Results of a new Pew Research Center survey indicate Americans believe economic ties between China and the U.S. are poor. Amid these economic concerns, unfavorable opinions of China have reached a 14-year high. Today, 60 percent of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of China – the highest level since Pew Research Center began asking the question. Americans also increasingly see China as a threat. Around a quarter of Americans (24 percent) name China as the country or group that poses the greatest threat to the U.S. in the future. (Pew Research Center)  

USFRA short film ’30 Harvests’ made its debut Thursday across digital platforms. The docudrama illustrates challenges farmers face while embracing agriculture’s opportunity to create sustainable food systems over the next 30 harvests. It is inspired by true events in the lives of Texan farmer Jay Hill and Missourian soil scientist Meagan Kaiser. A report examining farmers’ stewardship roles and opportunity for innovation to tackle climate change in the 21st century is also available. Watch the 5-minute film here. (USFRA)

– September weather will be key for late planted crop development. “There’s nothing that clearly indicates at this point in time if we’re going to have a significantly earlier than normal freeze,” said Freese-Notis agriculture meteorologist Dan Hicks. “In this particular year, even a normal first hard freeze is probably going to catch some of these crops before they mature. I don’t think 32 degrees would be too much of a concern (during September), but if you get anything colder than that, it’s a great concern.” (FarmWeekNow)  

Democrats readied to celebrate their first Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair in five years on Wednesday. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to kick the day off as keynote speaker at the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association brunch. Pelosi will try to charge up Democrats with fewer than six months before voters go to the polls in early primary states to cast ballots for the Democratic presidential nominee. Republican Day at the fair is Thursday. (Chicago Tribune)  

USDA’s Monday report confirmed what farmers have known for months in Illinois – crop yields are on pace for a massive nosedive compared to recent record-setting harvests. USDA projects Illinois yields this season could average 181 bushels per acre for corn, down 29 bushels from last year’s record of 210, and 55 bushels for soybeans, 10 bushels off last year’s yield of 65 bushels, also a state record. Illinois farmers planted 1.1 million fewer acres of corn and soybeans combined this season. (FarmWeekNow)

The docudrama ’30 Harvests’ follows the plight of farmer Jay Hill of Dell City, Texas, and farmer and soil scientist Meagan Kaiser of Bowling Green, Missouri. In this film, they articulate the challenges farmers face while embracing the opportunity to meet the increasing demands to create sustainable food systems through the next 30 harvests, and ultimately help solve the greatest challenge of this generation: climate change. (USFRA)