Tuesday February 3 Ag News

Annie’s Project: Farm Business Planning Course Begins Feb. 19

Annie’s Project courses have been offered to Iowa women for over 10 years through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. More than 1,500 Iowa women have participated, taking steps toward building agricultural risk management skills and putting those skills to work on their own farms.

This month, ISU Extension and Outreach is offering a specialized course on value added agriculture farm business plan development. The course, specifically for women, will be held in Ames.
Annie's Project: Farm Business Planning begins Feb. 19.

The course consists of six five-hour sessions and will cover the five areas of agricultural risk:
-    Financial planning – Developing cash flow projections and estimating income
-    Human Resource planning – Identifying labor needs and assessing insurance coverage
-    Legal planning – Dealing with regulations and incorporating your business
-    Production planning – Gaining access to land and using online production planning tools
-    Documenting your goals and action steps – Writing and organizing a business plan

“By bringing local professionals into the classroom, women considering or already involved in adding value to their on-farm production will develop new networks and have new resources to grow their businesses,” said Margaret Smith, value added agriculture specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

Besides presentations, there will be class activities, question and answer discussions and homework. When they complete the course, participants will have a business plan ready for use in their agricultural operation.

“The Annie’s Project: Farm Business Planning course offers women a unique opportunity to not only learn more about farm business management, but to come away with a written action plan,” said Madeline Schultz, Iowa Annie’s Project state coordinator with ISU Extension and Outreach.

The course is organized to minimize travel time from all parts of the state. It will be held on Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m. and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The six session dates are:
-    Feb. 19 and 20 – Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, 2055 Ironwood Court, Ames
-    March 5 and 6 – Des Moines Area Community College – Hunziker Ctr, 1420 South Bell Avenue, Ames
-    March 19 and 20 – Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, 2055 Ironwood Court, Ames

Cost is $75 and includes lunches and course materials. For more info or to register online, go to: www.aep.iastate.edu/annie/2015/v15ames. Or contact Lani McKinney, Value Added Agriculture, at 515-294-9483 or lanim@iastate.edu.



ISU Extension Offers Field Crop Scout School

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer a Field Crop Scout School on Saturday, March 7, in the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center in Ames. Designed for beginning crop scouts, the day-long course features sessions on crop growth and development, weed, disease and insect identification, and scouting methods and techniques.

“Crop scouting is critical to identifying what’s happening in the field,” said Mark Licht, cropping systems agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “In-season and post-season corrective management decisions can be made to increase productivity and profitability from well informed crop scouting.”

Extension field agronomists will provide crop scouting tips and tricks, an overview of plant and pest samples, specific crop scouting skills and a review of the main concepts. ISU Extension specialists, field agronomists and staff will be available to review samples and answer questions. Instructors for this day-long Field Crop Scout School include:
-    Erik Christian, agronomy lecturer, Iowa State
-    Bob Hartzler, weed specialist, ISU Extension and Outreach
-    Erin Hodgson, entomologist, ISU Extension and Outreach
-    Mark Johnson, field agronomist, ISU Extension and Outreach
-    Mark Licht, cropping systems agronomist, ISU Extension and Outreach
-    Daren Mueller, plant pathologist, ISU Extension and Outreach
-    Virgil Schmitt, field agronomist, ISU Extension and Outreach

Registration opens at 8 a.m. with sessions beginning at 8:30 a.m. and adjourning at 4 p.m. Space is limited; registration must be completed before midnight, Feb. 27. Cost is $100 and includes field guides, course handouts, lunch and breaks. Register with a credit card online at www.aep.iastate.edu/scout. Or print a flier and mail the registration.



IOWA MONTHLY CROP CONDITION REPORT

January saw temperatures mostly above normal with little snow, which helped stretch hay supplies by allowing cattle to graze stalks longer than usual according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Some reporters commented that the lack of snow cover and strong winds created slight erosion problems. Average snow depth for Iowa was 3 inches, most of which came the last day of January.

