Today’s quick hits, March 9, 2020

Rather than move, staffers leave BLM (The Hill): In attrition that rivaled USDA’s relocation of two research agencies to Kansas City, fewer than half of Bureau of Land Management employees targeted to move out West have accepted reassignment, with the majority leaving the government.

White House may appeal RFS decision (Reuters): The Trump administration plans to appeal a court decision that questions EPA’s power to exempt small-volume refineries from the Renewable Fuel Standard.

A room with a moo (Harvest Public Media): A dairy farming couple in northeast Iowa runs a bed and breakfast with a difference: Guests stay in apartments in the dairy barn, where they can watch the herd throughout the day and help with chores.

Cox-Valadao rematch in California (Secretary of State): First-term Rep. T.J. Cox, a Democrat, will face David Valadao, the Republican incumbent he defeated in 2018, in a general election rematch this fall, according to preliminary results from the primary election.

Farmers cautiously optimistic about 2020 (AFBF): In an informal online survey, farmers said they expect farm profitability to be lower or the same as last year, despite the “phase one” agreement with China and congressional approval of the USMCA.