying was in his blood. “I remember flying with my dad since I was about three years old,” he said. “Fortunately for me, my two sons have stayed close to that industry as well.”

Jayce and Chris were involved with the business from a very young age. “Some of the earliest memories I have are being at the airport, my dad had a repair shop and worked on small engines back then,” Jayce said, noting that he just finished his 16th season as a pilot with Valley Sprayers.

Chris took a different path and went to North Dakota State University to ultimately get a master’s degree in plant pathology so he could stay involved in the agriculture and ag aviation business on the crop protection products side. He’s been with BASF now for almost four years.

Meanwhile, Verni has been in a totally different industry for the past 40 plus years as a neonatal nurse while at the same time supporting the company at home. “I haul the meals to the airport or out to the field wherever they are. I’m kind of their go-fer,” Verni said, although the men in her life think of her more as a saint.

Listen to my interview with the Wharams here: Wharam Famiy

2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

“I do think we’re the unsung heroes,” said National Agricultural Aviation Association president Rick Richter of Richter Aviation in Maxwell, CA. “We don’t get the credit but we don’t ask for it. We just want people to let us do our job to help feed the world. We get satisfaction from doing our job right.”

Rick has been in the business for 32 years and is proud to have his family very involved in his northern California ag aviation company where 95% of their work is rice-related. “My son is becoming an ag pilot,” Rick says. “I just enjoy and love what I do.”

Like all of agriculture, aerial applicators are struggling with government regulations that get tougher all the time, with the most recent issue they are dealing with being the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. We’ll hear more about that in another interview.

Listen to my interview with Rick here: NAAA president Rick Richter

2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

This year’s winners were Jordan Loewen of Valley Sprayers in Park River, ND and Brad Taylor of Corinth, MS. They are pictured here in the center, Brad on the left and Jordan on the right, between Dr. Gary Fellows of BASF to the far left and NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore on the far right.

Brad received a $2500 scholarship to help with his ag aviation training. “It means everything to me. You know a lot of people work hard getting into this business and any help we can really goes a long way,” he said. Brad is currently working in Arkansas and the main crop he deals with there is rice. Taylor was sponsored by Dennie Stokes of Stokes Flying Service, which is based in Parkin, Arkansas.

Listen to my interview with Brad here: NAAA/BASF Scholarship winner Brad Taylor

Jordan was sponsored by Glen Wharam of Valley Sprayers, who hired him when he was still a senior in high school. “Now I’ve been working there for four years and got interested in the spraying part and now I’m spraying for that,” Jordan said. “Right out of my senior year I went to airplane mechanics school and Glen helped me out with that.”

We will hear more from Glen and the rest of the Wharam family – a great bunch of folks really dedicated to the work they do helping North Dakota farmers. The diversity of crops they work with in that area include sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, sunflowers, corn and soybeans.

Listen to my interview with Jordan here: NAAA/BASF Scholarship winner Jordan Loewen

2011 NAAA Convention Photo Album

Know the tool
Site of action is a term used by weed scientists to group or classify different herbicide active ingredients. A critical element in managing or preventing development of herbicide resistant weed populations is employing multiple sites of action during a growing season. Therefore, classifying herbicides by their site of action provides a tool that enables grower and retailers to design an effective weed management program.

“Site of action specifically refers to the biochemical site within a plant where a herbicide has its direct impact on weed growth and development,” said Dan Westberg, Ph.D., BASF Technical Market Manager. “In other words, the site of action is where a herbicide controls a weed.”

Recognize the enemy
The Weed Science Society of America has confirmed 13 different species of glyphosate-resistant weeds across 28 states. Some weeds, such as waterhemp, are developing resistance to multiple herbicide sites of action. Waterhemp, along with its close cousin Palmer pigweed, is especially scary because of its ability to produce at least one million seeds from a single plant. That seed production could result in 6.25 million waterhemp plants in one acre if not adequately controlled with multiple sites of action.

Correct the strategy
First, growers should identify the sites of action for their herbicides. A herbicide’s product label should identify the site of action. If growers are still unsure, they can contact a retailer, herbicide manufacturer, or a crop advisor.

Next, growers should consider application timing. Growers can apply herbicides at multiple times during the season, which enables them to choose from a greater diversity of herbicide sites of action.

Finally, growers can also select tank-mix partners with different sites of action when weather or workload prohibits more than one application during a season to maintain the benefits of a multi-site of action program.

Understand the big picture
Due to resistance, the big picture when it comes to weeds is changing for growers. No single strategy, including herbicide treatment, should be relied upon for weed management.

