But what tops our list this year? We’re thankful for the farmers who work hard to provide cost-effective and nutritious food for the planet’s growing population.

Last year we shared a video produced by BASF showcasing this very fact, and we figured Thanksgiving was a great time to show it again.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Miss the first two episodes? Catch up on the BASF Ag Products’ YouTube channel to learn more about David and Gary’s farms and families, as well as keep up with future videos.

The partnership was established in 2007 to focus on corn, soy, cotton and canola crops. In the original collaboration, the two companies dedicated a joint budget of potentially $1.5 billion; the new agreement will result in a potential additional investment of more than $1 billion by the companies over the life of the collaboration.

“BASF Plant Science is dedicated to discover genes for maximizing yield in crops that will be brought to farmers through partnerships. The collaboration with Monsanto was not only the first agreement that we entered, it also represents our most significant partnership, covering several large row crops,” said Peter Eckes, president of BASF Plant Science. “The expansion of our partnership reflects the fit between the two companies. The yield increases that we have achieved together in the field so far give us confidence that we can do more in our collaboration crops, which now include wheat.”

With regard to the addition of wheat to the collaboration, the partners will initially focus on developing biotech products for the North American and Australian markets. The first enhanced yielding wheat product is expected to reach the market after 2020. This product will be followed by successive generations of higher-yielding wheat varieties.

Wheat is the world’s second largest commodity crop after corn and demand is expected to grow as millions of people in developing countries such as China and India become more affluent and increasingly add bread to their traditional rice-based diets.

Read more about NutriDense’s relationship with BASF Plant Science in these previous blog posts:

• BASF Plant Science Feed Project continues its work
• Follow BASF and NutriDense on Twitter
• Farm Journal article highlights BASF Plant Science and NutriDense

Corn growers have learned that the yield increases associated with some fungicides stem not only from a decrease in leaf diseases, but also from a general increase in plant health.  By reducing the incidence and severity of fungal leaf disease, the corn plant is better able to convert light energy into starch, protein and sugars.  Healthy plants are also better able to deal with the environmental stresses often encountered during the growing season. In silage, since the entire plant is harvested, the plant health aspect becomes even more valuable.

Foliar fungicides vary in their formulation and mode of action, and only a few products are labeled for applications to corn grown for silage.  Headline® fungicide, manufactured by BASF, is the fungicide most widely used by corn growers in North America.  Data from research plots and field trials have shown very positive responses to Headline applied to corn silage.  A trial in Plainfield, Wisconsin in 2008 showed an average of 1.62 tons/acre (at 70% moisture) increase from a Headline application over an average of 35 hybrids.  This yield increase translated to an average of 2,837 additional pounds of milk per acre using the standard dairy industry tons to milk calculation.  The results from a trial in Unity, Wisconsin were even more impressive.  Averaged over 21 different hybrids, the Headline application resulted in an extra 3.26 tons/acre and an increase of 3,986 pounds of milk per acre.

Silage quality can also be maintained by a timely application of Headline.  Trials grown in Wisconsin, Maryland and New York showed increases in fiber digestibility and corresponding increases in milk per acre when compared to an untreated check.

Another important benefit of a foliar fungicide application is the increase in “stay green” or late season plant health.  This increase in plant health means a wider silage harvest window.  Whether your customers are large operations with hundreds of acres of silage to cut or smaller operations waiting on a custom chopper, cutting silage at the proper moisture is an important step in harvesting quality corn silage.  Keeping the crop healthy and green for a longer period of time can pay huge dividends in the feed bunk.

After starting with the right hybrid, your customers can help maintain the nutrition potential of that silage crop with a timely fungicide application.  A foliar fungicide such as Headline can be a management tool in your customers’ quality silage plan.

This article was written by Mark Schultz, a sales agronomist for BASF Plant Science. He can be reached at mark.schultz@basf.com.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The video, showing where farming began, where it is today and where it will need to be in the future, reveals BASF’s commitment to sustainability and meeting the world’s food needs through innovation. To learn more, listen to BASF Plant Science Vice President Jonathan Bryant discuss the world’s changing food needs and one example of how BASF Plant Science is part of the solution.

At the summit, BASF announced an extensive new project to further develop its Eco-Efficiency Analysis and incorporate agriculturally relevant factors such as biodiversity, soil health and social impact. The Eco-Efficiency Analysis was developed by BASF to measure the sustainability of products and production processes and is one of BASF’s main tools for implementing its sustainability strategy.

The Eco-Efficiency Analysis enables a comparison of the economic and environmental aspects of products and processes. Importantly, the methodology takes the product’s entire life cycle into account, from raw materials sourcing, to product manufacture, use, and disposal.

In the photo: Markus Heldt, president of BASF Crop Protection, Dr. Peter Eckes, president of BASF Plant Science Company, Nevin McDougall, senior vice president of North America Crop Protection and Dr. Jonathan Bryant, vice president of BASF Plant Science, L.P., at the 2010 BASF Agricultural Solutions Media Summit.

Here are a few of the points touched on during the announcement:

BASF has now completed the first Eco-Efficiency Analysis for corn, a major feedstock crop that is of central importance for farmers and food supply.

Markus Heldt, President of BASF’s Crop Protection division, presented the results: “We analyzed corn production both with and without our fungicide Headline®. The most important result was that farmers achieved higher yields with Headline. However, in addition, they were also able to reduce costs, energy use and resources. In other words, corn farmers can earn more with Headline and protect the environment at the same time.”

Dr. Peter Eckes, President of BASF Plant Science, agrees that higher yields are a significant factor in improving agricultural sustainability: “That is precisely why we examine the genetic characteristics of crops very closely. We don’t just look at the outwardly visible properties – we also investigate which specific genes are involved in each plant function. By using the best genes, we can maximize harvests and thus support farmers to become more sustainable. This also benefits the environment because no additional arable land is needed to achieve higher yields.”

Visit these links to learn more about the BASF Agricultural Solutions Media Summit, access the recorded general session and the Eco-Efficiency Analysis online.

Check out this photo and video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s pretty neat how thousands of tiny Lego bricks added up to these lifelike sculptures. It reminds me of how NutriDense traits in corn seeds add up to more profitable corn that helps dairy farmers, poultry producers and grain growers make more money.

Recently, the unique sculptures were donated to FFA and will reappear at the organization’s national convention in October. Get the whole scoop in this AgWired article, and read more about NutriDense and how BASF supports us on the NutriDense homepage.

The article underscores BASF’s commitment to new trait technologies such as NutriDense:

Unlike its agrochemical competitors, BASF is not a seed company, nor does it intend to become one, says Rick Van Genderen, director of value chain management for BASF Plant Science. “Our strategy is to be a trait and technology partner with seed companies that need our products,” he says.

BASF Plant Science is collaborating with Monsanto Company to develop drought, yield and stress-tolerant traits in corn, cotton, soybeans and canola. The first drought-tolerant product has been submitted for regulatory review and is expected to debut in 2012.

Several seed companies have joined hands to access BASF Plant Science’s NutriDense technology—stacked output traits designed to enhance animal feed performance. Traits that increase rice yield by up to 50% are targeted for 2012, and dicamba-tolerant soybeans are expected by 2014.

Farm Journal also included an interesting “Web Extra” component: Watch below as Paul Rea, director of U.S. crop protection for BASF, describes his company’s pipeline of new products.

Watch the clip below to hear Rick talk about BASF Plant Science, and read the entire BASF Pipeline article by Brownfield.

To learn more about BASF Plant Science’s commitment to plant biotechnology, check out the About Us section of the NutriDense Web site.