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

1. Producers who elected to participate in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs began receiving payments this week.  More than $7 billion will go out to producers. – Farm Futures

2. William McDonough is going to design a new “Silicon Valley of Agriculture” in Aarhus, Denmark. There are 75 companies at the Denmark facility, which is a research and incubator hub. He also talks about creating fertilizer factories instead of sewage plants. – inhabitat

Is Kernza is your future? Cargill and Monsanto release earnings reports this week. The New York Times Magazine explores 'Big Food.'

3. Farmer, rancher and fishery cooperatives posted record net income of $7 billion in 2015, a 14% increase over a year earlier, according to a report released by USDA.  The agency also released its list of the Top 100 ag cooperatives. Iowa has the most cooperatives on the list, at 15, Minnesota has 11 and Nebraska, 9. – Farm Futures

4. Kernza is a perennial crop that has the potential to hold soil and nutrients. The next step is to use it in foods that we want to eat. - The Washington Post

5. Monsanto reported a $.44 loss per share for the fourth quarter on an as-reported basis, net sales of $2.6 billion and a net loss of $191 million. Net income for the fiscal year was $1.3 billion. The company expects a good year in 2017 and it also expects to complete its merger with Bayer by the end of 2017. – Farm Futures

6. The Environmental Working Group released a report that finds 86% of the value of U.S. agricultural exports last year went to 20 destinations, most of them with citizens that are well-fed. The report disputes the claim that U.S. farmers will feed the world. Instead, it says the key to ending hunger is to help small farmers in the developing world increase their productivity and income. – ewg.org

7. Cargill posted a 66% increase in net earnings in the first quarter, with much of the gain attributed to the Animal Nutrition and Protein segment. Adjusted net operating earnings rose 35% to $827 million in the first quarter. Revenues were even with last year. – Farm Futures

And your bonus:

The New York Times Magazine explores ‘Big Food’ in several articles and photos.– The New York Times Magazine