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

Monsanto loses bid to stop Arkansas’ dicamba ban

Chicago | Reuters — An Arkansas judge on Friday dismissed a Monsanto lawsuit aiming to stop Arkansas from blocking the use of a herbicide the company makes, dealing a blow to its attempts to increase sales of genetically engineered seeds. Monsanto, which is being acquired by Bayer, filed the lawsuit last year in a bid […] Read more



Ripe soybeans near Morden, Man. on Sept. 14, 2017. (Allan Dawson photo)

U.S. grains: Soybeans retreat from seven-week high

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures pulled back on Thursday after concerns about drought in rival exporter Argentina temporarily pushed prices above US$10 a bushel for the first time in seven weeks. The market finished unchanged, breaking a streak of eight sessions with consecutive advances. A ninth session would have marked the longest string […] Read more




(Arkansas.gov)

Arkansas restricts dicamba for 2018

Chicago | Reuters — In a blow to manufacturers Monsanto and BASF, Arkansas state lawmakers voted on Friday to bar sprayings of a controversial weed killer after mid-April to protect farmers from potential crop damage. Arkansas will prohibit the use of herbicides based on dicamba from April 16 to Oct. 31, the strictest state limits […] Read more


(ADM photo by Dave Bedard, Bunge photo via Bunge)

ADM reported making takeover approach to Bunge

Reuters — Top U.S. grains merchant Archer Daniels Midland has proposed a takeover of Bunge Ltd., the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, a move that could set up a battle for Bunge with London-based rival Glencore. Large grain traders which make money by buying, selling, storing, shipping and trading crops have struggled in recent […] Read more



CHS Inc., the biggest farm co-operative in the U.S., is seen gaining a competitive edge against private and publicly-traded grain firms from changes to tax law affecting sales of U.S. farmers’ crops and livestock. (CHS Inc. photo)

Major U.S. grain firms fear harm from new tax law

Chicago | Reuters — The new U.S. tax law is poised to drive more control over the nation’s grain supply to farmer-owned co-operatives, provoking concern among ethanol producers and privately run grain handlers that they could be squeezed out of the competition to buy crops. Until now, the co-operatives, private companies and publicly traded firms […] Read more