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When Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue proposed moving both the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) out of the D.C. metro area last month, quite a few folks within the economic and research communities voiced their opposition. But now, USDA's Chief Economist is offering more insight on the rationale behind the idea - at least for ERS.

Farmers have always looked for ways to save money on inputs while increasing their crop yields, but research in recent years has increasingly made the case that restoring soil health is a way to do both. Enter biochar.

Investment and sales of farm robots continue apace, despite a painful shortage of skilled workers to operate them and need for improved rural internet service.

Breeders and biotech companies are hoping for regulatory elbow room as the EU and other nations pursue oversight rules for gene editing techniques.

Researchers in the U.S. and abroad are reporting progress on eliminating Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), an incurable pig disease that costs the American pork industry as much as $660 million per year. However, regulatory hurdles and consumer perceptions are slowing down the commercialization of a possible cure through gene editing.