The U.S. Justice Department will allow German drugs and pesticides group Bayer AG to acquire Monsanto Co in a $62.5 billion deal, after the companies agreed to sell more assets to win antitrust approval, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Shares of Monsanto, the world’s biggest seed company, approached a four-year high on the news, before closing up 6.2 percent at $125.15.

The takeover, one of a trio of major deals in the agribusiness sector in recent years, would create a company with a share of more than a quarter of the world’s seed and pesticides market. A souring global farm economy has spurred consolidation among the major players, triggering protests from environmental and farming groups worried about their market power.

The Justice Department reached an agreement in principle with Bayer and Monsanto in recent days, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. Under the deal, Bayer agreed to sell additional seed and treatment assets to BASF SE and agreed to make concessions related to digital agriculture, the Journal said. Read more

OZ20 Vehicle Deodorizer destroys odors along life’s long and smelly road
Muskegon, MI  – As hunters, each piece of gear we take into the field picks up ambient odors that can be alarming to deer, which is why a Complete Odor Management strategy should start at home… and extend to our vehicles. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

If you have any need for power equipment – be it lawn mowers, trimmers, chainsaws, tractors, snowblowers, generators, or older vehicles, as examples – you may have experienced issues related to ethanol-blended fuels.  With the changing of the seasons, Michiganders are prone to fuel-related issues when machines are stored for long periods of time.  But, what has changed with the advent of ethanol fuel mixtures common today is the definition of “long term” storage:  30 days or more!  If you’ve battled gremlins originating in your fuel tank, here are a few considerations to minimize the possibility of costly maintenance bills.

The term “ethanol-blended fuel,” or E10, refers to fuel that contains 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline.  Although our air is cleaner as a result of reduced hydrocarbon emissions, water that is either introduced with the fuel or forms as a result of condensation can be damaging to fuel systems.  On older machines with carburetors, changing over to ethanol fuels can cause gunk to become loosened, thus plugging tiny jets and creating operational failures.  The process can also cause “phase separation” wherein water is displaced to the bottom of fuel tanks – and, that’s where things get expensive!

·         From the Stihl website:  Ethanol attracts and mixes with moisture in the air, causing corrosion to metal components in the fuel system. If enough water is absorbed, the ethanol and water will settle out of the gasoline blend and settle to the bottom of the equipment’s tank. The layer of gasoline left floating on top has a lower octane level than the original ethanol gasoline blend, which can result in unstable engine operation, power loss and major engine failures.

·         Since the fuel is often drawn from the bottom of the fuel tank, the engine is drawing in a mixture of ethanol and water with no gasoline and no lubricating oil. This ethanol/water mix is thicker than gasoline and cannot easily pass through the fuel system. This can result in hard starting, unsafe high idle speeds, stalling, and can ultimately lead to engine damage or fuel system failure.

If you are not sure if the fuel is contaminated, pump some into a clear glass container to see if it’s clear.  If not, or if it smells sour, it must be completely drained.  Change the fuel filter.  Next, completely fill the tank with fresh fuel adding a quality cleaner to work on deposits.

It is important to note that no chemical agent or fuel additive can be added to E10 gasoline, in a reasonable quantity, that will fully prevent phase separation or recombine a phase-separated layer.

To minimize storage issues, machines can be run dry and ethanol-free fuel (available locally at select Sunoco filling stations) can be used in conjunction with a quality fuel stabilizer.  An excellent product named Motorkote Fuel Optimizer can be found locally at Meijer stores, Menards, or online at www.Motorkote.com  – and, it has resolved fuel-related issues for me recently.

STIHL currently recommends that you do not store or use ethanol fuel older than 60 days, and preferably no longer than 30 days, even with a stabilizer.

Stihl MotoMix premixed fuel, which is pre-mixed with STIHL HP Ultra synthetic oil, contains no ethanol and has a storage life of up to two years and is available locally at S&K Farm and Yard on South M-52, Owosso, MI (989) 723-2369, or any authorized Stihl dealer of choice.

As usual, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Enjoy incredible stargazing opportunities right here in Michigan during International Dark Sky Week April 15-21, a time to celebrate the beauty of the night sky without the effects of light pollution.

Michigan is home to six state-designated Dark Sky Preserves (areas that are protected against light pollution) located within state parks, including Lake Hudson Recreation Area, Negwegon State Park, Port Crescent State Park, Rockport Recreation Area, Thompson’s Harbor State Park and Wilderness State Park. There also are plenty of excellent night-sky viewing opportunities across more than 15,000 square miles in the Upper Peninsula.

Participating parks will stay open later for self-guided views during Dark Sky Week. Please call ahead for individual park hours. Learn more at michigan.gov/darksky.

GW: Couple this prospect with the Democrat-lauded spending bill, the rubber-spined Republicans and Trump are proving there’s not a nickel’s worth of difference between the two.

Yesterday, NMMA issued a new Boating United alert encouraging all industry stakeholders to take action on the aluminum issue. With so much information out there, and so much at stake, the NMMA federal government relations team breaks down how the two different aluminum tariffs will impact the marine industry and our economic ecosystem:

Recreational boating is facing a triple threat as a result of two different aluminum tariffs:

1. The 10% worldwide tariff on aluminum recently announced by the Administration will increase the price of aluminum used by marine manufacturers, 90% of which is domestically produced. Alone, and at 10%, this wouldn’t be such a big deal.

2. However, the 10% tariff is threatening to ignite a trade war, starting with the EU. As a result, $1.7 billion in marine exports could be adversely impacted and damage the global competitiveness of the U.S. marine manufacturing industry.

3. The Department of Commerce is considering an ADDITIONAL 60% tariff on aluminum sheet, a major input to 43% of boats the industry produces, and the majority of trailer manufacturers. Combined with the 10% tariff and loss of exports, U.S. marine manufacturers will be forced to increase prices substantially, potentially crippling the market for some new boats. Read more

West Palm Beach, FL. —TransMedia Group, the public relations firm with a long and distinguished history of introducing revolutionary products, said it was hired to do it again Thursday at the Palm Beach International Boat Show. Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will limit the number of designated backcountry campsites at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, to better protect park resources and help ensure a quality backcountry camping experience.

At roughly 60,000 acres, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is Michigan’s largest state park, home to towering old-growth hemlock-hardwood stands, roaring waterfalls and spectacular sweeping vistas.

Annual visitation to the park is estimated to have grown to over 300,000 people. Read more