Author: staff

Rice is one of the most-consumed foods in the world: In places like Bangladesh, almost 80 percent of the calories that people consume come from rice. “About 2 billion people are suffering from iron deficiency, which makes people sick and can even cause death,” said Felipe Ricachenevsky, a professor with the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. He and colleagues in Brazil, Italy, Chile, and Germany are working to increase the amount of iron in rice, one of the most-consumed foods in the world. “In places like Bangladesh, almost 80 percent of the calories that people consume…

The National Dairy Herd Information Association Scholarship Committee awarded $1,500 scholarships to Kristalyn Benson, University of Wisconsin; Emma Sells, Washington State University; and Julia Young, Purdue University, as the 2026 National DHIA Veterinary Student Scholarship recipients. Selection committee members evaluated applicants on overall interest as a veterinarian planning to work in dairy, involvement in dairy medicine and extra-curricular activities, and interest in using dairy software and dairy records to aid in dairy management and improving animal health. To be eligible for a National DHIA Veterinary Student Scholarship, applicants must be third- or fourth-year veterinary medicine students, and enrolled at a…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization allowing the over-the-counter use of Ivomec (ivermectin) injectable solution to help prevent infestations of New World screwworm in certain classes of cattle. The authorization, announced Feb. 5, 2026, permits Ivomec to be used as a preventive treatment against myiasis — the infestation of wounds by screwworm larvae — when administered within 24 hours of birth, at the time of castration, or when a wound first appears. New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a highly destructive parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue. While the pest was eradicated…

One of the quiet truths in American agriculture right now is that we don’t just have a labor shortage — we have a labor replacement failure. Across the country, farms, dairies, processors, and ag service businesses are advertising jobs they simply cannot fill. These aren’t abstract positions or “jobs Americans don’t want” in the rhetorical sense. They are real, necessary roles tied to real work: milking cows twice a day, feeding livestock, harvesting fruit and vegetables on a tight window, running processing lines, maintaining equipment, managing irrigation, and keeping food moving from field to shelf. What makes this moment different…

Governments and organizations that provide mental health support to farmers dealing with depression, anxiety, and isolation have traditionally focused on overcoming the stigma associated with getting help — but that isn’t the barrier farmers face, according to a new study by a research team led by rural sociologists at Penn State. The bigger issues, they found, are rural health care shortages, long wait times for appointments and travel time, as well as high health care costs. The team said the most recent findings from their ongoing five-year study, published in the Journal of Rural Studies, suggest that more effective programs…

A proposal in the Nebraska Legislature could dismantle the state’s long-running cattle branding system by eliminating the Nebraska Brand Committee and shifting its responsibilities to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Legislative Bill 1258, introduced by Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, would end the governor-appointed Brand Committee, make brand inspection voluntary instead of required and transfer brand inspection, registration and livestock theft investigation functions to the state’s agriculture department. The Legislature’s Agriculture Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the bill at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 17 in Room 1027 at the state Capitol in Lincoln. The bill represents the…

An opinion piece published in January on AGDAILY discussed the danger of out-of-basin water transfers across continental divides — arguing that such transfers harm the ability of water users in other Missouri River Basin states to access and use such water. The article was structured as a conflict between the Upper Basin States and the Lower Basin States. But it was clearly aimed at North Dakota, and it was meant to present a position for limiting Missouri River water use in North Dakota. As often said, everyone can have their own opinion, but we all need to have the same…

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have released proposed regulations outlining how domestic producers can qualify for and calculate the clean fuel production tax credit under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, offering long-awaited clarity on the revamped 45Z credit. The clean fuel production credit applies to qualifying clean transportation fuels produced in the United States after Dec. 31, 2024, and sold by Dec. 31, 2029. Businesses seeking to claim the credit must be registered with the IRS using Form 637 at the time of fuel production. According to Treasury, the proposed rules address key questions…

The Livestock Marketing Association has announced that applications are now open for its 2026 scholarship programs, offering two distinct opportunities to support students pursuing education and careers connected to the livestock marketing industry. LMA members are encouraged to endorse applicants — customers, family members, employees, or students from their communities — who demonstrate interest in or understanding of the importance of livestock marketing. LMA will offer the Career & Academic Education Scholarship for traditional post‑secondary education pathways and the Auctioneer School Scholarship for individuals pursuing training in the auction method of marketing livestock. Applications for both scholarship tracks are online…

The National FFA Organization has announced a new way for people to support the next generation of leaders for this year’s Give FFA Day: ChapterBoost. The ChapterBoost program showcases local FFA chapters and their goals for hands-on learning, leadership development and agricultural education, allowing donors to make an immediate impact by selecting a project to support directly through crowdfunding an individual chapter. The 11th Annual Give FFA Day will be celebrated during FFA Week on Thursday, February 26. Give FFA Day is an opportunity to make an impact on more than one million FFA members across the country, with money…