RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Jan. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer supports growers and defends their economic sustainability with the 2017 Shared Risk(TM) Program for those who plant FiberMax(®) and Stoneville(®) cotton seed.

By sharing the risk, Bayer helps shoulder the responsibility for producing food and fiber to feed and clothe our world. It's the right thing to do for growers.

"It's important for our industry to reduce the risk growers face each season and to give growers the flexibility to manage to their highest yield potential for maximum profit opportunity," says Kerry Grossweiler, Bayer campaign manager. "The 2017 Shared Risk Program gives growers added economic confidence."

North Carolina grower Donny Lassiter says the program support gives him and other Southeast growers more confidence to plant cotton.

"In a time where risk is a big issue in cotton production, the Shared Risk Program is a big deal in keeping acres in the ground here in the Southeast," Lassiter says. "It's definitely a higher-cost, higher-risk environment that we're farming in today. With the Shared Risk Program, at least I know Bayer has got my back."

Across the country, Texas grower Kevin Corzine shared a similar sentiment.

"The Shared Risk Program helps us in our decision-making and that we can put more of that fertilizer or more of that foliar feed and everything into the crop knowing that there's somebody there to share that risk with us and it's not all falling back on us," Corzine says. "We can hope and pray for those higher yields and higher outputs for our crops because we've got a program like this."

Replant programs are an industry staple across the Cotton Belt. The Bayer Shared Risk Program increases economic stability for growers by including trait and input cost protection when an Act of God forces replant, causes crop loss or, in the case of dryland production, drought causes low yield in specified ranges.

"Our goal is to provide risk protection to cotton growers who plan for success by investing in Bayer high-quality seed and traits and applying their knowledge and skills," Grossweiler says. "When our science and their art lose a round to Mother Nature, we give them the tool they need to either start over with another crop this season or, when that's not possible, survive to plant again the next season."

Because FiberMax and Stoneville growers chose the right science for success and because they provide quality management, Bayer defends their economic sustainability with the 2017 Grower Shared Risk Program. Details are available online at www.FiberMax/SharedRiskWest and www.Stoneville/SharedRiskEast

Bayer 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 representative, or visit Crop Science, a division of Bayer, online at www.cropscience.bayer.us.

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Bayer: Science For A Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2015, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of EUR 46.3 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.3 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Find more information at www.cropscience.bayer.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 www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

©2017 Bayer CropScience LP, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer (reg'd), the Bayer Cross (reg'd), FiberMax, Shared Risk(TM) and Stoneville(®) 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.CropScience.Bayer.us

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SOURCE Bayer