As January came to a close, topsoil moisture levels rated 1 percent very short, 8 percent short, 86 percent adequate, and 5 percent surplus.  The Central and West Central portions of Iowa reported the highest moisture levels with 97 and 98 percent in adequate to surplus, respectively.

The State saw a slowdown in grain movement from December, with January grain movement rated 30 percent none, 42 percent light, 25 percent moderate, and 3 percent heavy. In some areas grain movement was reported as light due to unfavorable spot prices.  Availability of hay and roughage supplies was 0 percent very short, 6 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 13 percent surplus.

Livestock conditions were reported as better than normal for the month of January, with some reports of calving.

IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
Provided by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
General Summary. Iowa temperatures averaged 21.3° or 1.9° above normal while precipitation totaled 0.56 inches or 0.36 inches below normal. This ranks as the 51 st warmest and 33 rd driest January among 143 years of records.

Temperatures. The month had a split personality for temperatures with most of the first two weeks of January averaging below normal while the month finished with 17 consecutive warmer than normal days. Wind chill readings dipped below -30° on the 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th with lowest readings of -35° at Clarion, Spencer and Storm Lake on the morning of the 6th and again at Clarion and Mason City on the morning of the 7th. Actual temperatures bottomed out at -25° at Cherokee on the morning of the 13 th. Temperatures dipped below zero somewhere in the state every day from the 4th through the 14th. However, the lowest temperature for the remainder of the month was 6° above zero at Cresco on the 30th. Daytime highs reached into the sixties on the 16th (62° at Clarinda, Red Oak and Shenandoah) and 28 th (67° at Shenandoah) over southwestern Iowa. The Shenandoah reading on the 28 th was a record high for that date and location (old record 61° in 2013).

Heating Degree Day Totals. Home heating requirements, as estimated by heating degree day totals, averaged 15% less than last January and 5% less than normal. Heating degree day totals so far this heating season are running 9% less than last year at this time, but 1% more than normal.

Precipitation. The relatively dry weather pattern that has prevailed in Iowa since mid-October persisted until January 31 st when Iowa’s heaviest snow storm in five years arrived. This late month storm began with rain on the morning of the 31 st with the rain gradually changing to snow during the afternoon and evening hours. Snow fell statewide before ending during the afternoon and evening of February 1st.  Storm totals varied from 2.2 inches near Spirit Lake to 16.0 inches at Le Claire. Greatest amounts fell along and just north of the Interstate 80 corridor from Des Moines to the Quad Cities. A statewide average of 8.3 inches of snow fell across Iowa, the highest storm total since December 23-27, 2009. However, the vast majority of Iowa’s weather stations make their once-daily observations at 7 a.m., prior to the arrival of the storm on the 31 st. Thus, most of the precipitation and snowfall from this storm will go into the record books for February. The month’s greatest precipitation total was 1.53 inches at Burlington with Lowden reporting the most snow with 15.1 inches (both of these locations measure at midnight). However, for the month ending at 7 a.m. January 31, only 0.02 inches of precipitation fell at Hastings and Sidney while New Market recorded only 0.4 inches of snow for the same period. The largest precipitation event occurring entirely within January came on the 5th with widespread snowfall of four to six inches from northwest to east central Iowa. High winds combined with dry powdery snow to result in blizzard warnings being issued for parts of northern Iowa on the night of the 3 rd and again on the 8th. The statewide average snowfall for the month was 6.3 inches. This is 1.4 inches below normal and ranks as the 53 rd lowest January total among 128 years of record.



Producer Support of Beef Checkoff Remains High

Three out of four producers support the beef checkoff, while the number who disapprove of the program, at just 11 percent, is the lowest in program history, according to a recent survey of 1,209 beef and dairy producers nationwide.

The random survey conducted by the independent firm Aspen Media & Market Research in late December 2014 and early January 2015 found an overwhelming majority of beef and dairy producers continue to say their beef checkoff has value for them in many ways:
-    81 percent of producers say the beef checkoff has helped to contribute to a positive trend in beef demand.
-    72 percent of producers say the beef checkoff contributes to the profitability of their operations.
-    76 percent say the checkoff is there for them in a crisis.
-    76 percent say the checkoff represents their interests.
-    66 percent of producers believe the checkoff is well managed.

