Winter wheat condition improves: Half of the U.S. winter wheat crop was in good or excellent shape at the start of this week, up 2 points from a week ago and far better than a year ago, when 34 percent rated good/excellent due to drought. (USDA)
Right-to-repair trial: A federal judge in northern Illinois rejected a request by Deere and Co. to dismiss a right-to-repair lawsuit filed by farmers and said the world’s largest farm equipment manufacturer must answer in court the charges that it restricts repair work on its products. (Reuters)
Groundwater levels are falling: In much of the United States, groundwater levels are falling, often due to over-pumping and under-regulation, along with powerful industries that fear financial losses if their water usage is curtailed. (New York Times)
USDA cancels hemp licenses: The USDA has revoked hemp licenses for growers in at least two states, Vermont and Mississippi, because they enrolled in state programs to produce marijuana, which is illegal on the federal level but legal in several states. (Politico)
Oil deals at COP28: The United Arab Emirates, the host of this year’s UN climate summit, planned to use the gathering as an opportunity to pursue oil and gas deals, according to leaked documents. (BBC)
McDonald’s dinged for child labor… again: McDonald’s franchisee Endor Inc. was forced to pay over $26,000 in penalties after federal investigators found it illegally employed 34 children in the greater Pittsburgh area. (Department of Labor)