‘Murder hornet’ reaches the U.S. (New York Times): Asian giant hornets, with queens that grow up to two inches long, have been spotted in the Pacific Northwest and insect experts hope to prevent the “murder hornet,” which can destroy a beehive in hours, from becoming established in the United States.
DOJ puts conditions on milk merger (WMTV): The Justice Department said Dairy Farmers of America must sell processing plants in De Pere, Wisconsin, Harvard, Illinois, and Franklin, Massachusetts, to resolve antitrust issues in its proposal to acquire Dean Foods.
China buys $82 million of U.S. soy (USDA): Private exporters reported the sale of 264,000 tonnes of U.S.-grown soybeans worth $82 million for delivery to China, the first major sale to China in a week.
Deere to halt production in two plants (Successful Farming): Deere and Co., the largest construction and farm-equipment maker in the world, said it would suspend production starting May 11 for two weeks at plants in Dubuque and Davenport, Iowa, because of supply chain disruptions and weakened demand for construction and forestry equipment due to the coronavirus.
Dairy group opposes coronavirus limits (NMPF): The largest dairy-farmer group said the USDA’s proposal to cap coronavirus aid at $125,000 per farmer “would severely limit the program’s aid for dairies that produce more than half the nation’s milk,” in a appeal for higher — or no — limits.