Despite tens of thousands of COVID-19 cases and hundreds of deaths, agriculture workers struggle to access one of the most basic tools to fight the spread of the coronavirus — testing. (KCUR)

The incoming Biden administration is facing growing pressure to appoint a rural envoy within the White House to oversee a national strategy to uplift rural communities facing severe health and economic challenges. (Politico)

China is scooping up U.S. crops, pushing combined American corn and soybean exports to a record in the fourth quarter and driving earnings of one of the world’s largest agricultural commodities traders to a record. (Bloomberg)  

A yearly donation from the Illinois Farm Bureau, earmarked for student development projects in Western Illinois University’s School of Agriculture, has been transitioned because of the COVID-19, and used to purchase technology to enhance remote student learning. (WIU News)

– If we could reimagine our global food system, is there a way to make it more resilient should there be another global crisis? And if so, can we fix some of the other problems with agriculture, like mitigating its climate impact, at the same time? (BBC)  

Researchers from the University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute, along with members from the Illinois Specialty Growers Association and Illinois Farm Bureau, are carrying out a six-step process that will culminate with launching pilot programs throughout the state that address food insecurity. (Effingham Daily News)