Pipeline moratorium: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation creating new regulations on carbon capture and sequestration, including a two-year moratorium on construction of carbon dioxide pipelines in the state. (Springfield State Journal-Register)
Biden and climate-smart agriculture: President Biden “brought to fruition a vision of a new and dynamic American economy built around clean energy, and climate-smart and resilient industries, including the agriculture sector,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack following Biden’s decision to end his re-election campaign. (Vilsack)
Robots vs. weeds: As an alternative to herbicides, developers such as Greenfield and Aigen Robotics are building robots to tirelessly slice away weeds in U.S. farm fields. (Guardian)
USDA conservation grants: The USDA awarded $90 million in Conservation Innovation Grants to 53 projects to develop new tools, practices, and technologies for conservation of natural resources on private land. (USDA)
Cash rent gains popularity: Cash rental of cropland is benefitting from a small but continual gain in popularity in Illinois, and accounts for 48 percent of cropland in the state compared to 45 percent in 2019, according to data from a farm management cooperative. (farmdoc daily)