Ag Radar

Rallis Plan to acquire Metahelix completely

Rallis India Limited has informed the Exchange that the Board of Directors of the Company, at the their Meeting held on February 05, 2016, has approved increase of the Company's stake in Metahelix Life Sciences Ltd. (Metahelix), subsidiary of the Company, from 80.51% to 100%. Consequently Metahelix will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, on completion of the acquisition of the balance shares in Metahelix.

Alta Seeds launches DuPont™ Inzen™ herbicide tolerant sorghum G2250ALS in US

Alta Seeds has recently announced to launch DV G2250ALS grain sorghum with the DuPont™ Inzen™ herbicide (nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron) tolerance trait to US growers this season.

DV G2250ALS herbicide tolerant grain sorghum will be distributed for trial use this season. The bronze, medium maturity hybrid is suitable for dryland and irrigated systems and has displayed excellent drought tolerance, seedling vigor and threshability. The plant stands between 42 and 48 inches tall with a mid-bloom of 66 days.

"The top priority of Alta Seeds is to provide innovative traits and genetics that will help improve yields in conditions our growers face year after year," said Brad Holzworth, director of marketing for Advanta Seeds. "We are excited to be the first seed company to offer sorghum with the DuPont™ Inzen™ herbicide tolerance trait and we are taking the steps necessary to ensure its long-term success."

The sorghum hybrid with the Inzen™ herbicide tolerance trait was developed under a joint agreement of Advanta Seeds with DuPont Crop Protection. The hybrid announcement follows recent EPA label approval of the active ingredients nicosulfuron and rimsulfuron for use in an over-the-top herbicide application on sorghum with the tolerance trait.

Annual grass w**ds reduce U.S. sorghum yields by approximately 20 percent, or an average of 13 bushels per acre. The Inzen™ herbicide tolerance trait offers the potential to stem those losses by allowing more effective control of key grass w**ds, including foxtail, barnyardgrass, crabgrass and Texas panicum. The introduction of herbicide tolerant sorghum will enhance grower flexibility in w**d control for potentially improved yield and profitability. DuPont™ Zest™ will be a post emergent grass herbicide for this tolerant trait, but is not yet registered with EPA for use on grain sorghum containing the Inzen™ herbicide tolerance trait.

The new sorghum hybrid developed with non-GMO sorghum genetics is the first of three Inzen™ products in the Alta Seeds pipeline with proven resistance to ALS herbicides. Advanta Seeds and DuPont Crop Protection are working closely with regulatory agencies and local seed and crop protection teams to develop a product stewardship plan for the new seed trait. Stewardship will be critical to maintaining trait sustainability.

Alta Seeds provides growers with the latest technology and advanced genetics in grain and forage sorghum.

FMC Corporation names Andrew Sandifer treasurer, Thomas C. Deas, Jr. to retire in April 2016

FMC Corporation recently announced that Andrew Sandifer, vice president of Corporate Transformation and deputy treasurer, has been named vice president and treasurer. He will succeed Thomas C. Deas, Jr., vice president and treasurer, on March 1, 2016.

"Andrew brings strong financial capabilities, business acumen and executive leadership skills to the Treasury role. He will oversee a well established and talented organization responsible for financing, treasury operations, pension and benefits finances, and insurance and risk management," said Paul Graves, executive vice president and CFO. Sandifer will report to Graves.

Deas, who has served as vice president and treasurer since 2001, will retire from the company in April 2016.

"Tom is one of the most respected corporate treasurers in North America," said Graves. "He has chaired several national and international corporate treasurers' associations, including acting as chairman of the National Association of Corporate Treasurers in the U.S. between 2011 and 2013, and the International Group of Treasury Associations from 2012 through 2014, leading 30,000 treasurers in over 30 countries. He has been a vocal and active advocate for sound financial laws and regulations that impact FMC and other companies. During his tenure, Tom played an important role in ensuring FMC maintained its financial strength through various business cycles and was critical in the successful completion of multiple major transactions."

Cotton farmers plan march over non-payment of dues

Demanding the clearance of dues owed to them by a ginning factory, around 400 cotton growers from Seloo in Wardha district are planning a march tomorrow to protest against the state government's failure to resolve the issue. The cotton growers said they were hoping that RSS leaders here might be able to help them with the recovery of their dues from the ginning factory owner. The cotton cultivators had planned a march to the RSS headquarters here three days back, but were detained by police.

Afterwards the district guardian minister, Chandashekhar Bawankule, assured them of help in the matter. The farmers, who spent Sunday night in the open, are planning another march tomorrow with black flags to protest against the non-payment of their dues and the failure on the part of the government to resolve the issue. "We were assured on behalf of the Chief Minister that cheques to nearly 400 cotton farmers totalling Rs 8 crore will be handed out," said one of the cotton farmers, Ram Narain Pathak. The cotton growers said they had sold 20,000 quintals of cotton to the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) between November, 2014, and May, 2015, which in turn was acquired by the owner of a ginning and pressing factory who allegedly failed to make payments to the farmers.