Key trade agreements, the legality of the global trade war, Agri Stats’ antitrust case, more USDA moves, and rulings on dicamba and glyphosate predicted to grab industry headlines.
To keep pace with global demand, seed companies moved their hybrid research to Puerto Rico’s south coast. The result: more yield in the Midwest, a growing rift over land and labor, and questions about who benefits when agricultural research leaves the island.
Even people outside of agriculture carried residue from dozens of chemicals after just one week, the study authors said. Many of these same chemicals, including several banned in Europe, are still in use across US farms.
The USDA recently announced a new framework to address concentration in the seed industry. The agency’s hope is that it will boost transparency, promote competition and lower cost.
