Need a quick catch up on the news? Here are seven agricultural stories you might have missed this week.
1. Is corn sweat making you hotter? No, but it is making things more humid. – The Washington Post
2. It’s going to be a tough year for grain merchandisers. Farmers are holding grain and the export market is tough. Like many farmers, grain elevators are heading into the year with strong balance sheets, but pressure for consolidation is likely to increase. – Farm Futures
3. What are the unintended consequences of U.S. farm policies that subsidize crop insurance? – NPR
Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, ChemChina, Dow and DuPont all were in the news this week.
4. The European Union approved three biotech soybean traits for import and processing. The traits had been awaiting approval since January. – Farm Futures
5. Microsoft and Monsanto are teaming up to invest in Brazil. The two companies are investing in Microsoft’s Brazilian startups fund, which was established to evaluate digital tools that can be used in Brazilian agriculture. – Silicon Angle
6. When a CSA is not a CSA. Companies enter growing market for local and organic produce, using Community Supported Agriculture term, which is not regulated in most states. – The New York Times
7. Microsoft Founder and philanthropist Bill Gates said at the 14th annual Nelson Mandela Foundation lecture that Africa could create economic growth and opportunity in Africa by growing its agriculture sector. – All Africa
And your bonus. There was a lot of agribusiness merger news this week:
-Bayer increased its offer for Monsanto by $3 per share to $125, but it wasn’t enough to persuade Monsanto leaders to accept the offer. In rejecting the bid, Monsanto said its open to continued conversation with Bayer. – Farm Futures
-Shareholders of Dow Chemical and DuPont approved the companies’ merging, clearing a hurdle for the two companies to close the deal later this year and then split into three entities. – Farm Futures
-The merger of Syngenta and ChemChina continues to move forward, with Syngenta announcing this week that they hope to close the deal by the end of the year. ChemChina is offering $43 billion for Swiss-based Syngenta. – Farm Futures
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