INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
October 31, 2014

GMO advocate: Science always wins in the end

GMO labeling initiatives will be on ballots next week in two states—Colorado and Oregon.
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October 31, 2014

GE crops never helped reduce soil erosion

The adoption of genetically engineered (GE) or biotech crops has not helped reduce soil erosion, claims the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and a vice-president author of EWG who wrote “Debunking the Myth that GE Crops Reduce Soil Loss.”
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October 30, 2014

Slowing ag economy impacts equipment makers

More signs of a slowing ag economy.
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October 30, 2014

Some progress in TPP negotiations

Officials report some progress was made in recent negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.
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October 30, 2014

Led by ag, market for drones will reach $1.7B in 2025

The market for commercial uses of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, will grow to $1.7 billion in 2025, driven by a broad range of applications led by agriculture, according to Lux Research.
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October 29, 2014

McCrometer announces new president

McCrometer, a leading provider of flow measurement and wireless solutions, has announced the promotion of Melissa Aquino to the role of president, effective Oct. 1.
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October 29, 2014

Scuffle in San Francisco over soda tax donations

Pepsi, Coca-Cola and other big beverage companies donating millions to the campaign against a soda tax ballot initiative in San Francisco are illegally hiding their contributions in a PAC, charged advocates for the tax in a complaint filed Thursday with t
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October 29, 2014

Sweets: Better be moderate than sorry

The excitement about eating sweets during the festive season should be moderated. Better to be smart than sorry, said Dr Praveen Raj, obesity and diabetic surgeon, GEM Hospital.
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October 28, 2014

New GPS satellite set for launch

On Oct. 29, the United Launch Alliance will be sending an Atlas V 401 rocket carrying the GPS IIF-8 satellite into space, which will set new unit into semi-synchronous circular orbit around Earth.
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October 28, 2014

Louisiana cane industry applauds sugar settlement

American Sugar Cane League (ASCL) Manager Jim Simon said U.S. and Mexican government officials Monday initialed an accord to suspend the ongoing antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of sugar from Mexico.
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October 28, 2014

American, Mexican governments settle sugar cases

“The United States and Mexico struck a deal Monday to avoid tariffs on imports of Mexican sugar, staving off the Mexican government’s threat to retaliate with a case against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization,” Pro Trade’s Victoria Guida reports.
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October 28, 2014

U.S., Mexico reach deal in sugar case

WASHINGTON—U.S. and Mexican government officials initialed an accord Monday to suspend the ongoing antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of sugar from Mexico.
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October 28, 2014

John Oliver’s takedown of the sugar industry is spot on

With Halloween coming up this week, John Oliver used the holiday as a segue into a hard-hitting commentary Sunday night on the troubling practices of America's sugar industry.
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October 28, 2014

Oregon GMO task force drafts report

An Oregon task force on genetically engineered crops agrees that more regulatory clarity is needed for biotechnology but diverges on the specifics of any governance scheme.
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October 28, 2014

Calorie warning on sugary drinks change teens purchasing habits

A recent study from Public Health England observed the purchasing habits of teenagers and found that they are, in fact, less apt to buy sugary drinks—and opt, instead, for water—when provided with information explaining how much exercise would be required
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October 27, 2014

Even normal rain won’t end Calif. drought, expert says

California won’t emerge from its three-year drought even if most areas in the state receive average rainfall this winter, a federal climate expert said.
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October 27, 2014

Diet Doc announces Sugar Cravers diet plans aimed at breaking America's sugar addiction

HOUSTON—Millions of years ago, when nutrient rich food sources were scarce, the human brain developed a relationship with carbohydrates and sugars to supply the body with enough energy for survival. Now that nutrients are readily available in our society,
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October 26, 2014

Oregon food politics take the stage at Measure 92 forum

PORTLAND, Ore.—Representatives of the campaigns for and against the measure on the November ballot that would require labeling of food containing genetically modified ingredients didn’t agree on much during a forum at the Oregon Museum of Science and Indu
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October 26, 2014

Production begins at second cellulosic biofuel facility

You don’t often hear Kansas and Spain mentioned in the same sentence. Yet today Spanish company Abengoa is bringing another big cellulosic biofuel facility online in Hugoton, a small community in the Southwest corner of the state. This is the second big p
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October 25, 2014

Woman killed in tractor accident

LEBANON, Ore. (AP)—The Linn County sheriff says his deputies are investigating a tractor accident that killed a 47-year-old Lebanon, Ore., woman.
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October 25, 2014

Despite decline across Colo., sugarbeets still a major player in Weld

GREELEY, Colo—Sugarbeets have been part of the agricultural scene in northern Colorado for more than 100 years—said to have bought and paid for more farms in the region than any other crop.
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October 24, 2014

Sweetener users study: Mexico trade case costly

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Trade cases U.S. producers have filed against Mexican sugar imports will likely cost consumers $2.4 billion in higher prices this marketing year, according to a new white paper by the Sweetener Users Association.
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October 24, 2014

