RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, February 12, 2010 – The weed control and yield increase benefits of the BASF CLEARFIELD® Production System are now available to lentil growers in the United States. Pulse USA, based in Bismarck, North Dakota, will be the sole supplier of CLEARFIELD designated lentil varieties.

CLEARFIELD designated lentil varieties are the only herbicide-tolerant lentils available in the U.S. Varieties are bred to reflect regional growing conditions and requirements, and are available only as certified, genetically-pure seed that offers better yield potential than bin-run seed. They have bred-in tolerance (non-GMO) to Beyond® herbicide, which offers broad-spectrum, long-lasting weed control, excellent crop safety and an easier harvest.

“Bringing CLEARFIELD to the U.S. lentils market will provide growers with a post-germination weed control solution unlike any they have had before,” said Nocha Van Thielen, Product Manager for the BASF CLEARFIELD Production System for lentils. “This will help keep weeds at bay and yields on the rise.”

Getting the Most out of Every Acre
Weeds such as mustards,  pennycress and volunteer (non-CLEARFIELD) wheat have been a source of frustration for conventional lentil growers in the past. Beyond herbicide has been shown to provide excellent control of tough weeds, reducing competition to increase lentil yields. In fact, 2009 research trials showed that CLEARFIELD lentils treated with Beyond herbicide averaged 190 lb/A higher yields than their conventional counterparts.

Combining additional management tools can help lentil growers get the most out of each acre. Early in the growth cycle, applying Prowl® H20 herbicide can set the stage for long-term residual broadleaf and grass control. Because Prowl H20 herbicide uses a different mode of action than Beyond, it plays an important role in herbicide resistance management. CLEARFIELD lentil growers can also benefit from Headline® fungicide, which provides exceptional disease control with unique Plant Health benefits, allowing for an easier harvest with potentially higher yields and improved crop quality.

“Growers who gave up on lentils because of frustrations with weed control options now have a good reason to give the crop another try,” said Byron Lannoye, Pulse USA General Manager. “While there is no such thing as a bulletproof program, overall weed control is vastly improved, and using the system reduces trips across the field.1”

Pulse will market the CDC Impala CL and CDC Maxim CL seed varieties. Growers will be required to sign the CLEARFIELD stewardship agreement, which helps them understand how to engage in best practices for using the BASF CLEARFIELD Production System. Stewardship practices include purchasing certified seed each season, strictly adhering to label directions, crop rotations and use of non-ALS inhibitor herbicides for burndown in fallow rotations.

To purchase certified seed, contact Pulse USA at 1-888-530-0734. For more information about the CLEARFIELD Production System for lentils and other crops, visit http://agproducts.basf.us/.

About the Crop Protection Division
With sales of € 3.4 billion in 2008, 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 http://agproducts.basf.us.

BASF - The Chemical Company.
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 15,000 employees in North America, and had sales of approximately $17.5 billion in 2008. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €62 billion in 2008 and had approximately 97,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

Always read and follow label directions.

Beyond, CLEARFIELD, Headline and Prowl are registered trademarks of BASF.

©2010 BASF Corporation. All Rights Reserved. APN 10-11-002-0023cf-1

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2010 Pulse USA Product Guide, p.16 http://www.pulseusa.com/cd%20images/2010PulseUSA.pdf