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A lawsuit challenging the Department of Agriculture’s plan to control a potential avian influenza outbreak can proceed, a federal judge ruled last week, rejecting the department’s motion to dismiss for lack of standing.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack pledged to the House Agriculture Committee to “root out” systemic racism and barriers at USDA that prevent Black and other socially disadvantaged farmers from receiving the same level of assistance that has historically been available to white farmers.

Senate Republicans are joining school food service directors in pushing for relief from federal nutrition standards as Congress reauthorizes school meal programs.

USDA announced Wednesday plans to spend at least $6 billion on new pandemic aid programs that reach a broader swath of producers than previous efforts, while putting “a greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers, specialty crop and organic producers (and) timber harvesters.”

EPA Administrator Michael Regan reiterated his “open-door” policy for agriculture as the agency develops regulations and policies, and said biofuels, “especially advanced biofuels,” will be part of the Biden administration’s transportation agenda as it tackles climate change.

Produce grown without soil can continue to be organically certified, a federal judge has ruled, deferring to USDA’s interpretation of the Organic Foods Production Act.

Lawmakers are looking to pass the first child nutrition reauthorization bill in more than a decade this year by building on the political momentum behind measures to expand access to federally funded meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Domestic meat consumption rose again in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread disruptions to restaurants and food service, and the industry is watching to see if stimulus checks and the ongoing economic recovery can boost sales again this year.

Farm labor advocates are calling on the Biden administration to focus enforcement efforts on violations of labor laws that occur during and after recruitment of farmworkers to pick crops in the U.S.