Smithfield fights OSHA subpoena: Smithfield Foods asked a U.S. district judge to quash an OSHA subpoena that seeks South Dakota state documents pertaining to coronavirus test results, correspondence with Smithfield, and photos of Smithfield’s Sioux Falls plant, which closed temporarily in April during an outbreak in which more than 850 employees tested positive for the virus. (Sioux Falls Argus Leader)
Election outlook improves for Delgado: Republicans “failed to recruit a major challenger” to first-term Rep. Antonio Delgado in upstate New York, so the House Agriculture Committee member is rated a likely victor on Nov. 3. (Sabato’s Crystal Ball)
USDA proposes RFID tags for cattle: Public comments will be accepted until Oct. 5 on a proposal by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency to approve only radio-frequency identification (RFID) ear tags for use on most beef cattle over 18 months of age; metal ear tags and RFID tags are options now. (USDA)
Testing for virus among farmworkers: Out of 3,900 farmworkers tested in New Jersey, 5 percent were infected with the coronavirus according to state health officials. The actual rate may be higher because day laborers are unlikely to be tested at health centers, and workers who go to private facilities for tests are not included in the count. (New York Times)
Atlantic Coast Pipeline canceled: Despite a favorable Supreme Court ruling, Duke Energy and Dominion Energy abandoned their six-year campaign to build the 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline because of ongoing risks of litigation and the rising cost of constructing the natural gas pipeline. (Washington Post)