Merck Animal Health and Tyson Foods are providing funding to Texas A&M University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Poultry Science department to build a new research facility. Meat industry publication Meatingplace reports the two companies have provided a $500,000 gift for the laboratory where scientists will focus on solving intestinal health issues in poultry. A University spokesperson says the gift will help serve the need for research and evaluation to increase bird health and welfare. Dr. Patrick Stover, vice chancellor for the agriculture and life sciences department at the University, says the laboratory will “facilitate scientific discovery with direct industry application in support of student education.” The University noted that U.S. consumers spend roughly $85 billion a year on poultry.

Uncertainty remains amid the Renewable Fuel Standard as the Trump Administration backed away from a planned announcement last week. The proposed volume obligation requirements, or biofuels targets, are still expected any day, though oil industry opposition apparently led the Trump administration to temporarily abandon the proposal, according to Bloomberg News. The proposal is estimated to require 19.88 billion gallons of biofuels to be used in 2019, a 3.1 percent increase over 2018 requirements. With a quota for 4.88 billion gallons of advanced biofuels, that would mean the EPA is proposing to require 15 billion gallons of conventional renewable fuels, including corn-based ethanol, the same as required in 2018 and the maximum that can be compelled under federal law. American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers President Chet Thompson called the proposal a “back-room deal,” in a statement opposing the alleged proposal. The EPA apparently was planning to make up volumes lost through hardship waivers granted to refiners under the RFS. The oil industry is vowing to fight the proposal if it moves forward.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says President Donald Trump will protect U.S. farmers from trade retaliations. In a USA Today editorial, Perdue says if China does not soon mend its ways, “we will quickly begin fulfilling our promise to support producers.” Perdue says Trump knows U.S. farmers feed, fuel and clothe the world, and that he will “not allow U.S. agriculture to bear the brunt” of China’s retaliations. China is retaliating against the Trump trade war by targeting U.S. agricultural products, such as soybeans, and many others. The Department of Agriculture has yet to release its plan to support farmers through a trade war. Perdue says it’s a simple case of ‘not releasing your plan when the opposing team is watching.’ However, agriculture is eager to see what’s in store as trade tensions rise. Meanwhile, Perdue says, if Trump is successful, “farmers will reap the benefits.”

A Reuters report says China accused the Trump Administration of being capricious in its handling of trade issues. Chinese government officials warned U.S. workers and farmers that they’ll be hurt because of the administration’s brandishing of “big sticks.” Beijing officials said previous bilateral discussions with the U.S. were effective. However, the commerce ministry spokesman says Beijing has had to respond in a strong manner because of U.S. tariff threats. President Donald Trump recently threatened to hit an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese imports with a ten percent tariff, if Beijing retaliates against his previous announcement of tariffs on $50 billion in imports. The U.S. has accused China of stealing intellectual property. The Chinese Commerce Ministry says that’s a “distortion of reality” and they are prepared to respond with qualitative and quantitative tools if Washington releases a new list of tariffs. China says it could hit back at several firms listed on the U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average if the president keeps raising the tensions with China over bilateral trade issues.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set the process in motion for considering the farm bill on the Senate floor. On Monday evening, Politico says the Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote on the motion to proceed to the farm bill legislation, which will likely pave the way for debate. The Congressional Budget Office posted its breakdown of the Senate Farm Bill. Under the bill, the dairy industry would see an additional $200 million in support over a decade. Row crop farmers participating in the Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) Program would also see some of that financial support over the next ten years. Overall spending on the commodity title is expected to be about $400 million less than current law provides, primarily due to the elimination of “economic adjustment assistance” for the cotton industry. The drop is also due to a proposal to reduce the means test that determines eligibility for crop subsidies from $900,000 to $700,000 in adjusted gross income. Total spending on conservation programs would hold steady over the next decade, but the amounts allocated to different initiatives would shift around from current law.