“BASF is working in the field to provide solutions, technical support and tools to help growers manage weeds based on herbicide best practices,” said Westberg. “One way BASF has done that is by providing the most corn and soybean herbicide sites of action of any crop protection company. But growers should also proactively plan for things like scouting, planning, and cultural and mechanical strategies.”

Read more details about sites of action from BASF.

At the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk, I talked with Technical Market Manager Nick Fassler about what is new in the fungicide arena. You might remember that we just chatted with Nick earlier this year at Commodity Classic about the launch of Xemium™ and already there are new fungicides in the pipeline with that active ingredient. “We’ve been real busy developing new fungicides and new uses for these products,” Nick says. “The last two years we’ve been talking about Headline AMP and now we’ve got another new product on the horizon that combines the active ingredient Xemium with Headline to develop Priaxor™.”

Nick says the Headline plus Xemium compound will be registered on multiple row crops and specialty crops – including corn, soybeans, cereals, potatoes and tomatoes. Registration by the U.S. EPA is expected in early 2012.

Listen to my interview from NAFB with Nick here: Nick Fassler with BASF

BASF is also offering several new incentives for growers to get a great start on the 2012 season, according to Corn Market Manager Mike Hofer. “One of them is called ‘Investment Advantage’ which is really a first of its kind in the industry,” Mike said. “It rewards a grower who purchases a high yield package from BASF, which may contain products like Headline AMP for corn, or Headline for soybeans, or Kixor herbicide technology.”

To help growers who purchase this type of package before March 15 better manage their risk, BASF will offer a partial rebate if commodity prices fall below a certain point. “What we’re trying to do is make sure that growers maintain a healthy return on investment,” Mike says.

BASF is also expanding the Headline Advantage offer from BASF has expanded to include more BASF fungicides for the 2012 season with up to 20% savings. In addition, BASF is again partnering with John Deere Financial to bring growers Finance Advantage.

Mike explains it all in this interview: Mike Hofer with BASF

2011 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Pictured here, left to right, are Sandi Wilson, Dr. Dan Westberg and Pat Morrow – about half the team from BASF at NAFB. This was Pat’s sixth year at NAFB and she loves it more every time she attends. “I just really love the farm broadcasters, it’s a hug fest for me,” Pat says. That’s one reason why they are so pleased to be able to be major sponsors at the convention by supporting the broadcast center and providing internet access for broadcasters.

Listen to my interview with Pat here: Pat Morrow with BASF

The other reason is purely professional. Farm broadcasters are a great way for BASF to get information about new products and offerings out to growers. I talked with Dr. Dan the Man about two new herbicides for 2012 to help growers manage resistant weeds such as glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth and waterhemp – Zidua® and OpTill® PRO. “Zidua herbicide is a brand new active ingredient currently waiting EPA registration,” Dan said. “It is a unique chemistry that has very broad spectrum control of grasses and small seeded broadleaf weeds.” Dan says Zidua will provide the longest lasting residual control for Palmer amaranth and waterhemp in the market. Hence the name – Zidua, as in residual.

OpTill Pro herbicide was specifically developed for soybean growers to control a broad spectrum of grass and broadleaf weeds, including waterhemp. “We’ve taken our OpTill herbicide, powered by Kixor, and we’ve added Outlook® to it,” said Dan. “This makes OpTill Pro a premium residual option that provides burndown and residual control to help soybean growers start off clean and stay clean throughout the season.”

Listen to my interview with Dr. Dan here: Dr. Dan Westberg

2011 NAFB Convention Photo Album

AgLeader’s Katie Monroe (center) says they were thrilled to join the companies and organizations who support the NAFB. “It’s a great opportunity to talk about our new products and how precision farming can help growers,” Katie said, noting that one of their main topics was AgLeader’s new Versa display which includes all of the most popular year-round precision tools in one small package.

AgLeader Technology also joined with Alltech to sponsor the NAFB Foundation Auction reception on Thursday night.

Listen to by interview with Katie here: Katie Monroe with AgLeader

2011 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Senator Conrad Burns of Montana founded the Northern Ag Network in the 1970s before getting into politics. He was only the second Republican ever elected from the state of Montana, serving for 18 years in the Senate.

The lovely Colleen Callahan, whose married name is actually Burns (no relation to Conrad), becomes the first woman to be inducted in the NAFB Hall of Fame. She was the first female NAFB president and currently serves as Illinois State Director for USDA Rural Development.

I videoed Conrad’s comments after receiving his award and stripped off the audio. Not the best quality, but I am glad I caught it. Some great comments here. Conrad Burns at NAFB

2011 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Our thanks to BASF for providing so much at the NAFB meeting to help farm broadcasters continue to provide “Insight for Agriculture – Every Day” – even when they are on the road and away from the studio. Not only is BASF sponsoring the broadcast room, as always, they are also sponsoring the internet access – which is absolutely necessary and no small expense at any convention.

