U.S., Japan talk potatoes: Agriculture Undersecretary Alexis Taylor said she had “a very positive discussion” with Japanese counterparts about the long-held goal of opening that country to fresh potatoes from the U.S. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
States scramble on ABAWDs: State agencies and the USDA will “face a perfect storm of legislative and regulatory demands” trying to implement, within 90 days, the SNAP eligibility restrictions Congress created in the debt limit bill for able-bodied adults without dependents. (Roll Call)
Robotic harvester wins contest: Amiggie, a robot designed to assist farmworkers and streamline harvesting, won the grand prize for a team of students from UC-Davis in the inaugural Farm Robotics Challenge. (UC-Davis)
Hiring challenges: The Interior Department and the Forest Service, which employ 18,700 people to fight wildfires, face three hurdles in hiring and retaining firefighters: low pay, career advancement challenges, and a poor work-life balance. (Government Accountability Office)
Biodiesel tax credit: Under a law signed by Gov. Jim Pillen, fuel retailers in Nebraska will qualify for a 14-cents-a-gallon income tax credit on sales of biodiesel, a move advocates say will encourage sales of the fuel. (The Trucker)