Eligible Illinoisans enjoy many options and plenty of reasons to vote early in the March 17 primary. Even-year presidential elections are gold standard elections with the highest turnout, said a Sangamon County clerk. Early voting starts Feb. 6 and ends March 16. (FarmWeekNow)

The time it takes for species to respond to conservation measures – known as an ‘ecological time lag’ – could be partly masking any real progress that is being made, experts have warned. Work published Monday offers new hope that in some cases, conservation measures may not necessarily be failing, it is just too early to see the progress that is being made. (Newcastle University)

U.S. hog and cattle contracts fell their daily trading limits on Monday, hitting multimonth lows on fears about the spread of a coronavirus in China. (Successful Farming)

African swine fever is on the brink of entering Germany, home to 26 million pigs and Europe’s largest pork producing nation. German officials are bracing for a “massive” hog slaughter if the deadly virus crosses the border, an event that could reverberate across global meat markets. (Politico)

The European Union needs to redress a $10-12 billion imbalance in farm produce trade with the U.S. and adapt its food safety rules to reflect “sound science”, the Secretary Perdue said Monday. (Reuters)  

The waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule is out, and the Navigable Waters Protection (NWP) rule is in. (FarmWeekNow)