(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. judge rejects Roundup settlement plan as ‘unreasonable’

Proposal would cover suits over future illnesses

Reuters — A U.S. judge rejected Bayer’s US$2 billion class action proposal to resolve future lawsuits alleging its Roundup herbicide causes cancer, saying in a Wednesday order that parts of the plan were “clearly unreasonable.” U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco said the proposal “would accomplish a lot for Monsanto,” which Bayer […] Read more

A view of BHP’s potash mine project north of Jansen, Sask. (BHP.com)

BHP reported in talks with Nutrien on potash partnership

Reuters — BHP Group is in discussions with fertilizer maker Nutrien about a partnership in the miner’s massive potash project in Saskatchewan, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing sources. Potential options include Nutrien acquiring a stake in BHP’s mine at Jansen, Sask., or becoming the mine’s operator and selling the potash through its channels, the report said, […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Mexican judge rejects industry bid to halt GMO corn, glyphosate ban

Farm council warns of lost productivity

Mexico City | Reuters — A Mexican federal judge ruled against a request by the National Farm Council to freeze a government plan to ban genetically modified (GMO) corn and the widely used herbicide glyphosate by 2024, the national science council said on Monday. Judge Martin Adolfo Santos Perez’s ruling allows the executive order issued […] Read more

FCC changes Ontario leadership

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has appointed Perry Wilson as vice-president of operations in Ontario, following the retirement of his predecessor John Geurtjens. Wilson has over 15 years of experience leading a variety of teams at FCC, most recently as senior director of FCC’s London district in Ontario. He grew up on a hog farm in […] Read more

The private sector has an important role to play in fostering a carbon market that encourages responsible investment and catalyzes meaningful engagement in agricultural offset projects.

How the private sector can boost agriculture’s role in carbon markets

Agriculture is emerging as a key sector for generating carbon offsets that will help companies and countries meet their net-zero targets. Carbon markets are also a pathway to incentivize farmers to adopt practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon storage in soils and vegetation.  In Canada, Alberta farmers were the first to gain […] Read more


A pair of Bombardier C series jets. (Bombardier.com)

U.S. lawmakers to propose tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel

Fuel from plant oils, animal fats would qualify

New York | Reuters — U.S. lawmakers plan to introduce a bill on Thursday that would create a tax credit for lower-carbon sustainable aviation fuel, which they hope will slash emissions of greenhouse gases from the aviation industry. The legislation, seen by Reuters, would impose a tax incentive of up to US$2 for every gallon […] Read more

(Cia.gov)

India’s federal police probe bosses of two fertilizer companies

Large-scale nutrient purchases often known to sway spot prices

Mumbai | Reuters — Indian authorities have opened an investigation into the heads of two leading fertilizer importing companies, alleging they secured commissions from overseas suppliers for inflating the prices of crop nutrient purchases. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India’s top crimefighting agency, said late Wednesday it was investigating U.S. Awasthi, managing director of […] Read more

U.S. President Joe Biden test-drives the new Ford F-150 lightning truck at Dearborn, Michigan on May 18, 2021. (Photo: Reuters/Leah Millis)

Ford wires its electric trucks for business customers

Tesla, GM seen positioning electric pickups as 'lifestyle vehicles'

Detroit | Reuters — Ford Motor Co.’s newly revealed electric version of its best-selling F-150 pickup doubles down on a bet that the company can beat Tesla and other rivals by giving new technology a familiar face and convincing longtime fleet and business customers that going electric saves money. Ford officially unveiled the battery electric […] Read more


Cassi Brunsveld recently took students and teachers on a tour of her farm via YouTube, answering student questions along the way.

AgScape reach increases with digital resources

Teachers looking for online programming have increased use of digital options

It was a farm tour that would boggle the mind in real life. But luckily for Cassi Brunsveld, the 18,000 students and 990 teachers who had signed up for the YouTube live stream weren’t going to arrive on her dairy farm in person. Brunsveld, program and resource assistant with AgScape, and a dairy farmer, took […] Read more

Some producer groups in Canada unenthusiastically shrugged over a 2021 federal budget dedicating millions of dollars to producers who adopt green technology.

Opinion: U.S., Canada have same challenge selling green policies

Like Canada, emissions from American farm operations continue to move in the wrong direction

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and United States President Joe Biden are fighting the same fight in trying to get farmers on board with ambitious climate plans.  Industry groups in both countries say efforts are already being made to reduce emissions.  That is true in many instances, but as was pointed out in a recent Canadian […] Read more