To Save Money, Farmers Switching to Generic Inputs

American farmers struggling with slumping incomes and depressed grain prices have been switching to cheaper generic pesticides and fungicides as they plan for spring planting next year, which market analysts said could hit the bottom lines of agrichemical companies.  

Signs of these financial impacts are already emerging.  Bayer shares fell sharply to a 20-year low last week, after the chemical company warned that weak global agricultural markets and a slumping U.S. farm economy are likely to pressure profits further.  Analysts said agrichemical competitors Syngenta, Corteva, and BASF could also face challenges in the sector.

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