Bicameral push for higher SNAP benefits: With Congress expected to write a new coronavirus relief bill this month, one-third of U.S. representatives signed a letter to House and Senate leaders in support of a temporary 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits during the pandemic. Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, senior Democrat on the Agriculture Committee, asked for voice approval of the 15-percent boost in the Senate, but Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts objected, which killed the proposal. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
Colorado to go cage-free: Gov. Jared Polis signed a law that requires egg farmers to convert to cage-free production by 2025, making Colorado the sixth state with cage-free provisions. (Colorado Sun)
Fewer gaps, overlaps with GPS on tractors: Tractors equipped with GPS guidance operate more precisely than hand-steered tractors, reducing overlaps of seed, fertilizer, and pesticides by up to 6 percent and gaps by up to 16 percent, say USDA researchers. (American Society of Agronomy)
Super pantries for pandemic demand: The San Diego Food Bank is moving away from mass distributions that draw thousands of people to establishing a network of super pantries that will be open at least three days a week and able to handle large volumes of people. (Food Bank News)
Chicken prices on the rise: The chief executive of Perdue Farms said the grocery store price of chicken is expected to rise later this year in a delayed response to the smaller number of eggs being hatched to produce broiler chickens. (Fox Business News)