Plant Impact Share Discussion Threads

[wan] 06/9/2014 06:10

Peel Hunt is bullish on crop enhancement specialist Plant Impact (LON:PIM) following its commercial deal with Bayer announced in July to market Veritas, its new product for soybeans, in Brazil.

"This follows the successful pilot trial in 2013-14 and means Plant Impact will be shipping material volumes of Veritas in the current year," said the broker.

"This is an important step to creating a long-term revenue/profit stream in Brazil, and further emphasises the potential of Plant Impact’s technology."

It repeats a 'buy' stance on the stock and 50p target price.

[horace_h] 04/9/2014 09:32

Thanks Wan - further confirmation and really pleased at this deal. The next PIM trading update and their sales forecasts will be very interesting

with a 3.3 billion war chest one wonders where Bayer's eyes will turn next...

[wan] 04/9/2014 08:41

Brazilians Ready Planters for New Soybean Season

2 September 2014

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (Agriculture.com)--It may sound surprising for some in the U.S., but farmers in Brazil will increase the soybean area and expect a new record crop, according to producers attending this week's ag expo in the southern part of the country.

For the 2014/15 crop season that starts this month, Celeres consultancy puts an early forecast of production of 91.35 million tons of soybeans. This would be a 6% hike compared to the current crop.


I note Bayer cropscience is heavily investing -

Bayer CropScience to Invest Close to $1 Billion in U.S. Between 2013 and 2016
Part Of Global Investment Plan Started In 2013

By ULRIKE DAUER
Sept. 3, 2014 1:58 p.m. ET
Bayer CropScience, the agricultural business of Germany's Bayer AG, plans to invest close to $1 billion in its U.S. business between 2013 and 2016 because of growth opportunities its sees in the region long-term.

"We see future growth driven by increasing and sustained demand from customers for improved seeds and innovative crop protection products," said Bayer CropScience Chief Executive Liam Condon at the official inauguration of the company's new integrated R&D site in West Sacramento, California.

The $1 billion is part of Bayer CropScience's total $3.3 billion investment program that started last year.

Full story -

[here and there] 03/9/2014 16:53

welcome aboard

[callumross] 03/9/2014 16:41

Wow. A civilised board on ADVFN. Now there is a novelty! Just popped in as finally took an initial holding of 10k on todays news, having watched on the sidelines for ages.

[here and there] 03/9/2014 16:31

excellent news today, bayer confirming how seriously they are taking veritas. all good. i don't expect any figures. the key numbers will be sales figures each year.

should get a trading update before too long re n. hemisphere

[fctwente] 03/9/2014 16:13

Better always if the figures are attached to !

[wan] 03/9/2014 15:38

On the one hand we knew it was coming, but it was good to get confirmation. On the other hand we also got a new multi-year, long term agreement, which we didn't know we were getting. Bayer obviously see something quite special about Veritas to label it with the Bayer CropScience corporate brand. To my mind, this brings Veritas firmly into play with regard to other markets, perhpas other markets where Bayer also has a significant presence.

[fctwente] 03/9/2014 15:04

Quite possible least reaction because they already have an agreement just the same. This appears to me as extension of same? Also no news of worth to company!

[jaf111] 03/9/2014 14:48

yes seems more than interesting....surprised by the lack of reaction....maybe a lack of financial details but certainly sounds very positive with exclusive marketing agreement etc

[tomboyb] 03/9/2014 14:04

interesting commercial agreement with Bayer -

[fctwente] 28/8/2014 17:12

interesting
thanks for the postings wan

[wan] 28/8/2014 08:39

An interesting read -

Brazil’s soybean yield winners share insights
Tom Doran, Field Editor
Monday, August 25, 2014

Yield contestants from Brazil and Illinois compared notes at a
gathering hosted by the Illinois Soybean Association.
National Challenge of Maximum Soybean Yield just completed its
sixth year and was established to stimulate productivity and
collect information to share with growers in Brazil.

“We need to work as much as possible in order to use this new
technology that these people are using to elevate the production
average in Brazil. We need to share with other farmers the same
knowledge that the winners are using,” de Souza said.

Top Yielders’ Report

Yield winners from various regions described their farming
operations and management practices.

Using fungicides and insecticides as preventative management was a
common theme across most regions, including multiple fungicide
applications throughout the growing season to control rust and
other diseases.

The top producer in the eastern region said genetics is the most
important decision for his irrigated farm.

He also uses foliar fertilizer with his precision agriculture
system. His yield average increased 15 percent over three
years.

Full story - http://agrinews-pubs.com/Content/News/Markets/Article/Brazil-s-soybean-yield-winners-share-insights/8/26/11024

[wan] 07/8/2014 07:34

Most will recall that Veritas is applied with Bayer's fungicides and insecticides and that the inclusion of Veritas notably improved the performance of both the fungicide and insecticide -

06/08/2014
Special attention to planning for the next soybean crop

The scenario is worrisome opinion in Everson Zin, Strategic Marketing Manager FOX ® from Bayer CropScience, since the last harvest suffered high pressure of diseases and pests and showed significant drop in the final numbers of the harvest.

[fctwente] 31/7/2014 16:58

Timbo, Thank you for the information. We have the expression Ze zouden in ieder geval zeggen dat probably translates as that is what you would quite expect?? (from the company view) I also work in pharma but have many different experiences. Interesting also that they thought to have attending the company patent attorney !

