Osborn gains on Fischer: Independent Dan Osborn is gaining ground on Deb Fischer, a Republican member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and the Nebraska Senate race, previously rated as “likely” Republican, now “leans” GOP. Two House Agriculture Committee members, David Valadao, a California Republican, and Don Davis, a North Carolina Democrat, are now favored to win reelection. (Sabato’s Crystal Ball)
Winter wheat in drought: Some 58 percent of winter wheat territory, including 70 percent in top producer Kansas, is experiencing drought, an increase of 6 percentage points since last week and 9 points higher than at this time last fall. (USDA)
Rural news deserts: Half of the 3,143 counties in the United States have either one or no local news source, and three-fourths of the 208 “news desert” counties, where there is no local coverage, are rural, said a report on the news industry. (Axios)
Fewer large food banks: Although both Illinois-based Midwest Food Bank and Oklahoma-based Feed the Children had more than $500 million in revenues in 2023, two-thirds of U.S. food banks had revenues of less than $50 million. (Food Bank News)