Senninger Irrigation introduces IrriExpress

Senninger Irrigation, a global leader in agricultural irrigation manufacturing, introduces IrriExpress, the latest in irrigation design software.
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October 24, 2014

Weed scientists uproot common “superweed” myths

The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) issued a new fact sheet to uproot common misconceptions about “superweeds”– a catchall term used by many to describe weeds resistant to herbicides. The paper explores the truth behind two widespread fallacies.
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October 23, 2014

Dukes earns Excellence in Education Award

The Irrigation Foundation has named Michael Dukes, PhD, PE, CID, of the University of Florida, the recipient of the 2014 Excellence in Education Award.
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October 23, 2014

Minn-Dak Moves Up Co-op List

The Agriculture Department last week published its annual report on the nation's top 100 agricultural cooperatives.
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October 23, 2014

Global subsidy race becoming a 3-way Thai

We’ve spent a tremendous amount of time on these pages chronicling the massive run-up in sugar subsidies in Brzil and India. But one offender, Thailand, has largely gotten a pass…until now.
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October 22, 2014

Oregon GMO measure poised to set spending record

SALEM, Ore. (AP)—A ballot measure that would require labels on genetically engineered foods is poised to reach an Oregon spending record.
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October 22, 2014

Platform Specialty Products to buy Arysta LifeScience

Arysta LifeScience announced Wednesday that Platform Specialty Products has reached a definitive agreement with a company backed by the Permira funds to acquire Arysta LifeScience for approximately $3.51 billion, subject to regulatory approval, working ca
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October 22, 2014

Bumping up ethanol yields

At 25 billion gal produced globally each year, ethanol has made a crucial contribution to transportation fuel supplies. But without much effort, a few tweaks to yeasts and the reaction conditions they operate under could boost ethanol production further a
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October 21, 2014

Thailand's quest for world domination...in rice and sugar

Thailand is a behemoth in the world rice market by anyone’s definition.
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October 21, 2014

MMI, Micromidas targeting sugarbeet waste for "Plant Bottle" feedstock

In Michigan, the Michigan Molecular Institute, Michigan Sugar Company and Micromidas have partnered in a 9-month, $150,000 SBIR research grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to create ways to convert sugarbeet waste, or raffinate waste, into commodity
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October 20, 2014

$7.5B question faces California water users

MAXWELL, Calif.—Seventh-generation farmer Phil Sites is caught in the middle of a statewide debate over a proposed reservoir that would bear his family name.
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October 20, 2014

Monsanto gives $2.5M against GMO labeling

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—Biotechnology giant Monsanto is ramping up its spending toward trying to defeat a November ballot measure that would require labeling of genetically modified foods in Oregon.
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October 20, 2014

Officials happy with Alberta sugarbeet yields

Harvest of southern Alberta’s 22,000 acres of sugarbeets began Oct. 1 under good digging conditions and good yields.?
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October 20, 2014

Vermont’s GMO label law faces legal test

Oral arguments will likely be held in mid-December in litigation over Vermont’s labeling requirement for foods containing genetically modified organisms.
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October 19, 2014

GMO labeling measure attracts big money in Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—An Oregon ballot measure on the labeling of genetically modified foods is starting to attract big money.
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October 18, 2014

Compass Minerals debuts phosphorus blend for 2015

Compass Minerals launches Nu-Trax P+, a new phosphorus-based fertilizer that delivers better early-season nutrition to farmers’ crops. This next innovation in fertilizer technology is available to U.S. and Canadian farmers starting in fall 2014 for the 20
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October 17, 2014

Good weather speeds Minnesota soy, beet harvests

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Favorable weather helped Minnesota farmers make strong progress on their soybean and sugarbeet harvesting this past week.
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October 17, 2014

Managed trade for sugar from Mexico?

Mexican Economy Secretary Ildefonso Guajardo was in Washington this week arguing on behalf of an agreement to suspend the U.S. antidumping/countervailing duty (AD/CVD) investigation against imports of sugar from Mexico. The case will soon enter its final
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October 17, 2014

Sugarbeet harvest under way for Sharbonos

GLENDIVE, Mont.—The Sharbonos are busy out in the sugarbeet fields as the sugarbeet campaign gets underway in the east central part of Montana.
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October 17, 2014

Mexico sees win-win solution for U.S. sugar dispute

WASHINGTON—Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Tuesday a win-win solution to a dispute with the United States over sugar is within reach and could avoid a damaging trade war.
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October 16, 2014

Beet harvest begun, crop looking good for Wyo producers

With the cereal crop harvest ending, attention in Wyoming is moving to beans, corn and sugarbeets.
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October 16, 2014

Tax on sodas eyed in San Francisco, Berkeley

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—A tax on sodas and other sugar-laden drinks that voters and courts in other parts of the country have rejected is on the November ballots in San Francisco and Berkeley, two cities that have been open to such social-engineering initiativ
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October 16, 2014

