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38 TOBACCO INTERNATIONAL JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 T here is a simple, straightfor- ward professionalism one sens- es from the outset when dealing with Degesch America, Inc., owned by the German company that manufac- tures the leading tobacco fumigants Phostoxin® and Magtoxin.® And it doesn't take long to see how Degesch carefully manages everything in its busi- ness, from product research and devel- opment right through to the safe and effective application of their pesticides, which are used widely by the tobacco industry. The tobacco fumigation special- ists at Degesch America have been headquartered in the town of Weyers Cave, Virginia ever since the compa- ny's US operation opened there in 1977. Degesch America's president, Herb Yeaman, said that choosing to locate in Virginia was the result of careful delib- eration. Yeaman explained that Weyers Cave was chosen for several practical reasons. "First, there was the central location with easy access to the interstate system and to East Coast shipping ports for product delivery," Yeaman said. "But it was also the proximity to Washington, D.C., which granted convenient access to regulatory agencies. Being a rural area that was looking for business devel- opment, the tax incentives also played a part in the final decision." Degesch's business, tobacco fumi- gation is an industry priority, Yeaman explained, because uncontrolled pests are very destructive to stored tobacco by way of decreasing both the quality and quantity of inventory. "These pests can spread to other parts of a production facility or finished goods area, where they become very difficult to control," Yeaman said. "For Quality Assurance personnel, customer complaints are a situation which must be avoided to pre- serve the customer base and reputation of the manufacturer." Degesch's com- mitment to delivering value from de- velopment to application is both good business and good science. Yeaman outlined the challenges in fumigating tobacco that have proven to be lasting issues for Degesch and described what the company considers to be one of the most important elements of its strategy in addressing these issues. "Product stewardship," Yeaman ex- plained. "We want to ensure all users apply our product safely and effectively. Certain resistant insects are a direct re- sult of improper application. In order to Degesch America's Herb Yeaman: Product Stewardship is Vital to Tobacco Fumigation DEGESCH AMERICA Phostoxin® and Magtoxin® manufacturer says delivering value means balancing good business and good science –By Murdoch McBride Revered in music. Much less so in tobacco.