RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, January 10, 2008 – Recently released field-trial results demonstrate that cotton growers who use Headline® fungicide can maximize yield potential in their fields, BASF researchers said at this year’s Beltwide Cotton Conferences in Nashville, TN. The trials demonstrate that the disease control and Plant Health benefits of Headline that have delivered higher yields in wheat, corn and soybeans will also benefit cotton crops. The results of the trials serve as further good news for a cotton industry anticipating availability of the fungicide since BASF announced the cotton label in October 2007.

BASF researchers presented the results of 2003 – 2007 Headline cotton trials to Beltwide attendees during two presentations at the conference. The researchers were impressed with how Headline provided disease control and improved overall Plant Health to increase the yield potential of cotton.

“After studying the results from five years of trials with Headline on cotton, we are very pleased with the way Headline maximizes cotton yield potential by providing excellent disease control and Plant Health benefits,” said Amber Shirley, Ph.D., technical service specialist with BASF, who presented the research results at a luncheon for cotton consultants.

During a later session on new technology, Greg Stapleton, Ph.D., senior technical service representative for BASF, spoke about the new label for cotton and the on-farm trials from this past season. “Headline is one of the most researched fungicides on the market.

“BASF has added to its line of trusted products for cotton farmers – a significant recognition of a renewed investment by BASF in the cotton market,” Dr. Stapleton continued during his presentation.

Among the results presented by BASF at the conference:

• In a Mississippi trial, Headline controlled diseases, delivering Plant Health benefits that helped treated cotton yield 133.8 pounds of lint/A more than untreated cotton;
• In a Tennessee on-farm trial, cotton treated with Headline in severely dry environmental conditions out-yielded the untreated cotton by 68.8 pounds of lint/A;
• In a Georgia cotton fungicide study, Headline showed outstanding results by controlling Ascochyta “wet weather blight” that caused 90 percent defoliation in untreated cotton. Cotton treated with Headline had less than 10 percent defoliation;
• In a Missouri Bootheel on-farm trial, cotton treated with Headline showed no sign of disease and with improved Plant Health yielded 157 pounds of lint/A more than untreated cotton;
• In an Arkansas on-farm trial, cotton treated with Headline controlled high infestations of Alternaria leaf spot, showing improved Plant Health and yielding 194.4 pounds of lint/A more than untreated cotton;
• Texas on-farm trials resulted in cotton yield increases with Headline, averaging more than 40 pounds of lint/A in stripper and picker cotton when compared to untreated cotton.

Both researchers noted that Headline can be tank-mixed with an insecticide and mixed with Pentia® plant regulator to be applied as a foliar spray delivering Plant Health and controlling diseases at critical times during cotton development. Since Headline can be mixed in the tank and sprayed with other products, growers should avoid extra application costs.

Target cotton diseases indicated on the label include foliar and boll rot diseases, such as Alternaria leaf spot, anthracnose, Ascochyta blight, Cercospora blight and leaf spot, Diplodia boll rot, hard lock, Phoma blight, rust and Stemphyllium leaf spot. Seedling diseases Rhizoctonia and Pythium are also on the label with the recommendation of an in-furrow application.

For more information about Headline fungicide and other BASF crop protection products, visit www.agproducts.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.®

With sales of €3,079 million in 2006, 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 is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF’s high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has approximately 95,000 employees and posted sales of €52.6 billion (approximately $66.1 billion) in 2006. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

###

Always read and follow label directions.

Headline and Pentia are registered trademarks of BASF.
©2008 BASF Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
APN 07-01-088-0042IC