**Not surprisingly, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is pretty pleased with the President’s signing last week of the USMCA.

Perdue says it’s a good day for American agriculture, bringing to a close what many detractors said couldn’t be done.

He adds, this is further proof President Trump’s trade negotiation strategy is working and that USMCA will advance American ag interests in two of the most important markets for American ag producers.

**USDA’s Rural Development Director for Washington State, Kirk Pearson announced the investment of $2.4 million in a high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for approximately 250 households and home-based businesses in rural Mason County.

This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s “ReConnect Pilot Program.”

Pearson says USDA recognizes this is the task of our generation: to ensure all rural Americans have the same access to affordable, high-speed broadband.

**New trends and research for antimicrobial carcass treatments, as well as advances in cleaning carcasses, are resulting in greater food safety for consumers of meat and poultry.

Elis Owens, with the Colorado-based Birko Corporation tells foodbusinessnews.com the major trend is optimization of the antimicrobial process without negatively impacting food safety.

He says a major advancement is the use of electrostatic application technology to deliver antimicrobials to carcasses, parts and trim that become food products.

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