Crop talk fall 2008

a newsletter from Bayer CropScience

crop talk

Volume 18 • Issue 1

Big Machinery, Big Yields All it took was less than two hours for 43 combines to get 149 acres of InVigor ® canola off a field near Strathmore, Alta on Oct. 4 and loaded up six super B trains headed for ATL terminals in Calgary.

Best of all, it was for a worthwhile cause – the Canadian Foodgrains Bank – which will receive at least $100,000 from the sale of the canola. And how did the InVigor yield – unofficial reports range anywhere from 74.8 bushels/acre which only goes to prove once again that InVigor is the undisputed yield champion!

Connect your farm with BayerWeather Few things affect agriculture more than weather. Crop yield, quality, protein content and many other factors are affected. Day-to-day operational decisions depend on having the most accurate and timely weather information available.

But growers need more than just the most advanced weather information. Commodity pricing, disease forecasts and historical data also play a huge role in a grower’s success. These factors require grower’s daily attention and can be time consuming. Whether spraying, seeding or making countless other agronomic decisions, farmers benefit from prompt, locally-focused agronomic intelligence.

The most comprehensive weather coverage in Canada Bayer CropScience, in conjunction with WeatherBug and other partners, is deploying an extensive network of more than 1,000 state of the art weather sensors over the next three years. These new sensors will be provided to rural retailers and growers across western Canada and overlaid with the current Environment Canada system to provide the most comprehensive weather coverage in Canada – all at your finger tips.

Command Center BayerWeather is an online suite of agricultural solutions that offers real-time, localized weather, commodity reports, disease forecasting and historical data from one easy-to-access location – your web browser!

Using BayerWeather as a complete, one-stop agronomic resource will help you make critical decisions for your operation, strategically plan ahead and improve your bottom line.

• Accessible from any internet connected computer • Easy to navigate • User-friendly and intuitive • 24 hour access – 365 days a year

BayerWeather Command Center A. Real-Time, Localized Weather Forecasts • Canada’s most comprehensive, real-time weather information • Forecasting maps • Satellite and Radar images and weather system tracking • Severe weather warnings • Historical weather data • Graph and analyze data for your specific growing region • Weather stations feed data every 2.5 seconds.

B. Commodity Pricing Reports • Up-to-the-minute commodity pricing for all major crops in western Canada • Multiple market commodity pricing and indexes • Updated every ten minutes C. Risk Maps and Disease Alerts • Timely in-season disease alerts every day • Fusarium Head Blight risk maps • Sclerotinia risk maps D. Crop Protection Products and Services • Quick, easy access to agronomic solutions • Information about Bayer CropScience products and services

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a newsletter from Bayer CropScience

Get the InVigor you want. Book early.

InVigor hybrid canola is always in demand but you can be sure to secure the InVigor canola you want and take advantage of our InVigor Early Book offer.

Bayer CropScience is proud to provide you with the highest yielding, industry leading canola hybrids on the market. We have introduced new technology advances in canola to the market for over a decade and we are committed to your future.

The canola industry has chosen InVigor 5020 as a standard that all varieties and hybrids are measured in the Prairie Canola Variety Trials (PCVT). Plus, last year InVigor 5440 raised the bar with canola yields demonstrating a whopping 135% of the checks in the WCC/RRC official registration trials. Nothing outperforms.

InVigor Innovations InVigor hybrids set the new performance standard when they were introduced. Today, they continue to lead the industry – both in performance and outstanding new innovations.

All InVigor canola hybrids deliver: • Superior genetics • Highest yields • Highest returns • Consistent performance under stressed conditions • Excellent disease package Check out invigorresults.ca to explore the complete InVigor line-up and the latest DST yield results from across the Prairies will be posted shortly. All the third-party Prairie Canola Variety Trials (PCVTs) results, can be found at canola-council.org.

The LibertyLink System With yields as high as 135% over the new check varieties, InVigor hybrids ensure that the LibertyLink® system is the highest yielding herbicide-tolerant canola system on the market.

Early Book InVigor Fungicide New Technology Herbicide New Technology Seed Treatment New Technology Established Bayer Cropscience Brands

Folicur Proline™*

$3.00/ac $3.00/ac

Infinity® Velocity™

$1.00/ac $2.00/ac

Raxil® MD or Raxil T

$1.00/ac

®

Rovral® Flo* Puma®120 Super Decis® or Sevin®

$3.00/ac $2.00/ac $1.00/ac

Rebates based upon matching acres of InVigor. *EBI matching acres apply to Proline and Rovral Flo. Sign up by January 30, 2009.

