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Officials stress two key messages: 1) This is not a food safety crisis, and 2) the pest spreads with animals, not by flies traveling long distances on their own. Source: USDA news release WASHINGTON, D.C., June 3, 2026—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the detection of a New World screwworm (NWS) in a bovine in Zavala County, Texas. NWS is a serious pest that affects livestock, pets, wildlife, and less com

Source: Farm Credit Council news release WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A comprehensive campaign from the Farm Credit Council leverages resources, stories and partnerships to support rural Americans' mental health and farm stress management -- during Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond. "Rural communities face significant mental health disparities driven by various factors, including challenging economies," said Farm Credit Council President and CEO Christy Seyfert. "Farmers are 3.

Source: Virginia Farm Bureau BLACKSBURG, VA — As Virginians traverse the great outdoors on utility terrain vehicles this spring and summer, they’re reminded that even remarkably rugged and versatile machines have life-threatening limits. Whether for trail riding, hunting, hauling or camping, UTVs can unlock myriad outdoor adventures with ease—all while offering the operational familiarity and enhanced protection of an automobile. But comfort can be a catalyst for carelessness

by Jeff Ishee A new report from the USDA Economic Research Service indicates retail food prices are expected to continue rising through the end of this year. Prices for fresh vegetables are expected to rise in 2026. Image credit - USDA According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, food price inflation is driven by a mix of supply‑side pressures, demand surges, and structural bottlenecks. The most consistently cited causes include labor shortages, supply‑chain disruptions, higher

Source: USDA news release Robotic milking systems--in which dairy cows enter a box-like stall, are milked automatically without manual labor, and then exit--are becoming more common on U.S. dairy operations. However, the impact on labor expenses varies with herd size. For smaller dairies with fewer than 150 head, paid labor is often difficult to find and afford, so the operator and household members provide much of the work unpaid, which ERS values as an opportunity cost usin

Source: American Forest Foundation Washington, D.C. – The American Forest Foundation’s (AFF) Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) recently reached 200,000 total acres enrolled, a major milestone in its mission to support family landowners, bolster rural economies, and deliver meaningful conservation impact. As part of FFCP, these 200,000 acres — greater than the land area of New York City — are set to remove 3.5 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent from the atmosphere and g

Source: VA Farm Bureau LURAY, VA — As June’s National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month shines a spotlight on fresh produce, farmers' markets are welcoming shoppers back for the season. Whether held in town squares, parking lots, or along roadsides, farmers' markets draw shoppers in with locally grown fruits and vegetables, meats, and handmade goods, while growers connect directly with consumers. Farmers' markets offer a diverse array of locally-produced items. Image credit -

Source: American Farmland Trust (Washington, D.C.) - American Farmland Trust has launched a new podcast focused on the challenges farmers and ranchers face when transitioning land from one generation to the next. LANDED features succession stories of both young and elder producers and focuses on how they plan for the future of their land. “We hope that this new series will reach farmers and ranchers across the country, as well as urban and suburban people who may not underst

Sources include NYSDAM and USDA A late‑April Arctic blast delivered severe damage to fruit farms across New York, wiping out large portions of the 2026 crop and leaving growers bracing for long‑term financial losses. Temperatures plunged to 21°F in parts of the Hudson Valley on April 21, a level growers say they have never seen during full bloom. Following an early bloom due to warmer than normal temperatures, frost conditions in late April significantly impacted many apple,

Data source: U.S. Drought Monitor by Jeff Ishee Drought conditions across the southeastern United States have intensified this spring, putting mounting pressure on farmers already contending with a challenging farm economy, labor shortages, high fuel prices, and depleted soil moisture. As of May 12, 2026, nearly the entire region remains in drought, with large areas classified in "severe" to "exceptional" categories — the most widespread spring dryness the Southeast has seen