Monsanto, Bayer officials defend proposed $66 billion merger

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top officials for Monsanto and Bayer are defending their proposed $66 billion merger as a deal that could help American farmers through greater investments in technology. They made the case Tuesday to skeptical senators worried the merger could hurt American farmers already struggling with lower crop prices and higher seed costs.
The combination of the American seed and weed-killer and German medicine and farm-chemical maker would create a global agricultural and che