Sino-U.S. talks to continue despite dust-up (CNBC): China’s top trade negotiator, Vice Premier Liu He, is expected to take part in talks later this week to resolve the Sino-U.S. trade war, “a potentially positive sign,” after President Trump’s threat of expanded tariffs on imported Chinese goods, effective Friday.
Who wants a soybean checkoff? (USDA): As required every five years, the USDA will collect until May 31 so-called requests for a referendum on continuation of the soybean checkoff; if 10 percent of soy growers make a request, there will be a vote by producers.
Court orders USDA to disclose organic documents (Center for Food Safety): In a case challenging the Trump administration’s withdrawal of animal welfare rules for organic farms, a U.S. district judge told the USDA to turn over to the plaintiffs internal documents related to its decision. The regulation was developed over nearly three decades and issued in the closing days of the Obama era.
An international call for fresh produce (USFA): A coalition of 10 large U.S. school districts, the Urban School Food Association, joined schools in France and Hungary for a week of events to encourage consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in schools.
Dean feels the pressure (Wall Street Journal): Dean Foods is still seeking a buyer as its sales continue to shrink, squeezed by competition from Walmart’s milk processing plant and declining milk consumption. Meanwhile, some of the biggest dairy distributors and processors have expanded into the plant-based milk sector, Bloomberg reports. Many dairy farmers blame such products for the decline in dairy sales.