BASF moves its education program for turf & ornamentals to Pinehurst Resort

PINEHURST, NC & RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, October 1, 2012 – BASF announced it will move its education program for turf & ornamental professionals closer to the North American headquarters of its agricultural products business unit. This new program features a unique approach that will bring customers to Pinehurst Resort which will include an educational and recreational component, and also allow for visits to BASF research and development facilities in Research Triangle Park and Holly Springs, North Carolina.

“We expect to bring in approximately 350 end users annually to learn more about BASF and its products that help our customers grow and manage better turf,” said Brian Lish, Business Manager, BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals. “We are excited about this new relationship with Pinehurst Resort and our continued focus on education with our customers.”

"I have always admired the commitment that BASF has to supporting the continuing education of turf professionals," said Bob Farren, Pinehurst' s Director of Golf Course Maintenance and Grounds. "The programs they will offer at Pinehurst will be another step forward in their commitment to the industry. With proximity of Pinehurst to the BASF facility, superintendents will have a great opportunity to see the entire picture."

The new BASF turf education program and customer visits at Pinehurst Resort will begin in January 2013 and continue throughout the year. For more information about BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals visit www.betterturf.basf.us and www.betterplants.basf.us.

About Pinehurst

Located in the North Carolina heartland, Pinehurst Resort, established in 1895, is a 2,000-acre property featuring an award-winning spa, eight golf courses, tennis, and three historic hotels. Widely known as the cradle of American golf, Pinehurst has hosted more single golf championships than any other site in America, including the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Ryder Cup Matches, PGA Tour Championship and many others.  It will serve as the site of both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Championships in 2014 in back-to-back weeks through an unprecedented decision by the USGA.  See pinehurst.com or call 800-487-4653 for more information.

About the Crop Protection division

With sales of € 4.1 billion in 2011, 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 more than 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20 billion in 2011. 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 crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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