Pathmaker Brookins dies of Covid-19 (World Perspectives): Carole Brookins, who began her career as a market reporter at the Chicago Board of Trade and founded the consultancy World Perspectives in 1980 in the wake of Soviet grain embargo, died at age 75 of Covid-19, two weeks after a trip to France.
Visualizing the fall of restaurants (Eater): A series of charts demonstrates how restaurants have suffered and grocery delivery has surged as the spread of the new coronavirus has kept people closer to home.
New fund sends cash to farmers (AFT): American Farmland Trust has launched a fund to send cash relief to farmers who are experiencing market disruptions due to the spread of Covid-19.
Brashears confirmed as meat safety chief (Senate): On a voice vote, senators confirmed Mindy Brashears as agriculture undersecretary for food safety, nearly two years after she was first nominated by President Trump.
Arboretum closed to public (USDA): The National Arboretum was closed to public access in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus; national forests and grasslands, also run by USDA, remain open to visitors.
Zoonotic disease risk (InsideClimate News): As agricultural production expands onto new land, the risk of diseases that jump from animals to humans, such as Covid-19, will increase as people come into contact with wild animals.