“Despite a great deal of discussion about the future of the checkoff, along with being challenged by critics of the checkoff and groups who would like to see us go out of business,” says Producer Communications Working Group (PCWG) Chair Jeanne Harland, “beef and dairy producers continue to value their checkoff for building demand, contributing to their profitability and for representing their interests. And, with all that has gone on in the past six months, I believe it’s significant that the fewest number of producers in the history of the program say they ‘disapprove.’

“The beef checkoff has, for nearly 29 years, served the beef industry with programs producers want, and that is why we see the checkoff ‘as representing our interests’ according to the survey,” says Harland.

One of the key priorities of the working group which Harland chairs is to ‘increase the understanding of how the checkoff works ... how [it] benefits them and their role as stakeholders,’ she notes.



2014 Beef Board Annual Report Available

The 2014 Cattlemen's Beef Board Annual Report now is available at 2014annualreport.beefboard.org.  Beginning this year, the report is wholly electronic, with no hardcopies available, but the publishing program used allows for transformation to a pdf document for easy printing.

Included in the report are fiscal year 2014 financials from the auditing firm of CliftonLarsenAllen, LLP, as well as summaries of results from each Beef Board budget category, including promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications.

The goal of the publication is to demonstrate to beef producers and importers who pay into the checkoff not only how their dollars are being invested, but also the results of those investments.

"As we reflect on 2014, I am pleased to say that there is no shortage of achievements to report from our national Beef Checkoff Program," CBB Chairman Kim Brackett notes in her opening letter in the report. "Given the ongoing budget challenges we have experienced, I am proud of what we accomplished with our Beef Checkoff Program in fiscal 2014, and I think our entire industry should be excited about those successes!

"As always," Brackett continued, "we had more than our share of challenges — drought, misinformation about our industry and product, and our acutely tight supply situation. But what will become clear to you as you read this annual report is that we have made progress in our efforts to improve the beef industry’s position in the marketplace in recent years by improving consumers’ understanding of our industry and strengthening their preference for our product."

In addition to the direct link above, all CBB annual reports since the start of the national checkoff program are available through www.MyBeefCheckoff.com, under the "Resources" tab.



BQA Free Certification Period Announced

During the Annual Cattle Industry Convention, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI), announced a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) free-certification period — from now through April 15. Beef and dairy producers can take advantage of free BQA certification online courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. and the BQA program, funded in part by the beef checkoff.

BQA helps increase consumer confidence in the beef industry by demonstrating that the industry strives to produce a safe, wholesome product. All segments of the industry can benefit from becoming BQA-certified, including producers from cow-calf, dairy, stocker and feedyard operations, and anyone affiliated with those segments. With an overall focus on animal handling and disease treatment and prevention, online certification modules are customized to meet each segment’s needs.

“The beef industry has embraced BQA as the right thing to do for our industry. BQA certification helps producers share with consumers their commitment and pride in raising quality beef,” says Josh White, executive director, producer education and national BQA program leader. “The partnership with BIVI helps encourage producers and their employees to become certified.”

Beyond reinforcing industry best practices for cattle production, obtaining BQA certification can be a useful tool in an ever-changing industry landscape where consumers want to be assured they are receiving a product raised in ways that align with BQA.

Certification in BQA is rapidly increasing through the partnership of free online certifications from BIVI, now entering its third year. More than 16,000 have enrolled in the BQA free certification program since BIVI partnered with BQA in 2013 — an impressive number that reflects both beef and dairy producers’ commitment to producing a quality beef product.

For more information about your beef checkoff investment, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.



Rounding Out Beef Demand Numbers for 2014
As cattle producers from across the country gather this week for the Annual Cattle Industry Convention, we thought it appropriate to once again catch up with Glynn Tonsor, Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. Referring to the All Fresh Beef Demand Index, Tonsor provides an update about beef demand numbers for the end of 2014.  He says,  “For the fourth quarter of 2014, demand was up notably – 13.2% - that’s a very large increase, and that follows up on two particularly good quarters when the third quarter was up over 9% and second quarter was over 5%. It’s a really good way to wrap out 2014 compared to the fourth quarter of 2013.”

