INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
June 30, 2017
News

WOTUS repeal officially underway

The overall objective of redefining what constitutes “waters of the United States” is to promote economic growth, minimize the amount of regulatory uncertainty and ensure that waters remain clean and free of pollution.
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June 30, 2017
News

Porter Novelli survey shows Americans see new NAFTA likely

The study revealed that 53 percent of Americans believe changes will be made to NAFTA before the 2018 midterms, yet only a third of D.C. policy-insiders agree (33 percent.)
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June 30, 2017
News

Perdue welcomes U.S. beef back to China market

Perdue celebrated the reintroduction of American beef products to China after shipments were halted at the end of 2003.
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June 29, 2017
News

Dow and DuPont provide update on merger

The companies reaffirmed their expectation to close the merger in August 2017, with the intended spin-offs to occur within 18 months of closing.
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June 29, 2017
News

Idaho AG thinks it’s illegal to sell aerial fireworks here — so why do we allow it?

Friday marks the anniversary of the June 2016 Table Rock Fire, a blackened scar on our Boise Foothills history that burned 2,500 acres, destroyed Van Danielson’s home and possessions, and endangered thousands of residents.
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June 29, 2017
News

Retailers ‘part of the problem’ on sugar says Food Standards expert

FSS’s suggested sugar tax expansion would include a food and drinks taxation system aiming to reduce fat, salt and sugar content, and portion sizes. It also called for limitations of unhealthy retail promotions.
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June 29, 2017
News

House GOP budget plan could include ag cuts

House Ag Chairman Mike Conway did not rule out accepting a cut of some size, but continued to push back against any reduction to farm programs.
— Read More
June 28, 2017
News

Competition, innovation preserved following major ag merger

Following an investigation, the Bureau concluded that FMC Corporation and SK Global are acceptable buyers, as they are likely to compete effectively and support innovation in the sector in Canada.
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June 28, 2017
News

Syngenta officials discuss plans for growth

One possible acquisition target for Syngenta is Bayer’s Liberty Link seed and herbicide business.
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June 28, 2017
News

EPA moves to ax Obama-era Clean Water Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday took its first official steps to rescind the Clean Water Rule, a 2015 regulation enacted by former President Barack Obama that protects drinking water for 117 million people.
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June 28, 2017
News

Sugar and cancer: What you need to know

A high-sugar diet can be bad news when it comes to cancer risk, but not because it often appears in the headlines.
— Read More
June 27, 2017
News

WOTUS rule withdrawal only a good start

A crucial next step will be for the government to likewise drop the Rapanos guidance and instead adopt the Scalia opinion from that case.
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June 27, 2017
News

Nutritionist explains ‘scary’ effects of added sugar to Las Vegas residents

More sugar leads to more weight, she said, and can result in health concerns such as high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary issues, vascular disease, atherosclerosis — a buildup of plaque inside arteries — and heart failure.
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June 26, 2017
News

Brazil first country to approve genetically engineered sugarcane: Are U.S. and Canada next?

But a new decision in Brazil just may set in motion the end of cane sugar as a trusted non-GMO alternative where labels are not present.
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June 26, 2017
News

Trump’s Sugar Swamp

Sugar producers’ political clout is nothing new, in the US or other industrialized countries.
— Read More
June 25, 2017
News

Nampa Landmark Celebrates 75 Years

More than 200 sugarbeet growers, factory workers and families gathered June 23 at the plant on West Karcher Road to commemorate the special occasion.
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June 25, 2017
News

Soft drinks industry to reduce added sugars a further 10% by 2020

Reducing added sugars an aggregate 10% across Europe will impact over 500 million consumers.
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June 25, 2017
News

U.S. and Mexico strike deal on sugar

These new agreements between the U.S. and Mexico, as well as the Mexican sugar industry, prevent dumping of Mexican sugar and corrects for subsidies the Mexican sugar industry receives.
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June 24, 2017
News

Syngenta ruling could set precedent

In a statement after the verdict, Syngenta says the case is without merit and denies American farmers access to future technologies even when they are fully approved in the U.S.
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June 24, 2017
News

Syngenta's damages tops $217M to farmers in Viptera case

Farmers alleged Syngenta’s release resulted in China rejecting shiploads of corn leading to price drops that hurt growers, but Syngenta said it was other market forces that drove down corn prices.
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June 24, 2017
News

Almost 40 percent of rural Americans lack broadband

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says broadband connectivity should be considered the “roads, sewers and water” of the modern age.
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June 23, 2017
News

AFBF & NFU lament Cuba policy reversal

Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says Trump’s decision sets family farmers and ranchers in a “backwards trajectory, moving away from increasing market share in a country of 11 million people.”
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June 22, 2017
News

Impact of interest rates increases on ag

Long-term rates still remain at or near historical lows, but the Federal Reserve indicated at its latest meeting that could change.
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June 21, 2017
News

U.S., Canada, Mexico discuss NAFTA

Agricultural trade between the three countries is valued at around $85 billion each year.
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June 21, 2017
News

