Latest Agriculture News
How did so many Thai farmers end up held hostage by Hamas?
BANGKOK (AP) — Five Thai nationals held hostage by Hamas since its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel were released on Thursday. They were among 31 Thais taken by the militant group, of whom 23 have already been released. Another two have been confirmed dead, and the status of one...
Trump rescinds funding freeze but uncertainty lives on for wide array of environmental programs
A chaotic back-and-forth over President Donald Trump's freeze on federal grants and loans has farmers, activists, organizations and businesses wondering whether they will receive the funding they rely on. It's funding that among many other things is being used to address...
Who can share seeds? As climate change and counterfeits hurt Kenyan farmers, it's a growing question
KIKUYU, Kenya (AP) — Tucked away in a lush, forested area of central Kenya's Kikuyu town, the National Seed Bank stands as a crucial safeguard for the future of the country's agriculture. Inside two chilly rooms of a government building, more than 50,000 seed varieties are cataloged and stored. ...
Pork giant Smithfield's CEO touts growth outlook, minimizes threats from deportations, bird flu
Smithfield Foods' CEO says he hopes that everything the company has done to make working in its plants more attractive ever since COVID tore through the industry during the pandemic will help it weather the impact of President Donald Trump’s promised mass deportations. Smithfield...
Egg prices are soaring. Don't expect that to change anytime soon
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023. And it appears there may be no relief in sight, given the surge in demand as Easter approaches. The average price...
Long Island’s last duck farm weighs closure after outbreak leads to killing of entire flock
NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s Long Island was once synonymous with “duck” in the culinary world. Now it may lose its last commercial farm. The avian flu outbreak that has led to the slaughter of millions of birds at U.S. poultry farms and driven up the price of eggs struck the...
A healthy resolution for 2025? Start a garden. Tips for beginners
January is traditionally a month for fresh starts and resolutions, many of which center around self-care. And if you’ve spent any time watching television or scrolling social media this month, you’ve likely been bombarded with diet and exercise pitches. But there’s another...
On "Farmtok," agriculture gets its moment in the spotlight. What would it mean if that disappeared?
BUCYRUS, Ohio (AP) — Zoe Kent hopes people get a little joy out of her talking about farming on the Internet. In one of her latest videos, she compares pesticide application to dry shampoo. “Farming is for the girls,” she quips. On Instagram and TikTok, under the handle...
Forest Service authorizes controversial land swap along the eastern portion of the Crazy Mountains
The Custer Gallatin National Forest on Friday authorized a controversial land swap involving more than 15 square miles of land in two different south-central Montana mountain ranges. With the decision, consultants hired by the Yellowstone Club to facilitate the exchange can...
Solar farms are booming in the US and putting thousands of hungry sheep to work
BUCKHOLTS, Texas (AP) — On rural Texas farmland, beneath hundreds of rows of solar panels, a troop of stocky sheep rummage through pasture, casually bumping into one another as they remain committed to a single task: chewing grass. The booming solar industry has found an unlikely...
