Two soy sales to China in two days (USDA): Private exporters reported the sale of 272,000 tonnes of U.S. soybeans worth $83.5 million for delivery to China before Sept. 1, one day after reporting the sale of 198,000 tonnes of soybeans to China.
G20 ag ministers: Keep trade open (Kyodo): Agriculture ministers from the Group of 20 industrialized nations vowed to oppose measures such as export embargoes that threaten the global food supply chain during the coronavirus pandemic.
China plans grain import effort (Reuters): According to three unnamed sources, China is preparing to add 30 million tonnes of crops to state-owned reserves, the bulk of it imports and much of it from the United States — a move that would help satisfy Beijing’s pledges to buy more U.S. goods.
Safe shopping at farmers’ markets (WHYY): Farmers’ markets may be one of the safest places to buy food in the Philadelphia area because of new rules that require shoppers to wear masks and gloves and keep a distance from workers and other shoppers. Also, in many cases, produce must be pre-packaged.
‘Get your own,’ inspectors told (Politico): USDA meat inspectors say they’ve been told to buy their own protective gear because the department has been unable to buy enough face masks for them. So far one inspector has died of Covid-19.
Re-election more likely for two House aggies (Sabato’s Crystal Ball): Prospects for re-election have improved for two members of the House Agriculture Committee. The race involving Democrat Angie Craig of Minnesota is now rated as “likely Democratic,” and the Nebraska race involving Republican Dan Bacon now “leans Republican.”