Tonsor continues... “Going into 2014, it was pretty much known that U.S. consumers were going to be presented fewer beef pounds and in econ speak, if demand was flat, that would’ve led to higher retail prices. And I have some kind of expectations on how much higher those would’ve been. The fact that those prices were even higher than anticipated, tells me beef demand improved.” 

“I have a hard time separating the fourth quarter from the previous couple of quarters. I mean I recognize that numerically it was stronger than the past two. But we continue to have a pull-down of available supplies and basically the ability to pass on those prices kept going up and up and up. But it’s really just a continuation of Q2 and Q3 so I don’t want to overreact to just the fourth quarter, but it’s really a continuation of a good story from the previous couple quarters. And at the end of the day, I think the public has been surprisingly willing to pay higher prices than they quote unquote have to.”

Tonsor gives a final note to joint checkoff committee and subcommittee members gathering this week in San Antonio to discuss the checkoff’s promotion, retail, foodservice and consumer information programs that are focused on demand-building.  He says,  “Those record prices that were observed – you know anybody that sold an animal in 2014 got a higher price for it than they probably anticipated in most cases – particularly the cow/calf producer – that was driven not just by the tight supply, but also those prices were higher because beef demand was so strong. Almost half of the price increase that occurred in the second half of 2014, I can attribute as much to demand strength as I can tight supply. Tight supplies have a role, but the historically high cattle prices that were observed would not have been as high if we didn’t have strong beef demand. But as the tight supply part of the story eases, it’s going to become even more obvious the role of demand.” 



Refuge Compliance Report Shows Increased Compliance in 2014

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is pleased to announce that the enhanced Compliance Assurance Program (CAP), which includes on-farm refuge assessments, an online survey, and IRM education and awareness, is seeing strong success and an increase in both the overall number of growers planting their corn refuge and integrated refuge products.

The CAP is designed to improve compliance with Insect Resistance Management (IRM) requirements. The Agricultural Biotechnology Stewardship Technical Committee (ABSTC), a consortium of Bt corn registrants, submits an annual CAP report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describing industry-coordinated compliance assurance efforts for Bt traits.

Adoption of integrated refuge products result in automatic compliance in the Corn Belt
Highlights of the survey indicate a strong adoption of integrated refuge products, which include Bt and refuge seed interspersed in a single bag or container.

“We are pleased to see that the number of growers planting integrated refuge products on their entire farming operation has more than tripled this year and the percent of those who planted exclusively integrated product increased from 18 percent in 2013 to 47 percent in 2014. Also, an additional 27 percent are planting at least one integrated product,” said Mark Kimm, ABSTC IRM subcommittee co-chair.

ABSTC projects that the adoption of integrated products will continue to increase, contributing to the overall increase in compliance, which helps preserve Bt corn technology durability.

Survey shows that most growers are in compliance
In 2014, the majority of growers surveyed planted the required refuge size on their farms and planted it within the required distance for all of their Bt corn fields. Furthermore, the survey indicated that the percentage of growers not planting any refuge acres continues to be low.

The ABSTC continues to promote educational programs and strategies to preserve the efficacy of Bt technology. In addition, the ABSTC partners with NCGA to ensure that NCGA’s membership and networks are fully informed of refuge requirements and the CAP. A collaboration supporting the use of best management practices for corn rootworm (CRW) was initiated.  The campaign includes advertisements and editorials in local publications on practices to utilize to help protect your fields from CRW.

“This type of collaboration is vital to the industry’s efforts to showcase the benefits of best management practices – such as crop rotation and trait selection,” said John Linder, chairman of the National Corn Growers Association Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team. “The industry is committed to the success of the grower. The introduction of integrated refuge products and educational programs provide our grower’s options that help manage challenging on-farm situations, as well as durability and stewardship of the industry’s trait technologies.”



Informa: Big Crops Get Bigger

Private analytical firm Informa Economics sees South American corn and soybean production largely increasing from its previous estimates.

