USDA Grants Protection to 25 New Plant Varieties
by USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued certificates of protection to developers of 25 varieties of seed-reproduced and tuber-propagated plants.

'Doing Business' on the Internet is Doing Very Well
by Tom Johnson

A number of reports released late last month indicate that retail usage on the Internet is way up over last year. In fact, researching products and services is now the third most popular use of the Internet, a new Harris Poll shows. Forty-one percent of adults surveyed in December said they went online "Often" or "Very Often" to research products and services.

[VA] Governor Warner Approves Nation’s Most Sweeping Public/Private Partnership in Technology
by Virginia Governor's Office

[VA]Governor Mark R. Warner today [Nov. 15, 2005] approved an interim agreement with Northrop Grumman Corporation to modernize the state’s information technology infrastructure that will result in a $269.6 million capital investment in the Commonwealth.

Adoption High for Online Product Renewal Service
by Tom Johnson

E-Renewals, the online pesticide product renewal service from Kelly Registration Systems, Inc., is expected to break records again this year as more companies experience the convenience and ease of electronic product renewal.

After Katrina: Barge Bottlenecks Costing Grain Producers
by Elton Robinson, Primedia

Farmers with no on-farm storage and a crop that can’t wait to be harvested see the disincentive to deliver grain in the form of low cash prices for their crops.

AgraQuest Launches Ballad™ Biofungicide for Asian Soybean Rust
by AgraQuest, Inc.

AgraQuest, Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of Ballad™ Biofungicide for control of Asian soybean rust on organic soybeans and other legumes. Ballad is based on a naturally occurring patented strain of the bacterial species Bacillus pumilus, which produces natural pesticidal compounds. These compounds, present in every container of Ballad, destroy the cell walls of the rust pathogen. Ballad is AgraQuest's first entry into the large-acreage row crops. To date, the company has targeted high value fruits, nuts, vegetables, and home gardens.

Alaska to Label Biotech Fish
by Eric Kelderman, Stateline.org Staff Writer

A new Alaskan law requiring a special label for genetically modified fish is on the cutting edge of national efforts to regulate biotechnology in the food chain.

APS, PMN Launch Online Soybean Rust Center
by American Phytopathological Society

The American Phytopathological Society (APS), in conjunction with the Plant Management Network (PMN) and other scientific organizations, is overseeing a new online soybean rust center at www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/infocenter. Visitors do not need a subscription to PMN to access the online center.

Arysta Lifescience Completes Acquisition of Callietha Investments
by Arysta Lifescience

Transaction gives Arysta LifeScience sole ownership of Volcano companies.

BASF Agricultural Products Presents Current Pipeline Outlook
by BASF

The peak sales potential of its development pipeline increased to €800 million, BASF Agricultural Products announced on March 14, 2007. The company promoted one promising fungicide to its development from its discovery pipeline. BASF is currently working on developing seven new active ingredients and on one new herbicide tolerance project.