A change in the pricing structure for Monsanto’s biotechnology seed products will be showing up on seed invoices starting with next spring’s crops. Instead of farmers seeing a line item covering technology fees on an invoice, the company is shifting to a royalty pricing structure that will be paid by seed companies licensed to market these products.

The years have gone quickly, but the tenth annual edition of the National No-Tillage Conference will be taking place on January 8 to 11, 2002, in St. Louis, Mo.

A short term in the April, 2001, issue of No-Till Farmer on the double nozzle sprayer brought additional information in the form of a letter from Robin Taylor of Ohio State University and Spray Redux LLC, the company that is developing the sprayer, along with Jerry Doll, a University of Wisconsin weed scientist.

Following the expiration of the patents covering glyphosate, Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide may be facing numerous price threats. At least 17 glyphosate products from nine companies are on the market this spring for use by no-tillers.

If they want to continue to use Bt corn, growers need to do a better job of following the rules laid down last year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Gramoxone MAX, a new formulation of Syngenta’s popular Gramoxone herbicide, is being marketed for no-till weed control this spring. Each gallon will contain 3 pounds of active ingredient compared to the earlier Gramoxone Extra that contained only 2 1/2 pounds.

With government officials from the European Union objecting to the use of no-till and forest land as no-till carbon sinks, the U.S. recently made concessions in this area for reducing carbon dioxide losses into the atmosphere. This action took place during a recent meeting of worldwide government officials seeking approval of the international Kyoto Protocol treaty to curb climate change.

Awaiting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration approval for the 2001 growing season, a new formulation of Touchdown herbicide from Zeneca Ag Products will eliminate any concerns about yellow flash and other crop tolerance problems you may have in Roundup Ready corn and cotton.

A joint agreement that will greatly expand the availability of the Clearfield Production System herbicide-tolerance trait has been announced by BASF and Dow AgroSciences.