This April, BASF answers the call from wheat growers to battle their biggest villain: D.O.N.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 3, 2023 — Did you know National Villain Day is in April? For wheat growers, one of their biggest yield- and quality-robbing villains is Deoxynivalenol (D.O.N.). That’s why BASF Agricultural Solutions is dedicating the month of April to educating wheat growers about this villainous disease and the steps growers should take to prevent its destructive effects.

One of the greatest threats to wheat grown in areas like the northern Plains is D.O.N. This disease is a mycotoxin that causes head scab (also known as Fusarium head blight) in small grains like wheat, robbing its yield potential and possibly making it unsuitable for highly used consumer products such as bread and pasta.

“The threat of D.O.N. in wheat is always lurking right around the corner in grower’s fields,” said Trevor Kraus, Technical Service Representative at BASF. “Growers shouldn’t wait to protect their profits, because once you see D.O.N. in your fields, it may be too late.”

But National Villain Day isn’t the only comic book-inspired day that falls in April. National Superhero Day is on April 28 and, thankfully, growers have a chance to win the battle against D.O.N. with super Sphaerex™ fungicide from BASF. The dangers from D.O.N. are doomed from the moment Sphaerex fungicide is applied to the crop. This superpowered fungicide contains two active ingredients that help stop D.O.N. in its tracks — ultimately helping save the growing season by protecting yield, quality and profitability.

“The two proven active ingredients in Sphaerex fungicide are metconazole and prothioconazole,” said Kraus. “These powerful ingredients are some of the best actives for Fusarium Head Blight prevention on the market. When sprayed at the beginning of wheat flowering or during the full flowering window, both ingredients help produce higher quality, and higher yielding wheat.”

When applying a wheat fungicide like Sphaerex to manage head scab, the application timing is very important. Signs of head scab can occur as early as three days after infection. Below are methods that can be used to control head scab and help lower D.O.N. levels:

• Resistant varieties: Plant varieties that will resist head scab.
• Tillage practices: Use tillage practices that bury crop residue or spread chaff; chop or grind corn residue for minimum- or no-till.
• Crop rotation: Rotate cereal crops away from cereals or corn.
• Fungicide application: Apply a powerful fungicide at the early flowering stage.

To learn more about D.O.N. and the benefits of Sphaerex fungicide, talk with your local BASF representative.

^{Always read and follow label directions. Sphaerex is a registered trademark of BASF.} 

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 2022, our division generated sales of €10.3 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $25.7 billion in 2022. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us. 

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 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 €87.3 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.