Off-target damage from dicamba use in the United States has created a major issue for farmers and for Monsanto, which markets the XTend trait in soybeans. The field above appears unscathed.

Dicamba drift problems continue in farm states

Fewer instances of dicamba drift onto non-target crops are being reported this year in the United States, but it continues to divide agriculture community

Aaron Hager has seen many changes in American agriculture in his 25 years at the University of Illinois. As an extension specialist and weed scientist, he saw the introduction and controversy around genetically modified crops and the emergence of herbicide resistant weeds. But nothing compares to the battle and nastiness over the last 12 months […] Read more

A soybean plantation in Brazil. Genetically modified soybeans that rely on glyphosate for weed control are planted across the country.  Photo: MailsonPignata/iStock/Getty Images

Brazil judge suspends use of glyphosate herbicide

Sao Paulo | Reuters – A Brazilian judge has suspended the use of products containing the agrochemical glyphosate, a herbicide widely employed for soybeans and other crops in the country. A federal judge in Brasilia ruled on Friday that new products containing the chemical could not be registered in the country and existing registrations would […] Read more

(Arysta.cl)

UPL to buy crop chem firm Arysta

Indian chemical manufacturer UPL has raised the financial backing for an all-cash deal to become what’s expected to be the world’s fifth biggest crop chemical firm. UPL on July 20 announced it will pay $4.2 billion to buy 100 per cent of Arysta LifeScience — the maker of Everest and Inferno herbicides, among other products […] Read more


The Elbe River at Oberrathen, southeast of Dresden. (CIA.gov)

Germany plans to toughen conditions for insecticide use

Berlin | Reuters — Germany plans to make it more difficult for farmers to use crop insecticides in a bid to preserve biodiversity, an environment ministry document showed. “Insect biomass has fallen by more than 75 per cent in the last 27 years in Germany,” according to the paper seen by Reuters on Wednesday, saying […] Read more


BASF’s dicamba production facility in Beaumont, Tex. (BASF.com)

Minnesota joins U.S. states limiting dicamba

Chicago | Reuters — Minnesota became the latest U.S. state on Tuesday to restrict controversial weed killers made by Monsanto and BASF that were linked to widespread crop damage, while Arkansas took a step back from imposing new limits. The U.S. has faced an agricultural crisis this year caused by new versions of the herbicides, […] Read more

(FMC.com)

FMC deal for DuPont assets wins clearances

The chemical company set to take up a significant chunk of DuPont’s crop protection work in Canada has picked up the last of the regulatory clearances it needs to close the deal. Philadelphia-based FMC Corp. announced Thursday it received the final approval needed, from the Competition Commission of India, to close the deal the company […] Read more

Albaugh’s chemical plant at St. Joseph, Missouri. (AlbaughLLC.com)

Herbicide supplier Albaugh said to be exploring sale

Reuters — Albaugh LLC is exploring a sale that could value the privately held U.S. producer of agricultural crop protection chemicals at more than US$1.5 billion, including debt, according to people familiar with the matter. Albaugh, controlled by its 67-year-old founder Dennis Albaugh, is working with investment bank JPMorgan Chase and Co. to discuss a […] Read more


(Dow.com)

Proposed Dow, DuPont merger gets conditional nod from China

Beijing | Reuters — China has conditionally approved the proposed merger between Dow Chemical and DuPont, the country’s commerce ministry said on Tuesday, a step forward for the deal whose closing has been repeatedly delayed by regulatory hurdles. The merger was approved by EU antitrust regulators in March on the condition the companies divest assets […] Read more

DuPont’s headquarters in Delaware. (DuPont.com)

FMC buying much of DuPont’s crop protection business

FMC and DuPont have inked a deal that will see FMC pick up the portion of DuPont’s crop protection business the EU says must be divested for the DuPont-Dow merger to go ahead. In exchange DuPont will acquire FMC Health and Nutrition along with $1.2 billion (all figures U.S. funds) in cash. FMC will acquire […] Read more