May 19, 2009
BASF committed to Ag Aviator certification, education and equipment calibration
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, May 19, 2009 – Numerous agricultural aviators in the Midwest will attend fly-in workshops this year sponsored by BASF.
The workshops give agricultural aviators a chance to gather each year to test their equipment and learn about new developments in application technologies to ensure they are applying crop protection products evenly, efficiently and safely.
Analysts with the Operation Self-Regulating Application and Flight Efficiency (S.A.F.E.) from across the country conduct these workshops in conjunction with state agricultural aviator associations.
Scott Bretthauer, University of Illinois extension specialist, leads the workshops in Illinois and Wisconsin. Expert pilots and registered engineers, Dennis R. Gardisser and Richard Whitney lead the workshops in other states. They do an excellent job of testing equipment, offering advice on equipment operational improvements, providing specialized analysis and equipment calibration, validated with computer analysis and additional flights, as needed.
Aircraft analysis includes verification of:
- Pattern uniformity
- Effective and optimum swath width
- Droplet size spectra (useful in determining potential efficacy, pest control and drift potential and conformity with state regulations)
- Application rate
“We are very impressed with the level of expertise and training that S.A.F.E. offers and are proud to support the Ag Aviators through sponsorship of fly-ins,” said Jim Gaffney, Market Manager, Agricultural Aviation, with BASF. “The application of crop protection products such as Headline® fungicide enables growers to reap the benefits in terms of yield, disease control and Plant Health. Precision application is an essential tool in helping growers manage their fertilizer and pesticide costs.”
The Ag Aviators workshops planned for 2009 include:
- May 5-6, Mattoon, IL, hosted by the Illinois AAA and Reed’s Fly-On Farming
- May 8, Wakarusa, IN, hosted by Agriflite
- May 12-14, Washington, NC, through the NCAAA
- June 5, Indianapolis, IN area, hosted by Milhon Air
- June 9-10, Webster, IA, through the Iowa AAA
- September 3, El Reno, OK, through the Oklahoma AAA
The workshops are open to interested pilots. More information about S.A.F.E. is available through the National Agricultural Aviation Association at http://www.agaviation.org/opsafepage.htm.
In addition to the scheduled fly-ins, BASF, in conjunction with the Nebraska Aviation Trades Association, is sponsoring numerous fly-ins throughout Nebraska. These smaller fly-ins have been very successful due to small group sizes and more hands-on attention.
BASF is committed to providing the U.S. Ag Aviators with solutions that enhance the efficacy and safety of aerial applications.
Supporting fly-ins is one of the ways BASF supports the agricultural aviation industry. BASF is a top-tier sponsor of the Professional Aerial Applicators Support System (PAASS) program industry events, including diamond sponsorship of the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) Convention and Expositions. BASF also has a partnership with AgSync, an aerial work order management system for aerial applicators and retailers.
For more information about Headline and other BASF crop protection products, visit www.agproducts.basf.us.
With sales of €3,137 million in 2007, 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.
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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.
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