BASF Australia was proud to partner with the township of Nhill to establish a Community Paddock for the Nhill & District Sporting Club in North-West Victoria.
A 32-hectare barley paddock was generously designated for this initiative. Throughout the 2023 growing season, BASF supplied its range of crop protection products suitable for use on the Community Paddock. Following harvest of the crop, the profits made were donated to the Nhill & District Sporting Club.
About the Nhill & District Sporting Club:
Operating from Davis Park in a partnership with Hindmarsh Shire Council, the Nhill & District Sporting club comprises of four sports; cricket, football, hockey and netball.
The Nhill & District Sporting Club is the largest sporting club in the area with a membership base of approximately 500 individuals, including adults and juniors. Nhill is well known in the Wimmera for its travelling supporter base and has positive relationships with opposing clubs.
The club provides a safe, family friendly environment where players, both junior and senior are encouraged to participate in activities both on and off the field.
About the paddock:
Sowing date: 18 May 2023
Products applied:
- Systiva® Seed Treatment Fungicide
- Voraxor® Herbicide
- Frequency® Herbicide
- Intervix® Herbicide
- Sharpen® Herbicide
- Opus® Fungicide
- Opera® Fungicide
The Nhill Community Paddock being sown
Nhill Community Paddock
Aerial shot of the neighbouring Innovation Site at Nhill Community Paddock
Nhill & District Sporting Club
Press Release
BASF’s two new Community Paddocks sprout in Paskeville and Nhill
- BASF’s Community Paddock initiative partners with local growers to generate new agronomic insights and raise funds for local communities
- BASF will supply crop protection products and ongoing support throughout the season, with profits donated back to the local community
Melbourne, Australia – 21 August 2023 – Stemming from last year’s success, the 2023 BASF Community Paddocks initiative has extended to two new locations in Paskeville, South Australia and Nhill, Victoria. Local growers have generously designated paddocks on their land to grow barley, canola and wheat, with BASF providing crop protection products and continuous support throughout the season to drive healthy crops. The profits from the harvest obtained later in the year will be donated to the Nhill District Sporting Club and Paskeville Progress Association.
“We are delighted to extend our Community Paddock project with the partnership of the Nhill and Paskeville community. BASF takes great pride in not only supporting growers, but also giving back to local groups that are the heart and soul of our communities,” said Andrew Gourlay, Head of Broadacre at BASF Australia.
Both sites were sown with barley in May, alongside small amounts of canola and wheat. Now well into the growing cycle, they have been carefully treated with BASF products such as Systiva®, Voraxor®, Frequency®, Opus® and Opera® to ensure an optimal level of weed control, and delivery of high-quality yield.
BASF is working alongside local grower Grant Pontifex to manage the Paskeville paddock. The team regularly visits and offers advice on yielding maximum returns that would better support the Paskeville Progress Association’s work in the community. “It is wonderful to see members of our community join forces and give back in a meaningful way, by sharing knowledge and contributing much needed funds to the Association and to Paskeville itself,” Pontifex said.
To drive further collaboration and understanding, members of the community will be able to visit both sites in the coming weeks, with the Paskeville site being open during the Yorke Peninsula Field Days in September, for agronomists and growers to view.
Throughout the season, BASF will regularly visit both sites to ensure crops are tracking well, and the right products are being used properly. Finding solutions for growers and giving back to the next generation of agri-professionals helps to strengthen local farming communities as they do #TheBiggestJobOnEarth.
