Narrow lead for Grassley: The Iowa Poll has Sen. Chuck Grassley, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, with a slim lead over Democrat Mike Franken; 60 percent of likely voters saying Grassley’s age, 86, is a concern. (Des Moines Register)
Catastrophic hunger in Haiti: More than four of every 10 Haitians, a record 4.7 million people, face catastrophic hunger due to high food and fuel prices, out-of-control inflation, disease and violence, said two UN agencies. (FAO)
Alaska crab harvest nixed: The Alaska Department of Fish and Game canceled the fall Bristol Bay red king crab season and the winter snow crab season in an attempt to preserve plummeting populations of the crustaceans. (Associated Press)
Aid for underserved communities: The USDA awarded $71 million to help underserved communities, including $36.1 million to 52 organizations for outreach and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers and foresters. (USDA)
Farmland at $26,250 an acre: A local farmer outbid the competition to buy 55.56 acres of rich farmland in northwestern Iowa for $1.46 million, believed to be the highest price ever for Iowa cropland. (Sioux City Journal)