The only unchanged forecast was for Brazilian soybean production at 93 mmt. That's lower than USDA's latest 95.5 mmt estimate, but earlier on Tuesday, USDA's Foreign Ag Service attaché said in a report that it now appears Brazil's soybean production will be more in the range of Informa's estimate, around 93 mmt.

The forecast for Brazilian corn production came in at 72.8 mmt, 550,000 metric tons larger than last month's estimate. Informa sees the main corn harvest at 28.8 mmt and winter corn harvest at 44 mmt.

In Argentina, corn and soybean production estimates were raised estimates by 1 million metric tons and 1.5 mmt respectively. Favorable weather has improved corn's yield potential, and it now sees the crop at 23 mmt, or 905 million bushels. The soybean crop, at 57 mmt, is about 2.2 billion bushels, Informa said.



Retail Fertilizers Still on the Rise

Fertilizer prices are increasing, but at a fairly slow, steady rate, according to retailers tracked by DTN for the fourth week of January 2015.

All eight of the major fertilizers edged higher compared to a month earlier, but none of the eight were up any significant amount. DAP had an average price of $568/ton, MAP $597/ton, potash $487/ton and urea $472/ton. 10-34-0 had an average price of $585/ton, anhydrous $707/ton, UAN28 $326/ton and UAN32 $367/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.51/lb.N, anhydrous $0.43/lb.N, UAN28 $0.58/lb.N and UAN32 $0.57/lb.N.

Half of the eight major fertilizers are now double digits higher in price compared to January 2014, all while commodity prices are significantly lower from a year ago. 10-34-0 is 17% higher, anhydrous is 15% more expensive and both MAP and DAP are now 10% more expensive. In addition, potash is 3% higher compared to a year earlier.

Three nutrients are now lower compared to retail prices from a year ago. UAN28 is down 2% while UAN32 is now 3% less expensive and urea is 5% less expensive from a year previous.



USDA Announces the Availability of $16 Million to Support Food Production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced the availability of more than $16 million in funding to support research, education and Extension efforts to improve food production and increase food security, defined as regular access to affordable, nutritious food. NIFA is funding the grants through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Food Security program.

"Agricultural production is inextricably linked to the health of our nation, and every American deserves access to safe, nutrient-rich food," said Sonny Ramaswamy, NIFA director. "This funding will increase food security by improving agricultural production systems at the regional and national levels and by encouraging diverse agricultural production."

The goal of the AFRI Food Security challenge area in 2015 is to develop more sustainable, productive, and economically viable plant and animal production systems. This program will also develop regionally-adapted crop cultivars and livestock breeds that contribute to rural economic development and prosperity while enhancing food security.

The fiscal year 2015 AFRI Food Security request for applications addresses four priorities of the 2014 Farm Bill to continue building a foundation of knowledge in fundamental and applied food and agricultural sciences that are critical for solving current and future societal challenges. The four priority areas include: plant health, production, and products; animal health, production, and products; food safety, nutrition and health; and agriculture economics and rural communities.

A letter of intent is due March 19, 2015, and full applications are due May 21, 2015. Please see the request for applications for specific program requirements.

The purpose of AFRI is to support research, education, and extension work by awarding grants that address key problems of national, regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of food and agriculture. AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grant program authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill and supports work in six priority areas: 1) plant health and production and plant products; 2) animal health and production and animal products; 3) food safety, nutrition and health; 4) bioenergy, natural resources and environment; 5) agriculture systems and technology; and 6) agriculture economics and rural communities.

The 2014 Farm Bill requires NIFA to establish Centers of Excellence for food and agricultural research, education, and extension. Applicants who meet the requirements of this funding opportunity are also eligible to apply for Center of Excellence designation as part of their grant application, which gives them priority consideration during the external peer review process. Information on applying for this designation can be found in the RFA.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. More information is at: www.nifa.usda.gov.



