Australia’s federal science agency for research and innovation
Drought and heat have deepened losses for U.S. wheat farmers as irrigation and drought conditions worsen. Growers report sharply lower yields and higher input costs, with USDA data forecasting a historically small crop and insurance considerations shaping farmer decisions.
Australia has recorded H5N1 avian influenza in migratory seabirds on the mainland and in sub‑Antarctic territories. Authorities have confirmed cases in Western Australia and South Australia and are testing further suspected detections in New South Wales. Surveillance, farm biosecurity and public reporting have increased while officials say there is no evidence the virus has reached poultry or caused mass mortalities on the mainland.