Vote on USDA nominees: The Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled to vote on Wednesday on the nominations of Chavonda J. Jacobs-Young to be Agriculture undersecretary for research and Margo Schlanger to be Agriculture assistant secretary for civil rights. (Senate Ag)
Equity in conservation: The Natural Resources Conservation Service awarded $50 million to 118 partnerships for two-year projects to expand conservation assistance to new, low-income and socially disadvantaged farmers. (USDA)
USDA school rules: The USDA is expected to issue a regulation on salt, whole grains and milk in school meals later this month, replacing a Trump-era move to soften standards for school lunch, breakfast and other meals. (Politico)
Farmworker unions vetoed: Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill giving farmworkers the right to unionize in Maine, saying it would drive up the cost of farming in the state. (Associated Press)
Overtime pay for farmworkers: Thanks to AB 1066, California farmworkers are now entitled to overtime pay if they work more than 40 hours a week, provided their employers have more than 25 employees. (Fresno Bee)
Prime farmland in trouble: The San Joaquin Valley could be four degrees hotter by 2050, which could have devastating health consequences for agricultural communities. (Los Angeles Times)
Vilsack in Colorado: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Colorado for an event highlighting USDA efforts to expand meat processing capacity on Friday. (FERN’s Ag Insider)