The estimate for corn ending stocks is down again in the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, released Tuesday.

An unlikely pair of senators – Democrat Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Republican Jerry Moran of Kansas – is urging U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to avoid letting his investigations into imports of blueberries and other produce from Mexico disrupt trade flows that are already strained because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

USDA officials tell Agri-Pulse they are working “amicably” with the Biden transition team, which is paving the way for the incoming administration next week. On the international front, the transition team has been pressing USDA for details on the impacts of the “phase one” trade deal with China.

Tom Vilsack is expected to have little trouble getting confirmed to another term as agriculture secretary. It's a good thing, because he'll have a lot to do the minute he walks in the door, starting with implementation of the COVID package just enacted.

Farmers painted a slightly more optimistic picture of their expectations in December but still have a handful of policy concerns as the country prepares for a new administration and Congress.

It’s been more than a year and a half since Mexico has approved any new genetically modified seed traits and the country is showing no signs of relenting even though it remains “one of the world’s largest importers of GE corn and soy,” according to a new report from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.