South Africa's largest farming association, Agri SA, has pledged to publicly act against any farmers who are misusing pesticides or otherwise endangering neighbours through toxic pollution. The warning follows reports that widespread pesticide poisoning around Groblersdal, Limpopo, may be responsible for teenage boys growing breasts, as well as increased incidents of cancer, miscarriages, ear infections, and partial facial paralysis. Johan Minnaar, and is being investigated by a high level...

Johns County school officials said Friday that testing at an elementary school in Hastings found "no pesticides within detectable limits,'' but they stopped short of saying a science fair project which prompted the testing was flawed. After their project became public, the school district hired MACTEC, a Jacksonville consulting and engineering firm, to do professional testing. MACTEC reported it had collected six samples on three different days and determined the detection levels for...

However, increased corn acreage will help moderate grain prices, and that keeps livestock farms and ethanol distilleries financially healthy, Hart said. Corn generally requires more pesticides and fertilizer to grow than most major crops. Excess nitrates from fertilizer can run off fields into streams and rivers, a concern to Des Moines and other cities that must treat the water for drinking. Nelson and his two brothers will plant about 70 percent of their acreage to corn this year, up...

Bayer CropScience has operations in more than 120 countries and focuses on crop protection, nonagricultural pest-control, seeds and plant biotechnology. David Drew, president and chief executive officer of Emerald Biofuels, said he decided to bring his company to West Virginia because of the state's growing emphasis on alternative energy. Emerald Biofuels has developed a proprietary process for manufacturing biodiesel fuel from soybean oil and other seed crops. Officials said the project...

David Drew, president and chief executive officer of Emerald Biofuels, said he decided to bring his company to West Virginia because of the state's growing emphasis on alternative energy. Another big plus is that Bayer has lots of infrastructure that will save them money. David Drew, president and chief executive officer of Emerald Biofuels, said he decided to bring his company to West Virginia because of the state's growing emphasis on alternative energy. Officials also noted that the...

PRdomain.com . Bayer . Sales in the People's Republic of China forecast to top EUR 100 million in the medium term. The key points of the company's strategy are the introduction of new, innovative active ingredients, formulations and mixtures, and the expansion of its production site for crop protection products in Hangzhou, where Bayer CropScience will be investing a further EUR 25 million in 2007 and 2008. The key points of the company's strategy are the introduction of new, innovative...