USDA Reports Dairy Products December 2014 Highlights
Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 1.00 billion pounds, 2.5 percent above December 2013 and 5.5 percent above November 2014.  Italian type cheese production totaled 444 million pounds, 4.2 percent above December 2013 and 7.2 percent above November 2014.  American type cheese production totaled 387 million pounds, 1.5 percent above December 2013 and 3.8 percent above November 2014.  Butter production was 167 million pounds, 3.3 percent above December 2013 and 17.4 percent above November 2014.

Dry milk powders (comparisons with December 2013)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 163 million pounds, up 29.9 percent.
Skim milk powders - 43.2 million pounds, down 25.7 percent.

Whey products (comparisons with December 2013)
Dry whey, total - 76.0 million pounds, down 9.9 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 91.6 million pounds, down 1.1 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 47.3 million pounds, up 1.6 percent.

Frozen products (comparisons with December 2013)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 51.3 million gallons, up 18.1 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 26.0 million gallons, up 15.3 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 2.51 million gallons, up 22.1 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 3.81 million gallons, down 20.4 percent.



Priaxor® D fungicide receives federal registration for use against strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot

Priaxor® D fungicide from BASF has received federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration. A combination fungicide containing three modes of action, Priaxor D fungicide helps manage strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot in soybeans while providing Advanced Plant Health benefits, including increased growth efficiency and stress tolerance.

Priaxor D fungicide will be a much-needed option for growers in states experiencing high levels of strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot, including Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

“Strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot is a major concern for growers, specifically in the Mid-South,” said Megan Andriankaja, Ph.D., Technical Market Specialist with BASF. “We are excited to introduce Priaxor D fungicide, the first three mode of action fungicide for soybean growers. Priaxor D fungicide will control a wide array of diseases, including strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot, and will provide Advanced Plant Health benefits to help maximize overall yield potential.”

Priaxor D fungicide is a combination of F500® and Xemium® fungicide, the same active ingredients as in Priaxor fungicide, combined with tetraconazole. The combination of these active ingredients can further increase the control of strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot in soybeans.

In Mid-South field trials, soybean acres treated with Priaxor D fungicide had a 1.8 severity of strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot on a 10-point scale. Acres treated with Priaxor fungicide alone experienced a 3.5 disease severity. The untreated check experienced 7.0 disease severity, demonstrating the need to use an effective triazole to control strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot.

“The first step to managing strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot is to plant a soybean variety that is resistant to the disease,” said Andriankaja. “When resistant soybean varieties are planted in low-risk areas of resistance, BASF recommends a proactive application of Priaxor fungicide. In addition to controlling frogeye leaf spot, Priaxor fungicide controls other diseases, including Septoria brown spot, anthracnose and aerial web blight.”

When a susceptible soybean variety is planted and strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot is suspected or confirmed in the region, BASF recommends an application of Priaxor D fungicide. An application of Priaxor D fungicide provides excellent control of disease, including strobilurin-resistant frogeye leaf spot, while providing Advanced Plant Health benefits.

State registrations for Priaxor D fungicide are expected in time for the 2015 growing season. Contact your local authorized BASF retailer or BASF representative for more information on Priaxor D fungicide.



FMC Acquires Global Rights to New Herbicide

FMC Corporation announced it has acquired all global rights to a novel, proprietary herbicide from Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and Ihara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. The new herbicide is highly effective in controlling broadleaf weeds and will be initially developed for use in corn, cereals, soybeans and sugarcane in key countries around the world.

"We are very pleased about the prospects of this new molecule given its potential across many crops, application flexibility and co-mixture opportunities," said Mark Douglas, president, FMC Agricultural Solutions. "This acquisition continues our strategic partnership with Kumiai and Ihara, two premier research companies that have developed a rich chemistry pipeline for new crop protection products that are critical for increased food production."

Douglas adds that the company's global organization will develop the full potential of this new chemistry, part of a robust pipeline of six new active ingredients that includes other herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.

Kumiai and Ihara discovered the chemistry in their research laboratories and partnered with FMC during the last two years to evaluate and develop the commercial potential for this new active ingredient. FMC owns all intellectual property rights to the new molecule.