Liberty® 2 Pass Program will equal $5.00/ac. rebate on Liberty 2nd pass. Sign up required.

See official program for details.

Liberty® is the only Group 10 post-emergent herbicide that controls tough broadleaf and grassy weeds plus providing a rotational benefit to manage herbicide resistance. It is important when you are booking your InVigor hybrids for 2009 that you also secure your preferred container size of Liberty with your local retail.

Liberty can be purchased in three different sizes: A 10 acre jug, an 80 acre shuttle or a 320 acre BigBoy tote. The Liberty BigBoys need to be booked by January 30, 2009 to secure your supply.

2009 InVigor Early Book Offer Sign up for the InVigor Early Book Program to ensure you get the InVigor you want. And you’ll have the opportunity to save on new technology and established Bayer CropScience products.

BigBoys deliver even bigger convenience in 2009 BigBoys, the convenient custom-ordered totes from Bayer CropScience, are now equipped with even more features that will make life easier. Introducing the addition of Infinity®!

Growers can treat up to 1,000 acres with a single container of Puma®120 Super, Buctril® M, Thumper® and Infinity®. Liberty® is also available in a 320 acre container. No more handling and triple rinsing of single jugs, no more jugs and boxes to be disposed of.

All BigBoys in the 1,000 acre container should be booked by March 6, 2009. Liberty BigBoy containers have a booking deadline of January 30, 2009. Don’t miss out!

For 2009 Bayer CropScience offers a completely new tote offering the following features: • Top and bottom lift capabilities • Lighting slings for easy lifting • Shuttle corner redesign for improved stacking and stability • Automatic and manual venting • Colour coded base for easy indentification • 1" male dry break connector for discharging product (including a 1" female adaptor)

questions or comments? please call 1-888-283-6847

Grow with us!

Looking for a great job for summer 2009?

Summer jobs have always been a way for agriculture students to gain experience in agribusiness. In fact, many top executives in Canadian agribusiness got their feet wet as summer students.

For 2009, Bayer CropScience is filling 110 summer student positions in four key areas of the business: sales and marketing, research and development, research and seed product development.

According to Nicole Davis, Bayer CropScience human resources business partner, there is a need for candidates with a wider range of expertise than ever before.

“Traditionally, we’ve recruited summer students who are studying agriculture and related fields at a university level,” she says. “Now, we’d also like to invite commerce or science students who have a farm background, as well.

Real-world business experience What makes a great summer job for a university student? While salary is important, students planning for a career in agriculture will also benefit from valuable work experience.

A summer position at Bayer CropScience offers you real-world experience and responsibility.

It’s an opportunity to see how a major corporation develops products and provides service to customers.

Our summer students have a great venue to show their personal initiative, sharpen their business skills and enhance their communications skills.

- Nicole Davis, Bayer CropScience human resources business partner That’s not all. A summer position with Bayer CropScience features a competitive salary, bonus incentives and a comprehensive four-day training program. Candidates are asked to commit to a four-month work term from the beginning of May until the end of August.

If you’re looking for a challenge and a learning experience next summer, Bayer CropScience could be the perfect choice. For more information, please e-mail nicole.davis@bayercropscience.ca, or visit our website at bayercropscience.com.

Always read and follow label directions.

Decis ®, Folicur ®, Infinity ®, InVigor ®, Liberty ®, LibertyLink ®, Puma®, Raxil ®, Rovral ®, Sevin ® are registered trademarks of Bayer CropScience. Proline™ and Velocity™ are trademarks of Bayer CropScience.

All other products mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies.

Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

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2008 InVigor Scholarships

InVigor Scholarships awarded to winning essay entries The topic is straightforward: The demand for specialty canola oil combined with the outstanding performance benefits of hybrid technology has the potential to change Canada’s canola industry.

In 350 – 500 words, describe the opportunities this opens up for Canadian canola growers?

The contest, which was launched in 2007, is open to second and third year students in the University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture and Bioresources.

Winners each receive a $1,000 college scholarship and the essays will be published in an upcoming issue of the Western Producer.

The 2008 InVigor Scholarship winners are: Katie MacMillan Travis Neufeld Colby Sproat Kelsey Suttie Roberta Templeton Giselle Ulrich