Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Crop protection products maker FMC Corp. has launched a strategic review of its non-core assets, including a potential sale of its non-crop business. A slowdown in demand for herbicide and pesticides as well as excess inventories had resulted in large destocking in South America, denting the U.S.-based company’s earnings for much of the […] Read more
Ag chem maker FMC looks to sell non-core assets
Ag input firm FMC’s shares tumble after lowering financial targets
Partners 'rapidly reduced inventory levels'
Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — Shares of FMC Corp. fell more than eight per cent on Monday after the agricultural products supplier cut its outlook for the year on volume declines in most of its major markets. “Towards the end of May, we experienced unforeseen and unprecedented volume declines in three out of our four operating regions, as […] Read more
Feds lift ‘pause’ on increases in crop chemical MRLs
New set of rules also calls for 'cosmetic' pesticide use to be banned on federal lands
Reading Time: 6 minutes Proposals to increase a crop chemical’s maximum residue limits (MRLs) on foods and food crops in Canada can again seek federal approval, after being put on temporary hold two years ago. Among several other changes, a planned new package of federal regulatory amendments will put a gradual end to a “pause” imposed in August 2021 […] Read more
France confirms S-metolachlor herbicide ban with 18-month deadline
Ban would mostly affect corn, sunflower crops
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — France will proceed with a ban on major crop uses of herbicide S-metolachlor owing to concerns over water pollution, with farmers able to use the product for another 18 months, the agriculture ministry said on Friday. The decision follows a ruling in February by health and safety agency ANSES that main […] Read more
‘Keep it Clean’ program aims for more than just good advice
Program seen as 'one stop shop' for ensuring marketability of grains
Reading Time: 3 minutes As farmers plan for the upcoming season, they need to do their part to make certain their grain will be ready for market, come harvest time. “Market access issues in general are becoming a bigger issue globally,” said Ian Epp, an agronomy specialist and lead on market access and pesticides with the Canola Council of […] Read more
Ukraine faces lack of herbicides, pesticides for spring seeding
About a third of needed chemicals reported to be at hand
Reading Time: < 1 minute Kyiv | Reuters — Ukrainian farmers, which have already started the 2023 spring sowing, have only around 35 per cent of the herbicides and pesticides they need, analyst APK-Inform quoted on Monday official data as showed. The Russian invasion has left Ukraine seriously short of finances, seeds and crop protection products, which could have a […] Read more
U.S. trade commission sues pesticide makers, alleging price scheme
Reading Time: < 1 minute Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued two top pesticide manufacturers for allegedly entering into exclusive contracts with distributors that kept prices paid by farmers artificially high. The consumer watchdog agency was motivated to bring the case in part because rising costs and supply chain disruptions from Russia’s invasion of […] Read more
Antitrust probe in ag inputs dropped
Communications over FBN still 'concerning,' Competition Bureau says
Reading Time: 3 minutes Allegations suggesting ag chem sector players tried to derail an online farm-supply firm’s business in Western Canada haven’t turned up enough evidence for federal regulators to probe the matter further. Canada’s Competition Bureau announced Tuesday it’s now closed an investigation it launched in 2019 over allegations brought forward by the Canadian arm of Farmers Business […] Read more
Iqaluit confirms ‘exceedingly high levels’ of fuel in water supply
Water not safe for cooking or drinking, city says
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters –– The Canadian city of Iqaluit said lab results confirmed that fuel had entered its water supply, officials announced Friday. Analysis of samples from one of the city’s water tanks found “exceedingly high levels of various fuel components,” Amy Elgersma, Iqaluit’s chief administrative officer, said, adding it was likely diesel or kerosene. Residents in […] Read more
New B.C. youth work rules: Heavy lifting, ag chem handling out
New standards also lift province's 'general working age' to 16
Reading Time: 2 minutes “Light farm and yard work” are deemed appropriate for workers at ages 14 and 15 under new employment standards taking effect in British Columbia this fall. The province on Wednesday announced changes to its Employment Standards Act, which have been through the development and consultation stages since 2019, have now been finalized and will take […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