The photo album is up and will continue to be updated throughout the meeting all week. Stay tuned!

2011 NAFB Convention Photo Album

The study was carried out in Brazil, India, the United States, Germany, Spain and France in cooperation with the global market research firm Synovate GmbH and Professor Dr. Ulrich Oevermann, Professor for Sociology at the University of Frankfurt.

Both farmers and consumers view farming as a vocation, one that is dedicated to providing nourishment, supporting rural culture and caring for the land. “Steward of the land” or “Caretaker of the land” is farmers’ favorite self-description in all six countries (over 80%), but registers significantly lower with consumers (50-60%). In a related question, many consumers blame farmers for environmental problems, with concerns strongest in Brazil, India and France (38-43%), the U.S. and Germany (23%).

Around 80 percent of farmers and consumers from all countries agree that farming’s primary objective is to feed the world. Consumers show a high level of interest in farming (from 84% in India to 50% in France), but also admit that they do not know enough about farming to judge it properly. The price of food and, conversely, the price of conservation remain obstacles for both farmers and consumers.

Click here to read more from the full study.

BASF is sending one lucky winner four tickets to the 54th annual DAYTONA 500® to the Feb. 25, 2012 race along with an expenses-paid three-day, two-night trip to Daytona Beach, Florida. BASF will also be awarding $100 gift cards to 10 additional sweepstakes entrants.

The sweepstakes is open to all growers 18 years or older with an operation of 250 acres or more and entries are due by Dec. 31, 2011.

Click here for the official rules and entry form.

As we get closer to putting this year in the rear view mirror, it’s already time to look ahead and get a fresh start for 2012. BASF Herbicide Technical Market Manager Dr. Dan Westberg says the key is getting ahead of weed control with an effective fall burndown program. “Dense populations of winter annuals like marestail can interfere with or delay planting,” Dan says, suggesting that growers can combine fall burndown with fertilizer application. “If you have an effective fall burndown, you’re not losing the fertilizer you apply in the fall to those winter annual weeds and allows greater flexibility come spring.”

One option for fall burndown is Kixor® herbicide technology in a product like Sharpen. “Its unique chemistry provides broad spectrum, broad leaf weed control of more than 70 weeds, including winter annuals and weeds resistant to glyphosate ALS inhibitors and triazines,” said Dan.

To optimize the burndown performance of Kixor, Dan suggests the best practices known by the simple acronym A-C-T-T: Adjuvant, Coverage, Tank Mix, Timing.

Listen to or download Dan explain it all here: Dan Westberg on fall burndown

Find out more from BASF at KixorHerbicide.com.

BASF Crop Protection today announced the launch of the Kixor® herbicide technology Road to DAYTONA® sweepstakes, which celebrates the fast, complete burndown and residual control growers get with Kixor. BASF will award the sweepstakes winner a trip to the 54th annual DAYTONA 500®. BASF will also be awarding $100 gift cards to 10 additional sweepstakes entrants.

“BASF is dedicated to providing the solutions, technical support and tools that help growers implement a weed management program based on herbicide best practices,” said Bryan Perry, Kixor Marketing Manager with BASF. “By providing burndown that is three to five times faster than 2,4-D or glyphosate, plus strong residual staying power, Kixor herbicide technology helps growers win the race against weeds in their fields — the way high-powered engines win races for drivers.”

The winner of the sweepstakes will receive four tickets to the race on February 26, 2012, as well as an expenses-paid three-day, two-night trip to Daytona Beach, Florida.

The sweepstakes is open to all growers 18 years or older with an operation of 250 acres or more. For the official rules and to enter, participants should go to http://www.road-to-daytona.basf.us and fill out a brief entry form. Entries are due by Dec. 31, 2011.

More information: www.agro.basf.com.

The Shipman Elevator Team, sponsored by BASF, took first place in District 6 last year and also won the Novel Practices Award in the challenge funded by the Illinois soybean checkoff. Team member Dwayne Milner, pictured here with his BASF rep Kaleb Hellwig, says they are competing again this year to build on what they learned last season. “As a whole, we learned that we’ve got to manage soybeans, we’ve got to plant them early and we’ve got to manage more like corn,” Dwayne told me.

Teams of growers, working together in nine districts across Illinois, farm side-by-side plots using traditional techniques on one and innovative methods on the other. The common goals for all Challenge participants are to maximize soybean yields while producing valuable data that will benefit researchers and growers alike. The Shipman team averaged 85.3 bu/ac of the top five growers, which was the highest of all the district averages last year. “Everybody did a lot of different approaches, but our most common were seed treatments, planting early, fertility management, used Headline as our fungicide, used an insecticide on it and residual herbicides,” Dwayne says.

