Small rural businesses see little aid (Stateline): Unclear guidance has deterred many rural business owners from applying for federal coronavirus aid and many of them lack the banking relationships to tap the Payroll Protection Program, the largest of the aid programs, say critics.
Urgent need for racial justice (NFU): Responding to the death of George Floyd, the National Farmers Union, the second-largest U.S. farm group, said there was an urgent need for racial justice and equity in America.
Winter wheat ratings weaken (USDA): Some 51 percent of the winter wheat crop is in good or excellent condition, down two points from last week, while 19 percent of the crop is rated poor or very poor, up by three points, said the weekly Crop Progress report; in Kansas, the No. 1 winter wheat state, 25 percent of the crop is poor or very poor.
Not making hay (Wallaces Farmer): Hay prices are going up but farmers in Iowa would rather plant corn and soybeans, creating an opening for forage to be shipped into the state from California and Canada “and anywhere in between.”
JBS can reopen in Brazil (Reuters): A labor court in Brazil ruled that JBS can reopen a chicken processing plant in the state of Santa Catarina that was closed two weeks ago following an outbreak of the coronavirus.