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Monday, Aug. 30, 2010      
In this issue:

 Industry News
Acquisition Could Break Up Potash Cartel
BHP Billiton made an offer to buy PotashCorp, and the worry in Canada was that the change in ownership could result in a breakup of Canpotex and would likely have a negative impact on Saskatchewan's economy. PotashCorp reportedly is responsible for more than 50 percent of the Canpotex sales volume. Full story.

Mosaic Lays Off 140 At Florida Mine
The layoffs stemmed from a legal challenge of Mosaic's attempt to expand its mining operations in Florida. Full story.

SDS-Resistant Soybeans on the Horizon
An ancient offshoot of soybeans has shown potential for providing modern soybeans resistance to sudden death syndrome and soybean rust, University of Illinois scientists recently reported. The offshoot plant of soybeans is the glycine tomentella, a perennial native to Australia. Full story.

Iowa Farmers Participate in Biomass Harvest
The world's largest biomass harvest for cellulosic ethanol will take place this year by 85 farmers in and around Emmetsburg, Iowa. Full story.

DuPont to Open Corn Research Center in Iowa
Pioneer Hi-Bred will open the new corn research center in Orange City, Iowa. Full story.

AccuWeather.com Predicts Favorable September
Weather conditions are generally expected to be favorable for maturation of the corn crop over the coming weeks. Full story.

Variable Ethanol Subsidy Better for Growers
A new Purdue University study indicates that a variable subsidy for ethanol producers would cost the government less and insulate producers from risk. Full story.

Midwest Farmland Values Still Rising
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago released a report last week that indicated that farmland values increased 6 percent during the three months ending June compared with the same period a year earlier. Full story.

EnviroLogix Sold to Ensign-Bickford
Ensign-Bickford Industries Inc. acquired EnviroLogix Inc., which is a Portland, Maine-based developer of rapid agricultural test kits and readers. Full story.

New Wheat Breeding Collaboration Announced
Monsanto signed a technology collaboration agreement with InterGrain Pty Ltd. for advances in wheat technology and acquired a 19.9 percent minority interest in the company. Full story.

RapidEye Captures Images of 95% of U.S.
Over a period of three months, RapidEye was able to capture 95 percent of the contiguous United States through its constellation of five satellites with less than 10 percent cloud cover. Full story.

Doane Launches New Speakers Bureau
Doane Advisory Services has formed a speakers bureau of its seven economists. Full story.

New Pressure-Compensating Ag Dripline
Rain Bird introduces its new flat-emitter, pressure compensating hard-hose dripline. Full story.

BIG PICTURE
By Doane Economist
USDA released a new Crop Progress report on Aug. 23. The corn condition rating moved up 1 point to 70 percent good to excellent. The condition rating matches last year at 70 percent. It moved counter to the seasonal pattern which is for a decline. The rating remains well above the 10-year average of 59 percent good to excellent. USDA reported the soybean rating declined 2 points to 64 percent good to excellent.
DuPont
To maximize the growth and potential of young soybeans, apply DuPont™ Asana® XL early. It delivers effective, long-lasting control of soybean aphids and other major pests that cause serious plant damage and yield reductions.

Research shows that soybean aphid-infested fields treated with Asana® XL consistently outyield other aphid-control products. In fact, studies in 2008 and 2009 showed Asana® XL, applied one pass without a fungicide, provided an average yield increase of three bushels more than top competitors.

Asana® XL early treatment benefits:
  • Control of soybean aphids before populations build
  • Residual control with staying power — even in rain or intense sun
  • More thorough coverage when plants are smaller
  • Tank-mix flexibility and short re-entry interval (REI)
  • Economical alternative to costly insecticides
  • Potential for more flowers, nodes and pods per node
  • Opportunities for healthier plants and higher yields
Ask your DuPont representative for more information on Asana® XL or visit asana.dupont.com.

Asana® XL is a restricted-use pesticide.
Always read and follow all label directions and precautions for use.
The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™ and The miracles of science™ and Asana® are trademarks or registered trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.
Copyright © 2010 E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. All rights reserved.

 Focus on Business
Since the dawn of mankind we have been buying and selling "stuff," and over the centuries a predictable pattern has developed between buyers and sellers. The buyer-seller dynamic can spell "commission catastrophe" for the sales professional who lacks the artful skill of effective questioning. Full story.

Click here for more Focus on Business articles.

 Crop Fertility Resource Center
Doesn't fertilizer actually increase emissions of greenhouse gases? Well, yes, in its manufacture and in its use, but when one looks at the big picture instead of the partial details, it's surprising how much the answer to a question can change! The higher yields of better-fertilized crops have spared land from conversion to agriculture, avoiding emissions of a huge quantity of greenhouse gases. Full story.

For more, visit the Crop Fertility Resource Center.

 Wheat Resource Center
With the increased interest in wheat from futures prices and the anticipated increased acres planted this fall, many farmers are asking if they can use their 15-inch soybean planter to plant wheat. Full story.

For more, visit the Wheat Resource Center.


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