COVID-19 pandemic

The Department of Labor’s final rule modernizing the H-2A visa program that will streamline the H-2A application process by mandating electronic filing of job orders and applications.

During its December meeting, the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors approved its set of priority issues for 2021.

Lawmakers in over half the states to push back against the executive powers of governors and health officials who have imposed restrictions during the pandemic.

The USDA has released updated projections for citrus production for the 2020-21 season. The USDA projected 57 million boxes of oranges and 4.5 million boxes of grapefruit.

Farmers and produce marketers say they expect demand from restaurants and other food-service buyers to stay muted due to ongoing, COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions.

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue announced last week the USDA is investing $72 million in grants to help more than 12-million rural residents gain access to health care and education.

The U.S. and the U.K. wrapped up the fourth round of talks working on 16 different chapters of the proposed deal covering food safety rules, market access and financial services.

U.S. ag commodities trader and processor Cargill has acquired a soy processing facility in eastern China via a judicial auction, expanding its crushing capacity.

The USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program has distributed more than 75 million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tyson Foods and other meat processors that were early hotspots for the Covid-19 pandemic are accelerating plans to have robots replace human meat cutters.