GMO

WSJ reports that Peter Barfoot and Graham Brookes, two British researchers calculated the environmental benefit from not having to run tractors to spray pesticides on GMO crops. The effect in 2014, they wrote, was “equivalent to removing nearly 10 million cars from the roads...

WSJ reports that farmers reconsider the GMO revolution and that behind the wave of multi-billion dollar mergers is a moment of change for the American farmer. The paper stated that farmers are finding it harder to justify the high prices for GMO or modified seed and weeds are evolving to resist herbicides forcing the use of more chemicals...

Successful Farming writes that the USDA never found how an experimental GMO variety by Monsanto ended up on a farm in eastern Oregon in 2013, and it is again stumped by 22 stalks of a sister strain found recently in Washington state. APHIS spokesperson Andre Bell says Washington State “is a minor incident involving only 22 volunteer plants and that the USDA routinely handles these types of inciden

Good news for Monsanto, WSJ reports that Argentina’s government resolved a dispute over GMO seed that will now allow biotech companies like Monsanto to collect royalties on crop genes. It is a temporary resolution as the government works through a law that will “preserve the rights of producers and sustainability of the industry” according Argentina Agriculture Minster...

After farmers alleged losses from China rejecting shipments of genetically modified corn, Syngenta AG has now sued several grain-trading firms. Dow Jones reports the lawsuit that was filed last week stems from a legal dispute that arose last year...

Last week - the European Commission approved 17 different genetically modified agricultural products for food and feed through careful, scientific analysis. However - with the announcement - the American Farm Bureau says the EC also undermined its principled position by recommending individual states be permitted to opt out of importation or use of the products within their own borders... Read Mor

During the Organic Trade Association luncheon last week - Montana Senator and organic farmer Jon Tester said advocates would have to work hard to achieve labeling of genetically modified foods. Tester says more farmers would transition to organic if land-grant colleges paid more attention to organics...

A recount has confirmed Oregon’s GMO labeling ballot initiative was voted down in November.

Unsurprisingly, Canada made public it’s disappointment following the announcement of an appeal by the U.S. regarding the latest action on Country of Origin Labeling by the World Trade Organization.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced a delay in the volume requirements ruling for the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard.