Friday March 31 Ag News

2017 NEBRASKA PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS

Nebraska corn growers intend to plant 9.55 million acres this year, down 3 percent from 2016, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Soybean planted acreage is expected to be a record high 5.70 million acres, up 10 percent from last year.

All hay acreage to be harvested is expected to total 2.50 million acres, up 2 percent from 2016.

Winter wheat acres seeded in the fall of 2016 are estimated at a record low 1.11 million, down 19 percent from last year.

Sorghum growers in Nebraska intend to plant 140,000 acres, down 30 percent from a year ago.

Oat intentions are estimated at 120,000 acres, down 11 percent from last year.

Dry edible bean acreage intentions are estimated at 150,000 acres, up 9 percent from 2016.

Sugarbeet growers expect to plant 48,000 acres, unchanged from last year.

Sunflower producers expect to plant 60,000 acres, up 45 percent from 2016. Oil type varieties account for 45,000 acres, up 55 percent from a year ago. Non-oil varieties made up the balance of 15,000 acres, up 20 percent from the previous year.

Dry edible pea acreage intentions are estimated at 45,000 acres, down 18 percent from last year.
Estimates in this report are based on a survey conducted during the first two weeks of March.



IOWA PROSPECTIVE PLANTINGS REPORT

 Iowa farmers intend to plant 13.3 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2017 according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Prospective Plantings report. This is a decrease of 600,000 acres from 2016 and, if realized, would be the lowest planted acreage since 2008.

Producers intend to plant 10.1 million acres of soybeans in Iowa this year. This is a 600,000 acre increase from 2016. If realized, this would be the largest planted acreage since 2006.

Iowa farmers intend to plant 135,000 acres of oats for all purposes, up 15,000 acres from last year.
Farmers in Iowa expect to harvest 1.0 million acres of all dry hay for the 2017 crop year. This is 90,000 acres more than harvested in 2016.

Planted acres of winter wheat, at 25,000 acres, is unchanged from last year.

The Prospective Plantings report provides the first official, survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers’ 2017 planting intentions. NASS’s acreage estimates are based on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of March from a sample of more than 84,000 farm operators across the United States with more than 2,900 from Iowa. Actual plantings will depend upon weather, economic conditions and the availability of production inputs at the time producers make their final planting decisions.



USDA Prospective Plantings - March 31, 2017
Corn Planted Acreage Down 4 Percent from 2016
Soybean Acreage Up 7 Percent
All Wheat Acreage Down 8 Percent
All Cotton Acreage Up 21 Percent

Corn planted area for all purposes in 2017 is estimated at 90.0 million acres, down 4 percent or 4.0 million acres from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage is expected to be down or unchanged in 38 of the 48 estimating States.

Soybean planted area for 2017 is estimated at a record high 89.5 million acres, up 7 percent from last year. Compared with last year, planted acreage intentions are up or unchanged in 27 of the 31 estimating States.

All wheat planted area for 2017 is estimated at 46.1 million acres, down 8 percent from 2016. This represents the lowest total planted area for the United States since records began in 1919. The 2017 winter wheat planted area, at 32.7 million acres, is down 9 percent from last year but up 1 percent from the previous estimate. Of this total, about 23.8 million acres are Hard Red Winter, 5.53 million acres are Soft Red Winter, and 3.38 million acres are White Winter. Area planted to other spring wheat for 2017 is estimated at 11.3 million acres, down 3 percent from 2016. Of this total, about 10.6 million acres are Hard Red Spring wheat. The intended Durum planted area for 2017 is estimated at 2.00 million acres, down 17 percent from the previous year.

All cotton planted area for 2017 is estimated at 12.2 million acres, 21 percent above last year. Upland area is estimated at 12.0 million acres, up 21 percent from 2016. American Pima area is estimated at 232,000 acres, up 19 percent from 2016.



NEBRASKA MARCH 1, 2017 GRAIN STOCKS

Nebraska corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2017 totaled 1.00 billion bushels, up 5 percent from 2016, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Of the total, 590 million bushels are stored on farms, up 11 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 412 million bushels, are down 3 percent from last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions totaled 138 million bushels, up 17 percent from last year. On-farm stocks of 45.0 million bushels are up 10 percent from a year ago and off-farm stocks, at 92.7 million bushels, are up 20 percent from 2016.

