Twelve of the 28 European Union member nations  voted Jan. 27 to reject the release approval of a proposed GMO corn trait, Mon810 from Monsanto.  Ten voted in favor, and six abstained from voting.  This vote is a strong signal that the majority of voting states oppose further introductions of GMO crops in the European Union.

Biodiversity advocates cheer Trump’s opt-out of the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership. TTP purports to open up ag markets but in reality is a cover for corporate governance of multinationals,  by multinationals and for  multinationals. The TTP would be a return to the era of trading powerhouses on the pattern of the East India Company, England’s corporate base for the century-long takeover

Almost 75% of the Iowa fields which the University of Illinois tested for weed resistance in 2016 showed resistance to glyphosate and PPO inhibitors among the waterhemp or palmer amaranth weeds tested. January 19, 2016 By Jerry Carlson — Almost half the fields in Illinois and over 80% of the fields in Missouri checked by the weed

Reactions have been mostly positive to Sonny Perdue’s nomination as new Secretary of Agriculture — except for mainstream media critics noting that the new U.S. cabinet contains no ethnic Hispanics.  Perdue’s selection means USDA will again be administered by a former governor, as it was under outgoing ag secretary Vilsack. Purdue focused on simplifying and

Russia’s strategy of barring transgenic crops is bearing fruit: Soaring export growth in food sales to China. Today’s Wall Street Journal features a report indicating that Russia’s goal is to crowd out much of America’s $26 billion of annual food sales to China. China’s top government officials are pushing hard to make China a biotech leader.

January 14, 2017 –Excerpts from consultant Bob Streit’s weekly crop update:  I have previously mentioned that in working with a friend and ag professional on his farm just west of Guthrie Center, and other individuals across the state, we were seeking high corn yields in 2016. When we combined different products on a 31-45 CSR