[horace_h] 31/7/2014 16:06

Thanks for your comments on the Investor day Timbo - I wondered if the person asking that question was from one of the bulletin boards. I caught the end of your conversation with Dr Adams and regret not introducing myself.

Did you discuss "Agtextpert" (and/or your suggestion that he might be David Marks) with any of the board? As mentioned, my discussion with John Brubaker on that subject were most interesting but he (John) may view that conversation as 'private' (even though nothing price sensitive or inappropriate was discussed).

Going forward, we await news of Plant Impact's share of the Bayer results with great interest - thanks Wan.

[timbo003] 31/7/2014 14:14

>>>>fctwente

I wouldn't worry unduly about the patent situation.

During the Q&As at the investor day, I asked about the current patent protection around the Veritas (PIM's most important product) and shareholders got a reassuring response, i.e. we have useful cover around Veritas.

I also asked about further fund raising and was told that there were no plans, although they wouldn't rule it out, should it be required for a specific purpose. I then added that if they did need to raise funds for whatever reason, could they ensure that shareholders were given the opportunity to subscribe through an open offer (which should be EIS qualifying). John Brubecker thanked me for the feedback and they would most certainly consider that, should further equity based fund raising take place.

After lunch I had an opportunity to talk to Steve Adams and PIM's patent attorney (I didn't catch his name, but he was very slim with ginger hair).

We talked about a number of topics concerning PIM's development program, including some IP issues.

I was told that in PIM's business, patents are only one piece of the IP jigsaw (as I suspected). Once a product is launched, it is subject to constant developments and improvements, the time taken from inception of an idea for a product improvement until it gets top the market could be several years, so any competitor wanting to eat PIM's lunch will always be playing catch up and several years behind.

Then there is know now and trade secrets employed during manufacture.

Then there is the power of the brand. For example Veritas is rapidly becoming a tried and trusted brand, so why risk your crops and your livelihood using anything else which might be inferior?

It seems quite similar to the business that I was involved with for 20+ years as a wage slave and that was Consumer Healthcare. Not many of our products were patent protected, but it didn't stop us having 60 - 80% margins on several brands which sold around £100M+ / year worldwide.

[fctwente] 31/7/2014 11:46

I am understanding this well, our sales are seeming to be improving well enough. I still worry that the patent is not granted because it will let other competing industrials organisations into the markets. This is a very important thing an not only reduce margins but lose sales also.

[wan] 31/7/2014 09:03

Those of us who attended the Investors Day, perhaps feel somewhat more comfortable with the current patent situation, of which PI's efforts are ongoing. That aside, PI's expertise, know how and trial data account for a lot of trust, hence they have recently signed another distribution agreement for Inca with a trusted UK distributor --

1st July 2014

Hortifeeds introduces advanced fruit nutrition products and distribution of Plant Impact InCa®

The advanced HortipHix fertilisers for hard water now have a proven track record of benefits for soft fruit growers. Fruit Focus provides the official launch of the HortiBoost and HortiHumic Complex range of organic biostimulants and the introduction of Plant Impact InCa® to the Hortifeeds soft fruit product range, that target fruit quality.

Plant Impact InCa® is an advanced foliar fertiliser used to optimise movement and systemic distribution of calcium in soft fruit. InCa® minimises calcium-based disorders and improves overall plant health and fruit firmness, giving longer shelf-life and reduced soft rots. InCa® can be applied at any growth stage and should be progressively applied through the crop's life to ensure good calcium availability.

HortiBoost, HortiHumic Complex and Plant Impact InCa® combine well with HortipHix soluble fertiliser in advanced soft fruit nutrition programmes, to give high yields of quality, firm fruit.

Full release -

About Hortifeeds -

Hortifeeds was created in Lincolnshire 20 years ago to offer local horticultural growers a better alternative to 'off-the-shelf' fertilisers. It was set up to manufacture high quality 'fresh' fertilisers and to supply these products direct to local growers.

The ethos was to produce the highest quality fertilisers economically, using only the finest 'fresh' raw materials, and to provide growers with a level of personal and technical service that was second to none.

[fctwente] 31/7/2014 08:41

And Inca is the products with the patents disputation. This is constant problem? I think this is correct.

[wan] 31/7/2014 08:02

As expected, Bayer's CropScience continues to perform well, particularly in Latin America -

Now, let me elaborate on the Q2 developments of CropScience which benefited from a strong performance in North and Latin America. Sales in the CropScience subgroup increased by an impressive 11% to €2.5 billion in the quarter. The Crop Protection business posted sales growth of 10%.

We performed especially well in our SeedGrowth, Fungicides and Insecticides segments, all of which achieved double digit growth rate.

Full transcript -

From the various and recent comments on PI's twitter feed, one could assume that Inca is getting some good traction -

[wan] 24/7/2014 07:44

16 hours ago
Growers positive about 2014 yield expectations. Ametros performing well. Support English Fruit.

[wan] 21/7/2014 07:55

Worth a read -

Agriculture in Brazil
Champions of Soy

Thanks to the soybean, Brazilian agriculture has seen exponential growth in recent years. At the same time, the country's agrarian sector is transforming into one of the most sustainable in the world.

[here and there] 16/7/2014 21:25

125k at 26 p...wonder if this is a director buy

last time we hit this price was september 2011 and there were a lot less shares in issue then, good sentiment around this stock, justified by the progress the business is making