U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said he expects American farmers to receive the third and final tranche in 2019 trade bailout payments even after an initial deal with China was signed on Wednesday. The Agriculture Department hasn’t announced yet whether farmers will receive the payments. (Bloomberg)  

The Department of Agriculture is asking for input from biofuel stakeholders on a new incentives program to build out domestic ethanol and biodiesel infrastructure at retail gas stations. (Agri-Pulse)

The Trump administration is expected to soon release a new “waters of the U.S.” rule redefining what streams and wetlands are regulated by the Clean Water Act, and some observers think the announcement could come this weekend when President Donald Trump speaks at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention. (Agri-Pulse

The theme of the Illinois Dairy Summit, a series of three meetings around the state Feb. 4-6, certainly sums up the state of the industry. (FarmWeekNow)

The state’s climatologist is predicting Illinois farmers are likely to endure more burdensome wet weather while they try to plant cash crops this spring after suffering major losses as a result of a record-wet planting season last year. April through June is likely to be wetter than normal in Illinois, according to rainfall projections. (Herald & Review)

Illinois soybean producers on Wednesday said they’re hopeful an initial trade deal signed by President Donald Trump will provide needed stability in the global markets. (The Pantagraph