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Amazon Rainforest Faces Critical Threat from Agriculture, Mining, and Climate Change

Amazon Rainforest Faces Critical Threat from Agriculture, Mining, and Climate Change

The Amazon rainforest is at a critical juncture due to the combined pressures of expansive agriculture, predatory mining, and a worsening climate. A significant portion of the destruction, particularly illegal mining, is occurring in areas designated as indigenous territories and nature reserves. This not only devastates the natural environment but also displaces indigenous communities who have historically protected the forest. The ecological importance of the Amazon, which spans nine countries, makes environmental crime an international concern. The loss of primary forest disrupts natural cycles, releasing vast amounts of carbon and transforming the forest from a climate ally into a source of greenhouse gas emissions. While some regions, like the Brazilian Amazon, have shown recent improvements in reducing annual losses due to renewed enforcement, other areas, such as Peru, have seen increases in deforestation.

Global Food Prices Decline in October, Sugar Surges Amid Supply Disruptions

Global Food Prices Decline in October, Sugar Surges Amid Supply Disruptions

Global food prices experienced their first decline in four months in October, with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index falling by 1.2% to 133.9 points from 135.6 points in September. This decrease was primarily driven by lower prices for cereals, meat, and dairy products. Cereal prices dropped by 4.5% due to softened global demand and improved production outlooks, particularly for wheat in Argentina and corn in the United States and South America. International wheat prices reversed a four-month rising streak, and corn prices retreated after reaching a three-year high in September. Meat and dairy prices also saw declines of 1.2% and 1.1% respectively, attributed to ample supplies and subdued international demand. However, sugar prices surged by 6.6% in October, marking their fourth consecutive monthly increase and reaching their highest level since December 2024. This spike was mainly caused by rainfall-related disruptions to sugarcane harvesting in Brazil, the world's largest s...

Texas Animal Health Commission Expands New World Screwworm Infested Zone to Include Scurry County

Texas Animal Health Commission Expands New World Screwworm Infested Zone to Include Scurry County

The Texas Animal Health Commission has designated Scurry County as part of a New World Screwworm infested zone, placing it under close state observation. This decision follows the detection of a New World Screwworm case in nearby Mitchell County, southeast of Snyder. In addition to Scurry County, Fisher and Nolan Counties are also included in this infested zone. The New World Screwworm is a fly larva that burrows into the living flesh of animals and, rarely, humans, posing a significant threat to livestock and wildlife. This parasite was largely eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s but has recently reappeared in Mexico in 2024, leading to subsequent detections in the United States. Under guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), movement restrictions and surveillance within the infested zone will remain active for a minimum of three months after the final positive case is confirmed. The Texas Animal Health Commission is urging vigilance and prompt reporting of any suspicious cases to help con...

Ohio State University Extension Emphasizes Forage Quality for Optimal Livestock Nutrition and Farm Efficiency

Ohio State University Extension Emphasizes Forage Quality for Optimal Livestock Nutrition and Farm Efficiency

Emily Hornberger of Ohio State University Extension is urging livestock producers to prioritize forage quality over mere quantity to ensure proper animal nutrition. Many operations assess hay inventories based on tonnage, but Hornberger highlights that cattle can consume large amounts of low-quality forage and still suffer from nutritional deficiencies, impacting their performance. A full rumen does not guarantee adequate nutrient intake. Forage analysis is presented as the crucial first step, providing vital information on crude protein, fiber levels, and total digestible nutrients. Without these metrics, farmers are left to guess if their forage meets their herds' needs. Poor-quality forage is particularly detrimental during late gestation and early lactation when nutrient demands are high, often necessitating supplementation even with ample forage. Hornberger stresses that matching forage quality to animal requirements can prevent performance losses and unnecessary feed expenses. Testing also enables fa...

COP31 Panel to Address Methane Emission Reduction in Agriculture for Food Security

COP31 Panel to Address Methane Emission Reduction in Agriculture for Food Security

The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) will feature a panel discussion focused on reducing methane emissions from beef cattle while simultaneously advancing food security and supporting rural livelihoods. Co-hosted by the Clean Air Task Force, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Environmental Defense Fund, Climate and Clean Air Coalition, and Food and Land Use Coalition, the event will bring together government, research, industry, and civil society perspectives. The discussion will explore how science, supportive policies, collaboration, and corporate action can achieve these goals. The panel will draw on two global initiatives: the Resilient Agriculture Investment for Net Zero Land Degradation (RAIZ) and Integrating Agricultural Development and Methane Mitigation, both aimed at advancing agricultural productivity, climate mitigation, and sustainable land management.

Lamm Lab Attends 2026 Vitis x Muscadinia Annual Meeting to Advance Grape Disease Resistance Research

Lamm Lab Attends 2026 Vitis x Muscadinia Annual Meeting to Advance Grape Disease Resistance Research

Dennis Baffour-Awuah, a doctoral researcher from the Lamm Lab, participated in the joint VitisGen3 and Vitis x Muscadinia (VxM) Annual Meeting held from October 28-30, 2026, in Canandaigua, New York. This annual gathering convenes researchers, project leaders, students, and industry stakeholders to share advancements, discuss challenges, and foster collaboration. The VxM project, titled 'Through the Grapevine: Developing Vitis x Muscadinia Wide Hybrids for Enhanced Disease Resistance and Quality,' is a multidisciplinary initiative funded by the USDA NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI). The meeting featured presentations from research teams specializing in grape breeding, genetics, pathology, production, fruit quality, and marketing. Attendees also engaged in poster sessions, advisory board discussions, and project planning to assess progress and establish priorities for future work.

