Agribusiness Update for Monday 4/15/13

This is the Agribusiness Update...I’m Greg Martin...

Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences have obtained new cross-licensing agreements to create the next generation of advanced weed and insect control technology in corn. The agreements build on the competitive standard set by SmartStax and creates the opportunity to bring together three different modes of action for below-ground insect control in a corn product.

USDA scientists are working to develop a technology that could lead to new ways of disrupting how insects transmit viruses to crops. ARS scientists have mapped out the structure of an elusive protein that gives certain plant viruses the ability to travel from plants to insects, through the insects and back into plants.

Obama’s 2014 budget proposal includes a request to block funds to inspect horse slaughter plants in the United States. The Safeguard American Food Exports Act is a bipartisan measure that would prevent the introduction of horse slaughter operations in the U.S., end the export of American horses for slaughter abroad and protect the public from consuming toxic horse meat.

That’s today’s Agribusiness Update from the Ag Information Network.