U.S.-Mexico corn talks: Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said he and other Mexican officials would visit Washington on Friday to seek “points of agreement on genetically modified corn and other issues,” potentially defusing a trade dispute between the nations. (Associated Press)
Destructive pest gets new name: The USDA pest control agency said it would replace the name “gypsy moth” with “spongy moth” and “Asian gypsy moth” with “flighted spongy moth complex” to align itself with the common names used by the scientific community. (APHIS)
Rural opioid survey: Two in five rural Americans say they know someone who is or was addicted to opioids or prescription painkillers, and one in 20 say they “have abused or been addicted to opioids or prescription painkillers.” (NFU/AFBF)
Invasive carp find a home: Black carp, an invasive fish species native to east Asia, are “established” in the Mississippi River basin, meaning they can reproduce and grow to adulthood, said the U.S. Geological Survey. (USGS)
USDA clean energy announcement: On Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is scheduled to announce funding for critical infrastructure in 46 states to combat climate change and expand access to clean energy. (FERN’s Ag Insider)