Three Democrats lose on House Ag: Democratic Rep. T.J. Cox lost in a rematch with former Rep. David Valadao in California’s Central Valley and is the third Democrat on the panel, along with chairman Collin Peterson and Xochitl Torres Small, to lose re-election contests. A fourth Democrat, Anthony Brindisi, trails Republican Claudia Tenney by 11,000 votes in a district in upstate New York. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
USDA tries again to ease food standards: After losing a lawsuit over the matter, the USDA published a new proposal to allow chocolate milk in schools, reduce the requirements to serve whole-grain products to students and allow more time before requirements take effect for less salt in food. (The Counter)
Water runs short for 3 billion people: More than 3 billion people around the world live in agricultural areas with high to very high levels of water shortages and scarcity, says an FAO report. (Food and Agriculture Organization)
When pig guts fly: Taiwanese lawmakers threw pig guts at one another in a scuffle over the government’s decision to allow imports of U.S. pork and beef containing residues of ractopamine, a growth promotant. (Associated Press)
Autonomous ‘chicken trucks’ in China: Self-driving red-and-white “chicken trucks” are vending KFC meals on the streets of Shanghai, unlocking an access door after customers order their food and pay for it in a contactless sale. (Interesting Engineering)
Knock on wood? Knock on corn: A plant under construction in northwestern Iowa will convert corn stover — the stalks, leaves and husks of corn plants — into a wood alternative that the manufacturer says will weigh less than wood but have the same structural integrity. (Storm Lake Times)