MSU Plant Biologist Thelma Madzima Engineers Drought-Resistant Crops to Combat Climate Change Impacts

MSU Plant Biologist Thelma Madzima Engineers Drought-Resistant Crops to Combat Climate Change Impacts

Thelma Madzima, an MSU 1855 professor of Plant Biology, is leading research to engineer crops that can withstand drought, heat, and extreme weather conditions. Her work focuses on epigenetics, the process by which cells can switch genes on or off without altering the underlying DNA sequence. Madzima's team studies how plants adapt to stressors like drought and heat by changing gene expression, allowing them to survive and produce seeds. They examine resilient plants like sorghum and maize, which has a unique genome with transposable elements that create mutants, providing a rich source for studying gene pathways related to stress resistance. The research involves growing plants in controlled growth chambers, greenhouses, and field settings to observe their responses to various environmental conditions.

H5N1 Bird Flu Spreads to New U.S. Dairy Herds, Raising Concerns for Livestock Movement and Biosecurity

H5N1 Bird Flu Spreads to New U.S. Dairy Herds, Raising Concerns for Livestock Movement and Biosecurity

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) continues to spread among U.S. dairy cattle, with new detections reported in Washington and Indiana. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), H5N1 has now affected dairy cattle in 21 states since its initial identification in March 2024. The recent cases include two Washington dairy herds in October and an Indiana dairy herd on November 2, which was identified through routine screening via the National Milk Testing Strategy. Federal analyses indicate that much of the spread among dairy herds is linked to livestock movements, with genetic evidence suggesting transmission from Idaho to Washington. Veterinarians and producers are urged to enhance biosecurity protocols, including careful management of incoming cattle, isolation of sick animals, and sanitation of shared equipment, to curb further transmission.

IMF Forecasts Burkina Faso's Economy to Grow by 4.8% in 2027, Driven by Gold and Agriculture

IMF Forecasts Burkina Faso's Economy to Grow by 4.8% in 2027, Driven by Gold and Agriculture

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects Burkina Faso's economy to expand by 4.8% in 2027, an increase from the anticipated 4.4% growth in 2026. This positive outlook is primarily fueled by strong gold output and an expected rebound in the agricultural sector. High gold prices, increased production, and reforms aimed at formalizing artisanal mining are contributing to economic activity. Additionally, investments in agriculture, such as improved fertilizer access, expanded irrigation networks, dam rehabilitation, and new boreholes, have bolstered the sector's resilience against unfavorable rainfall. Despite this positive forecast, the IMF warns of significant economic risks, including potential threats to food security from El Niño-related weather conditions and increased inflationary and fiscal pressures due to rising global oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict.

Perdue Farms Partner Receives Environmental Award for Sustainable Chicken Farming Practices

Perdue Farms Partner Receives Environmental Award for Sustainable Chicken Farming Practices

Derek Caraballo, a chicken grower in Denton, Maryland, who partners with Perdue Farms, has been honored with the Delmarva Chicken Association's (DCA) 2026 George ‘Bud’ Malone Environmental Award. This award recognizes Caraballo's commitment to on-farm conservation and environmental design. Caraballo, along with his wife Pamela and son Owen, received a plaque and a $500 prize. Their operation, Caraballo & Wasn't EZ Farms, will also be nominated for USPOULTRY's Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award. The farm features four 60-foot by 600-foot chicken houses, which are meticulously maintained. Caraballo has implemented 17 best management practices, including 1.6 acres of planted buffers, 9.6 acres of natural buffers, and three-quarters of an acre of annual pollinators. These practices include well-maintained heavy use pads, vegetative environmental buffers around chicken houses and property lines, pollinator-friendly plots, solar energy, and excellent mortality composting. The award highlights growers who...

South Korea and Mexico Report Bird Flu Outbreaks, Over 300,000 Birds Culled

South Korea and Mexico Report Bird Flu Outbreaks, Over 300,000 Birds Culled

Mexico and South Korea have both reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, leading to the culling of over 300,000 birds. In Mexico, the H5N1 virus was detected on a farm in the Yucatan Peninsula, affecting a flock of 225,860 laying hens in the town of Uman. This marks Mexico's first poultry outbreak in over two years. Simultaneously, South Korea reported an outbreak of avian influenza in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province, near the border with North Korea, where 90,986 poultry were affected. In both instances, all infected birds were culled as a precautionary measure to prevent further spread, according to reports from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The global spread of bird flu has been a significant concern for governments and the poultry industry due to its impact on supply, food prices, and the risk of human transmission.

COP31 Presidency Mandates 60% Meat-Free Catering and Plant-Based Cafes to Address Climate Impact of Food Systems

COP31 Presidency Mandates 60% Meat-Free Catering and Plant-Based Cafes to Address Climate Impact of Food Systems

The 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, hosted in Antalya, Turkey, has set a goal for 60% of its catering to be meat-free. Additionally, the conference will feature two fully plant-based cafes on-site and has invited two local vegan businesses to participate in the food court. This initiative, supported by the Food & Climate Action Group, aims to highlight the connection between global food systems and climate change. The decision follows a UN-backed report indicating that most countries will not meet 2030 food systems goals, particularly regarding greenhouse gas emission reductions. Previous COP summits have shown varying commitments to plant-based options, with COP28 making two-thirds of its menu meat-free, while COP29 in Baku faced criticism for limited and mislabeled vegetarian options. COP31's focus on clearer labeling, including ingredient and nutritional information, is also part of this effort to enable informed choices for delegates.