BASF Australia was proud to partner with local grain growers Andrew and Rodney Weidemann, from Weidemann Pastoral Co. to establish BASF’s inaugural Community Paddock for the Rupanyup community in north-west Victoria.
Weidemann Pastoral Co. generously designated a paddock on their farm to grow barley for BASF’s inaugural Community Paddock project. Throughout the 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 Rupanyup Panthers Football and Netball Club.
Follow along the journey of this exciting partnership below.
Community Paddock Progress Reports
Launch day
We publicly launched our Community Paddock partnership with Weidemann Pastoral Co. We kicked off the partnership with a community dinner for all members and supporters of the Rupanyup FNC after training. It was a great opportunity for us to see first hand how much this club means to the Rup area. With over 120 people in attendance, Hot Box Kebabs were kept busy!
Earlier in the afternoon we took a walk through the Community Paddock with some local growers, it was very exciting to see how well the barley crop is performing!
Breaking ground – Sowing day
On Monday 16 May, we broke ground at the Community Paddock with Weidemann Pastoral Co.
It was an exciting day as we got to spend time with Rodney Weidemann before he jumped in the tractor to sow the 52 Ha barley paddock.
Although the conditions early in the day were looking unfavourable, the rain stayed away and the clouds broke, giving us glimpses of the beautiful blue sky in Rupanyup.
After two years of Covid interrupting our plans to kick-off our Community Paddock initiative, it was a wonderful moment to see the paddock being sown.
Press Release
BASF partners with local growers to introduce Community Paddock initiative in Rupanyup
- Weidemann Pastoral Co. have designated a paddock on their farm to the inaugural Community Paddock initiative and BASF will supply its range of crop protection solutions for use.
- Funds raised through the initiative will be donated to the Rupanyup Panthers Football and Netball Club following harvest
- Through the paddock, BASF will provide barley growers with an educational platform that can help them improve their yields
BASF Australia has teamed up with local grain growers Andrew and Rodney Weidemann, from Weidemann Pastoral Co. to provide community support for Rupanyup in north-west Victoria, one of the hundreds of small rural towns across Australia that has been built and fostered by local farming families.
Weidemann Pastoral Co. have generously designated a paddock on their farm to grow barley for BASF’s inaugural Community Paddock project. Throughout the season, BASF will supply its range of crop protection products suitable for use on the Community Paddock. Following harvest of the crop, the funds that would have been spent on the BASF crop protection products will be donated to the Rupanyup Panthers Football and Netball Club.
Having farmed in Rupanyup for over 35 years, the Weidemann brothers are valued members of the local community and active within the town’s Football and Netball Club. When approached with the idea of a community paddock initiative to raise much needed funds for the Panthers, there was no hesitation in getting involved.
“Over the last couple of years, COVID has made it almost impossible to raise funds, with many of our club sponsors dropping out,” explains Rodney Weidemann. “It’s fantastic to see that BASF are willing to roll up their sleeves, work with our community and invest in matters close to our hearts.”
“Anyone involved in a sporting club knows that a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes to keep them running and ensure players come back each year. These funds will help us immensely with updating training equipment, maintaining the grounds and supporting our volunteers so we can keep the Rupanyup community thriving for years to come,” Rodney added.
Gavin Jackson, Head of Agricultural Solutions for BASF in Australia and New Zealand shares, “We’re extremely proud to partner with local growers like the Weidemanns and play a small role in giving back to rural communities. After two years of COVID disruptions we appreciate more than ever the importance and impact of community participation in sport, and we are excited to support the Rupanyup Football and Netball Club as a beneficiary of our inaugural Community Paddock.”
As well as servicing the community, the paddock will also act as an educational tool for fellow barley growers to see first-hand how BASF products such as Systiva® seed treatment fungicide and Voraxor® herbicide perform in the local landscape.
BASF will continue to share updates on the Community Paddock’s performance and its impact on the Rupanyup Panthers Football and Netball Club via BASF’s social media channels.
