The USDA announced Monday that it will be spending an additional $470 million this year to purchase a wide variety of ag products, sparking cheers from farm groups and lawmakers. The purchases will come on top of the products USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is already budgeted to buy for feeding programs across the country. (Agri-Pulse)

The Trump administration on Monday gave small farmers a green light to apply for economic disaster loans, after farm-state lawmakers complained that agricultural businesses were locked out of the loan program amid a backlog of applicants. (Politico)

The downtown Evanston farmers market kicked off the outdoor season Saturday with a two-block line around the market and some rural vendors scared about coming into the city. Palatine also launched its farmers market Saturday. (Chicago Tribune)

USDA has announced $100 million in competitive grants to expand the availability and sale of renewable fuels.  

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported Friday the United States exported 96,000 barrels per day of fuel ethanol in 2019, the first annual drop in U.S. ethanol exports since 2015. Despite the decrease, EIA said total exports remained at the second-highest level on record. (Grand Island Independent)

President Donald Trump said he will terminate the “phase one” trade deal with China if Beijing does not make good on its commitment to buy $200 billion more of U.S. goods and services over the next two years. (Politico)