Branded Products Offer the Power of 10

It’s no secret growers are looking at major ways to cut costs in this era of lower commodity prices and tight margins. Tim Danberry, an agronomist with Crystal Valley Coop in Janesville, Minnesota, urges growers in his area to be careful, however, when considering generic crop inputs.

“The biggest risk with a generic is that you have no clue what inactive ingredients the product contains,” says Danberry. “That means you have no idea what you’re actually putting on your fields.”

Danberry doesn’t view this as a risk any grower can afford to take. It’s also why he feels comfortable recommending branded products from Syngenta. “We know what’s in Syngenta products, and we know they deliver proven results.”

At Syngenta, a brand is much more than a name. “There’s a tremendous amount of value that comes with our brand,” says Scott Langkamp, head of national accounts and customer service for Syngenta.

This value is reflected in 10 key areas, including:

1. Collaborative relationships. Unlike those at generic competitors, Syngenta sales representatives are much more than order takers. They are trusted, engaged problem solvers whose goal is to help each customer maximize his or her success. "Our sales reps are willing to get their hands dirty, so to speak, and come up with good, viable solutions," says Michael Boden, head of U.S. sales at Syngenta. "For us, it’s about our customers having the confidence, the relationship and the knowledge that Syngenta is going to be there—in good times and in bad."
   
   Dedicated agronomists from Syngenta are also in the field to offer additional assistance when needed. "Each of our sales reps has a local agronomy expert who can help pinpoint the best mix of products and agronomic practices for each farm," Boden adds.


2. Proven Performance. The formulations of generic products that reflect little or no research and development are a stark contrast to Syngenta products. "A lot of work goes into our formulations to ensure they offer proven performance," says Andrew Pearson, formulation development manager for Syngenta. Retailers and growers know upfront what they can expect from Syngenta products, adds Jamie Eichorn, head of technical services at Syngenta. When the company introduces new technologies, it’s Eichorn’s group that helps educate and give hands-on experience to Syngenta sales representatives and reseller partners alike. "Our commitment to providing better product performance and boosting growers’ profit potential gives you confidence and greater peace of mind," he notes.
   
   This is valuable to Robert Templeton, a sales consultant with Crop Production Services in Sikeston, Missouri, especially when it comes to weed control and disease management. "Multiple modes of action are important," says Templeton, who counts on Syngenta products like Quilt Xcel^® fungicide for superior disease control. "Syngenta has done the research to develop products that get the job done."


3. An Array of Options. Syngenta offers a wide range of product choices. "I like how Syngenta offers a lot of options, whether you need pre-plant or post-emerge products," says Templeton, who works with corn, soybean, wheat and cotton growers.
   
   Syngenta also continues to introduce crop protection products, Eichorn notes, including Acuron^® herbicide, which provides season-long weed control, thanks to its combination of four active ingredients and three modes of action. Another new Syngenta product, Trivapro^™ fungicide, delivers long-lasting, broad-spectrum disease control. "Trivapro’s performance was exceptional in 2015 development trials," Eichorn says.
   
   Syngenta also understands the importance of supporting its more tried-and-true lineup. "Our regulatory teams are very involved in defending our more established products," Langkamp adds. "We want to make sure growers continue to have the tools they need to produce a safe, abundant food supply."


4. Convenience. While generic products often require users to measure and mix additional products, Syngenta crop protection products offer complete solutions in one container. "Growers like simple and easy," Danberry says. "Generics aren’t always easy, and they can create too much room for error. I like Syngenta, because they’ve done all the work for you, plus you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues."


5. Reliability. Careful forecasting and an extensive distribution network help ensure that Syngenta products are available where they are needed, when they are needed. "This is more important than ever, when you consider that the whole U.S. corn and soybean crop can be planted in 10 to 14 days, weather permitting," Langkamp says. An efficient distribution network from Syngenta made a big difference when the Corn Belt saw elevated disease pressure in late July and early August 2015. "The disease pressure this summer was excessive," Langkamp says. "Our Omaha, Nebraska, production facility was able to respond quickly and deliver Quilt Xcel in time to protect the crop."


6. Field-tested results. The direct link between local growing conditions and the expertise of Syngenta is strong, thanks to Grow More Experience Sites and Syngenta agronomists based across the country. "We work closely with our agronomists and sales representatives," says Eichorn, whose team manages these sites. "Their input, combined with field evaluation trials, let us see firsthand how Syngenta products perform. This feedback also helps the Technical Services team better understand any challenges that arise with Syngenta products and provide solutions for growers."


7. Crop safety. Active ingredients aren’t the only components that can affect crop safety—so can inert ingredients and other co-formulants. "Protecting your crop is vital," Pearson says. "That’s why we evaluate everything from water compatibility to drift management in our products to ensure crop safety, and we look for ways to better protect the environment."


8. Trusted technical expertise. When retailers and growers have technical questions about products, the Syngenta Technical Support team, also a part of Eichorn’s Technical Services group, offers a wide range of specialists, including Ph.D. scientists whose field and R&D experience with products is extensive. "Our team offers more than 80 years of combined experience," says Team Manager Clark Ouzts. "Our experts assist our customers by providing pest management and agronomic solutions. We’ll help you find the answers you need."


9. Nonstop support. When a grower or reseller needs immediate assistance, the Customer Service Center is just a phone call or click away. "If you need help with a Syngenta product right away, you’ve got a whole support system to help," Templeton says. "With generics, you’re on your own."


10. Innovative solutions. It can take more than 10 years, on average, and more than $100 million to bring a new crop protection product to market. Syngenta is an innovation company that’s focused on what’s next. It invests $1.4 billion in research and development globally each year to provide new solutions, Langkamp says. In addition, 5,000 Syngenta scientists around the world are working on new, improved technologies for growers. "This is a dynamic, exciting time when you consider the number of new products we are bringing to market," Eichorn says. "This is a clear benefit Syngenta provides, and it’s not easily matched."

All this shows the value of branded Syngenta products makes good sense from a return-on-investment perspective, Templeton says. "Saving on the front end can easily cost you more in the long run. We’re sticking with Syngenta, because they bring tremendous value to the table."

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