Listen to or download my interview with Dwayne here. Dwayne Milner Interview

2011 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

BASF Herbicide Technical Market Manager Dr. Dan Westberg says there’s is a difference between resistant weeds and tolerant weeds. “Tolerant weeds are ones that a herbicide never really controlled in the first place,” Dan explains. “If you look as species like wild buckwheat, morning glory, day flower – those types of weeds were never really controlled very effectively with glyphosate.”

Resistance is different because it develops over time. “With resistant weeds, you’ve gone from getting essentially total control of a population to selecting a biotype, or individual weed that has the ability to tolerate that herbicide,” and Dan says those resistant biotype populations can then expand and dominate in a field.

Dan notes says there are several mechanisms within a plant that can lead to resistance. Listen to him explain here: Dan Westberg on weed resistance

Dan recommends that growers use a combination of chemical, cultural and mechanical strategies to lower the risk of developing resistance and tailor their weed management approach to the weed populations that exist in particular fields. Dan Westberg on lowering risk

He encourages growers if they see escapes not attributable to sprayer skip or a mixing problem to work with a local extension agent or university weed scientist to collect seed from the weed and have it tested for resistance.

A new website looks at “The Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World,” based on the research of University of Illinois plant physiologist Dr. Fred Below.

Dr. Below has been on a quest to help all farmers achieve the Holy Grail of corn – consistent 300 bushel per acre yields – ever since he saw it happen more than 25 years ago. He has categorized the results of his research into seven management practices or “wonders” that can result in high yielding corn. His study helps growers answer the question of what the latest products and practices contribute to yield.

“Roughly speaking, the higher up on the Wonder list the more control that factor exerts over the Wonders that follow,” Below explains. “When combined, all of these factors contribute to big-yield gains.” In order of importance, they are:

1. Weather
2. Nitrogen/fertility
3. Hybrid selection
4. Previous crop
5. Plant population
6. Tillage
7. Growth regulators

Below will present his plots and detail the 7 Wonders of the Corn Yield World in person at the annual Farm Progress Show at the AGROTAIN exhibit (lot 1164 on Eleventh Street) Aug. 30 – Sept. 1 in Decatur, Ill. Below’s plots at the show were sponsored by AGROTAIN International, BASF, DEKALB and Mosaic.

I interviewed Fred about the 7 wonders earlier this year at the GROWMARK FS Green Plan Solutions “In Pursuit of Maximum Yields” conference. Listen to that interview here: Fred Below Interview

Let’s start with Nick Fassler, Technical Market Manager, Fungicides. He was here to talk about research plots to get the “most out of every acre.” He says they’ve doubled the size of their research program this year. Results should be coming in within the next couple months.

You can listen to my conversation with Nick here: Nick Fassler Interview

Next up is Dr. Scott Walker, Biology Project Manager, Fungicides. Scott covered Xemium fungicide performance data. Xemium is a new fungicide active ingredient that has been submitted to the EPA for registration. It was announced earlier this year at Commodity Classic. Scott says that field data will be presented to the scientific community at the upcoming American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting.

You can listen to my conversation with Scott here: Scott Walker Interview

And next is Dr. Dan Westberg, Technical Market Manager, Herbicides. He covered new Zidua herbicide. This new class of herbicide for corn and soybeans has performed well in summer research trials and registration is expected by the end of the year in time for the new season in 2012.

You can listen to my conversation with Dan here: Dan Westberg Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

Jeanne will be giving the Xbox 360 away at Top Producer’s new Executive Women in Agriculture event this December in Chicago.

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

This is the BASF team in the picture, (l-r) Dr. Dan Westberg, Nick Fassler, Pat Morrow and Dr. Scott Walker. You’ll be hearing from Dan, Nick and Scott later as we talk about what’s new with BASF. Right now you can hear from Pat talk about the activities planned for the ag media here.

Listen to my conversation with Pat here: Pat Morrow Interview

2011 Ag Media Summit Photo Album

I saw Nick during the Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies in Malcom, IA. BASF was one of the companies supporting and displaying at the event. Here’s Nick talking about all the products the company is offering corn growers today. He offered advice for growers facing challenging weather this season. “Now more than ever it’s important to protect that crop from stress and add in late season disease control,” he says. I know I saw a number of planes flying fields traveling to Iowa and back. I’m betting they were applying some Headline fungicide! Someone’s taking his advice. I sure saw some corn showing some effects of stress. I hope we get a little temperature break and some moisture.

You can listen to my interview with Nick here: Nick Fassler Interview

Wyffels Hybrids Corn Strategies 2011 Iowa Photo Album