Port of Oakland Importance and Generic Pesticides Cheaper
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.
**The Port of Oakland continues to be one of the most important gateways for U.S. agricultural products.
As of October, the port has exported nearly $8.5 billion in ag commodities this year, ranking No. 1 in the nation in the volume of international refrigerated exports.
Port of Oakland Maritime Director, Bryan Brandes says in any given year, agricultural products comprise between 37% and 45% of total exports from Oakland.
**Cox Farms, a recently launched subsidiary of telecommunications conglomerate Cox Enterprises, says it is now the largest indoor farming operator in North America following its latest acquisition of a greenhouse facility in Canada.
Cox-owned Mucci Farms added to its footprint with the acquisition of Greenhill Produce, a nearly 150-acre bell pepper facility in Ontario.
The purchase gives Cox Farms more than 700 acres of greenhouse space across its two brands, Mucci Farms, and leafy greens grower BrightFarms.
**U.S. farmers struggling with slumping incomes and depressed grain prices have been switching to cheaper generic pesticides and fungicides as they plan for spring planting.
Market analysts say that could hit the bottom lines of agrichemical companies with signs already emerging.
Bayer shares fell to a 20-year low last week, and analysts say agrichemical competitors Syngenta, Corteva, and BASF could also face challenges in the sector.
