Smithfield strike authorized: Union workers overwhelmingly voted to go on strike at a Smithfield Foods hog slaughter plant in Sioux Falls if a new contract is not reached; the plant produces 5 percent of U.S. pork. (Associated Press)
Pebble Mine roadblock: A company owned by Alaska Natives agreed to a conservation easement on 44,000 acres near Bristol Bay, preventing the construction of a key mining road to the proposed open-pit gold and copper Pebble Mine. (Washington Post)
Tighter food rules: Chemical additives to food would become subject to FDA approval rather than accepted as “generally regarded as safe” under legislation filed by House Appropriations chairwoman Rosa DeLauro. (DeLauro)
Beef cow liquidation?: If pasture and range conditions do not improve soon in the drought-hit West, “expect to see a much larger reduction in the beef cow herd this year,” said University of Missouri economist Scott Brown. (Farm Progress)
Vote on USDA counsel: The Senate Agriculture Committee will vote on the nomination of Janie Hipp to be USDA general counsel, its top lawyer, on Thursday. (Senate Agriculture)