Trials Confirm Headline Benefits

Not only did growers spend their dollars on improving their crops in 2007, they also saw a strong return on investment (ROI), according to BASF’s on-farm trial results.

In a year of increasing demand where every gain in yield counted, on-farm trial results released recently by BASF confirm "that the outstanding disease control with Plant Health benefits of Headline fungicide helped corn and soybean growers yield more," according to a BASF press release.

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According to BASF, in the more than 1,150 on-farm trials conducted in locations across the U.S. in 2007, the average yield increase of Headline-treated corn ranged from 12 bushels per acre (bu/A) to 16 bu/A, while Headline-treated soybeans increased by an average of 4 bu/A to 8 bu/A. That works out to an extra profit of $34 to $51 per acre for corn growers and $28 to $74 per acre for soybean growers, estimated at current commodity prices and average application costs.

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"Growers are doing the math and they’re finding, on average, an ROI using Headline fungicide that’s upwards of 200% in corn and ranging from 150% to 400% in soybeans," says Dr. Gary Fellows, technical manager at BASF. "What’s more is the consistency we’ve seen in the average yield advantage numbers over the four years BASF has been doing on-farm comparisons."

In 2007, BASF says growers were impressed with the Plant Health advantages resulting from Headline disease control in their corn and soybean acreage. These include better standability, bigger kernels, more pods, increased tolerance to hot and dry conditions, and better grain quality. However, the best result is still the bottom line — increased yields and strong ROI.

Increased yields are essential to keeping pace with demand, says University of Missouri Extension Economist Dr. Ron Plain. He sees continued upward demand pressure for U.S. grains. "Forecasts for the next year show continued growth for domestic and export markets, which means the demand for corn and soybeans continues to grow."

The yield advantage that Headline delivers helped growers meet increased demand. BASF estimates that in 2007, U.S. corn and soybean growers who used Headline produced an additional $450 million worth of grain.

Visit www.agproducts.basf.com for more information about Headline fungicide.

(Source: BASF)
 

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