Amazon tied to UNFI (CNBC): Amazon’s annual report reveals that it has a $22-billion future purchase agreement with Whole Foods’ exclusive supplier, United Natural Foods Inc. The deal is surprising given Amazon’s preference for short supplier contracts.
FTC killed Wesson deal (Food Business News): Just one day after the Federal Trade Commission filed a legal complaint against J.M. Smucker’s acquisition of Wesson oil from Conagra, the deal is off.
Saving water works (Circle of Blue): A group of 60 Kansas farmers decided to do their part to save the Ogallala aquifer by reducing their water consumption. The experiment didn’t hurt their bottom line—and it helped the aquifer.
WcDonald’s (Nation’s Restaurant News): In honor of International Women’s Day, a McDonald’s location in California flipped its golden arches upside down, into a ‘W.’ The chain also flipped its logo on social media.
Another House Ag panelist in toss-up race (Sabato’s Crystal Ball): Republican Mike Bost, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, faces a tightening race for reelection in his working-class district in Southern Illinois.
Perdue visits his 34th state (West Fargo Pioneer): Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will visit a USDA research center, take part in an agricultural roundtable discussion, and eat lunch with the Collegiate Farm Bureau of North Dakota State University today.
Crop insurance or subsidies? (Sen. Flake): Companion bills filed in the Senate and House would prohibit farmers from enrolling in USDA crop subsidy programs and the taxpayer-supported crop insurance program at the same time.