Wheat stored in all positions totaled 61.8 million bushels, up 45 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks of 3.40 million bushels are up 17 percent from 2016 and off-farm stocks of 58.4 million bushels are up 47 percent from last year.

Sorghum stored in all positions totaled 10.6 million bushels, up 27 percent from 2016. On-farm stocks of 690 thousand bushels are up 15 percent from a year ago and off-farm holdings of 9.89 million bushels are up 27 percent from last year.

On-farm oat stocks totaled 400 thousand bushels, down 47 percent from 2016.



IOWA GRAIN STOCKS REPORT

 Iowa corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2017, totaled 1.71 billion bushels, up 12 percent from March 1, 2016, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Grain Stocks report. This is the largest amount of corn in storage on March 1 since 1988. Of the total stocks, 58 percent were stored on-farm. The December 2016-February 2017 indicated disappearance totaled 690 million bushels, 5 percent above the 655 million bushels used during the same period last year.

Iowa soybeans stored in all positions on March 1, 2017, totaled 310 million bushels, down 6 percent from the 328 million bushels on hand March 1, 2016. Of the total stocks, 37 percent were stored on-farm. Indicated disappearance for December 2016-February 2017 is 148 million bushels, 16 percent more than the 127 million bushels used during the same quarter last year.

Iowa oats stored on-farm totaled 960 thousand bushels, down 4 percent from March 1, 2016.



USDA Grain Stocks - March 1, 2017
Corn Stocks Up 10 Percent from March 2016
Soybean Stocks Up 13 Percent
All Wheat Stocks Up 21 Percent

Corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2017 totaled 8.62 billion bushels, up 10 percent from March 1, 2016. Of the total stocks, 4.91 billion bushels were stored on farms, up 13 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 3.71 billion bushels, are up 6 percent from a year ago. The December 2016 - February 2017 indicated disappearance is 3.77 billion bushels, compared with 3.41 billion bushels during the same period last year.

Soybeans stored in all positions on March 1, 2017 totaled 1.73 billion bushels, up 13 percent from March 1, 2016. Soybean stocks stored on farms are estimated at 669 million bushels, down 8 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 1.07 billion bushels, are up 33 percent from last March. Indicated disappearance for the December 2016 - February 2017 quarter totaled 1.16 billion bushels, down 2 percent from the same period a year earlier.

All wheat stored in all positions on March 1, 2017 totaled 1.66 billion bushels, up 21 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks are estimated at 350 million bushels, up 9 percent from last March. Off-farm stocks, at 1.31 billion bushels, are up 24 percent from a year ago. The December 2016 - February 2017 indicated disappearance is 422 million bushels, 13 percent above the same period a year earlier.

Durum wheat stocks in all positions on March 1, 2017 totaled 52.8 million bushels, up 24 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks, at 32.4 million bushels, are up 83 percent from March 1, 2016. Off-farm stocks totaled 20.4 million bushels, down 18 percent from a year ago. The December 2016 - February 2017 indicated disappearance of 20.1 million bushels is 12 percent above the same period a year earlier.

Barley stocks in all positions on March 1, 2017 totaled 147 million bushels, up 7 percent from March 1, 2016. On-farm stocks are estimated at 56.5 million bushels, 2 percent below a year ago. Off-farm stocks, at 90.3 million bushels, are 13 percent above March 2016. The December 2016 - February 2017 indicated disappearance totaled 45.7 million bushels, 7 percent above the same period a year earlier.

Oats stored in all positions on March 1, 2017 totaled 63.2 million bushels, 16 percent below the stocks on March 1, 2016. Of the total stocks on hand, 22.3 million bushels were stored on farms, down 17 percent from a year ago. Off-farm stocks totaled 40.8 million bushels, down 16 percent from the previous year. Indicated disappearance during December 2016 - February 2017 totaled 12.3 million bushels, 64 percent above the same period a year ago.

Grain sorghum stored in all positions on March 1, 2017 totaled 180 million bushels, down 11 percent from a year ago. On-farm stocks, at 21.3 million bushels, are down 15 percent from last March. Off-farm stocks, at 159 million bushels, are down 10 percent from a year earlier. The December 2016 - February 2017 indicated disappearance from all positions is 128 million bushels, 6 percent above the same period last year.

