In an innovative approach to launching a new product into the sector, BASF is joining forces with the farming community to run a series of agronomy-focused roadshows. The eight events will run throughout the UK from late January until early March 2020, focusing on farmer dominated business insights and the launch of BASF’s new cereal fungicide, Revystar® XE.
The farmers will be hosting in partnership with their local BASF Agronomy Manager and speakers will include soil expert, Professor Jenni Dungait, an ADAS cereal disease researcher and technical fungicide experts from within BASF.
Commenting on the events, BASF’s Murielle Moille says: “The format for the roadshows is very different, at the heart of them are the 50 farmers we have been working with in field trialling Revysol on their farms.
“Traditionally manufacturers take a very corporate approach to product launches which farmers have told us isn’t what they value, they much prefer hearing from fellow-farmers, particularly in challenging season like this one.”
The first roadshow is at Newbury Racecourse on the 29 January, it will be hosted by Iain Robertson, famous for his success as an award winning sprayer operator.
The following week, on 4 January, Cornish grower and NFU-renowned Mike Hambly will host at Exeter Rugby Club, followed by Nuffield Scholar Andrew Williamson at Newport in Shropshire.
“We’re also thrilled that Beeswax Dyson’s agronomist, Ben Abell, who is part of the Real Results community, will host the 10 February event at Nocton,” she adds.
The 12 February event will be at Hop Farm near Maidstone, hosted by Richard Budd, and the 14 February will be at Ravenwood Hall hosted by Toby Hogsbjerg and Hannah Darby.
The two March events will be at York Racecourse hosted by Pat Thornton on 3 March with the final roadshow date on 5 March at Murrayfield, hosted by Andrew Booth, ahead of a Six Nations’ fixture the following day.
One of the hosts, Richard Budd, who farms at Stevens Farm in Kent, grows apples and arable crops. Like everyone else, his autumn and winter field conditions have been extremely wet. He says that he has half of his planned area of wheat drilled this season.
Mr Budd has been a part of the Real Results community since is started three years ago, and says that he really values the robust trials approach and the relationships that he has built with fellow farmers in the group.
Of Revystar he says: “Our Revystar treated crop yielded 0.99t/ha more than our farm standard, and was greener for 10 days longer, which kept the yield up. We just don’t expect to yield gains like this nowadays, which is why we need intelligent chemicals like these.”
Mr Budd joined a visit to the Oak Park trials at Teagasc this summer, noting what he saw there he adds: “We saw that the product kept leaf 3 and 4 much, much cleaner, keeping the crop green to the bottom. Based on this, I’ll certainly be using Revystar® XE at T1 timing and looking at T2 as well.”
Roadshow dates:
29 January – Newbury Racecourse hosted by Robin Aird joined by Iain Robertson
4 February – Exeter Rugby Club with Mike Hambly
6 February – Newport, Shropshire with Andrew Williamson
10 February – Beeswax Dyson, Nocton, Lincs with Ben Abell
12 February – Hop Farm, Maidstone with Richard Budd
14 February – Ravenwood Hall, Bury St Edmunds with Toby Hogsbjerg and Hannah Darby
3 March – York Racecourse with Pat Thornton
5 March – Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh with Andrew Booth
