AgClips
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Bayer Seeks More Divestitures and Pushes Back Monsanto Deal
DTN | Posted onMarch 1, 2018 in Agriculture NewsBayer is trimming its crop portfolio to help move its acquisition of Monsanto past regulatory obstacles in 2018. "We have now also committed to divest our entire vegetable seed business," Bayer CEO Werner Baumann said in a press conference on Bayer's 2017 fiscal year earnings report. "Certain additional business activities of Bayer and Monsanto may also be sold or out-licensed." The final takeover of Monsanto, which is now valued at $62.5 billion, is likely to take longer than expected, Baumann added. Bayer had hoped to complete the deal in early 2018.
Everything Is Booming Except for Americans' Wages
The Agurban | Posted onMarch 1, 2018 in Rural NewsBroad measures of unemployment are as low as at the peak of the mid-2000s boom. And job creation continues at a healthy clip. In other words, it’s time to stop calling this a recovery, and start calling it a boom. But one important economic indicator remains disturbingly subdued -- wages.In dollar terms, wage growth has been superficially healthy -- in January, average hourly earnings rose 2.9% from a year earlier. But consumer prices increased 2.1% during the same period.
Higher Protein Production Forecast Pressures Prices for Livestock Producers
DTN | Posted onMarch 1, 2018 in Agriculture NewsDemand for meat is going to remain firm throughout the rest of 2018, and U.S. livestock producers will continue to see favorable feed prices. But livestock producers are going to be pressured on market prices for beef, hogs and poultry products because of increased production in most livestock sectors. That's the projection from USDA's outlook for livestock and poultry.The beef, pork and broiler industries are all positioned for higher production and expansion. Exports also will rise for beef, pork and poultry products as well, USDA predicts.
Not just elections? Russia meddles in GMO debate, too
The New Food Economy | Posted onMarch 1, 2018 in Food NewsEnglish-language Russian news outlets are publishing high volumes of articles that portray genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, in a negative light. In 2016, Russian news outlets RT and Sputnik published more articles that mentioned GMOs than the Huffington Post, Fox News, CNN, and Breitbart News combined. Russian coverage consistently played on vulnerabilities in the American GMO discussion. And unlike United States-based coverage, which was mixed on pro- or anti-GMO stance, Russian coverage was almost unanimously anti-GMO.
Delaware joins states fighting gun violence
Pew Charitable Trust | Posted onFebruary 27, 2018 in SARL Members and Alumni NewsDelaware is joining a growing number of states that are taking a collective approach to fighting gun violence, Gov. John Carney said. The "States for Gun Safety Coalition" was created earlier this month by the Democratic governors of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The governors of Delaware, Massachusetts and Puerto Rico all announced Monday that they would be joining the multi-state partnership.
DowDuPont names its three planned spin-offs
American Chemical Society | Posted onFebruary 27, 2018 in Agriculture NewsIn what is being billed as progress toward a split-up next year, DowDuPont has named the three firms it intends to become. Two of the companies will retain the Dow and DuPont names. However, the third, an agricultural chemical and seed firm, will get a new identity: Corteva Agriscience.The Dow name will go to what is now called the materials science company. To be based in Midland, Mich., Dow’s former headquarters, the company would have had about $44 billion in sales and $9 billion in before-tax earnings in 2017.
Monsanto Not Required to Place Warning Labels on Products
Courthouse News | Posted onFebruary 27, 2018 in Agriculture NewsA federal judge on Monday halted California’s plan to require Monsanto to place warning labels on its Roundup products, saying scientists haven’t shown a clear connection between glyphosate and cancer. U.S. District Judge William Shubb sided with the St.
EPA reorganization will close science research office
The Hill | Posted onFebruary 27, 2018 in NewsA federal environmental office that works to test the effects of chemical exposure on adults and children is being shuttered as part of a proposed consolidation at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The National Center for Environmental Research (NCER) will no longer exist as a standalone entity following plans to combine three EPA offices. NCER is perhaps best known for its handling of fellowships that study the effects of chemicals on children’s health.
California agriculture sees 'chilling, damaging effect' from wave of immigration audits
CNBC | Posted onFebruary 27, 2018 in Agriculture NewsMore agri-business employers in California's ag-dependent Central Valley are getting served with immigration audits. One agriculture executive said the audits are causing "a chilling, damaging effect." The crackdown on ag-related employers follows immigration sweeps in other parts of the state, including employers in the L.A. and San Francisco areas. But President Donald Trump said Thursday he's now considering pulling federal immigration enforcement agents from California.
USDA launches webpage highlighting resources to help rural communities address opioid crisis
Norwalk Reflector | Posted onFebruary 27, 2018 in Rural NewsThe U.S. government has launched a new webpage featuring resources to help rural communities respond to the opioid crisis.