Bayer CropScience Welcomes Applications for the Second Annual Plant Health Academy

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Healthy Turf Healthy Tomorrow

The Academy is one of the most robust opportunities in our field for continuing education. I appreciate the genuine desire from both Bayer and GCSAA to listen to superintendents and provide resources that help us do our job better.”

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (PRWEB) November 11, 2013

Environmental Science, a division of Bayer CropScience LP, today announced that GCSAA Class A and superintendent members can apply through Dec. 18 for the second annual Plant Health Academy, one of four educational opportunities available to superintendents as part of the Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow program.

Twelve GCSAA member superintendents will be selected based on merit to participate in the 2014 Plant Health Academy, and will attend two immersive plant health research and education sessions hosted by Bayer and GCSAA. The first Academy session involves classroom training at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan. (March 3-5, 2014), and the second provides in-the-field training at the Bayer Training and Development Center in Clayton, N.C. (Sept. 24-26, 2014). Attendee travel, accommodations and meals will be paid for by the Healthy Turf, Healthy Tomorrow program Bayer developed in collaboration with the GCSAA’s Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG).

“The Plant Health Academy allows Bayer to engage with superintendents from across the United States to prioritize plant health and focus on innovations for the future,” said Jose Milan, head of Bayer’s turf and ornamentals business. “Attendees have a tremendous opportunity to expand their knowledge of key plant health issues and trends, collaborate with industry experts, and help refine the concept of plant health in a way that addresses the current and future needs of superintendents.”

Leading plant health researchers will present data, case studies and instruction on a wide range of topics related to plant health, including how to measure plant health and its benefits, available treatments and preventive products, and issues such as nutrient, water and pest management.

“I found the opportunity to define plant health extremely difficult, yet very rewarding,” said Ralph J. Kepple, member of the inaugural 2013 Plant Health Academy class, and certified golf course superintendent at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga. “It is an honor to be involved with a room full of great minds, trying to decipher exactly what plant health means in a way that everyone in the industry can hopefully grasp onto.”

Golf course superintendents can apply through Dec. 18 by visiting the Plant Health Academy web page at http://www.backedbybayer.com/plant-health-academy. To be considered, superintendents must complete the application and respond to two short-answer essay questions, which will be evaluated by a selection committee of GCSAA and Bayer representatives. The program is open to GCSAA (class A or SM) members who are also enrolled in the My Bayer Rewards program and are currently employed as a golf course superintendent within the United States.

“The Academy is one of the most robust opportunities in our field for continuing education – and for me, it has definitely been the most interesting,” said Andy Klein, member of the inaugural 2013 Plant Health Academy class, and Class A superintendent at Falcon Lakes Golf Course in Basehor, Kan. “I look forward to continuing the conversation on plant health, and appreciate the genuine desire from both Bayer and GCSAA to listen to superintendents and provide resources that help us do our job better.”

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 over three years. 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 four Bayer fungicides including Tartan®, Chipco Triton® Flo, Interface®, and Chipco® Signature™. StressGard Formulation Technology helps fortify natural plant defenses and promote plant growth. To learn more about StressGard FT and other Bayer solutions, please visit BackedByBayer.com.

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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 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. This year the company looks back on 150 years of working to fulfill its mission “Bayer: Science For A Better Life”. Bayer CropScience, the subgroup of Bayer AG responsible for the agricultural business, has annual sales of EUR 8,383 million (2012) 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 20,800 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: press.bayercropscience.com.

Contact:
Bayer CropScience Media Hotline, 1-877-879-6162, or

Beth Roden
Head of External Communications
Bayer CropScience LP
Tel: (919) 549-2030
Email: beth(dot)hroden(at)bayer(dot)com

Ciara Ahern
Global Prairie
Tel: (216) 374-1274
Email: ciara(dot)ahern(at)global-prairie(dot)com

USA-BCS-2013-0317

Find more information at bayercropscience.us.

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 bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

©2013 Bayer CropScience LP, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, StressGard, Tartan, Chipco, Triton, Interface and Signature are registered trademarks of Bayer. For additional product information call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at BayerCropScience.us.

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