Paging GST et. al.! Honestly curious what your thoughts are on this. Can't believe it would be considered good news.
So if commodity prices stay in the tank through this year and next, and input prices remain high, does that mean we're going to see "For Sale? signs at farms across Nodak? If so, what's that mean for the little dink towns barely hanging on as it is?
In all honesty, this kind of stuff concerns me.
http://www.agweek.com/news/nation-and-world/4115894-ag-groups-displeased-bayer-monsanto-merger
[h=1]Ag groups displeased with Bayer-Monsanto merger[/h]
Ag groups are voicing their frustration after the recent Bayer-Monsanto merger that cost $66 billion.
North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne said, "This merger further concentrates the ag supply market. It puts market control in the hands of a few companies, giving them the opportunity to keep input costs high during times when farmers need costs to be reduced."
Watne called for greater oversight by the Justice Department in its evaluation of mergers, which have been increasing.
The American Farm Bureau Federation shares Watne's opinion, and said the deal has caused great concern among farm groups.
"Market forces led to deals like the one announced today, but we know that major company mergers have a profound impact on the tools available to farmers and ranchers, sometimes to their detriment," said Chief Economist Bob Young.
"This deal between Monsanto and Bayer comes close on the heels of the proposed Dow-DuPont merger. Farm Bureau believes the Department of Justice should undertake a close review of the overall business climate that has encouraged these combinations, rather than evaluating them in isolation."
So if commodity prices stay in the tank through this year and next, and input prices remain high, does that mean we're going to see "For Sale? signs at farms across Nodak? If so, what's that mean for the little dink towns barely hanging on as it is?
In all honesty, this kind of stuff concerns me.
http://www.agweek.com/news/nation-and-world/4115894-ag-groups-displeased-bayer-monsanto-merger
[h=1]Ag groups displeased with Bayer-Monsanto merger[/h]
Ag groups are voicing their frustration after the recent Bayer-Monsanto merger that cost $66 billion.
North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne said, "This merger further concentrates the ag supply market. It puts market control in the hands of a few companies, giving them the opportunity to keep input costs high during times when farmers need costs to be reduced."
Watne called for greater oversight by the Justice Department in its evaluation of mergers, which have been increasing.
The American Farm Bureau Federation shares Watne's opinion, and said the deal has caused great concern among farm groups.
"Market forces led to deals like the one announced today, but we know that major company mergers have a profound impact on the tools available to farmers and ranchers, sometimes to their detriment," said Chief Economist Bob Young.
"This deal between Monsanto and Bayer comes close on the heels of the proposed Dow-DuPont merger. Farm Bureau believes the Department of Justice should undertake a close review of the overall business climate that has encouraged these combinations, rather than evaluating them in isolation."