A Web site explains how the U.S. Corps of Engineers created a disaster for people in the East Prairie, Mo., area during the spring Mississippi flooding by destroying the Birds Point Levee. The Web site includes a 10-minute documentary video that explains the destruction and human disaster.
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Syngenta says only eight wet-grind facilities will not accept corn with the Viptera trait. Other Cargill facilities are accepting the grain, provided growers notify the company in writing before delivery.
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AMC oversight bill signed into law in Illinois
Illinois became the 29th state to enact a law that provides for comprehensive oversight of appraisal management companies. Gov. Pat Quinn signed Senate Bill 1539 into law Aug. 26, and it took effect immediately.
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USFRA kicks off The Food Dialogues on 9/22
The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance will host The Food Dialogues, a town hall-style discussion to address Americans' questions about how their food is grown and raised and the long-term impact of the food they are eating.
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BASF close to selling nitrogen assets to Yara
BASF SE is nearly finished selling its nitrogen fertilizer assets business to Yara International ASA, according to sources quoted by Bloomberg.
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La Niña returns; may strengthen, linger
The weather phenomenon known as La Niña, which contributed to extreme weather around the globe in the first half of 2011, returned in August and is expected to gradually strengthen and continue through winter in the Northern Hemisphere, U.S. government forecasters said Thursday.
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CoBank-U.S. AgBank merger approved by stockholders
CoBank and U.S. AgBank announced that their voting stockholders have approved the proposed plan of merger between the two banks.
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Drought stress blankets Indiana
The abnormally dry and drought conditions that most of Indiana is experiencing don't appear to change as farmers statewide prepare for harvest, according to the associate state climatologist.
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Gowan Company and EcoFlora to partner
Gowan Company LLC has reached an agreement with EcoFlora to create a joint venture called EcoFlora AGRO. Through this joint venture Gowan Company and its global marketing companies will be the exclusive partner in developing, registering and marketing EcoFlora’s current unique plant extract based portfolio and their robust product pipeline.
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BIG PICTURE
By Doane Economist
Dow Jones published its September surveys of analysts’ expectations this week for the Sept. 12 USDA crop production and ending stocks forecasts. The survey found the average corn production forecast at 12.505 billion bushels and soybeans at 3.025 billion. USDA forecast 12.914 billion and 3.056 billion respectively in August. As for ending stocks, the old-crop guesses are at 974 million bushels for corn and 232 million for beans. In August, USDA forecast 940 million and 230 million respectively. For the new crop, the forecasts averaged 636 million for corn and 152 million for soybeans versus August at 714 million and 155 million. Wheat ending stocks project to 667 million, little changed from 671 million.