Today is Earth Day, a global celebration of our planet and our home. Earth Day aims to unite people around the world on environmental issues and take significant steps toward sustainability. With devotion to the land, the agriculture industry puts forth special efforts to care for our world.

Today is the celebration of National Ag Day, a national recognition of American farmers whose hard work and dedication caring for land produces food for millions.

In today’s dynamic farming industry, farmers are required to manage and interpret a wide range of farm- and field-specific data. Like a fingerprint, each operation is different and demands field-specific attention and data management. To help farmers and retailers bridge the gap between agriculture and information technology, BASF launched Maglis^TM, an online agricultural IT platform.

BASF hosted its 10th annual signature media event at Commodity Classic last week. This year’s event, the Science Behind Living Acres, took place on Wednesday, March 2 at the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium in New Orleans. Attendees were treated to valuable information on sustainability and biodiversity, an update on Living Acres research and received a private tour through the butterfly garden.

There are over 100 species of milkweed varieties native to the U.S. and Canada. Monarch butterflies need these warm-season perennial plants for reproduction, as a place to lay their eggs and provide food for the larvae. Frequently seen indigenous milkweed species include common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and green milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). Aptly named, common milkweed is the most frequently utilized by monarchs; studies have shown that 90 percent of monarchs tested during overwintering in Mexico fed on common milkweed during their larval stage.

BASF's innovative products, solutions and tools help customers continually improve sustainability in their operations– this year, next year and into the future.

Her mission is to teach the world the importance of American agriculture, and she’s already well on her way. Samantha Capoun is dedicated to agriculture in every aspect of her life—making her an easy choice to receive the 2015 Grow Smart™ Scholarship Sponsored by BASF. This one-time scholarship, managed by the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB), provides financial support to students studying agricultural communications with a concentration in broadcast media.

For growers, harvest is one of the most significant events of the year. It’s the culmination of months of sun-up to sun-down dedication to crops to ensure there is a successful yield—and it’s also a time when efficiency can be the difference between a good year and a great year.

Paul Rea, Senior Vice President of BASF Crop Protection North America was born and raised on a farm in New Zealand. Agriculture has always been a big part of his life. This lifelong commitment to agriculture and international experiences have prepared him to lead the North American crop division as the company embarks on its next 150 years of innovation.

BASF has joined the Honey Bee Health Coalition, a growing and diverse group focused on improving the health of honey bees in North America. As a member, BASF will work with other Coalition members to improve bee health and protect the future of honey bees and the food supply.

As part of the celebration of BASF's 150th anniversary, BASF hosted a Science Symposium in Chicago in June 2015 to address one of the world’s pressing future challenges: sustainable food.