The Ag Retailers Association, the National Farmers Union, and a host of other groups sent a letter to Congress opposing the possible privatization of the nation’s air traffic control system. The groups say a proposal to privatize the national air traffic system is being pushed by many of the bigger airlines. The idea would take air traffic control out from …
Six Biotech Giants Dropping to Three by Year’s End
Politico’s Morning Agriculture Report says the European Union’s approval of the ChemChina merger with Syngenta means the ball is likely rolling for the six biggest biotech companies to be whittled down to three by the end of this year. A day before the E.U. approved the deal, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission also okayed the deal as long as certain …
Canada Trade Policies Hurting Rural America
A number of U.S. dairy organizations are asking the Trump Administration to take steps against Canadian trade policies they’re calling “protectionist.” They say Canada is shutting the door on American dairy exports in violation of trade agreements between the two countries. The National Milk Producers Federation, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, and the International Dairy Foods Association want the president …
House Still Not Buying Negron Water Plan
by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida Revamped plans for a deep-water reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee, a priority of the Senate president, have improved the proposal in the eyes of House Speaker Richard Corcoran. But the House still isn’t ready to sign on to Senate President Joe Negron’s proposal, which is designed to reduce polluted water discharges from the …
USDA Offers Renewal Options for Expiring CSP Contracts
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that a contract renewal sign-up is underway for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Participants with existing CSP contracts that expire on December 31 can renew their contracts for an additional five years but, but applications are due by May 5. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research …
Bumblebees Boost Blueberry Yield
by Brad Buck, University of Florida/IFAS Bumblebees can boost blueberry yield by 70 percent, good news for Florida growers in the heart of their blueberry season, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences study shows. The news also accentuates the need for blueberry pollinators, said Joshua Campbell, a post-doctoral researcher in the UF/IFAS entomology and nematology department. …
Organizations Urge Appropriators to Protect Conservation Funding
More than 220 agriculture, wildlife, and conservation organizations from across the country sent a letter urging the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees to protect farm bill conservation funding in fiscal year (FY) 2018. The groups, which included the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation …
House Agriculture Committee Examines Impacts of Tax Code on Agriculture Industry
The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to examine how the tax code impacts agricultural producers. Members of the committee heard from a panel of Members of Congress—including Rep. Kristi Noem (SD-at large) and Rep. Lynn Jenkins (KS-2)—from the House Committee on Ways and Means, the committee charged with crafting our nation’s tax code. The Committee also heard from a diverse …
EU Approves ChemChina-Syngenta Deal
The European Union has approved the $43 billion takeover of Syngenta by ChemChina, just a day after receiving U.S. approval. Bloomberg reports the EU approval is conditional on ChemChina’s offer to divest “a significant part” of its Adama unit’s pesticide business, some generic pesticides the unit is developing, a plant growth regulator and some of Syngenta’s pesticides along with related …
Seed Demand Prompts First Half Gains for Monsanto
Monsanto this week announced increased sales and profits for the first half of its current fiscal year. Monsanto’s net sales for the second quarter increased to approximately $5.1 billion, up from $4.5 billion in the prior year period. Gross profit for the quarter also increased over the prior year to $3.0 billion versus $2.6 billion. For the first six months, …