For many Delmarva growers, investing in the future of agriculture and excellent disease control went hand in hand during the 2009 growing season, thanks to a regional program offered by Syngenta Crop Protection. As part of the initiative – known as the Pay It Forward with Plant Performance™ program – Syngenta offered to donate 25 cents to local 4-H chapters for each acre of corn or beans on which Quilt® or Quadris® fungicides were used.

Thirty Delmarva growers participated in the program. Between the top two growers alone, more than $10,000 was donated to local 4-H chapters.

Trey Hill of Harborview Farms was one of these top growers. Hill said he was glad to participate in the program and that his operation already uses mainly Syngenta products, partly because he respects the way the company gives back to the community.

"I think 4-H is important and teaches kids a lot about leadership and growing up in agriculture," said Hill. "We're happy to participate. I think it's good that Syngenta is doing this."

Beth Hill, the 4-H educator in Kent County, Maryland, was not aware of the extent of the Syngenta program until she received a pleasant surprise one day – a phone call announcing that her 4-H program would be receiving $3,000 as a result of the Pay It Forward initiative. Not only did the Syngenta donation nearly double Hill's operating budget, but it helped her program reach its goal of raising $10,000 in four years, which will result in a $10,000 match by a Maryland 4-H board member.

"I was just absolutely blown away when I found out we were getting more than $3,000," said Hill. "When you give us the money to double our operating budget, and on top of that we’re able to finish off a $10,000 endowment campaign, it's just amazing."

Hill's first purchase will be an Ohio State Learning Lab Kit for swine production, the program’s largest animal science project. Additional money will be used for awards, scholarships, travel and other educational programs. Most importantly, the funding allows Hill to continue to strengthen her program and ensure its longevity, she said.

Mark Whalen, the Syngenta Crop Protection sales representative for the upper Delmarva Peninsula, said that investing in the future of agriculture is a priority for Syngenta and that the Pay It Forward program is just one way his company demonstrates its commitment to education. He also expressed his gratitude to the growers and retailers who made the program possible through their strong partnership with Syngenta.

"It was exciting to be able to offer this program and to work with growers who share our dedication to agricultural education," said Whalen. "The young people involved in 4-H are building skills that will allow them to play a vital role in agriculture. We are proud to support them and hopeful for the future of the industry."

Hill said she also feels that keeping young people engaged and equipped to pursue careers in agriculture is vital to the future success of the industry. Partnering with organizations like FFA and 4-H are wise investments for corporations like Syngenta, and her organization is thankful for the support, she said.

"We really appreciate it. [The kids] know it's going to benefit them and keep our program strong," said Hill. "When you’ve got youth organizations that operate on limited budgets, any kind of financial support is going to allow that program to do more things with more kids. [Corporate partnerships] allow organizations to do a little more than we’ve done before."

The Pay It Forward program ran from June 2009 to September 2009. In total, more than $25,000 was donated to 4-H chapters throughout Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Syngenta plans to offer Delmarva growers another opportunity to participate in the program in 2010.

For more information, visit www.syngentacropprotection.com, www.FarmAssist.com or call the Syngenta Customer Center at 1-866-SYNGENT.

©2010 Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., 410 Swing Road, Greensboro, NC 27409.
Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using Syngenta products. The instructions contain important conditions of sale, including limitations of warranty and remedy. Plant Performance™, Quadris®, Quilt® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta group company.

By Amanda Brown-Clougherty, executive director, Maryland 4-H Foundation