PHC.L Regulatory News (PHC)

18 Feb 2008 08:00

Plant Health Care PLC18 February 2008 Embargoed for release: 08.00, 18 February 2008 ASA and PHC Renew N-Hibit(R) Partnership Programme Plant Health Care (AIM: PHC.L), a leading provider of natural products forplants and soil, announces that its "N-Hibit(R) Partnership" program with TheAmerican Soybean Association (ASA) has been enhanced with a "SatisfactionGuarantee" for the 2008 growing season. The new program provides ASA members andother qualified growers with a risk-free means to evaluate N-Hibit SeedTreatment as a tool to lower Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) pressure and improvesoybean plant health and yield. "ASA views this program as an opportunity for its members to maximise soybeanyield and profitability, and reduce the threat of SCN damage," said ASAPresident John Hoffman, a soybean producer from Waterloo, Iowa. "Year after year and all across the country, results with N-Hibit Seed Treatmenthave been positive," said Mike Cloutier, Plant Health Care Vice President ofU.S. Sales. "We want growers to share our confidence, and the SatisfactionGuarantee assures them of a full refund of the purchase price paid for N-Hibitif they are not fully satisfied with its performance on treated acreage." ASA member Michael Gray, of Elizabeth City, N.C., was one of the growers whoparticipated in the ASA Partnership Program in 2007. He reported a yield gain of4.6 bushels per acre on his Partnership acres. "Mid-season examination of the N-Hibit-treated plants showed no visible signs ofdamage from soybean cyst nematode or from root knot nematode," said Gray.Measurements showed increased plant stand, nodes per acre, plant height, nodesper plant, and plant weight in both roots and forage. Of these, plant standcounts at 8 percent more and nodes per acre (a strong indicator of yield) at 15percent more were significantly higher than in the untreated acres. "The yield monitor showed we harvested 50.8 bushels per acre at 13 percentmoisture from the treated beans and 46.15 bushels from the untreated," Graysaid. "If it hadn't turned off so dry the second half of the season, I believethat yield difference would have been even greater. I'm trying N-Hibit on moreacres in 2008." "Replicated and commercial soybean field trials across Midwestern and Southernstates in 2006 and 2007 showed an average yield gain of 7.2 percent, or 2.9bushels per acre, with N-Hibit Gold CST over the untreated control, said Dr. NedFrench, Plant Health Care Director of Field Biology and Development. "Theseresearch trials have shown N-Hibit increases root mass and total plant weightand health. N-Hibit produces more nodes per plant and per acre, which is a keyto increased yield. "In addition to those trials, university field research has shown that N-Hibitreduces SCN eggs significantly. We believe N-Hibit can be a very economical andhelpful tool in reducing SCN egg counts and damage in soybeans. Earlieruniversity research has shown that N-Hibit reduces Root Knot Nematode andReniform Nematode eggs among roots by about 50 percent," Dr. French said. -Ends- For further information please contact: Plant Heath Care plc Tavistock Evolution Securities Communications LimitedJohn Brady, Chief Jeremy Carey/Matt Tim Worlledge/ TimExecutive Ridsdale RedfernTel: 001 603 525 3702 Tel: 020 7920 3150 Tel: 020 7071 4300 Notes to editors: In the N-Hibit Partnership program, soybean growers were asked to conduct theirown on-farm trials to determine results with N-Hibit on a commercial scale undertheir own growing conditions and management systems. N-Hibit is a dry material that is not a restricted use product. It is easy toapply by the seed dealer or in the hopper box, has an excellent safety profile,and leaves no residuals in the water, soil or on plants. The active ingredient in N-Hibit and other Harp-N-Tek(R) products is harpinprotein, which is produced by disease causing bacteria that attack plants.Harp-N-Tek products do not contain pathogens, but cause the plant to respond asthough being attacked. Harpin proteins do not enter the plant. They bind withthe plant's external harpin protein receptors, which are present on seed, aswell as foliage. This turns on the plant's natural self defense and growthsystems. Then the harpin proteins harmlessly disintegrate. For further information on the N-Hibit Partnership Program, phone Plant HealthCare at 800-421-9051. Sign-up forms for the N-Hibit Partnership Program will beavailable by phone and on the Plant Health Care website, www.N-HibitPartners.com. Enrollment forms also will be available at the PlantHealth Care booth Number 719-721 at Commodity Classic. Growers can accessinformation about the program on the ASA web site www.SoyGrowers.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange