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First-ever bird flu case in pigs raises concern in the US

Scientists in the US have expressed concern about the detection of the first case of H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) flu in a pig in that country.

Worst year since 2007 for US maize farmers

The US Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book report published on 30 October has indicated that maize farmers could be experiencing their worst year in almost 20 years.

Can automation alleviate labour shortages on US farms?

A declining interest in farming along with an ageing farmer population in the US have been cited as among the many reasons for the significant shortage of workers in the agriculture sector

Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc across south-eastern US farms

Hurricane Helene has left farmers across the south-eastern US with significant damage to cotton fields and pecan nut orchards, among other losses.

Rising US dairy prices set to reverse declining producer profits

The trend of declining margins for US dairy farmers are being reversed, due to rising dairy and milk prices in that country.

Farming tops list as most dangerous job in UK

Farming is the most dangerous profession in the UK, according to figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on 26 August to coincide with Farm Safety Week.

US meat industry pushes back on ‘price-gouging’ plan

Trade groups in the US are pushing back against a plan announced by Vice-President Kamala Harris to place a federal ban on “price gouging” in the grocery industry.

Movement of goats and sheep banned in Greece due to ‘goat plague’

The authorities in Greece have imposed a ban on the movement of sheep and goats from farms in an attempt to contain an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants (PPR).

Farmers in western US battle locust swarms

There have been reports of widespread locust and Mormon cricket infestations in at least seven states in the western US.

US farm culls 1,8 million chickens after bird flu outbreak

Almost 1,8 million chickens in Colorado in the US were culled following a serious outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza on a commercial layer farm, prompting authorities there to declare a disaster emergency.

Northern Ireland farm income declines 44% in 2023

The average farm income in Northern Ireland is expected to fall 46% in the 2023/4 financial year to about £27 345 (about R636 912), down from about £51 043 (R1 188 879) in 2022/3. This was according to new figures released by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) in Northern Ireland.

Proposal to address ‘unfair practices’ in US livestock markets

A new proposal by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has outlined a framework clarifying how competition rules will be enforced in that country’s meat industry.

Danish government to impose world’s first carbon tax on cattle

Following a wide-ranging compromise reached with farmers, industry leaders, labour unions and environmental groups, the Danish government has announced the introduction of a tax on livestock carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 2030.

Land degradation threatens global food security, UN experts

Extreme weather is resulting in degraded land in some parts of the world being pushed beyond use. In some of the most deprived regions around the globe, this is reaching a tipping point, which could mean that this land will no longer be able to sustain crops, according to Martin Frick, director of the World Food Programme’s global office.