Missed some agricultural news this week? Here are seven stories to catch you up.

USDA strengthens meat supply chain

USDA announced an investment of $32 million in grants awarded to 167 meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities to support expanded capacity and efficiency through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant program. Vilsack says the investment supports meat and poultry processors as they recover from the pandemic. – Farm Futures

Deere predicts record profit

Deere & Co.’s financial outlook for the next year signals that global supply chain delays and higher labor costs following a monthlong strike in the U.S. won’t significantly dent profits at the world’s largest farm equipment maker. Deere expects record net income for fiscal 2022 of between $6.5 billion and $7 billion. – Bloomberg

Fight against salmonella        

Consumer advocates are increasing pressure on USDA to declare certain strains of salmonella as adulterants, essentially rendering them illegal in meat and poultry. This is not a new idea, but consumer advocates are hoping it could actually get done under the Biden administration. Meat and poultry industry leaders argue that salmonella is fundamentally different than E. coli.  – Politico

More pandemic assistance on the way for farmers

USDA continues to payout millions of dollars to producers who may not have benefited from initial aid offered following the coronavirus pandemic. USDA began issuing approximately $270 million in payments to contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry. To date, USDA has paid out $18.8 billion in Coronavirus Food Assistance Payments.  – Farm Futures

Struggling to afford healthy diet

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s 2021 State of Food and Agriculture report states that without proper preparation, unpredictable shocks will continue to undermind agrifood systems. Approximately 40% of the world’s population cannot afford a healthy diet, says the UN food agency. – United Nations

North Dakota farmer accused in murder-for-hire scheme

Kurt Groszhans, a 50-year-old North Dakota farmer, is being held in a Ukrainian jail after being accused in the assassination plot of a Ukrainian minister. Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Roman Leschenko is reportedly a former business associate of Groszhans, accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from their farming operation.  – Valley News Live

Farming couple rescues Afghans

Caroline Clarin worked in the eastern region of Afghanistan as a U.S. Department of Agriculture adviser for two years. She helped Afghans turn land into gardens and orchards to feed local families. Clarin has helped get five of her former employees and their families into the U.S. since 2017. She knows she cannot save everyone but is determined to help those she can. – Associated Press

And your bonus.

Biden pardons Thanksgiving turkey

National Turkey Federation Chairman Phil Seger presented the National Thanksgiving Turkey named "Peanut Butter" to President Biden during the National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation. "Peanut Butter" and his alternate, "Jelly," received a formal pardon from the president and will now reside on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is a time-honored American tradition dating back to 1947. – National Turkey Federation