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A measurement of the state of mind in farm country is at an all-time high as producers report optimism about future financial conditions due to a recent commodity market price rally and another round of direct payments from the Department of Agriculture.

China is again promising that it has made structural changes to its tariff rate quota system to import corn, wheat and rice, but it’s still not clear if that’s the case as the new deadline approaches for the U.S. to tell the World Trade Organization if it agrees.

Farm country may ultimately help Republicans keep control of the Senate, as Rep. Roger Marshall defeated challenger Barbara Bollier in Kansas and Joni Ernst held on to her seat in Iowa against Theresa Greenfield. But some races are still undecided.

Western Minnesota voters in the farm-rich seventh district chose Republican candidate Michelle Fischbach in the Tuesday election, unseating House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson.

President Donald Trump maintained his strength in rural areas of battleground states even as he struggled to win reelection against a Democratic surge in the suburbs and big cities for former Vice President Joe Biden.

Election Day is here, which means the voting that has been going on for weeks around the country finally comes to an end.

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler is optimistic that new and greener alternatives are on the way to help farmers to protect their pests. During an Agri-Pulse Open Mic interview, Wheeler didn’t offer specifics on new products or a timeline.

China promised to consider lifting it’s zero-tolerance policy on ractopamine residues in pork and beef as part of the “phase one” trade pact, and the country is making good on that, although more work needs to be done, says USDA Trade Undersecretary Ted McKinney.