US organic corn, soybean producers face sharp production declines

Spring weather has taken a toll on U.S. organic commodity producers, evidenced by a significant drop in overall corn and soybean production for 2019, according to a new report from Mercaris, the nation's leading data and trading platform for…

India's Mandate for Agricultural Reform

India’s prime minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party returned to power last May with overwhelming support from across most of India. While his government faces many challenges including a currently faltering economy, the mandate…

US EPA makes paraquat draft risk assessments available for public comment

Yesterday, the US EPA is taking an important step in its regulatory review of paraquat—an herbicide used in agricultural and commercial settings only. The draft risk assessments are the product of an extensive evaluation of available data…

Nitrogen Leads Fall 2019 Fertilizer Prices Lower

Fertilizer prices dramatically increased last Spring. After anhydrous ammonia spent most of 2018 around $500 per ton, prices jumped to more than $600 per ton in early 2019. Prices remained mostly unchanged until late summer. This week’s…

Pesticide Registration in India – An Overview & Opportunities

India ranks number 1 in the world, with highest cultivated land of around 1,891,761 square kilometers. But in terms of total value of food produced, India is at the fourth spot. One of the major reasons behind this disparity is the low agrochemical…

Priority plant pests in the EU: 5 things you need to know

What are priority pests? The 20 pests on the list published by the European Commission in October 2019 are quarantine pests that have been identified as top priorities for EU Member States based on the severity of the economic, social…

European Union prioritises 20 plant pests

The European Commission has published a list of 20 “priority pests” that present the most serious economic, environmental and social threat to EU countries. The list includes Xylella fastidiosa, the Japanese beetle, the Asian long-horned…

MEPs oppose EU Commission plans to authorise three herbicide-resistant GMOs

MEPs opposed the EU Commission plans to authorise imports of products containing three glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium-resistant GMOs, in non-binding resolutions on Thursday. On Wednesday evening, MEPs also held a debate with the European…

Approval of the active substance alpha-cypermethrin, as a candidate for substitution

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2019/1690 of 9 October 2019 renewing the approval of the active substance alpha-cypermethrin, as a candidate for substitution, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament…