b'PARTNER CONTENTBayer Field Day Connects Customers with New TechnologiesW ith one swipe or click, nearly all the latest information in seed and herbicide technologies is ac-cessible through a mobile phone or laptop screen. In tandem with those virtual tools, companies like Bayer Crop Science remain committed to offering farmers valuable in-person opportunities to experience the newest products in the field too. In August, more than 400 attendees flocked to the 21st Annual AgKnowledge Field Day at Bayers Union City, Tennessee research facility where new corn, soybean and cotton genetics were showcased along with newly launched and upcoming tech-nologies in herbicide and seed offerings, says Larry Ganann, technical agronomist with Bayer.We feel its important to invest inMore than 400 attendees were on hand for the 21st Annual AgKnowledge Field Day at these kinds of face-to-face meetings be- Bayers Union City, Tennessee research facility in August.cause this a good way to connect with our customers who still like to see the technol- Flex soybeans. The new cotton insectWe continue to stress and recommend ogy up close, put their hands on the prod- trait coming through the pipeline will helpthat while Bayer is providing some over the ucts and be able to have their questionsprotect the crop from tarnished plant bugtop solutions for weed control, its critical answered by a Bayer rep or an Extensionand cotton thrips. that growers continue to use a pre-emer-specialist, Ganann says. Controlling cotton thrips early on andgence herbicide and introduce multiple In addition to farmers, industry repre- then providing some protection againstmodes of action in problem fields if they sentatives, especially those from Bayers re- tarnished plant bugs at the midpoint ofwant the best chance to control weed popu-tail base in the mid-south, attend the fieldthe growing season is really crucial forlations across species, Ganann notes.day. Ganann says its their chance to seecotton growers, Ganann says.whats coming down the pipeline in termsXtendFlex soybeanstolerant toThe Ideal Field Day Formulaof germplasm and to gain insights aboutglyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba As organizer of the AgKnowledge Field stewardship practices for new technologieswill represent Bayers first triple-stack soy- Day for the past decade, Ganann says hes in the herbicide and insecticide realms. bean trait once commercialized. The seedlearned that offering quality content keeps Attendees have a chance to hear direct- genetics carrying this new technology tothe crowd coming year after year. A great ly from the Bayer Crop Science scientistsmarket were on display at the field day.lunch helps too.whove developed these products on how toWere excited about this technologyThe technology and genetics have to be use them effectively so we can keep thesebecause growers need as many herbicidethere on display, you have to have good food important tools durable and viable for asoptions as possible. In this region, Palmerand you have to have a good venue, he says.long as possible, Ganann says. Universityamaranth pigweed gives us the most trou- Giving attendees a chance to connect and researchers also present under the tentsble in soybean and cotton production,share their perspectives is important too.alongside the Bayer representatives for aGanann notes. Theres a networking aspect to this true agronomic look at new technologiesSpeaking of weeds, discussing weedkind of event. Farmers enjoy sitting next and best management practices. management practices has been a hall- to each on those bales under a tent and Among those new products heraldedmark of the field day event for the last twoswapping stories about each others at the 2019 event were a new cotton insectdecades. Bayer and university extensionexperienceswhat they saw happen on trait that targets cotton pests and a morestaff are on hand to give their expert ad- their farm, what worked and what did not robust herbicide trait package in Xtend- vice on the topic. work, Ganann says.OCTOBER 2019SEEDWORLD.COM /15'