Rural Covid-19 death rates: Before and after the introduction of Covid-19 vaccines, patients from rural counties had higher death rates and trended toward higher readmission rates than patients from urban counties, said Mayo Clinic researchers. (CIDRAP)
USDA cancels reports: The USDA canceled its semiannual Cattle report, the Cotton Objective Yield Survey, and county-level estimates for crops and livestock, saying the cuts were “necessary, given appropriated budget levels.” (USDA)
Ten record-hot months: The European Union climate agency Copernicus said that March was the 10th month in a row for record global heat, with temperatures 1.68 degrees C (3 degrees F) warmer than in the pre-industrial era. (Associated Press)
Iowa tightens land rules: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law requiring foreign landowners to file a report with the state and giving the attorney general the power to subpoena records on land and its management. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)
EU to stress food security: EU leaders would put food security at the center of their agricultural policy for 2024-29, according to a leaked document, a shift from 2019 when sustainable farming and climate action were the top goals. (Euractiv)