BASF expands Clearfield®Production System team of experts

New Clearfield Value Chain Specialists in key regions to support growers and advisors

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK , NC - BASF Crop Protection appointed three Value Chain Specialists for the Clearfield® Production System: Krissi Crum, Jeff Erwin and Brandon Neuman.



The Specialists are based in key growing regions for Clearfield wheat, rice, sunflower, lentil and canola. Growers who use the Clearfield® Production System, as well as seed providers and university experts who use or advise on use of the system, will benefit from this staff expansion.



“As use of the Clearfield Production System continues to grow in established markets and the crops for which it is labeled continues to expand, we want to make sure customers have the dedicated resources they need to take full advantage of the system,” said Paul Rea, Vice President, U.S. Crop Protection.



BASF has strong relationships with numerous seed companies throughout the United States who support the Clearfield Production System. Clearfield Specialists will work closely with those seed companies, as well as with certified Clearfield seed partners, growers and universities to support BASF Clearfield technology stewardship.



Jeff Erwin is the Value Chain Specialist for the High Plains region and will support all Clearfield crops in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota and Oklahoma. Erwin spent the last two years assisting with development of the BASF

seed treatment market. Prior to joining BASF, Erwin served as a Customer Solution Specialist for Cargill AgHorizons and was a District Sales Manager during his seven-year tenure at Monsanto.



Brandon Neuman is the Value Chain Specialist for the Pacific Northwest region. Neuman will support all Clearfield crops in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Utah. He has been with BASF for more than five years, serving as a Business Representative and a Seed Treatment Specialist, and was instrumental in establishing the BASF Seed Treatment portfolio in the Pacific Northwest and Montana markets.



Krissi Crum is the Value Chain Specialist for the Mid-South and will provide support in key growing districts for Clearfield rice. Previously, Crum worked with Cargill for nine years in the area, where for the past five years she served as a Regional Marketer with Cargill Risk Management.



The Clearfield Production System is the only herbicide-tolerant tool that helps farmers achieve high quality and high yield cereal and oilseed crops. The Clearfield Production System delivers efficient, long-lasting weed control, crop quality and global market acceptance.



“When growers make a choice to grow Clearfield crops, they are making a commitment to engage in best practices for growing that crop and the products used with the Production System,” said Avinash Deshmukh, Senior Market Manager, BASF Crop Protection. “BASF wants to support that commitment by having Regional Specialists available, working closely with our sales team to identify, assist and act as a resource to support growers using the Clearfield portfolio.”



For more information about the Clearfield Production System, visit http://www.agproducts.basf.us/products/Clearfield-portfolio-landing-page.html.



Take the Clearfield Production System for rice online training module at http://edu.basf.us/Clearfield/.



About the Crop Protection division



With sales of €4.0 billion in 2010, 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 or follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/basfagro


BASF – The Chemical Company



BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,400 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.7 billion in 2010. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.


BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help 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 €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com or in the Social Media Newsroom at newsroom.basf.com.