UW scientist wants to dispel GMO crop, pesticide use fallacies

A weed scientist at the University of Wyoming targets misconceptions about the safety of genetically engineered crops (GMOs) and pesticide use in modern agriculture in a public webinar Friday, Oct. 17.
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October 16, 2014

Chipotle backs Colorado, Oregon labeling proposals

DENVER (AP)—Burrito giant Chipotle on Tuesday endorsed ballot measures in Colorado and Oregon that would require labeling of genetically modified food, providing a morale boost for campaigns being heavily outspent by agriculture interests.
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October 16, 2014

Don’t let volunteer corn steal your sugarbeet yields

Volunteer corn is a weed. Competition from volunteer corn takes away nutrients, moisture, space and light from your crops.
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October 15, 2014

Mexico threatens WTO if no sugar agreement

KANSAS CITY—Mexico wants a negotiated settlement in the sugar trade dispute with the United States and will take the case to the World Trade Organization if an agreement is not reached, according to a Dow Jones Newswires story quoting Mexican economy mini
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October 15, 2014

Syngenta academy supports plant breeding

As growers decide which hybrids and varieties they will select for the 2015 season, plant breeders continue to refine and improve the science behind the seed.
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October 14, 2014

Legitimacy of EPA's proposed WOTUS rule questioned

The Agricultural Retailers Association and fellow members of the Waters Advocacy Coalition (WAC) submitted a 10-page letter last week describing and documenting the coalition's serious concerns with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed rul
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October 13, 2014

Consumer Reports: GMO ingredients pervasive in "natural" foods

In a study published Oct. 7, Consumer Reports found that “Virtually all of the samples we tested of products that made only a ‘natural’ claim did have a substantial amount of genetically modified organisms.”
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October 12, 2014

U.S. ends crop year with surplus sugar

All the little ghosts, goblins, and ghouls won't have to worry about there being enough sugar to make their favorite Halloween treats this year.
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October 11, 2014

EPA extends WOTUS comment period

The Environmental Protection Agency has extended the comment period on the controversial Waters of the United States rule from Oct. 20 until Nov. 14.
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October 10, 2014

The challenges for agriculture

Agriculture can help feed the world—if only the world will let it.
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October 09, 2014

Vilsack, USDA featured on new South Park

It has been called by some past recipients the highest honor in pop culture. Others in show business have said it is truly when you know you have made it.
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October 08, 2014

Verdesian acquires micronutrient supplier

Verdesian Life Sciences announced that it has acquired QC Corp. (QC), a producer and supplier of granular and dry micronutrients and ferrous sulfate products.
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October 07, 2014

Beet growers say processing removes GMO material from sugar

TWIN FALLS, Idaho—In the case of beet sugar, Vic Jaro believes any mandate to label foods containing a genetically engineered ingredient would more mislead than inform the public.
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October 06, 2014

Sugar equals pure profit for grocers

Grocers do not have easy jobs.
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October 05, 2014

Fight over GMO labeling takes to the airwaves

Opponents and supporters of Measure 92, a ballot initiative which would require labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms sold in Oregon, have started airing television commercials.
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October 04, 2014

USDA: Farm sector debt ratios near post-1970 lows

The rate of growth in farm assets, debt and equity is forecast to moderate in 2014, the result of an expected decline in net farm income, higher borrowing costs and moderation in the growth of farmland values.
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October 03, 2014

Consumer acceptance of biotech produce growing

Fighting GMO labeling initiatives on a state-by-state basis is unsustainable, but Cathleen Enright believes consumer-facing, genetically engineered fruits and vegetables could help the technology find popular acceptance.
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October 02, 2014

When it comes to sugarbeet health, looks can be deceiving

RED RIVER VALLEY, N.D.—With sugarbeet pre-pile getting under way in the Red River Valley, many growers are getting a good look at their fields both above and below ground—and many are finding some disappointing surprises.
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October 02, 2014

Groups launch Oregon campaigns on GMO labeling

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—In a TV ad paid for by advocates of labeling genetically modified foods in Oregon, voters are told 64 countries have such requirements and labels didn’t lead to an increase in their food costs.
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October 02, 2014

Unmanned aerial vehicles advance agriculture

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), more commonly referred to as drones in a majority of media outlets, have played an important role in U.S. military operations. These sophisticated flying machines have proven their utility in this arena, albeit at a huge p
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October 01, 2014

Sugarbeet industry ready for harvest

Despite tight labor markets in the Upper Midwest, leaders of the sugarbeet industry say there should be enough crews Wednesday when this year’s harvest begins in earnest.
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October 01, 2014

Rain complicates Treasure Valley harvest

Five straight days of rain have interrupted what had been ideal harvest conditions in the Treasure Valley area of Idaho and Oregon.
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October 01, 2014

GMO safety, weed control top concerns as U.S. study kicks off

Agriculture experts raised a number of concerns with genetically modified crops, including safety and spreading weed resistance, at the first public meeting of a U.S. government sponsored study of genetically engineered crops held Sept. 15.
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