BASF partners with local growers to introduce Community Paddock initiative in Rupanyup

• Weidemann Pastoral Co. have designated a paddock on their farm to the inaugural Community Paddock initiative and BASF will supply its range of crop protection solutions for use
• Funds raised through the initiative will be donated to the Rupanyup Panthers Football and Netball Club following harvest
• Through the paddock, BASF will provide barley growers with an educational platform that can help them improve their yields

Melbourne, Australia – July 20, 2022 – BASF Australia has teamed up with local grain growers Andrew and Rodney Weidemann, from Weidemann Pastoral Co. to provide community support for Rupanyup in north-west Victoria, one of the hundreds of small rural towns across Australia that has been built and fostered by local farming families.

Weidemann Pastoral Co. have generously designated a paddock on their farm to grow barley for BASF’s inaugural Community Paddock project. Throughout the season, BASF will supply its range of crop protection products suitable for use on the Community Paddock. Following harvest of the crop, the funds that would have been spent on the BASF crop protection products will be donated to the Rupanyup Panthers Football and Netball Club.

Having farmed in Rupanyup for over 35 years, the Weidemann brothers are valued members of the local community and active within the town’s Football and Netball Club. When approached with the idea of a community paddock initiative to raise much needed funds for the Panthers, there was no hesitation in getting involved.

“Over the last couple of years, COVID has made it almost impossible to raise funds, with many of our club sponsors dropping out,” explains Rodney Weidemann. “It’s fantastic to see that BASF are willing to roll up their sleeves, work with our community and invest in matters close to our hearts.”

“Anyone involved in a sporting club knows that a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes to keep them running and ensure players come back each year. These funds will help us immensely with updating training equipment, maintaining the grounds and supporting our volunteers so we can keep the Rupanyup community thriving for years to come,” Rodney added.

Gavin Jackson, Head of Agricultural Solutions for BASF in Australia and New Zealand shares, “We’re extremely proud to partner with local growers like the Weidemanns and play a small role in giving back to rural communities. After two years of COVID disruptions we appreciate more than ever the importance and impact of community participation in sport, and we are excited to support the Rupanyup Football and Netball Club as a beneficiary of our inaugural Community Paddock.”

As well as servicing the community, the paddock will also act as an educational tool for fellow barley growers to see first-hand how BASF products such as Systiva^® seed treatment fungicide and Voraxor^® herbicide perform in the local landscape.

BASF will continue to share updates on the Community Paddock’s performance and its impact on the Rupanyup Panthers Football and Netball Club via BASF’s social media channels.

For more information, visit http://crop-solutions.basf.com.au  

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division

Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population while reducing environmental impacts. Working with partners and agricultural experts and by integrating sustainability criteria into all business decisions, we help farmers to create a positive impact on sustainable agriculture. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, connecting innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our portfolio comprises seeds and specifically selected plant traits, chemical and biological crop protection, solutions for soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we strive to find the right balance for success – for farmers, agriculture and future generations. In 2021, our division generated sales of €8.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.

About BASF in Australia and New Zealand

BASF serves key industries in the agriculture, coatings, manufacturing and mining sectors, and posted sales of about €415 million in Australia and New Zealand in 2021. As of the end of 2021, the company had 380 employees and operated 6 production sites across Agricultural Solutions, performance products and functional materials and solutions. BASF has been active in Australia for 100 years, and about 60 years in New Zealand. Further information is available on www.basf.com/au.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €78.6 billion in 2021. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.