Monsanto (NYSE:MON) Under Antitrust Investigation

Monsanto Antitrust Investigation

Monsanto (NYSE:MON) has come under the scrutiny of a number of states who are investigating the biotechnology company over antitrust issues.

The first of a number of meetings will be held Friday, where talks on genetically-modified soybean and corn seeds will take place, as the seeds are used in about 80 percent of U.S. corn grown and 90 percent of soybeans grown in the U.S.

Much of this centers around prices charged by the company for its seeds, which users say are high because of the lack of competition, thus the antitrust aspect of the investigation.

Competitors, as usual, are also behind the push to look at Monsanto, which needs to be taken into consideration.

They create a great product, farmers love it, then gripe about the prices. And competitors gripe because Monsanto has a second-generation soybean seed in the pipeline awaiting as their existing patent runs out.

The specific seed that will really be the primary focus is the Roundup Ready soybean seed which allows farmers to spray Roundup weedkiller on their crops without them being harmed by it. Monsanto also owns the Roundup brand.

It's like the fact Monsanto has created another great product which other companies aren't able to match is their fault for being good at what they do, and so much be put under antitrust investigation as a consequence.

Monsanto Antitrust Investigation

DuPont (NYSE:DD) Building Soybean Plant

DuPont Soybean Seed Plant

DuPont (NYSE:DD) announced it'll be building a new soybean seed production plant via its subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred in Missouri. It'll located in New Madrid County.

The $55 million plant is scheduled to open sometime in the fall of 2011.

If DuPont gets all the perks it's applying for, taxpayers of Missouri will be paying out a hefty sum for the 50 workers which will eventually work at the production facility.

For example, DuPont has made an application for $3.4 million in state tax credits, an exemption from sales tax on energy costs, a land grant from the county, and another $230,000 for jobs training.

No wonder government continues to intrude in business, business keeps going to them (us) for handouts.

DuPont Soybean Seed Plant

Monsanto (NYSE: MON) Will Meet Profit Targets

Monsanto (NYSE: MON)

Monsanto Co. announced this week that the profit targets they set for themselves should be reached for the year.

After taking charges for restructuring, the company said they're on track for earnings of $3.10 to $3.30 a share in 2010.

Thomson Reuters analysts had estimates at the high end of those Monsanto projections, with expectations of $3.28 a share.

As for their crop strategy, they are focused primarily on soybean and corn products going forward, and are continuing to look forward to increasing growth in Latin American countries; their major growth markets.

Monsanto (NYSE: MON)