Farmers in the waterlogged Midwest who are struggling to plant their corn or soybeans, and others who’ve given up and are deciding whether to buy seed for cover crops, still lack key information from USDA despite new guidance this week for its trade and disaster aid programs.

Advocates for dairy farmers pressed USDA officials at a farm bill listening session to move quickly to get payments to financially strapped producers, while other groups urged the department to put a priority on removing barriers to cover crops and scheduling signups for major conservation programs.

A federal climate change report released the day after Thanksgiving includes a menu of what U.S. farmers can expect over the coming decades: higher temperatures, heavier and more frequent rains, and yield losses.

The Senate farm bill offers changes to crop insurance that could benefit the largest as well as the smallest farms while also clearing the way for research that could lead to premium discounts for conservation practices.