Dow and DuPont receive antitrust clearance from U.S. Department of Justice

The companies expect to close the merger in August 2017, with the intended spin-offs to occur within 18 months of closing.
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June 20, 2017
News

USDA announces $20M for jobs for young people, veterans

The work accomplished by participants will include hundreds of miles of trail maintenance and improvements, watershed protection, removal of vegetation as part of wildfire prevention, improvements to recreation facilities, and other essential work on land
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June 19, 2017
News

Amendments to sugar deal ease industry concerns

The amendments increase raw sugar import limits from Mexico to 70 percent, change the balance of raw and refined sugar allowed, reduce the timeline Mexico is allowed to ship refined sugar into the U.S. and increase minimum sugar prices.
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June 19, 2017
News

FieldNET expands pivot control line of products

Pivot Control Lite is designed for retrofit on virtually any brand or model of electric center pivots.
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June 19, 2017
News

Arborjet “Taking Root” college scholarship program deadline approaching

Now in its fourth year, the scholarship program will award 10 graduating high school seniors each with a $1,000 scholarship to pursue full-time studies in Forestry, Plant Sciences, Horticulture, Entomology, Environmental Science or a related major at an a
— Read More
June 18, 2017
News

CSU grad re-imagines abandoned Longmont sugar factory for senior project

Kyra Czerwinski's lofty master plan for the abandoned factory garnered an A from her professors, but are not practically feasible right now.
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June 17, 2017
News

Reasons to love sugar go beyond sweetness

Who wants to live in a world without cake? Not this dietitian.
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June 16, 2017
News

Perdue names leadership in acting roles as USDA reorganizes

For these three mission areas, Perdue has named Acting Deputy Under Secretaries, who will serve in their roles until the Senate confirms permanent presidentially-nominated appointees.
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June 16, 2017
News

SESVanderHave gains license for herbicide-tolerant sugarbeet cultivation system

The technology will be available next year to farmers in eastern and northern Europe.
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June 16, 2017
News

Solution to Western Sugar pond odors part of company’s expansion plans

Odor complaints were reported before a slurry breakout from the pond in mid-April, according to Brian McManus, spokesman for the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.
— Read More
June 15, 2017
News

Public comment sought on amended sugar agreement

Under the amendments, the amount of raw sugar imported from Mexico would increase from 47% to 70%, ensuring a greater supply of sugar for U.S. sugar refiners.
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June 15, 2017
News

U.S. sugar producers support deal with Mexico

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue recognizes the damage caused by Mexico’s unfair trade practices, and the industry is confident he will manage U.S. sugar policy effectively and ensure Mexico doesn’t continue to wreck the market with unfair trade.
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June 15, 2017
News

Perdue names Hazlett to lead rural development at USDA

Hazlett, whose title will be Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, will oversee the Rural Utilities Service, the Rural Business Service, and the Rural Housing Service within USDA and report directly to the secretary.
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June 14, 2017
News

Crop insurance on the chopping block - again

The proposed cuts come at a difficult time in rural America. The U.S. Agriculture Department projected in February that net income would fall 8.7 percent this year, about half what it was at record highs in 2013.
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June 14, 2017
News

Nebraska, Kansas co-ops to merge

The combined co-ops will retain the Central Valley Ag name and be headquartered in York, Neb.
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June 13, 2017
News

Perdue tells committee Congress has last say on budget

Perdue agreed that crop insurance, rural development, research are important but said there need to be cuts to USDA staffing and in other areas of the agency.
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June 13, 2017
News

Danish company to buy Syngenta sugarbeet seed business

Swiss ag chemical and seed firm Syngenta announced June 8 it will sell its sugarbeet seed business to Danish forage and turf seed producer DLF Seeds for an undisclosed sum.
— Read More
June 13, 2017
News

BASF, Syngenta among bidders for Bayer-Monsanto assets

The two companies have expressed preliminary interest in acquiring the businesses, which include canola, cottonseeds, the LibertyLink herbicide-resistant trait and its glufosinate weed killer.
— Read More
June 13, 2017
News

Mexico sugar lobby says still wants dumping probe of U.S. fructose

The agreement would avert possible steep U.S. import duties on Mexican sugar and had been seen as lowering the risk of Mexico slapping its own import duties on U.S. high-fructose corn syrup as a retaliatory measure.
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June 13, 2017
News

Economist says farmers optimistic about farmland values

David Widmar says despite the turbulent ag economy, farmers have still had a long-term optimism about the state of the industry.
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June 13, 2017
News

Peterson, Stabenow discuss sugar talks

The Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee Collin Peterson of Minnesota says the deal is an improvement over current agreements, but loopholes remain that keep the door open to sugar dumping.
— Read More
June 13, 2017
News

Betaseed announces scholarship winners

Betaseed Inc. announces three 2017 scholarship winners in the Western Sugar South area.
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June 12, 2017
News

Wilbur Ross seen imposing Mexico sugar deal over industry objections

The Trump administration wants to clear away the sugar dispute and a lumber trade row with Canada before starting full-scale negotiations to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement.
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June 12, 2017
News

Sugar growers won’t support Mexico trade amendment

Jack Roney, director of economics and policy analysis with American Sugar Alliance, said the proposed amendment represents a “big improvement but doesn’t quite get there.”
— Read More
June 12, 2017
News

Good news: The U.S. and Mexico agreed on a sugar deal. But that’s bad news, too.

