About “Beyond the Rows”

Beyond the Rows is a Monsanto Company blog focused on one of the world’s most important industries, agriculture. Monsanto employees write about Monsanto’s business, the agriculture industry, and the farmer.avatar Monsantoco Posts

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News and Views

Windmill

OSGATA v. Monsanto: A Ruling for All Agriculture

It’s been a favorite theme on social media for months: “300,000 farmers sue Monsanto.” The lawsuit was filed by the Public Patent Foundation on behalf of The Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) and others. It sought to invalidate Monsanto’s patents because of alleged fears of Monsanto exercising its patent rights and suing farmers if crops were inadvertently cross-pollinated. Monsanto had said its longstanding practice had been not to do that in the few cases where it had happened.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York considered the facts and the arguments. And then the … Full Article »

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Originally published
February 27, 2012 by Glynn Young

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Visiting with America’s Young Farmers & Ranchers

The baby boomer generation combined with smaller families and the lower birth rate has a lot of people aware of the “graying of America.” I saw a stat whizz past me yesterday on Twitter that pointed out that a majority of America’s farmers and ranchers are among the AARP target audience. And that we need to find more young farmers. Well, that’s the opportunity ahead of me this weekend as I get to attend part of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Conference!

This will be my first time at the conference so I’m not sure … Full Article »

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Originally published
February 17, 2012 by Janice Person

Monsanto Cafeteria

What’s Served in Monsanto’s Cafeterias?

It’s 1999. Bill Clinton is in the White House. Sydney is preparing for the Summer Olympics. The world population is about a billion less than it would be in 2012.

A caterer in the United Kingdom tells the Independent newspaper that it doesn’t use GM food, which would have been difficult in the U.K. in 1999 since there wasn’t any to exclude, but that’s another story. The Independent reports it as “GM Food Banned in Monsanto Canteen.” GM critics have a field day.

Flash forward 13 years. Greenpeace, always interested in recycling, recycles this 1999 news story. People … Full Article »

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Originally published
February 10, 2012 by Monsantoco

Another Incorrect Report from Natural News

Last Friday, the online publication Natural News, published by Mike Adams, the “Health Ranger,” got caught up in a mistaken internet report on Monsanto supposedly leaving the United Kingdom. The publication eventually had to post a correction. You can read our report here.

Today, Natural News has another incorrect report, claiming that the FDA is not requiring labeling of the “latest chemical sweetener from Monsanto,” neotame.

A simple search of Monsanto’s web site would have found the statement that Monsanto sold its sweetener business in 2000.

Or, if you don’t want to believe us, you could have … Full Article »

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Originally published
February 9, 2012 by Monsantoco

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ISAAA: Biotech Crops Up 8 Percent in 2011

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) has reported that biotech crops reached 160 million hectares in 2011, an increase of 12 million hectares or 8 percent over 2010. Since first introduced in 1996, according to ISAAA, the increase in plantings to date makes biotech crops “the fastest adopted crop technology in the history of modern agriculture.”

While the adoption of biotech crops has been remarkable, an equally important story is behind the numbers. The adoption is not limited to developed countries but is also being embraced by farmers in developing countries, and some 29 countries worldwide … Full Article »

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Originally published
February 7, 2012 by Glynn Young

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The Story That Was and Wasn’t

It’s Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012. You’re doing a Google search on genetically modified crops in Europe. One of your search results is from the U.K.’s Daily Mail web site – an announcement that Monsanto is closing wheat breeding stations in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the Czech Republic. You look at the article’s date: Jan. 31, 2012.

If you oppose GM crops, you’re thrilled, and immediately use the Daily Mail’s “tweet this” feature to alert all of your Twitter followers, many of whom retweet the news to their followers. Soon, Greenpeace Europe picks it up and tweets it. Numerous … Full Article »

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Originally published
February 4, 2012 by Glynn Young

TyVaughnStill

Looking Ahead to the 2012 Corn Planting Season

As winter quickly passes, we recognize that many growers are gearing up for spring planting and may have questions about our recommendations for corn rootworm (CRW) traited hybrids due to recent discussions and headlines about corn rootworm populations.

Whether you are one of the few who experienced unexpected damage or one of the majority who experienced excellent performance on more than 99.8% of the acres planted with our corn rootworm traits in 2011, our recommendations for CRW control are the same.

  • We recommend you limit corn rootworm damage by using dual mode-of-action (pyramided) Bt-trait products, rotating your crop to

    • … Full Article »

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Originally published
January 27, 2012 by Monsantoco

MBBISPbanner

Beachell-Borlaug Scholars Speak Out

The deadline for applications for the Monsanto Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program (MBBISP) is Feb. 1. Monsanto established this program in 2009 in honor of two of the world’s most pre-eminent rice and wheat breeders, Drs. Henry Beachell and Norman Borlaug. Their lifelong work laid the foundation for the tremendous increases in rice and wheat production that continue to help feed the world today. Since its inception in 2009, the program thas accepted 38 applicants.

Two scholars share their experiences below.… Full Article »

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Originally published
January 27, 2012 by Monsantoco

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Let’s End World Hunger

Last year was a milestone year for raising awareness and advancing a global dialogue about the challenge of doubling food production by 2050 to combat hunger and malnutrition and meet the needs of a fast-growing population. Recent attention paid to the birth of the 7 billionth human on earth did much to help drive this global conversation. But looking ahead to 2012 and beyond, our challenge – in fact our imperative – must be to translate this momentum into action.

… Full Article »

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Originally published
January 25, 2012 by Monsantoco

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Monsanto’s Annual Shareholder Meeting

Today was the annual shareholder meeting for Monsanto Company. I’ve been to several of these before, both here at Monsanto and for other companies. I can remember the first one I went to… it really didn’t match my expectations. I’m not sure what I expected – maybe something like the excitement in “Mr Deeds.”

Although I like to know how the business is doing and how shareholders voted on topics in front of them, the central part of the meeting for me has been participation of farmers. Maybe that’s because I’m working here everyday and feel like I have a … Full Article »

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Originally published
January 24, 2012 by Janice Person