Today’s quick hits, Nov. 12, 2020

Peterson backs Scott: Collin Peterson, the departing chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, said in a letter that he backs Georgia Rep. David Scott as his successor, pointing to Scott’s work on the committee since his election in 2002 and the significance of the committee having its first Black chairman. (FERN’s Ag Insider)

Four House Ag races undecided: Two Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee, Sean Patrick Maloney and Antonio Delgado, both of New York, were leading in their re-election races, while two others, California’s T.J. Cox and New York’s Anthony Brindisi, trailed. So far, only two members of the panel have been defeated, Democrats Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Xochitl Torres Small of New Mexico. (FERN’s Ag Insider)

More ‘murder hornet’ nests likely: Scientists found more than 200 queens when they destroyed an Asian giant hornet nest near the U.S.-Canada border last month, and said more queens, which establish colonies, may be at large in northwestern Washington State. (BBC)

Ag trade balance shrinks: With ag exports stagnant at $135.9 billion, the U.S. agricultural trade balance, a consistent bright spot in trade data, slipped to $2.7 billion in fiscal 2020, the third year in a row of a decline. (Economic Research Service)

Vertical farming for dairy cows: A Utah dairy is the first to test an indoor vertical-farming system that developer Grov Technologies says can grow as much wheat or barley grass as 35 to 50 acres of farmland while using less water and reducing transportation costs. (Fast Company)