Sunflower stocks in all positions on March 1, 2017 totaled 1.33 billion pounds, 27 percent above March 1, 2016. All stocks stored on farms totaled 584 million pounds and off-farm stocks totaled 745 million pounds. Stocks of oil type sunflower seed are 1.05 billion pounds; of this total, 488 million
pounds are on-farm stocks and 564 million pounds are off-farm stocks. Non-oil sunflower stocks totaled 277 million pounds, with 96.0 million pounds stored on the farm and 181 million pounds stored off the farm.



Nebraska On-Farm Research Opportunities
Keith Glewen, NE Extension Educator

The Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is always looking to work with growers who desire to discover answers to production practices in their farming operation. To give you an idea of what studies  growers investigated last year go to:  http://cropwatch.unl.edu/farmresearch/resultshome.

Do you have corn, soybean, alfalfa, dry beans, wheat, grain sorghum production related question you would like answered for your farming operation? If so, the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network is a good way to get started. Our contact information is located at: http://cropwatch.unl.edu/on-farm-research.

Below is a listing of soybean studies we are collaborating in a multi-state effort partnership with the United Soybean Board in 2017.
1.     Soybean Row-Spacing (15 in vs 30 in)
2.     Soybean Population (2-4 rates)
3.     Priaxor fungicide     (in-furrow)
4.     Starter vs No starter
5.     Ascend PGR

If you have an interest in the above or any other production related topic, contact  Laura Thompson (laura.thompson@unl.edu) ; Nathan Mueller nathan.mueller@unl.edu or myself Keith Glewen kglewen1@unl.edu and we’ll help you get started.



MADISON AND PIERCE COUNTY FARM BUREAU SPONSORS “ROAD TO PROPERTY TAX REFORM” IN PIERCE

Madison and Pierce County Farm Bureaus are sponsoring a “Road to Property Tax Reform” forum, Monday, April 10 at 12:00 p.m. at the White House in Pierce. The event is open to the public and lunch will be provided.

Bruce Rieker, vice president of governmental relations for Nebraska Farm Bureau, will present the property tax landscape in Nebraska and answer any questions.

“Whether you are a homeowner, a business owner, or a farmer or rancher, it’s important for everyone that is concerned about property taxes to learn what they can do to make a real difference. You don’t have to be a farmer or rancher to come. This event is open to everyone,” Aaron Fehringer, president of Madison County Farm Bureau said March 31.

Property taxes account for roughly 48 percent, almost half, of the total combined collections of property taxes, state sales taxes, and state income taxes. “We hope to see folks Monday, April 10 at 12:00 p.m. at the White House in Pierce to learn more about the ‘Road to Property Tax Reform,’” Fehringer said.



USDA Looks Into On-Farm Labor

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct its biannual Agricultural Labor Survey during the second half of April. The survey will collect information about hired labor from more than 440 Iowa farmers and ranchers.

“The beginning of the year is the time when agricultural producers plan out the rest of their growing seasons and is a great time to assess on-farm labor needs,” said Greg Thessen, Director of the NASS Upper Midwest Region. “The data that farm operators provide through NASS’s Agricultural Labor Survey helps federal policymakers base labor policies on accurate information.”

USDA and the U.S. Department of Labor will use statistics gathered in the Agricultural Labor Survey to establish minimum wage rates for agricultural workers, administer farm labor recruitment and placement service programs, and assist legislators in determining labor policies.

In the survey, NASS asks participants to answer a variety of questions about hired farm labor on their operations, including total number of hired farm workers, the average hours worked, and wage rates paid for the weeks of January 8-14 and April 9-15. For their convenience, survey participants have the option to respond online.

“By asking about two separate time periods each of the two times we collect data during the year, we are able to publish quarterly data and capture seasonal variation,” said Thessen. “This approach helps us ensure that anyone using our data can conduct more accurate analyses.”

NASS will publish survey results in the May 18 Farm Labor report. This and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.



Agriculture Groups Focus on Importance of Immigration Reform in Letter to President

The Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) this week emphasized the importance of immigration reform for America’s farmers and ranchers in a letter sent to President Donald Trump. 70 groups representing a variety of crops grown in every region in the country joined in sending the letter that calls for reforms to ensure that American agriculture has a legal, stable supply of workers—in both the long- and short-term—for all types of producers.

