Today’s quick hits, Nov. 6, 2019

Former EPA chief to lead major green group (NRDC): Gina McCarthy, EPA chief during the Obama era, will become chief executive of the Natural Resouces Defense Council on Jan. 6.

Little land available for young farmers (Minneapolis Star Tribune): As farmers and landowners retire or die, their heirs “are consolidating their grip on the nation’s arable land,” making it nearly impossible for beginning farmers to buy land.

Trade war dollars go to Brazilian subsidiary (Washington Post): The U.S. subsidiary of Brazilian meatpacker JBS received more than $78 million in federal contracts intended to soften the blow of the Sino-U.S. trade war on livestock producers.

Hello, farmstead cheese (Washington Post): With Trump tariffs hiking the price of imported cheese, consumers increasingly may turn to American artisanal cheeses this holiday season.

Perdue leads trade mission to Mexico (USDA): A U.S. agricultural trade mission led by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will “forge new opportunities” during a three-day trip to Mexico, which accounts for 17 percent of U.S. food and ag trade.