Brussels | Reuters — European Union antitrust regulators have extended the deadline for a decision on ChemChina’s proposed buy of Swiss pesticides and seeds group Syngenta by 10 working days, […] Read more
EU regulators delay ChemChina/Syngenta decision
Trump leaning toward Georgia ex-governor to lead USDA
Washington | Reuters — Former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue is U.S. Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s leading candidate to run the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a senior Trump transition team official […] Read more
Zambia president orders air force to help fight maize pest
Lusaka, Reuters – Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu has enlisted the country’s air force to join other government agencies in an emergency operation to contain the spread of pests that have […] Read more
China takes aim at corn glut with plastics, livestock feed push
Beijing/Reuters – China plans to boost production of biodegradable plastics made out of corn and increase the use of the grain as an animal feed in the next three years, […] Read more
CRTC makes broadband a basic service
Gatineau | Reuters — Broadband internet access will be considered a basic service in Canada, the country’s telecom regulator said Wednesday, setting a higher target for download speeds and creating […] Read more
U.S. forecaster sees weak La Nina likely to fade in early 2017
New York | Reuters — A U.S. government weather forecaster on Thursday said weak La Nina conditions were present but favoured to dissipate in the coming months. The National Weather […] Read more
CETA clears legal test hurdle in EU parliament
Strasbourg | Reuters –– The planned EU-Canada free trade deal cleared a hurdle to its implementation next year when the European Parliament rejected a motion on Wednesday to ask the […] Read more
U.S. ups biofuel requirements in win for Big Corn
New York | Reuters — The U.S. government on Wednesday announced finalized targets for biofuel use for next year, requiring that energy companies blend 19.28 billion gallons of renewables into […] Read more
Smithfield Foods to buy Farmer John from Hormel
Reuters — Smithfield Foods said it would buy parent of the Farmer John and Saag’s Specialty Meats brands, and farm operations in three U.S. states from Hormel Foods for US$145 […] Read more
Key U.S. senator remains wary of China’s Syngenta play
Beijing | Reuters — A powerful U.S. senator said he is concerned that state-owned ChemChina, which is buying Swiss crop protection and seed group Syngenta for $43 billion, could use […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