“[T]he economic health of food and fiber producers, and the rural communities in which they live, is threatened by the lack of a reliable, stable and legal workforce. Our farmers face growing shortages of legally authorized and experienced workers each year,” the groups state. “This shortage of labor negatively impacts our economic competitiveness, local economies and jobs. Reforms are necessary to address the agricultural labor shortage.”

The AWC points out that the labor shortage threatens jobs far beyond the farm. Indeed, each farmworker engaged in labor-intensive crop or livestock production supports two to three other jobs off farm, including those with transportation providers, input suppliers, processors and retailers.

“Many of those American jobs would be lost if access to agriculture’s current workforce is jeopardized without providing a mechanism for future legal workers,” the groups say.

The letter continues, “we support strengthening our border, and we believe to do so we must also relieve pressure on the border by providing a lawful path for foreign workers to enter the U.S. on a nonimmigrant basis.”

The groups point out the only current guest worker program available, the H-2A visa program, is not only cumbersome and dysfunctional but only allows for temporary or seasonal workers. Therefore, it cannot be used by farmers—such as those in dairy, livestock and mushrooms, among others—who have year-round need for workers.

“We can and must do better for our economy and country by modernizing our immigration system to include work eligibility for our existing workforce and farmer-friendly programs to provide for future legal guest workers,” the letter concludes. “Done properly, reform will deter illegal immigration, protect and complement our U.S. workforce, better respond to changing economic and demographic needs, and generate greater productivity and economic activity.”



Keeping Your Herd STD Free

April is Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness month, and cattle should not be left out of the conversation. Trichomoniasis, or trich, is a costly STD that can quickly spread during breeding season, reducing your calf crop by more than 50 percent.

There is currently no approved treatment for trich, and with such a volatile beef market, it’s a disease beef producers can’t afford to ignore. The reasons behind the harsh impact trich has on beef herds is threefold:
-    There is a reduced calf crop of up to 50 percent due to early embryonic loss or abortion.
-    Lighter weaning weight resulting from delayed conception.
-    Infected cattle must be culled and replaced, thereby losing the herd’s genetic improvement.

Knowing the trich status of the bull battery is essential in trich-prone areas. Before bull turnout, ask the all-important question: has trich been introduced into the herd? According to Boehringer Ingelheim senior professional services veterinarian Dr. John Davidson, disease surveillance is the best method to detect the presence of the venereal pathogen in the herd. Ideally, trich tests should be performed during the bull breeding soundness examination before turnout and also after breeding is complete.

Neighboring herds can also be a source of spreading the disease, especially in herds that utilize open-range grazing. “Stay in touch with neighbors to learn if trich has been identified or tested for in their herds. In the same way, be a good neighbor yourself and talk to your local veterinarian about testing your herd for trich very soon,” Dr. Davidson recommends. To know if your herd is at a higher risk level, visit TrichRegs.com, which indicates which states are commonly impacted by trich, as well as your state’s Animal Health Agency. Ranchers with little to no understanding of trich are 3.3 times more likely to have an infected bull. Dr. Davidson strongly suggests producers visit TrichConsult.org to up their knowledge on the disease.

While there is no approved treatment for trich, there is currently one vaccine available that has been proven to reduce the shedding of T. foetus, the disease causing organism – TrichGuard®. A 1992 study compared pregnancy and calving rates between beef heifers vaccinated with TRICHGUARD and control heifers after heifers were exposed to T. foetus-infected bulls and intravaginally inoculated with 10 million T. foetus organisms. Vaccinated heifers delivered twice the number of calves – 61 percent versus 31 percent – compared to non-vaccinated control heifers.

Reproductive health of the herd shouldn't be an avoided conversation, and trich should be managed the other 11 months of the year, too. Take control today and put management practices in place to avoid a trich wreck.



Ag Groups Reiterate Call for Rulemaking Reform

Encouraging continued bipartisan negotiations on meaningful regulatory reform legislation, the American Farm Bureau Federation and 47 other agricultural organizations again pledged their readiness to work with lawmakers on much-needed improvements to the rulemaking process.                                                                                                                       

In a letter to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Ranking Member Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), the groups reiterated key principles for crafting a regulatory reform measure: greater transparency, the use of sound science, greater sensitivity to costs and benefits, strengthened federalism with state partners, a stronger  public right to know, and accountability for agencies’ use of economic and scientific data.

