When the coronavirus first swept through China, many ports effectively ceased to function as workers stayed home. Now, fears are rising about similar disruptions in the U.S. as the illness spreads.

Several shipments of U.S. chicken on their way to China are being diverted to South Korea and Hong Kong because of the disruption at Chinese ports as the country tries to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Agri-Pulse has learned.

U.S. farmers and ranchers will have to wait longer for the expected surge of Chinese purchases agreed to under the "phase one" trade deal as the country grapples with trying to stop the spread of the coronavirus, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said Tuesday.

The top trade official in the United States says he is aware of reports about the impact of the coronavirus on China's ability to fulfill commitments made during recent trade negotiations but has yet to formally hear from his counterparts there. 

Leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee are rushing to finalize agreement on a bipartisan farm bill with an eye toward getting it out of the chamber this month to set the stage for negotiations with their House counterparts.