Today’s quick hits, June 29, 2021

New Iowa meat plant: A group of cattle producers calling itself Cattlemen’s Heritage announced plans to open a $325 million packing plant in western Iowa to slaughter 1,500 head a day and inject new competition into beef processing. (DTN/Progressive Farmer)

Free school meals: California legislative leaders reached a budget agreement that includes free breakfast and lunch for all public school students. (EdSource)

Brazilian corn suffers: Persistently dry weather in major growing regions of Brazil will reduce corn production in 2020/21 to 94 million tonnes, 11 million tonnes less than seemed likely in April. (USDA)

Aid at eight-week high: The USDA paid $56 million in pandemic aid to farmers and ranchers in the past week, the largest total since the week ending May 2. (USDA)

Broadband funding pact: The FCC, USDA, and National Telecommunications and Information Administration agreed to coordinate distribution of federal broadband deployment funds “to ensure we make the most effective use of these new funds.” (FCC)