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by Jeff Ishee January 8, 2026 - Farmers in the Commonwealth of Virginia have seen a dry winter so far - very dry in some areas. As of January 6, 2026, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported that 42.29% of Virginia was in severe drought, while 29.48% was in moderate drought. This represents a significant increase in drought conditions since the previous week of December 30. The report that week indicated that only 16% of Virginia was in severe drought. One week comparison in Virgi

Source: N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services RALEIGH, NC – A backyard flock in Franklin County, North Carolina has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI). The positive sample was identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh. Avian influenza (AI), often called bird flu, is a viral infection that affects domestic poultry—especially chickens, turkeys, and gamebirds. It is carried natura

Source: USDA Washington, DC -- From 2017 to March 2020, 79 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 and older reported they regularly used the Nutrition Facts label when deciding to buy a packaged food product, according to the nationally representative Flexible Consumer Behavior Survey (FCBS) module of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Regular use is defined as using the label "sometimes," "most of the time," or "always" in food purchasing decisions. Cons

by Jeff Ishee January 3, 2026 - The most recent forecast (December 31) from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center indicates several states along the East Coast may see drought conditions develop or persist between now and the end of March. Regions that may see a winter drought develop include the Tidewater area of Virginia, a portion of central Florida, eastern North Carolina, and much of eastern and central South Carolina. Regions that may see drought condit

Source: Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund FRANKFORT, KY - The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approved $583,688 for agricultural diversification and rural development projects across the Commonwealth Friday at its monthly board meeting. Special projects approved include regenerative egg production. Victoria and Patrick Samuels started Sunnyside Egg Company after leaving the military and purchasing a small, nine-acre farm in Western Kentucky. They began the oper

Source: VA Farm Bureau BRIDGEWATER, VA — The Virginia State Dairymen’s Association has received a $115,000 grant to expand the use of bulk milk dispensers in school cafeterias across the commonwealth. The grant was made possible by the Van der Lely Foundation, an independent initiative contributing to a better world through entrepreneurship and innovation. Switching to milk dispensers eliminates cartons, which lowers packaging waste. Image credit - VA Farm Bureau This investm

Source: West Virginia Department of Agriculture Charleston, WV - The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) is now accepting applications for the 2026 Veterans & Heroes to Agriculture Agribusiness Pitch Competition , an annual event designed to support veterans and other emergency responders pursuing agricultural careers and small-business ventures in the Mountain State. The competition provides qualified applicants an opportunity to present their ideas for innovativ

Source: USDA WASHINGTON, DC - Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has announced the next phase in the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA), the eligible commodity per-acre payment rates. A total of $12 billion will be paid to American farmers in 2026. Of that amount, $11 billion consists of one-time FBA program payments. This is in response to four years of disastrous Biden administration policies that created record-high input and production costs, zero new trade d

Source: NCDACS RALEIGH, NC - Large animal veterinarians in North Carolina are eligible to apply for up to $25,000 in funds to help support their large animal practice. The funding opportunity is available to veterinarians who practice in one of the 70 North Carolina counties with a population of 100,000 or fewer and who spend 30% or more of their patient care involved in large animal veterinary care. Image credit - Mark Stebnicki “Since the Large Animal Fund was established,

By Jeff Mulhollem, Penn State UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa . — Weed control is essential in apple orchards because weeds compete with trees for nutrients, water and sunlight, which can reduce fruit yields. However, physically removing weeds is not only labor-intensive, but it also can damage soil structure and tree roots. Using chemical sprays to kill weeds can lead to other problems, such as pollution, herbicide resistance and excess chemical residues on apples. Another option called