The U.S. market for organic products had a record year in 2018, breaking the $50 billion mark for the first time, according to the Organic Trade Association. In seed news, the New York Times posted a great analysis of what is happening to our seed supply. Just 50 years ago, some 1,000 small and family-owned seed companies were producing and distributing seeds in the United States; by 2009, there were fewer than 100. Thanks to a series of mergers and acquisitions over the last few years, four multinational agrochemical firms — Corteva, ChemChina, Bayer and BASF — now control over 60 percent of global seed sales. In other news, even biotech is disappointed in GMO foods after an analysis of the past 25 years. An article this week stated, “the ag-biotech industry hasn’t produced much of anything that might help solve significant agricultural problems.” Four organizations representing farmers and conservationists have challenged EPA’s approval of the pesticide, XtendiMax. Meanwhile, farmers are reeling after Sonny Perdue mocks them as ‘whiners’ amid trade war bankruptcies.
Disappointment in the First 25 Years of GMO Foods
Even biotech is disappointed in GMO foods! “The ag biotech industry hasn’t produced much of anything else that might help solve significant agricultural problems.”
Farmers and conservationists challenge pesticide approval
Four organizations representing farmers and conservationists have challenged EPA’s approval of the pesticide, XtendiMax.
Organic products hit a record-breaking high
The U.S. market for organic products had a record year in 2018, breaking the $50 billion mark for the first time, according to the Organic Trade Association.
Including food and nonfood items, organic sales rose 6.3% to $52.5 billion last year, the association reported in its 2019 Organic Industry Survey. Record levels were reached for both segments: Sales climbed by 5.9% to $47.9 billion for organic foods and by 10.6% to $4.6 billion for nonfoods.
Save Our Food, Free The Seed
Just 50 years ago, some 1,000 small and family-owned seed companies were producing and distributing seeds in the United States; by 2009, there were fewer than 100. Thanks to a series of mergers and acquisitions over the last few years, four multinational agrochemical firms — Corteva, ChemChina, Bayer and BASF — now control over 60 percent of global seed sales.
Farmers Reel After Sonny Perdue Mocks Them As ‘Whiners’ Amid Trade War Bankruptcies
Perdue made the joke while getting heat last week from Minnesota farmers complaining about, among other things, the latest blow to their businesses from the trade war. China has canceled all purchases of U.S. farm products in retaliation for Trump’s decision to impose 10% tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese imports.
At a Farmfest listening session with farmers in Minnesota, Perdue hit back at the complaints with his joke: “What do you call two farmers in a basement? A whine cellar.”
