Building on the success of their 2022 initiative, BASF has expanded its Community Paddocks program to Paskeville, South Australia, and Nhill, Victoria. The initiative, a collaboration with local growers, seeks to foster agronomic insights while contributing financially to community projects.

Local farmers have allocated paddocks for the cultivation of barley, canola, and wheat. BASF ensures the crops’ health by supplying protection products and ongoing agronomic support. The forthcoming harvest’s profits will aid the Nhill District Sporting Club and the Paskeville Progress Association.

Andrew Gourlay, Head of Broadacre at BASF Australia, expressed the company’s commitment to the project. “BASF is deeply committed to not only supporting our growers but also reinforcing local communities, the true backbone of our regions,” he remarked.

This year, barley was predominantly sown in both sites during May, supplemented with minor plantings of canola and wheat. The crops, now in their growth phase, have been meticulously treated with BASF products including Systiva®, Voraxor®, and others to ensure maximum yield and effective weed control.

BASF collaborates with Grant Pontifex in overseeing the Paskeville paddock. Pontifex emphasised the community’s collective efforts, noting, “The collaboration, knowledge sharing, and financial contributions will significantly boost the Association and the wider Paskeville community.”

Enhancing community involvement, both sites will soon welcome visitors. Notably, during the Yorke Peninsula Field Days in September, the Paskeville site will be open for agronomists and local growers.

Throughout the cultivation season, BASF specialists will monitor crop health and treatment effectiveness, emphasising their dedication to enriching local farming communities and the upcoming generation of agricultural experts.

For more details, visit crop-solutions.basf.com.au/.

This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 30 August 2023.