"Behind the Monsanto Deal, Doubts About the GMO Revolution"

"Farmers are reconsidering the use of biotech seeds as it becomes harder to justify their high prices amid the measly returns of the current farm economy".

"Behind a wave of multibillion-dollar mergers in the agriculture business is a moment of change in American farming. The dominance of genetically modified crops is under threat.

Since their introduction to U.S. farms 20 years ago, genetically engineered seeds have become like mobile phones—multifunctional and ubiquitous. Scientists inserted genes to make crops repel insects, survive amid powerful herbicides, survive on less water and yield oils with less saturated fat, in turn eliminating farmers’ amateur chemistry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates this year that 94% of soybean acres were planted with biotech varieties, and 92% of corn acres.

Today, farmers are finding it harder to justify the high and often rising prices for modified, or GMO, seed, given the measly returns of the current farm economy. Spending on crop seeds has nearly quadrupled since 1996, when Monsanto Co. became the first of the companies to launch biotech varieties. Yet major crop prices have skidded lower for three years, and this year, many farmers stand to lose money."

Jacob Bunge reports for the Wall Street Journal September 14, 2016.

SEE ALSO:

"Behind Bayer-Monsanto, an Odd Couple Out to Rule the World" (Bloomberg)

"Bayer's Monsanto Acquisition To Face Politically Charged Scrutiny" (Reuters)

"Will Its Takeover By Bayer Do Anything To Improve Monsanto’s Image?" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

"Bayer-Monsanto Deal Would Forge New Agricultural Force" (Wall Street Journal)

"Bayer, Monsanto Shareholders Not All Cheering Over $57 Billion Deal" (Wall Street Journal)

"Big Deal: Bayer's $66 Billion For Monsanto Creates Seed And Crop Chemical Giant" (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

"Bayer Deal for Monsanto Follows Agribusiness Trend, Raising Worries for Farmers" (New York Times)

"Bayer, Monsanto Face Global Review as Farmer Options Shrink" (Bloomberg)

"Bayer And Monsanto To Merge In Mega-Deal That Could Reshape World’s Food Supply" (Washington Post)

"Bayer-Monsanto Merger 'Anti-Competitive,' Bad For Monsanto Investors" (ValueWalk)

"Bayer, Monsanto Brace for Long Climb With Regulators" (TheStreet)

"Bayer-Monsanto Merger: Two Washington-Savvy Companies Get Their Game On" (Center for Responsive Politics)

"Monsanto Now Belongs to Bayer" (Mother Jones)

"Bayer Buys In to Monsanto’s Vision of High-Tech Agriculture" (MIT Technology Review)