Syngenta faces $280,000 fine and land sale mandate in Arkansas

Nov 17, 2023

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin confirms that Syngenta Seeds, a Chinese-owned company, has settled a $280,000 civil fine for contravening Act 1046 of 2021. The violation pertains to the company's failure to file timely papers regarding its land holdings, resulting in a penalty equivalent to 25% of the property's fair market value.

In response to the violation, Arkansas has directed Syngenta subsidiary Northrup King Seed Co. to sell 160 acres of farmland. Griffin emphasized that, as a foreign-owned entity, Syngenta was obligated to report its agricultural land ownership promptly, a requirement it failed to fulfill within the specified timeframe.

Act 636 of 2023 mandates Syngenta to dispose of its Craighead County property within two years, aligning with the state's prohibition on foreign entities owning agricultural land. The settlement underscores the importance of adherence to land ownership regulations, with Arkansas taking decisive measures to ensure compliance and transparency in the agricultural sector.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.