Trump ‘not decided’ on China (Politico): President Trump said he was “very torn” and “not decided” about the future of the “phase one” trade agreement with China, less than a day after administration officials conferred with China and said they were optimistic China would meet its commitments for large purchases of U.S. goods, including farm exports.
Egg prices bring lawsuits (New York Times): Egg prices tripled in many part of the country during the coronavirus pandemic and inspired a lawsuit by the Texas attorney general that accuses egg producers, wholesalers and supermarket chains of price gouging.
Senators seek poultry aid (Delaware Business News): Sixteen senators asked Agriculture Secetary Sonny Perdue to include direct aid to chicken farmers as part of the $16 billion in cash payments the USDA intends to make to farmers and ranchers because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Pork exports set a record (USMEF): A record $764 million of U.S. pork was exported during March, helping propel first-quarter exports to $2.2 billion, up 52 percent from the same period in 2019, while beef exports during the first quarter rose 8 percent, to $2.06 billion; coronavirus plant closures could slow second-quarter sales.
Infection rates rise in rural manufacturing counties (Daily Yonder): Rural coronavirus infections are rising the fastest in counties where manufacturing, which includes but is not limited to meatpacking, is a major part of the economy — 258 cases per 100,000 people vs. the rural average of 168 per 100,000.