Bayer CropScience Announces 2015 Plant Health Academy Call for Applications
November 10, 2014
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (Nov. 11, 2014) – To provide golf course superintendents a unique opportunity to gain new learnings and be successful at their course, Environmental Science, a division of Bayer CropScience LP, today announced a call for applications for the third annual Plant Health Academy. GCSAA Class A and Superintendent members who are also members of My Bayer Rewards can apply through Dec. 19 to participate in the program, which is one of four educational opportunities available as part of the Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow initiative Bayer launched in partnership with the GCSAA’s Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG).
Bayer and GCSAA will select twelve superintendents for the 2015 Academy, a two-part immersive program that allows attendees to participate in plant health research and education sessions. The first session at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., takes place April 20-22, 2015, and the second session, hosted at the Bayer Training and Development Center in Clayton, N.C., runs from Sept. 16-18, 2015. Attendee travel, accommodations and meals will be paid for by the Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow program.
“Bayer’s Plant Health Academy provides a unique opportunity for superintendents to stay-up-to-date on real-world plant health applications,” said David Wells, golf business manager for Bayer. “The Academy offers attendees a chance to learn from industry experts about the latest trends in plant health and how they can positively impact their course.”
The program will cover data and case studies on a large array of plant health topics, including how to measure plant health and its benefits, available treatments and preventive products. Leading plant health researchers will translate plant health studies to agronomic issues such as nutrient, water and pest management.
“It was very beneficial to hear about new products in development and share our feedback about challenges we face as superintendents,” said Andrew Jorgensen, member of the 2014 Plant Health Academy class, and certified golf course superintendent at On Top of the World Communities, Inc., in Ocala, Fla. “What I enjoyed most was learning from leading plant health professionals, as well as seeing the behind-the-scenes product development and research behind it.”
The application is made up of two short-answer essays and is open for golf course superintendents to complete through Dec. 19, 2014, on the Plant Health Academy web page at http://www.backedbybayer.com/plant-health-academy. A selection committee of representatives from Bayer and GCSAA will choose the finalists. GCSAA (Class A or SM) members also enrolled in the My Bayer Rewards program and who are currently employed as a golf course superintendent within the United States are eligible to apply for the program.
“The Academy exposed me to individuals that I would not have otherwise been introduced to,” said Rob Williams, member of the 2014 Plant Health Academy class, and Class A superintendent at Stockton Golf & Country Club in Stockton, Calif. “The event was outstanding and demonstrated Bayer and GCSAA’s continued commitment to our industry. I’d highly recommend it to my peers.”
About Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow
To fund Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow, Bayer invests a percentage of StressGard™ Formulation Technology (FT) product sales each year for three years – a minimum commitment of $300,000. Funds generated through the program will also be dedicated to the EIFG to support research, education, advocacy and scholarship initiatives executed by GCSAA.
Bayer has been developing products with plant health attributes for nearly 20 years, starting with the origin of StressGard FT, a technology now featured in Bayer fungicides including Tartan®, Interface®,
Chipco® Signature™, Fiata® StressGard and Mirage™ StressGard. StressGard Formulation Technology helps fortify natural plant defenses and promote plant growth. To learn more about StressGard FT and other Bayer solutions, please visit www.BackedByBayer.com.
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https://twitter.com/BayerGolf
Bayer CropScience is committed to bringing new technology and solutions for agriculture and non- agricultural uses. For questions concerning the availability and use of products, contact a local Bayer CropScience representative, or visit Bayer CropScience online at www.bayercropscience.us.
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About Bayer CropScience
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience, the subgroup of Bayer AG responsible for the agricultural business, has annual sales of EUR 8,819 million (2013) and is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company offers an outstanding range of products including high value seeds, innovative crop protection solutions based on chemical and biological modes of action as well as an extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture. In the area of non-agricultural applications, Bayer CropScience has a broad portfolio of products and services to control pests from home and garden to forestry applications. The company has a global workforce of 22,400 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Contact:
Bayer CropScience Media Hotline, 1-862-404-5118, or
Ciara Ahern
Global Prairie
Tel: (216) 374-1274
Email: ciara.ahern@global-prairie.com
Casey Allen
Manager of External Communications
Bayer CropScience LP
Tel: (919) 549-2607
Email: casey.allen@bayer.com
©2014 Bayer CropScience LP, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow label instructions. www.BackedByBayer.com, Bayer, the Bayer Cross, Tartan, Interface, Fiata and Chipco are registered trademarks of Bayer. StressGard, Signature and Mirage are trademarks of Bayer. For additional product information call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.BayerCropScience.us.