University of Minnesota and Syngenta researchers have confirmed two cases of glyphosate-resistant weeds in the state. Giant ragweed and common waterhemp were both determined resistant in separate studies. These are the first two instances of confirmed glyphosate resistance in the state. …more

Ames, Iowa and Lincoln, Neb., May 1, 2008 – Ag Leader Technology, a leading manufacturer of precision farming equipment, along with Holland Scientific, a leader in active light reflectance crop sensing technology, announced today that Ag Leader has become the exclusive distributor for Holland Scientific’s second-generation active light reflectance sensor products for use in production agriculture. …more

Higher Concentration for Easier Handling

Greensboro, N.C., April 28, 2008 – Syngenta Crop Protection announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved Warrior II with Zeon Technology® for broad-spectrum insect control in more than 23 crop groups. Warrior II is a more concentrated formulation of Warrior with Zeon Technology®, and will provide storage, handling and container disposal advantages. Warrior II contains 2.08 pounds of active ingredient per gallon—twice the concentration of Warrior, which it will replace in most markets across the United States. …more

Philadelphia, April 28, 2008 - The same quick knockdown and long residual control of foliar insects that growers have come to rely on for their corn acres is now available for soybeans and root and tuber crops (including potatoes). Hero insecticide from FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) recently received an expanded label and now can be used to control tough foliar pests that can impede plant health and overall plant quality and yields. …more

American production farmers support the introduction of the second generation of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready® soybeans

ST. LOUIS, Mo., April 24, 2008 – Asgrow® Roundup Ready 2 Yield™ soybean seed stock is currently being harvested in Chile and will be arriving later this month to production farmers in the United States in preparation for the planned introduction of the technology in 2009. …more

Trilex 2000 protects against stand-reducing diseases

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (April 22, 2008) — Bayer CropScience introduces Trilex® 2000 seed-applied fungicide for soybeans. …more

ST. LOUIS, Mo., April 21, 2008 - The enthusiasm around soybeans has increased substantially as the 2008 planting season approaches. Higher commodity prices are driving increased soybean acres, and soybean farmers are optimistic about the economic prospects from their bean acres. The optimism looks to remain strong for upcoming seasons based on positive economic outlook and the opportunity for increased yields. …more

Sales in the first quarter of 2008 increased by 20 percent at constant exchange rates (CER). Reported sales benefited from the weakness of the dollar and were 28 percent higher at $3.8 billion. Substantial volume growth was supplemented by a three percent increase in pricing. …more

Leading E-Trading Platform Teams with Pioneer MarketPoint(SM) Resource

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — DuPont (NYSE: DD)

today announced it has purchased an equity stake in Farms Technology as part

of its strategy to create additional value for its customers and grain buyers.

Specific details of the equity stake purchase were not released. …more

By Dave Downing

Senior Marketing Manager

Makhteshim Agan of North America (MANA)

You don’t need a weather report to see a perfect storm brewing in the agrichemical market as factors on several economic fronts collide. High oil prices. A declining dollar. More acres going into production. Widespread adoption of biotech crops worldwide – especially glyphosate tolerant crops. …more