The Senate is back in session after a two-week break. The Senate failed to limit debate on a voluntary GMO-labeling bill last month, and supporters are vowing to try again. Politico’s Morning Ag wants to know if enough middle ground can be found to get farm-state Democrats and state’s-rights Republicans to vote for the bill. Talks on how to move forward could begin this week. Time is an issue as there are fewer than 90 days before Vermont’s mandatory GMO labeling law takes effect.
Politico is also keeping an eye on the Senate because it’s been over a month since the Agriculture Committee passed a bill to reauthorize child nutrition programs. However, the bill has yet to see floor time in the Senate chamber.

A new report by CoBank says oversupply and lower exports will continue to plague the U.S. agricultural industry for the remainder of 2016. The new Quarterly Rural Economic Review suggests those factors will result in a further, but modest decline in farm revenue for 2016. The increasing global inventory of commodities such as corn, along with lower exports, forced U.S. farm income to plummet by 25 percent last year to $93 billion. The decrease follows farm revenue averaging more than $124 billion in the previous four years. CoBank says the strong dollar will continue to hamper U.S. exports and exert downward pressure on commodities prices. Meat prices should also decline in response to what are expected to be record animal protein production levels. Dairy prices have not hit bottom and will continue to fall for the foreseeable future, according to the report.

John Deere has acquired the majority ownership of Hagie (HAG-gee) Manufacturing, the U.S. market leader in high-clearance sprayers. Deere announced the joint venture Tuesday while saying Hagie will continue to produce sprayers at its Iowa facility. Equipment made by the joint venture will continue to carry the Hagie brand. However, the sales and service of Hagie equipment will be integrated into John Deere over the next 15 months. A John Deere company official says the agreement allows John Deere to provide a broader range of sprayer options and integrate Deere’s precision technology into the Hagie equipment.

Responding to concerns by U.S. lawmakers, Syngenta says the takeover by ChemChina of Syngenta poses no food or national security issues. Ag Professional reports Syngenta made the response following the concerns in a letter by four senators requesting the Committee on Foreign Investment review the $43 billion deal’s potential impact on the U.S. food system. The senators feared that increased foreign control over important parts of US food production could create threats to domestic food security. A Syngenta spokesperson responded by saying while the company would welcome a full review, it believes the proposed takeover would not pose any security or food safety issues. The company says the takeover would be beneficial to farmers and customers in the United States. Syngenta generates 27 percent of its sales in North America.