The board of directors for Syngenta last week rejected a bid to by the company from Monsanto. The proposal for $481 per share with approximately 45 percent in cash was considered by the Syngenta board to be undervalued. “Syngenta is the world leader in Crop Protection, the number three in Seeds and the first company to introduce integrated solutions for …
Happy Mothers Day to Farm Mom of Year
This Mothers Day will be a special one for an Oregon farmer and mother of three daughters who has been selected as Monsanto’s 2015 Farmers Mom of the Year. Shelly Boshart Davis, who lives in Albany, Ore. and grows grass seed, wheat, radishes, hazelnuts and bales grass straw, garnered the most online votes to capture the national title. She is …
Senate Ag Grain Standards Act Hearing
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry held a hearing Tuesday to review the U.S. Grain Standards Act, which has provisions that expire this year. The act authorizes USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service to establish marketing standards for a variety of grains and oilseeds and was last reauthorized in 2005. “Predictability and transparency are key to maintaining a global …
UAS Pathfinder Program Includes Ag
At the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems international conference in Atlanta on Wednesday, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta announced new partnerships with industries, including agriculture, to explore the next steps in unmanned aircraft operations. “We’re calling it the Pathfinder Program,” said Huerta. “We’re partnering with three leading U.S. companies who have committed extensive resources to perform research that …
Farm Bureau Launches GMO Website
The American Farm Bureau Federation has launched a new website to help farmers “Get a Move On” and stand up for biotechnology. By going to GetaMoveOn.fb.org, farmers can show their support for a national, science-based labeling standard, such as the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599). “Now is the time for farmers and ranchers to take action in …
Phenomenal Corn Planting Progress
A week ago corn planting was running behind schedule but thanks to the very latest precision technology corn farmers are now 17% ahead of the five year average with 55% of the crop in the ground, according to the latest crop progress report. The phenomenal progress included an increase of 38% in Nebraska and Illinois, 41% more in Missouri, 45% …
GROWMARK Provides Fertilizer Update
Lower crop prices and a later harvest caused farmers to cut back some on fall fertilizer application last year but supplies are expected to be adequate this spring to meet demand, according to GROWMARK Plant Food Director Joe Dillier. “Haven’t had a great test of that because of the planting delays we’ve had to date,” said Dillier. “But my guess …
Bayer CropScience Teams with Flagship Ventures
Bayer CropScience today announced a new partnership with venture capital firm Flagship Ventures to invest in leading-edge agriculture companies and technologies. The partnership also includes an investment in Flagship Ventures Fund V, a $537 million venture capital fund that closed in March 2015. “Emerging challenges in agriculture are leading the industry in new and exciting directions,” said Liam Condon, chief …
Avian Flu Epidemic Grows
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad declared a state of emergency Friday as new confirmed and probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been announced on an almost daily basis in the last two weeks. Yet another four probable cases were announced Monday, bringing the total now to over 20 million birds at 25 sites in 11 counties. Iowa is …
Netflix to Stream FARMLAND
The movie FARMLAND is now available for streaming to 57 million subscribers worldwide on Netflix.com. “I’m thrilled that FARMLAND has found a new home at Netflix,” said Academy Award®-winning director James Moll. “There’s a lot of interest out there in the next generation of farmers and ranchers, and Netflix is a great venue to meet and be inspired by these …