The truth is that Americans as a whole would be better off if there were global free trade in sugar, not just free trade between the United States and Mexico.
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June 12, 2017
News

Whitaker takes helm at AGCO-Amity JV, LLC

Keith Whitaker will be responsible for defining and implementing the AGCO-Amity JV seeding and tillage business growth strategy that builds on the agronomic strengths and technology of its products, closeness with its customers and expanded distribution o
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June 12, 2017
News

SNAP cuts misplaced, says consumer econ prof

President Trump has proposed a 25-percent cut of nearly $200 billion to the program.
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June 11, 2017
News

Perdue: Use, don't abuse crop insurance

Perdue says crop insurance shouldn’t become a routine source of revenue.
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June 10, 2017
News

Sugarbeets and soil conservation

Soil conservation can be an issue with these row crops because they leave behind relatively little crop residue, they may involve intensive seedbed preparation, and root crop harvesting causes quite a bit of soil disturbance.
— Read More
June 09, 2017
News

Grant Bosse: The sour side of sugar subsidies

But the Coca-Cola imported from Mexico in those iconic glass bottles just tastes better. It might be the bottle, but cola enthusiasts insist it’s the sugar.
— Read More
June 08, 2017
News

Sugar tried to become sweet again but it failed

However, as often happens in bear markets where fundamentals have turned, sugar was unable to follow through on the break above that resistance level, and the price declined once again.
— Read More
June 07, 2017
News

NFU opposes U.S. withdrawal from Paris accord

Roger Johnson says the climate change movement will continue regardless of which countries are part of the Paris Accord, but the U.S. has abdicated its position as a world leader by withdrawing from the agreement.
— Read More
June 07, 2017
News

Perdue backs leaving climate accord

Perdue says the USDA uses sound science to develop better methods of farming in a climate that he says has been changing since the planet was formed.
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June 07, 2017
News

Much at stake for Michigan in NAFTA renegotiations

Canada and Mexico are two of Michigan’s top three agricultural trading partners. Michigan exported $1.1 billion in agricultural products to Canada and $114 million to Mexico in 2015.
— Read More
June 06, 2017
News

Promoting free and fair trade

The Trump administration is currently sending a strong signal to Mexico for breaking U.S. trade laws and dumping subsidized sugar on the U.S. market to injure American producers.
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June 06, 2017
News

China to gauge public acceptance of GMOs

Bloomberg reports a prestigious university in Beijing will carry out the survey, following public skepticism and concern that GMO foods may adversely affect human health.
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June 05, 2017
News

U.S., Mexico on 'precipice’ of sugar deal, Ross extends deadline

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross extended the deadline to Tuesday, saying that while the discussions have been productive, the two parties need just 24 additional hours to iron out details.
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June 05, 2017
News

U.S., Mexico strike sugar deal ahead of NAFTA talks - sources

The U.S. Commerce Department was expected to hold a news conference later on Monday, two sources with direct knowledge of the talks said on condition of anonymity.
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June 05, 2017
News

Land Stewardship Project favors Trump proposal to cut federal crop insurance

Tom Nuessmeier acknowledges crop insurance is an important program that he and many farmers utilize to manage risk, but says certain areas need reform.
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June 04, 2017
News

Even if you support free trade, you should oppose Mexico's NAFTA sugar dumping

As it turns out, President Donald Trump is right. Weakness on trade policy is provocative.
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June 04, 2017
News

Sugar talks may hint at Trump approach to U.S.-Mexico trade

The sugar industry has been at the center of the most contentious trade issues between Mexico and the United States since Nafta was first negotiated in the early 1990s.
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June 04, 2017
News

Sugar industry fears the tide is turning

Consumption may sink below 1 percent for a second year in the 2016-17 season, less than half the average pace in the previous decade, Sopex figures show.
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June 04, 2017
News

Trump targets EPA

The proposed 30.5 percent cut makes the greatest reductions to environmental research, enforcement of clean air and water programs, and eliminates funding for regional programs including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
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June 03, 2017
News

SipcamRotam fills key commercial positions

Both bring extensive industry experience to their new roles.
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June 02, 2017
News

Max Systems combination delivers fatal blow to weeds

The herbicide binds with the product’s nano-sized particles, which easily penetrate through the plant‘s capillary surface membrane and carry the active components through the plant’s circulatory system in as little as 30 to 40 seconds, delivering a fatal
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June 01, 2017
News

Michigan Sugar Company to clean ponds at sugarbeet factory

The annual cleaning process is supposed to help reduce odors from the sugarbeet factory in the long term.
— Read More
June 01, 2017
News

Equipment sales show optimism tied to policy promises

Economic activity in agriculture varied across the report's 10-state region. Illinois, Missouri and Nebraska all saw increases in economic markers while others states saw decreases with Wyoming remaining unchanged.
— Read More