agriculture News

Extreme Weather, Cyber Risks Top Concerns When Insuring Farms

As risks from extreme weather, technology glitches and cyberattacks rise, so does the need for agricultural insurance that can cover a rapidly diversifying and evolving industry. “With the interest rates, production expenses, and cost of diesel constantly on the rise, …

Avian Flu is Devastating Farms in California’s ‘Egg Basket’ as Outbreaks Roil Poultry Industry

Last month, Mike Weber got the news every poultry farmer fears: His chickens tested positive for avian flu. Following government rules, Weber’s company, Sunrise Farms, had to slaughter its entire flock of egg-laying hens — 550,000 birds — to prevent …

Small Farmers Hit by Extreme Weather Could Get Assistance From Proposed Insurance Program

Since catastrophic flooding hit Vermont in July and waterlogged crops, some farmers are trying to figure out how to get through the next season. Water washed away seeds planted in the summer at Bear Roots Farm, which grows about 20 …

Floods Strand Cows, Damage Crops as Wild Weather Hits Australia

Heavy rains and flooding across Australia’s southern state of Victoria has damaged crops and stranded cattle as a months-long run of wild weather on the nation’s east coast leaves a trail of destruction. Severe storms have lashed Victoria since October, …

Rules Aimed at Contaminated Groundwater Drive Calif. Farmers and Residents to Court

Near fields awash with strawberries and greens, Ileana Miranda and her family pay $72 a month to get water piped into their home in a rural California community __ and that`s before they consume a drop. They pay to bring …

Extreme Weather Can Hit Farmers Hard. Those With Smaller Farming Operations Often Pay the Price

MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) — Justin Ralph estimates he`s made about 200 trips delivering grain from the fields he farms with his brother and uncle this year. They`re accustomed to using their four semi-trucks to take the harvest from a total …

1.2 Million Chickens Will Be Slaughtered at an Iowa Farm Where Bird Flu Was Found

An additional 1.2 million chickens will be slaughtered to prevent the spread of the bird flu after the virus was confirmed on an Iowa egg farm in the second massive case this week. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land …

Nearly 1M Chickens Will Be Killed on a Minnesota Farm Because of Bird Flu

Nearly 1 million chickens on a Minnesota egg farm will be slaughtered to help limit the spread of the highly contagious bird flu after it was confirmed there, officials said Monday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the virus …

Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu Detected at Alabama Chicken Farm

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — After confirming the presence of highly pathogenic avian flu in a flock of chickens, nearly 48,000 birds were killed at a north Alabama farm, state agriculture officials said. A Marshall County commercial pullet farm — one …

New Deadly Bird Flu Cases Reported in Iowa, Joining 3 Other States as Disease Resurfaces

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two commercial turkey farms in Iowa have been hit by the reemerging highly pathogenic bird flu, causing about 100,000 birds to be killed to prevent the disease from spreading. The Iowa Department of Agriculture reported …