Pay for livestock disasters: Meatpackers would be required to prepare disaster plans and contribute to a fund to assist producers culling livestock during catastrophes, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, under a bill unveiled by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. (Booker)
First step in Ag Census: The USDA mailed letters to farmers and ranchers throughout the nation with codes allowing them to respond online to the Census of Agriculture, conducted every five years, with responses due by Feb 6. Printed questionnaires will be mailed in December (USDA)
Extend fair-play comments: Stakeholders will have an additional 45 days, until Jan. 17, to comment on its proposed regulation to prevent unfair and deceptive practices by processors in livestock marketing. (USDA)
Make manatees endangered again: Environmental groups asked the Interior Department to again list manatees as an endangered species because of algal blooms that are killing the seagrass that the marine mammals eat. (Associated Press)