Inmates as meatpackers: Many meatpacking companies hire incarcerated people to work in their packing plants, putting the inmates into two of the riskiest settings for Covid-19: Correctional facilities and slaughterhouses. (Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting)
Meat plant grants: A total of $55 million is available in grants for small and mid-sized meat processors to expand capacity or improve their facilities to operate under federal meat inspection. (USDA)
Vanishing crop acreage: Since 2014, total crop acreage in the United States dropped by 14.4 million acres, with the largest reductions in Plains states and with wheat and hay being the crops with the largest declines; a USDA survey says they are unlikely to return to production this year. (Farmdoc Daily)
Biden in Wisconsin: Accompanied by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, President Biden will visit southwestern Wisconsin on Tuesday “to talk about growing agriculture and rural economies.” (White House)
Herrick leaves USDA: Mickeala Carter becomes acting USDA director of communications following the departure of Matt Herrick, who became communications director with the arrival of the Biden administration. (FERN’s Ag Insider)