The FDA has awarded grants up to $1.5 million to help tribal operations and local food producers receive appropriate food safety training. Agri-Pulse reports that a new survey shows cover crops get rave reviews from producers that plant them, while those that don't, are skeptical of their benefits. The Conservation Technology Information Center, and the American Seed Trade Association study found cover crop acreage has been on the rise since 2010. Survey respondents said they expected to plant an average of 339 acres of cover crops up 14 percent from last year.

Environmentalists seek to force ESA decisions. The Center for Biological Diversity has filed notice that it will sue the Fish and Wildlife Service to force action on petitions to protect 417 animals and plants under the Endangered Species Act. The notice includes species from across the country, including Florida sandhill cranes and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes. Ethan Lane, executive director of the Public Lands Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s federal lands program, said the legal action shows that the ESA process “is broken.”

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