agriculture News

First Washington Heat Wave of the Year to Trigger New Heat Rules for Outdoor Workers

Forecast temperatures in Washington this week are exapted to will trigger protections designed to prevent heat-related illness in agriculture, landscaping, construction, and other outdoor jobs. The forecasted temperatures above 90 degrees in Eastern Washington mean the rules, overseen by the …

Rising Spring Rains Pose Challenges for Midwest Farmers

SABINA, Ohio (AP) — It was just after dark as Ross Woodruff hopped into a truck to haul soybean seeds out to his brother, Mark, whose planter had run out. It was the first day they could plant after heavy …

Bird Flu Found in Michigan, Idaho Cows as Virus Spreads in US

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been discovered in dairy herds in Michigan and Idaho, indicating the virus is spreading into new US states. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories has confirmed the presence of bird flu in a Michigan herd that …

Dairy Cattle in Texas and Kansas Test Positive for Bird Flu

Milk from dairy cows in Texas and Kansas has tested positive for bird flu, U.S. officials said Monday. Officials with the Texas Animal Health Commission confirmed the flu virus is the Type A H5N1 strain, known for decades to cause …

Colorado Farmers Must Pay $6.5M for Defrauding Federal Crop Insurance Programs

Two Colorado Farmers must pay more than $6.5 Million for defrauding federal crop insurance programs, according to U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. Finegan’s office announced that Patrick Esch and Ed Dean Jagers of Springfield, Colorado, agreed to pay the sum to …

Farmer Protests Disrupt Belgian Supermarkets’ Supply Chain

Protesting farmers have blocked the distribution centers of Colruyt, one of Belgium’s biggest supermarket chains, a spokesperson confirmed, while local media reported that distribution centers of discount supermarket chain Lidl were also targeted. The blockades have led to disruptions in …

Avian Flu Is Devastating Farms in California’s ‘Egg Basket’

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 …

Wisconsin Corn Mill Agrees to Pay $1.8M After Fatal Explosion

A Wisconsin milling company has agreed to pay an additional $1.8 million in penalties after a corn dust explosion that killed five workers and injured more than a dozen others at its Cambria plant in 2017, the federal Labor Department …

Washington Fruit Grower Fined After Workers Die in Tractor Rollovers

A Yakima, Washington, fruit grower and processor was fined nearly $300,000 by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries after two orchard workers died in tractor rollovers almost exactly a month apart. The first fatality reportedly occurred May 7, …

California Cities and Farms to Get 10% of Requested State Water Supplies When 2024 Starts

California water agencies serving 27 million people will get 10% of the water they requested from state supplies to start 2024 due to a relatively dry fall, even though the state’s reservoirs are in good shape, state officials said. The …