– Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the odds of a multibillion-dollar round of trade war payments to farmers this year are “less than 10%,” although a senior lawmaker said the payments may be “absolutely vital” for survival in the Farm Belt. China will turn to the U.S. market for soybeans “late this spring, this summer,” Perdue predicted. (Successful Farming)

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue acknowledges ag exports have yet to pick up as anticipated, particularly in China, since the signing of recent trade deals. But it’s too early to declare the need for another round of Market Facilitation Program payments, he told farmers at the 24th annual Commodity Classic in San Antonio. (FarmWeekNow)

A record number of farmers made the trip to San Antonio, Texas for the 2020 Commodity Classic. Learn more about new products, educational opportunities and other successes at the show. (Successful Farming)  

Demarkius Medley grows hemp on a small farm in Galesburg. Like many farmers, this was his first year growing the crop after it was legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill. The growing was going relatively smoothly, until he started to notice some crops were disappearing. Upon setting up a camera, Medley determined it was people, not deer, sneaking onto his property and stealing the hemp plants. (The 21st Show)

The biofuel industry is eagerly anticipating a decision from the Trump administration on future small refinery exemptions this week, while Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue heads to Capitol Hill for a grilling on the Market Facilitation Program, food stamps and other issues. This week also is a pivotal week for the presidential campaign. (Agri-Pulse)

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday appointed former state Rep. Jerry Costello II as the next director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Costello, a Democrat from southern Illinois, served nearly eight years in the General Assembly from 2011 to 2019. During that time, he chaired the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee and was a member of the House Environment Committee. (Daily Herald)