Stemming from last year’s success, the 2023 BASF ‘Community Paddocks’ initiative has extended to two new locations in Paskeville, South Australia and Nhill, Victoria.
Local growers have generously designated paddocks on their land to grow barley, canola and wheat, with BASF providing crop protection products and continuous support throughout the season to drive healthy crops.
The profits from the harvest obtained later in the year will be donated to the Nhill District Sporting Club and Paskeville Progress Association.
“We are delighted to extend our Community Paddock project with the partnership of the Nhill and Paskeville community. BASF takes great pride in not only supporting growers, but also giving back to local groups that are the heart and soul of our communities,” said Andrew Gourlay, head of broadacre at BASF Australia.
Both sites were sown with barley in May, alongside small amounts of canola and wheat. Now well into the growing cycle, they have been carefully treated with BASF products such as Systiva, Voraxor, Frequency, Opus and Opera to ensure an optimal level of weed control, and delivery of high-quality yield.
BASF is working alongside local grower Grant Pontifex to manage the Paskeville paddock. The team regularly visits and offers advice on producing maximum returns that would better support the Paskeville Progress Association’s work in the community.
“It is wonderful to see members of our community join forces and give back in a meaningful way, by sharing knowledge and contributing much needed funds to the Association and to Paskeville itself,” Mr Pontifex said.
To drive further collaboration and understanding, members of the community will be able to visit both sites, with the Paskeville site being open during the Yorke Peninsula Field Days this month for agronomists and growers to view.
Throughout the season, BASF will regularly visit both sites to ensure crops are tracking well, and the right products are being used properly.
BASF says finding solutions for growers and giving back to the next generation of agri-professionals helps strengthen local farming communities as they do #TheBiggestJobOnEarth.
• For both sites, BASF has worked side by side with growers to offer advice and an understanding of crop treatment solutions to help maximise yield. This includes seed treatment, pre-emergent sprays and post-emergent weed control
• The Paskeville site sowed barley in May, with a small amount of canola and wheat on nearby demonstration plots. The Nhill site includes barley and some canola
• Recognising the importance of inspiring the next generation, the initiative invited local agriculture students for classroom visits to the Nhill site
• This offers future agri-professionals the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and identify key weeds and diseases so they can one day gain more control and capability to manage their own crop
• Members of the Paskeville community will be able to visit the site. It will also be open during the Yorke Peninsula Field Days in September for agronomists and growers to visit.
