KC sheperd spoke with Kim Tutor, technical marketing manager for plant health who explains that her role at BASF focuses on fungicide performance. She notes, “I’m excited to be here talking about the performance of our fungicides.” She highlights their performance-driven fungicides and emphasizes their lead corn product, Veltyma.
Tutor discusses the significant disease pressures growers faced, especially tar spot and southern rust, stressing the value of fungicide application. She says that “if you didn’t treat your corn with a fungicide… you’ve left a lot of yield on the table, anywhere from 20 to 60 bushels an acre.” She also highlights Veltyma’s strong performance in soybeans, which has contributed to consistent yields and ROI across diverse geographies.
A major portion of Tutors’ discussion focuses on plant health benefits beyond disease control. She explains how Veltyma helps plants withstand heat and drought stress by keeping stomates open: “We’re going to help keep those little vents open… that gas exchange is what drives photosynthesis. Photosynthesis equals yield.” She adds that their products support both above-ground growth and “basal root growth,” contributing to cooler canopies and more resilient crops overall.
Turning to wheat, Tutor outlines BASF’s fungicide portfolio for managing Fusarium head blight, noting its impact on both yield and grain quality. She mentions that “Spheric is a strong performer… in terms of helping control that disease and that vomitoxin,” and she also points to Nexicor and Priaxor for protecting wheat at herbicide or flag-leaf timing. She ties this to the broader theme of helping growers stay profitable through challenging environmental and market conditions.
Tutor encourages producers to plan proactively rather than cutting fungicide applications due to cost concerns. She emphasizes, “There is 100% chance that Mother Nature is going to throw you a curve ball every year,” noting that only 45% of corn and soybean acres were treated in 2024. She also promotes BASF’s Real Results Yield Challenge, inviting growers to try products like Veltyma or RevyTech and enter for prizes: “You could win a two-year F-250 Ford truck lease… just try, just do it.” She closes by urging growers to visit BASF’s website or contact local representatives for more information.
