Each growing season has its share of challenging environmental conditions, that’s a given. Crop protection plays a critical role in  farmer profitability, not just for this season, but in the coming years. So how is Bayer empowering  farmers for optimal success?

“Part of our crop protection strategy is market anticipation, along with leveraging the right traits, germplasm and genetics,” says Rob Schrick, a former Kansas kid who grew up working for his family’s ag retail business, who now leads product management for Bayer’s Broad Acre Crop Protection business in North America. “Few companies have the ability to make a significant investment under the R&D umbrella. Even fewer are willing to do it,” he said. “That’s one of the ways Bayer stands out: We not only invest heavily in R&D, it drives our business.”

One such example of that market anticipation is Convintro^TM, a herbicide with the active ingredient diflufenican, which will, pending EPA approval, introduce a new site of action for  North American corn and soy growers. This new option in weed management will help farmers manage some of the most prolific weeds in corn and soybean production – waterhemp and PalmerAmaranth – pending final label approval.

To bring a new option to the market takes a significant amount of time and money for crop protection companies. It can be over 10 years and an investment of more than $250 million before the product is in the hands of farmers. Yet, herbicides remain the single biggest crop protection investment farmers make each year and Bayer recognizes the role weed management plays in farmers’ profitability. Said Schrick: “That’s why Bayer relentlessly seeks, develops and tests new products – whether it be molecules, genetics, traits or germplasm – we are focused on solving growers biggest challenges.”  

R&D doesn’t always mean coming up with something new.  The company’s global structure gives it the ability to assess the industry’s needs through the lens of worldwide challenges. “We’re able to anticipate weeds and diseases based on what’s happened in the rest of the world,” Schrick says. Because of our experience with corn disease in South America, we knew that Delaro® Complete Fungicide would bring great value to our customers in North America. Over the last few years, we’ve seen Delaro Complete Fungicide help farmers fight diseases like tar spot, and our team is working hard to get it in the hands of farmers when they need it.”

Bayer maintains a leading research and development pipeline for selective and residual herbicides, fungicides and insecticides, which, combined with its robust breeding program, delivers complete options to farmers. By utilizing predictive analytics based on weather and genetics and combining crop protection molecules to best suit germplasms, Bayer continues to innovate to meet farmer needs.

What does all this mean for growers? Schrick summarizes it this way: “Hybrids and varieties are continually  adapted to the everchanging environments,  this coupled with growers ability to deliver improved production methods each year, this combination allows for  record breaking yields each year. When new challenges arise, it’s vital to have a robust toolbox to pull from. With our global footprint, we’re prepared for changes, and adept at pulling from our global portfolio to continue delivering effective crop protection options to our customers.”

This material may contain “forward-looking statements” based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at http://www.bayer.com/. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

*Commercialization is dependent on multiple factors, including successful conclusion of the regulatory process. The information presented herein is provided for educational purposes only, and is not and shall not be construed as an offer to sell, or a recommendation to use, any unregistered pesticide for any purpose whatsoever. It is a violation of federal law to promote or offer to sell an unregistered pesticide.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Not all products are registered for use in all states and may be subject to use restrictions. The distribution, sale, or use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. Check with your local dealer or representative for the product registration status in your state. Bayer, Bayer Cross and Delaro® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. ©2022 Bayer Group. All rights reserved.