USDA is in the news for helping farmers amid trade chaos and fertilizer shortages, as it works to stabilize US agriculture during global crises.
The US government has enacted a law allowing schools to serve full-fat and 2% milk, reversing a policy from 2012 that mandated only low-fat options. This aligns with new dietary guidelines promoting whole dairy products, sparking debate over childhood nutrition and health impacts.
Unseasonably cold weather in Florida has caused thousands of invasive green iguanas to become cold-stunned and fall from trees. Wildlife officials are collecting and humanely killing the reptiles, which cause environmental damage. Some residents are also collecting and preparing the animals for consumption, highlighting ongoing invasive species control efforts.
U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns ordered the government to bring back 19-year-old Babson College student Any Lucia López Belloza, who was deported in November despite a court order. The judge cited a government acknowledgment of a mistake and gave the Department of Homeland Security two weeks to comply.
As of April 2026, Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has severely disrupted global fertilizer shipments, causing nitrogen fertilizer prices to nearly double. This has hit US and global farmers during critical spring planting, raising production costs and threatening crop yields for staples like corn, wheat, and rice. The shortage risks global food security and will likely push consumer food prices higher worldwide.
The New World screwworm fly has spread north through Mexico, reaching two Mexican states bordering Texas. Control efforts are resuming after a breakdown in eradication programs, with potential costs exceeding US$700 million annually if it invades the US. New funding aims to restore sterile insect techniques to prevent a costly outbreak.
Russia's cattle culling since February, linked to suspected foot-and-mouth disease, has expanded to China, which reports a highly contagious, vaccine-resistant strain entering Xinjiang. Authorities are implementing culling and disinfection measures, raising concerns over potential regional disease spread and concealment of outbreaks.
The USDA terminated nearly $9 million in grants to Native and underserved farmers, citing concerns over DEI and wasteful spending. The move affects projects in Montana and other states, prompting criticism from awardees who say the reasons are unfounded and harmful to economic progress.
Recent assessments show mountain snowpack in the Western US peaked a month early with only half the usual moisture, signaling worsening drought and increasing wildfire risks. Cities and ranchers face water shortages, while ski resorts struggle with minimal snowfall and early closures.
Agriculture authorities have identified the Asian jumping worm as an invasive species spreading across multiple states, including California. The worms damage soil, harm plant roots, and may threaten native wildlife. Officials emphasize prevention, as there are no effective control methods once established. The spread raises concerns about drought and ecosystem disruption.