Need a quick catch-up on the news? Here are seven agricultural stories you might have missed this week.

1. Lawmakers announced Wednesday they have reached a tentative deal on a new farm bill. Senate and House Agriculture Committee Chairmen Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Mike Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Members Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Collin Peterson, D-Minn., announced an “agreement in principle” on Nov. 29 and said they are “committed to delivering a new farm bill to America as quickly as possible.” The White House has not signed off on the legislation.  – Washington Post, Ohio Farmer

2. Check out this overview of the tax law changes effecting capital purchases and how they may affect your net farm income. – Wallaces Farmer

3. The number of dairy herds in Wisconsin has declined by nearly 50% in the last 14 years, with the largest number of farm closures happening this year. At least 84 farm operations in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and parts of northwestern Wisconsin filed for bankruptcy in the 12 months that ended in June, according to a new analysis from the Minneapolis Federal Reserve. – WISN, Business Insider

4. Agriculture is booming in Russia, with production increasing more than 20% in the past five years. In 2016, Russia became the world’s leading exporters of wheat for the first time since before the Russian revolution. – The Economist

5. Cargill and Tyson have invested in cell-based meat competitors. A partnership between traditional meat companies and their would-be cell-based competitors would make sense. – Western Farmer Stockman

6. University of Minnesota professor Linda Kinkel is leading international research efforts to learn more about the microbes that live in the soil. "I think microbes are fundamentally going to change how agriculture works, and I think within 20 years, it will be a completely different landscape," Kinkel said. – Minnesota Public Radio News 

7. U.S. agriculture suppliers are stockpiling chemicals from China in advance of tariffs that are expected to be imposed on Jan. 1, 2019. - Reuters 

And your bonus.

Attorney Lorraine Lewandrowski is trying to make the holidays a little brighter for struggling dairy farmers in New York. Crockpot meals have been delivered to around eight farmers in her neighborhood and the #CrockPotBrigade may spread to other states as other women have contacted her through social media. – American Agriculturalist