Too often that process falls short, leaving those most affected by the regulation in the dark, from proposal to implementation.

“When an agency spends months or years working on a proposal, it should provide affected stakeholders – and its co-regulators in the states – sufficient time to examine, evaluate and respond to its proposal,” they said.

And when a rule has an impact that runs deep and wide, like EPA’s Waters of the U.S. rule, the agency must do its utmost to let stakeholders know how greatly they will be affected, according to the groups. The agency’s energy should not be directed toward lobbying the public through social media in favor of its own proposal, which EPA did with WOTUS.

The agricultural organizations also took issue with recent correspondence urging the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to oppose H.R. 5, a regulatory reform bill strongly supported by farmers and ranchers. The groups opposing H.R. 5 said it would jeopardize the safety of the U.S. food supply.

Unlike the groups that sent the opposition letter, the people and entities represented by AFBF and the other signing agricultural organizations, “have a vital, personal stake in assuring the safety and affordability of the food we put on America’s tables. They care about what they produce, what they sell, and what they and their neighbors eat. They have not encouraged, do not support and would not advocate for legislation or a rulemaking process that betrays what they do for a living,” the agricultural groups asserted.



ASA Welcomes EPA Chlorpyrifos Decision

The American Soybean Association (ASA) welcomed news yesterday from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the agency would deny a petition to remove the crop protection tool chlorpyrifos from the market. ASA President and Roseville, Ill., soybean farmer Ron Moore issued a statement highlighting the science-based nature of EPA’s action and calling on EPA to continue on such a path when reviewing future traits.

"Soybean farmers have long maintained that to have a functioning regulatory system, such decisions have to be based on science, and can't be based only on perception. Today's steps taken by EPA are positive ones in the long term effort toward a more science based system. The denial of the activist petition on chlorpyrifos came on the heels of statements from academia, farmers and consumers alike, all bearing out the safety of this product when used correctly and in accordance with the manufacturer’s label. Clearly there is a valuable and necessary role for EPA and other federal regulators in ensuring that products in the marketplace are safe, and it’s important that all parties recognize moving forward that those decisions must be made only on concrete scientific data.”



DEKALB, ASGROW AND DELTAPINE BRANDS TO CELEBRATE “NATIONAL AGRONOMY WEEK” APRIL 3-7

            From planting decisions to monitoring crop performance throughout the growing season, farmers depend heavily on their agronomic support team to help maximize their success.

            The DEKALB®, Asgrow® and Deltapine® brands are proud to launch and support “National Agronomy Week”, an annual observance to promote appreciation for the invaluable support provided by agronomists, seed dealers and crop consultants. This season, Agronomy Week will be celebrated April 3-7 and will continue to be observed the first Monday through Friday of April in years to come.

            “Agronomic experts with various affiliations and expertise play an integral role in the success of our customers, and we want to bring added attention to the important work they do,” said Jesse Hamonic, DEKALB Asgrow Deltapine brand lead. “We’re very proud to help spotlight the expertise and service these ag professionals provide for American farmers, regardless of seed brand.”

Hamonic indicated that spring is the perfect time to observe Agronomy Week, because that’s when agronomic support teams are focused on helping farmers kick off the planting season. Then, they continue that momentum with guidance all season long to help farmers finish strong at harvest.

            During Agronomy Week, farmers can give their agronomic team a “shout-out” at AgronomyWeek.com. All shout-out participants will automatically be entered into the Agronomy Week Giveaway Sweepstakes, with one farmer and three members of his agronomic support team winning a racing weekend grand prize. Farmers also can recognize their agronomic professionals and enter the contest via Facebook and Twitter using #AgronomyWeek and #contest.

            The DEKALB, Asgrow and Deltapine brands are giving their own shout-out to these integral members of the farming community via a digital video campaign featuring NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer. “Farming and racing have one important thing in common,” Hamonic noted. “Getting off to a fast start helps lead to a successful harvest or victory at the finish line.”

