The Senate Agriculture Committee didn’t let the ongoing pandemic stop it from holding a hearing Wednesday on a new bipartisan bill to bolster carbon markets, a concept increasingly backed by farm groups. (Politico)

In a move to protect the U.S. fishing industry, President Trump signed a memorandum to help protect lobster fishermen from so-called harmful trade practices, giving them protections similar to those provided for agriculture products. The memorandum also could result in a new wave of tariffs aimed at China if certain commitments aren’t met. (International Business Times)

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced $50 million in state grants for broadband projects Tuesday, which will expand internet access for thousands of businesses, homes and farms across Illinois. (Chicago Tribune)

Seeking to forestall further claims, Bayer AG is taking a risky bet that an independent scientific review will ultimately show that its widely used weed killer Roundup does not cause cancer, legal experts said. (Reuters

U.S. health and agricultural authorities issued thinly veiled criticism of new demands from China for food-exporting companies to sign documents stating that they comply with safety standards to prevent transmission of Covid-19. (Bloomberg)

The Small Business Administration has released their interim final rule for the Paycheck Protection Program as well as updated forgiveness forms. Find them on our Federal Stimulus page.