Russia-Ukraine Grain Export Deal & Deere Clean Air Act Violations

**Officials from Russia and Ukraine signed a deal Friday to reopen grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.

Reuters says U.N. officials expect the agreement will be fully operational in a few weeks and restore shipments to pre-war levels of five million tons per month.

The deal will allow Ukraine to export the 22 million tons of grain and other ag products that have been stuck in the Black Sea ports due to Russia’s invasion.

**The USDA announced an increase in funding to help schools continue to serve healthy meals this coming school year and provided financial relief for schools and childcare providers.

The reimbursement schools will get for each meal served will increase by 68 cents per free or reduced-price lunch and 32 cents per free or reduced-price breakfast.

The increase supports school and childcare providers dealing with rising food costs.

**Consumer advocates claim that John Deere may be violating the Clean Air Act by limiting repairs on the emission control systems of its machines.

Deere says they restrict access to the emissions control systems because farmers could delete the software, which they say is also be a violation of the Clean Air Act.

Deere says when emissions systems break down, farmers might view deletion as an easier option.

Deere is named in 17 class-action lawsuits.