            The brands hope that Agronomy Week becomes a strong tradition within the ag industry, to highlight the importance of agronomic support and the role of these professionals on farms across the country.



FMC Corporation Announces Acquisition of Significant Portion of DuPont's Crop Protection Business; Simultaneous Sale of Health and Nutrition to DuPont

FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) and DuPont (NYSE: DD) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for FMC to acquire the portion of DuPont's Crop Protection business it must divest to comply with the European Commission ruling related to its merger with The Dow Chemical Company.  Additionally, DuPont will acquire FMC Health and Nutrition and receive $1.2 billion in cash.  FMC will acquire DuPont's global chewing pest insecticide portfolio, its global cereal broadleaf herbicides, and a substantial portion of DuPont's global crop protection R&D capabilities.  In 2017, FMC expects this acquired business will generate approximately $1.5 billion in revenue and $475 million of EBITDA.2

After closing of the acquisition, FMC Agricultural Solutions will become the fifth largest crop protection chemical company in the world by revenue, with estimated annual revenue of approximately $3.8 billion.

 "This is a significant step forward for FMC, and for our Agricultural Solutions business in particular," said Pierre Brondeau, FMC president, CEO and chairman.  "The combination of market-leading products from DuPont's crop protection portfolio and its world-class R&D capabilities will transform our Agricultural Solutions business into a tier-one ag technology company.

"The crop protection industry is undergoing significant change, as evidenced by the consolidation currently underway.  To continue to meet the demands of our customers, FMC needs to provide more options to growers looking for innovative solutions that protect crops and increase yields.  By combining these high-value products and R&D capabilities with our own product portfolio, pipeline and formulation expertise, FMC will be able to serve our customers better and accelerate the pace at which we bring new solutions to the market," said Brondeau.  "The concurrent sale of our Health and Nutrition business will allow us to maintain our strong balance sheet and ensure we can continue to invest in growing both our Agricultural Solutions and Lithium segments."

The Crop Protection Business Being Acquired
The acquired portion of DuPont's crop protection business includes an industry-leading selective insecticide portfolio consisting of Rynaxypyr®, Cyazypyr® and Indoxacarb.  The first two of these products have full patent protection over their respective active ingredients, and FMC expects these products will generate over $1 billion in 2017 revenue.  These selective insecticides are highly complementary to FMC's existing broad spectrum insecticide portfolio.

The acquired portfolio also includes DuPont's global cereal broadleaf herbicides, consisting of nine active ingredients and multiple formulated products.  This herbicide portfolio comes with strong, recognized brands and DuPont's proprietary PrecisionPac® technology.  These products bring significant diversification to FMC's crop exposure in herbicides, as well as increasing the balance of pre-emergent and post-emergent applications in FMC's portfolio.

The geographic spread of the revenue in this portfolio will result in a significant increase in FMC's presence in Asia and Europe.  Following the acquisition, FMC's crop protection revenue will be almost equally spread across all four major regions – North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

The underlying intellectual property related to the acquired products, including patents, registrations and data packages, will be transferred to FMC.  FMC will acquire a global manufacturing network to fully support these products, including four active ingredient manufacturing facilities and 10 regional formulation plants.

The acquisition will bring DuPont's world-class discovery and development organization, including its Delaware crop protection research headquarters, 14 regional development labs and related regulatory capabilities.  This organization includes a pipeline of 15 synthetic active ingredients currently in development, covering insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, and an extensive library of 1.8 million synthetic compounds.  The majority of DuPont's crop protection research workforce will transfer to FMC as part of this transaction.

FMC Health and Nutrition Divestiture
FMC Health and Nutrition will become part of DuPont's Nutrition & Health segment.

"FMC Health and Nutrition is a highly profitable business with leading positions across the vast majority of its portfolio, deep applications knowledge and an extensive global network of laboratories and manufacturing facilities.  It is a very complementary fit with DuPont's current portfolio.  We are confident it will thrive under DuPont's leadership and will contribute to their successful Nutrition & Health business," said Brondeau.

Additional Information
The transaction is subject to the closing of the Dow and DuPont merger, as well as customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.  Closing is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2017.  FMC expects this transaction to be immediately accretive to adjusted earnings per share, and will give updated guidance for 2017 at its earnings call scheduled for May 2, 2017.