TRADE ASSOCIATE MEMBER UPDATE

BAYER CROPSCIENCE  - CREATING VALUE THROUGH INNOVATION

By Barbara Wunder, FFVA communications manager

Innovation is at the heart of everything Bayer CropScience does for its customers. A research-based agrochemicals and biotechnology company, FFVA Trade Associate member Bayer CropScience believes that research and innovation pave the path to generating added value for its end users and a better quality of life for those who purchase the products they produce.

Specifically, Bayer CropScience develops and sells plant-health products that help protect against insects, disease, weeds and other threats to plant productivity. The company develops new technologies to improve yield and quality and products that help support production in adverse conditions.

COMES DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL

Although one of the worlds' leading crop science companies, with six separate business operations units, where the company really shines is at the local level. "The guys at the district level are very important," said Gregg Storey, Bayer CropScience's industry relations manager. "They're the ones who know the growers on a first-name basis and know exactly what they need, when they need it, how they need it, and how they buy it. Our guys are very well-trained from a technical standpoint. They do an incredible job," said Storey.

One of those whose job it is to see that crop consultants, growers and other customers get "what they need when they need it" is Chris Payne, southeast district manager. Payne explains the company's structure: "We have 13 chemical sales reps in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. We also have one seed-treatment rep and three cotton seed reps. The sales reps work closely with the distribution retail outlets and those sales professionals. They work very closely with growers and are deeply involved in local agricultural markets," Payne said.

Bayer CropScience researchers have been busy developing new products. The company is expecting to register a new insecticide for citrus and vegetables in May.

Some of the products familiar to Bayer CropScience's Florida customers are Temik®, Admire® Pro, Provado® and Sevin® XLR.

Temik has been used for many years to increase yield, and control rust mites and aphids. It also plays an important role in controlling the insect that causes citrus greening, the Asian citrus psyllid.

Admire Pro and Provado both control the Asian citrus psyllid as well as leaf miner, aphids and other pests. The chemistry of the two products is basically the same, but Provado is applied to the leaves of the trees, and Admire is applied to the soil. Temik is another product applied to the soil to control the psyllid. "A combination of these products provides the basis of psyllid management for many Florida citrus growers," said Storey.

Sevin XLR is a respected root weevil product, and has recently received a 2ee label for citrus psyllid. Another product, Envidor®, controls mites in citrus.

On the vegetable side, Bayer CropScience offers quite a few products including the fungicides Flint, Folicur, Previcur® Flex and Scala, and a full line of insecticides, each with specific uses on specific crops to ensure safety and effectiveness.

INVOLVED WITH WHATEVER HELPS THE GROWER

Bayer CropScience supports efforts to help growers make a living and to bring wholesome foods to consumers. "We support the Produce for Better Health Foundation because we believe in helping to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables," said Storey. "We also support the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance, and we're long-term supporters of FFVA and United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association."

Payne also serves on the Advisory Council for the University of Florida Department of Food and Resources Economics.

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON?

On the Florida horizon, Bayer CropScience is expecting to register a new insecticide for citrus and vegetables in May. Movento® will be registered for control of Asian citrus psyllid, aphids and leaf miners.

"We also will be promoting our Gem® fungicide on citrus, since we are anticipating a reduced pre-harvest interval on that label," said Payne.

The company has an informative Web site, www.bayercropscienceus.com, that provides background information on products and contact information as well as company history, publications, local contact information and more.