Five manufacturers of the herbicide 2,4-D have denied claims made in a suit by a group of 82 cotton growers in northeast Arkansas who say the companies' products harmed last year's crop. It was the first successful "selective herbicide," able to control weeds without damaging the crop on which it was used. The farmers, all located east of Crowley's Ridge, claim in the suit that the 2,4-D they bought was defective in design and inadequately labeled. All five defendants filed responses to...

The fungus overwinters as fungal fruiting structures called cleistothecia lodged primarily in bark crevices on the grapevine. Failure to provide adequate control of powdery mildew early in the growing season can result in increased levels of other fruit rots such as Botrytis bunch rot and sour rot. After infection, the fungus develops and forms conidia (another type of spore) over the infected area after six to eight days. A primary infection caused by one ascospore will result in the...

The company said its strong growth in specialty mulch products and its international segment were offset by unseasonable weather in April, which impacted lawn fertilizer and seed sales. During the 2007 third quarter, the company had 6 percent fewer shares outstanding after repurchasing 4.5 million shares. The company also spent more on advertising and marketing initiatives during the quarter. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Revenue increased 5...

Durrance is an uncommon commercial grower in that he doesn't use chemical pesticides on his 220 grove acres. LAKELAND - While Florida citrus growers battled to eradicate citrus canker for nearly a decade, a far more dangerous, frightening threat, citrus greening, was lurking. A tree can live with the canker bacteria, although the bacteria weaken the tree and lead to a significant drop in fruit production. So when federal and state officials halted the citrus eradication campaign in January...

Mosaic co., North America's second-largest fertilizer producer, said it had a fiscal fourth-quarter profit as farmers bought more potash and prices rose.net income was $202. Farmers have planted more acres of corn and other crops used to make renewable energy, and economic growth in Asia has spurred consumers to eat more protein, increasing demand for grains for livestock feed. Mosaic was expected to earn 44 cents a share, the average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Bloomberg....

The Deerfield-based company, which manufactures and distributes fertilizer products, posted a 23 percent gain in sales, to $848. Andrew corp. posts its 4th-straight loss; CF's earnings double. Ninety-four percent are rated A or better, and none are among those recently downgraded by rating companies, he said. The Downers Grove-based company, which serves the vehicle aftermarket and consumer electronics industries, said it earned $10. CommScope, a maker of cable for telecom companies,...