This meta-analysis aimed at increasing knowledge on agronomic, environmental and toxicological traits of GE maize by analyzing the peer-reviewed literature (from 1996 to 2016) on yield, grain quality, non-target organisms, target organisms and soil biomass decomposition. [node:read-more:link]
Consumers are deeply suspicious of GMO foods--products made from genetically modified agricultural crops. I was concerned about the environmental impact and the integrity of the food production. But then I decided to teach a class on "Food Law" at the University of Chicago, and in preparation I read the literature—not the pamphlets, but rather the underlying science. I was astonished to discover that my prior suspicions were deeply misguided. [node:read-more:link]
Protesters chanting "cows lives matter" in front of steaks, roasts and ground chuck were kicked out of an East Side supermarket Saturday, the same store they protested in last Thanksgiving over turkeys.The protesters, one playing a guitar, loudly chanted "murder" and "cows lives matter" while filling the aisle in front of the meat display."The store manager said the protest prevented customers from making purchases, so she told the animal rights activists she was calling police," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain.The protesters left the store and went across the street, where police talked [node:read-more:link]
A judge has ordered California agricultural officials to stop spraying pesticides on public and private property to control insects that threaten the state's $45-billion agriculture industry.The injunction by a Sacramento County Superior Court judge, issued late last week, could throw a substantial hurdle in front of efforts by the state Department of Food and Agriculture to control dozens of crop-damaging pests such as the Asian citrus psyllid, which carries bacteria that have decimated the citrus industry in Brazil and Florida.Farmers and other property owners will still be able to use ch [node:read-more:link]
Bayer is trimming its crop portfolio to help move its acquisition of Monsanto past regulatory obstacles in 2018. "We have now also committed to divest our entire vegetable seed business," Bayer CEO Werner Baumann said in a press conference on Bayer's 2017 fiscal year earnings report. "Certain additional business activities of Bayer and Monsanto may also be sold or out-licensed." The final takeover of Monsanto, which is now valued at $62.5 billion, is likely to take longer than expected, Baumann added. Bayer had hoped to complete the deal in early 2018. [node:read-more:link]
Broad measures of unemployment are as low as at the peak of the mid-2000s boom. And job creation continues at a healthy clip. In other words, it’s time to stop calling this a recovery, and start calling it a boom. But one important economic indicator remains disturbingly subdued -- wages.In dollar terms, wage growth has been superficially healthy -- in January, average hourly earnings rose 2.9% from a year earlier. But consumer prices increased 2.1% during the same period. [node:read-more:link]
Demand for meat is going to remain firm throughout the rest of 2018, and U.S. livestock producers will continue to see favorable feed prices. But livestock producers are going to be pressured on market prices for beef, hogs and poultry products because of increased production in most livestock sectors. That's the projection from USDA's outlook for livestock and poultry.The beef, pork and broiler industries are all positioned for higher production and expansion. Exports also will rise for beef, pork and poultry products as well, USDA predicts. [node:read-more:link]
English-language Russian news outlets are publishing high volumes of articles that portray genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, in a negative light. In 2016, Russian news outlets RT and Sputnik published more articles that mentioned GMOs than the Huffington Post, Fox News, CNN, and Breitbart News combined. Russian coverage consistently played on vulnerabilities in the American GMO discussion. And unlike United States-based coverage, which was mixed on pro- or anti-GMO stance, Russian coverage was almost unanimously anti-GMO. [node:read-more:link]
Delaware is joining a growing number of states that are taking a collective approach to fighting gun violence, Gov. John Carney said. The "States for Gun Safety Coalition" was created earlier this month by the Democratic governors of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The governors of Delaware, Massachusetts and Puerto Rico all announced Monday that they would be joining the multi-state partnership. [node:read-more:link]
In what is being billed as progress toward a split-up next year, DowDuPont has named the three firms it intends to become. Two of the companies will retain the Dow and DuPont names. However, the third, an agricultural chemical and seed firm, will get a new identity: Corteva Agriscience.The Dow name will go to what is now called the materials science company. To be based in Midland, Mich., Dow’s former headquarters, the company would have had about $44 billion in sales and $9 billion in before-tax earnings in 2017. [node:read-more:link]
