Food giants sued: Advocates charge that Cargill, Mars Inc., and other food companies have failed to address rampant child labor in their chocolate supply chains. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Fine for meat processor: OSHA has proposed fining Sugar Creek Packing Co. more than $250,000 for safety violations after a maintenance worker fell into a machine and sustained severe chemical burns. (Department of Labor)
E15 rule by March: The EPA said in a court filing that by March 28, 2024, it will issue a final rule in response to the request by eight midwestern states to sell a 15 percent blend of ethanol into gasoline year-round. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)
USDA civil rights bill: Illinois Rep. Jonathan Jackson filed a bill to create an office of civil rights ombudsperson at the USDA as part of a multistep effort to stamp out racial bias at the department. (Rep. Jackson)
Aid to distressed borrowers: Some 1,300 farmers will receive $208 million in financial assistance on guaranteed and emergency loans as part of an ongoing aid program for distressed USDA borrowers. (USDA)
‘Don’t touch energy funds’: The 24 Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee said in a letter that the farm bill should not be a vehicle for hijacking $10 billion allocated for clean energy projects in rural America. (Rep. Caraveo)