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More than 140 members of Congress are calling on the Department of Agriculture to offer “swift assistance for cattle producers” with some of the $9.5 billion authorized to assist farmers and ranchers hit by the effects of the coronavirus.

Agri-Pulse Executive Editor Philip Brasher appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal Wednesday, April 1, to discuss the coronavirus and its impact on the American food supply chain. 

Help is on the way to small businesses across the country, including farms and other ag employers. The Small Business Administration has released rules for a landmark $349 billion forgivable loan program funded by the $2 trillion economic stimulus bill. 

Nearly one in every two American farmers would be interested in being paid to help reduce climate change, even though the climate issue is a relatively low priority and producers aren’t necessarily worried about its impact on their operations, according to the latest Agri-Pulse poll of U.S. agriculture.

A recent State Department move is expected to speed approval of farmworkers seeking to enter the country, but observers of the process are still keeping a watchful eye on many parts of the H-2A program.

Rural hospitals were already struggling to stay open before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Now, many face escalated closures due to the stoppage of elective surgeries, skyrocketing prices of personal protective equipment (PPE) and what some say amounts to being overlooked in the recently passed recovery bill. 

China’s decision in November to lift its ban on U.S. poultry and the subsequent “phase one” trade deal are already boosting U.S. exports for American pet food products and sales to the Chinese market are expected to grow exponentially, spurring hundreds of millions of dollars in sales.

Social distancing may be a crucial step to help limit the spread of the coronavirus, but the lack of high-speed internet in rural areas to conduct classes, run small businesses, or practice telemedicine could have dire financial consequences if the pandemic lasts months.

A federal court has rejected a First Amendment challenge to the operation of 15 state beef checkoff boards, ruling that promotions funded with checkoff money are government speech, not private speech.

More than 60 agricultural groups are asking states to increase weight limits for trucks in response to the COVID-19 crisis.