All-year H-2A: Congress should revamp the short-term H-2A visa to allow unlimited numbers of guestworkers year-around employment at U.S. hog farms and pork slaughter plants to offset a labor shortage, said a farm group. (NPPC)
Feral hog conundrum: It sounds illogical, but legalized hunting of feral hogs may slow or even thwart the elimination of the destructive beasts, say wildlife officials. (Harvest Public Media)
Torrid GDP growth: The economy, recovering more rapidly than expected, is predicted to grow 9.7 percent this year and 7.2 percent in 2022, up from February estimates of 6.3 percent growth in 2021 and 4.9 percent growth in 2022. (Congressional Budget Office)
Price-fixing deal: Smithfield Foods agreed to pay $83 million to settle an antitrust lawsuit that accuses several pork processors of conspiring to limit pork supplies to raise prices and boost profits. (Reuters)
China at 84 percent: China imported $18.8 billion worth of U.S. food, agriculture, and seafood products in the first five months of the year, equal to about 84 percent of the pace needed through May if it is to meet the target of $46.3 billion in ag imports for 2021. (Peterson Institute for International Economics)