School meal waivers extended (USDA): The USDA extended through Aug. 31 three waivers that facilitate meals for children during the coronavirus pandemic by allowing grab-and-go meals, allowing parents to pick up meals for their children and allowing children to eat at home rather than having to dine together.
WTO chief to leave a year early (WTO): Director general Roberto Azevedo announced he will step down Aug. 31, one year before the end of his second term as head of WTO, and says this will allow WTO members to pick his successor and then focus on potential reforms of the organization at its 2021 ministerial meeting.
One billion meals (CBS): Since March, U.S. food banks have served over a billion meals to hungry Americans, said the chief executive of the Feeding America network of food banks, and over the next 12 months demand is estimated to exceed 8 billion meals.
More Arkansas interest in hemp (HID): Most Arkansas hemp farmers lost money on the crop last year but state agriculture officials have issued even more licenses to grow industrial hemp this year, 152, than last year.
JBS sees ‘enormous volatility’ (Reuters): Brazil-based meat company JBS reported a loss of $1 billion for the first quarter of the year and executives said the company faces “enormous volatility” in trying to estimate costs and product prices due to the coronavirus pandemic.
90 days to apply (USDA): Applications will be accepted until Aug. 13 for a share of $100 million in grant money for projects to build infrastructure that will encourage sale of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel.