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Fafard launches revolutionary growing mixes

Growing-media producer Conrad Fafard, Inc. is introducing a full line of groundbreaking mixes for commercial growers this spring that will change the way they grow plants by changing the way they fertilize.

Through an exclusive agreement with The Scotts Company, Fafard has the sole rights to market Scotts' new fertilizer technology in the United States. This means Fafard will be able to nourish any of its standard mixes with Osmocote® Start, a new second-generation controlled-release fertilizer that:
  • Provides complete and balanced feeding for up to six weeks.
  • Eliminates mixing and feeding mistakes associated with water-soluble fertilizers (WSFs).
  • Reduces or eliminates labor and inventory costs associated with WSFs.
  • Reduces nitrogen and phosphorus leaching and run-off.
Osmocote Start is a fully coated, complete N-P-K plus micronutrients, controlled-release fertilizer. Its miniature prills deliver even fertilizer distribution, promoting uniform results and better root development.

Fafard Growing Mixes with Osmocote Start are intended for fast crops grown in 4-inch pots or smaller, such as marigolds, begonias, vincas and impatiens. "It gives growers greater freedom," said Bruce Adams, Professional Market manager, Fafard. "It's much easier - there's no fertilizer to mix, no risk of mixing mistakes and it's friendlier to the environment."

Osmocote® Start has been used and trialed in the European market for several years before coming to the United States. Fafard, long known for the quality and consistency of its professional mixes, also conducted its own series of greenhouse trials. "Based on the research by Fafard and Scotts, growers can eliminate applying water-soluble nutrients to many of their short-term crops - along with the labor and error issues associated with that time-consuming practice - and grow a healthy crop," said Jamie Gibson, PhD, director, Research and Development, Fafard. "In addition, the new Fafard mixes with Osmocote Start will supply plants with a limited nutrient charge after growers ship them to the retailer."

Osmocote Start will be available only in Fafard-branded growing mixes - loose-filled and compressed - from contracted Fafard distributors, beginning April 2010.

"We are pleased to join with Fafard in the exclusive introduction of one of our newest technologies, Osmocote Start controlled-release fertilizer," said Ted Piatt, senior director, Business, Scotts Professional - North America. "We feel that Fafard and Scotts are ideal partners, joining forces to offer growers the most innovative media and fertilizer mix in the industry. Both companies have a long heritage in, and commitment to, the professional horticulture markets, and we are proud to combine our resources to ensure the best value offer available in a pre-mix formulation."

Based in Marysville, Ohio, The Scotts Company LLC is the world's leading producer and marketer of professional horticulture products. The Company's industry-leading brands include Osmocote® Plus patterned-release fertilizer, Osmocote® Pro and Classic controlled-release fertilizers, new Scotts Fusion Technology™ for surface-applied fertilizers, Peters Professional® and Peters Excel® water soluble fertilizers, and more than a dozen herbicide, miticide and fungicide products. Learn more at www.ScottsPro.com or by calling customer service at 1-800-492-8255.

Conrad Fafard, Inc., headquartered in Agawam, Mass., is the third-largest manufacturer of packaged growing media for professional ornamental growers and retail outlets in North America. Acquired by Syngenta in 2006, the company owns and operates eight production facilities in the United States and Canada as well as peat bogs in Minnesota and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and M

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