California Drone Legislation and Producer Sentiment Down
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**Legislation seeking to make it easier for farmers to use drones for targeted pesticide applications passed 72-0 in the California Assembly and moves to the Senate.
Sponsored by the California Farm Bureau, Assembly Bill 1016 would expand the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s authority to create training programs for drone aerial applicator licensing.
Orange Coast College recently announced the creation of an associate science degree in unmanned aerial systems.
**Producer sentiment fell to its weakest reading since last July, as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index declined 19 points to 104 in May.
The weak sentiment was fueled by declines in both of the barometer’s sub-indices.
The Index of Future Expectations declined 22 points to 98, while the Index of Current Conditions fell 13 points lower than the month before at 116.
Crop price weakness helped trigger the sentiment decline.
**Corteva and the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, announced a new collaboration to support Ukrainian farmers access to crop inputs, financing, and post-harvest storage.
A Corteva spokesperson says, “Ukrainian farmers are entering this planting season facing immense challenges.”
Corteva Agriscience, which decided to withdraw from Russia,
is increasing its production of hybrid corn and sunflower seeds in the region by 30% over the next five years.
