Deadline for water reductions: The Bureau of Reclamation gave states in the Colorado River basin till Jan. 31 to agree to draw as much as 30 percent less water from the river, and warned further cuts are possible because of climate change. (Los Angeles Times)
More summer-food money: Key lawmakers agreed to two expansions of summer food programs — making Summer EBT permanent and, in at least part of the country, allowing grab-and-go and mobile programs. (Food Fix)
McCain for WFP chief: President Biden backs Cindy McCain, the U.S. ambassador to UN agencies for food and agriculture, to be executive director of the World Food Program. (Axios)
USDA awards export funds: The USDA awarded a total of $202.7 million through two programs that share the cost of developing overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products, with Cotton Council International receiving the largest amount, a combined $17.9 million. (USDA)
HPAI hits 56 million: Highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed on two large egg farms, each with more than 1 million hens, in South Dakota and Washington State, driving U.S. losses to 56 million birds in domestic flocks since February. (USDA)