China finds illegal work on genetically modified corn, cotton seed

BEIJING, Feb 9 (Reuters) - China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Tuesday it had found eight companies and research institutes that illegally produced or carried out research on genetically modified (GM) seeds. The companies included two seed marketing companies in northeast Liaoning province and two corn breeders in northwest Xinjiang province who were producing GM corn seed. The ministry said seeds were confiscated and the companies fined. China does not permit the production or planting of GM corn.

Corn cultivation disrupts the global ecosystem - The Statesman

Corn production has increased from 765 million metric tons in 2010 to 1116.41 million metric tons in 2020. The United States is the foremost corn producer, accounting for about 360 million metric tons production. The US is followed by China, Brazil and the EU.

Column: Record new-crop U.S. soybean sales fly under radar versus China’s corn haul

China bought an astounding amount of U.S. corn last week and some market-watchers believe even more sales are possible, but these historic deals have somewhat overshadowed the fact that domestic export demand for the upcoming marketing year is already on a record pace.

White House reviewing ‘phase one’ agreement with China

China bought a mammoth 5.85 million tonnes of American-grown corn last week.

Feedlots are emptier than usual as tough cattle markets continue | Agweek

Cattle producers and lenders are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact of poor profitability in the feedlot business. A lender and producer from south-central North Dakota talk about the cause, impact and countermoves they’re making.

Iowa ag trade bounces back, but sustained success depends on river infrastructure and smart regulatory policy

Iowa farms are sequestering carbon, improving soil health, and moving forward with a culture of conservation that leaders of all parties can support.

Young agri-entrepreneur shines in rural Zimbabwe

While agriculture forms an integral part of Zimbabwe’s economy, many young people still think of it as back-breaking labor that offers little economic benefit. However, things are slowly changing, …

Zimbabwe’s Resilience Building Fund, boosts agricultural production in Beitbridge

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Startup Joyn Bio aims to reduce pollution involved in large-scale agriculture

A startup is using the tools of synthetic biology to reduce the pollution involved in large-scale agriculture.The big picture: We face two major challenges around farming: how to feed a still-growing global population, and how to do so without ruining the environment. Advances in synthetic biology could help us do both.Support safe, smart, sane journalism. Sign up for Axios Newsletters here.How it works: Joyn Bio, a joint venture between synthetic biology leader Ginkgo Bioworks and life sciences giant Bayer, is experimenting with engineering microbes that could help replace the synthetic fertilizer and chemicals used in conventional farming. * The company is focusing first on developing custom microbes that could fix nitrogen in the soil to feed growing cereal crops like corn, what Joyn Bio CEO Michael Miille calls the "Holy Grail of agriculture."Background: Plants need nitrogen to grow efficiently, but there's not enough naturally in soil to support the crops needed to feed a global population of nearly 8 billion people. * The Haber-Bosch process to artificially fix nitrogen using fertilizer transformed agriculture — by one estimate only 4 billion people could be supported using natural fertilizer — but the energy intensity of the process contributes to climate change, while fertilizer runoff leads to water pollution and aquatic dead zones.Details: Joyn Bio identifies natural microbes in the soil that show promise in fixing nitrogen and then "engineers them to perform at an entirely different level," says Miille. * The company aims to engineer microbes that can fix nitrogen efficiently enough that synthetic fertilizer use could be cut by 30–50% without affecting crop yield. * Miille says that currently, Joyn Bio's engineered microbes are efficient enough to reduce fertilizer use by 10% or so, though the company still needs to overcome regulatory hurdles and consumer acceptance before it could reach the marketplace."Agriculture needs innovation to be successful. The status quo is not going to get us the...

Kansas Bankers Conservation Award: Shoups continue family tradition in caring land

Shoup Farms: Doug and Lara Shoup and their children Garrett, Cade, Charlotte and Leanne. Courtesy photo. By Lori Kuykendall Osage County Conservation District Manager This year’s Kansas Banker Award for soil conservation goes to Shoup Farms. Shoup Farms is located north of Lyndon, and operate