AGDAILY

A nationwide program working in partnership with 1890 land-grant universities is striving to pair 4-H students with mentors who can help them focus on college career paths in STEM-based agriculture. Tahja Sims writes that the initiative comes as the number of Black farmers across the U.S. has continued to dwindle while the average age of the Black farmer — now at 61 years old — keeps climbing. #dei #diversity #agriculture #4h #hbcu https://lnkd.in/eXBsSR4x

Coupled with the recent purchase of the Arkansas River Rice mill, which provides P. J. Haynie the vertical integration to create value-added products, he believes that the launch of an expanded food brand of Haynie Family Farms will allow him to transition from producing commodities widely used as feed for livestock to creating finished products and controlling his margins. AGDAILY reporter Tahja Sims talks about how Haynie is transforming the family business. #agriculture #virginia #arkansas https://lnkd.in/epgns9kS

Reporting from the Netherlands, Jacob Zajkowski explains: "It’s not just the amount of agricultural land used to produce food or the total food production per continent that matters. Rather how each region manages urbanization, farm decline, and feeding a population surrounded by water. For Europe, this relies on trade and imports." #netherlands #europe #agriculture https://lnkd.in/ecXjH3XT

There is a transformation happening in EU farm policy, as the slow and complex consensus-driven process begins to fuel intense debates over deregulation -- echoing political trends in the United States. More from Jacob Zajkowski #agriculture #europe #eu https://lnkd.in/eGEXnUzF

As a reflection of more Americans feeling that China’s influence is growing stronger in the world, the U.S. government has considered efforts to limit the scope of Chinese-owned organizations in the nation. And the drone market is no exception. Liza Thuy Nguyen writes about this >>> #cybersecurity #drones #agriculture https://lnkd.in/ex7w4uAp

Those involved in international agriculture and food development are scrambling for answers in Washington as federal agencies suspend operations, issue termination notices, and prevent employees from reporting to work at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). More from Jacob Zajkowski #hunger #foodsecurity #usaid https://lnkd.in/eMpdNHkq

Ryan Tipps writes that the climate change is causing less reliable precipitation, rising temperatures because of carbon dioxide and water vapors being trapped in the atmosphere, and a change in the availability of both surface and groundwater used for irrigation — all of which is putting agriculture on the front lines of this crisis. #climate #water #agriculture https://lnkd.in/ezP6cA-P

Caregiving is a common role in agriculture, yet it becomes more challenging when medical diagnoses necessitate taking on care of loved ones. The emotional, physical, and mental toll can be overwhelming, especially for an industry that is already high-stress. Michele Payn, CSP talks to those who have been there. #agriculture #stress #mentalwellness https://lnkd.in/e9AdzmRb

Tahja Sims, an agricultural economics major and senior at Texas A&M University, is joining us to cover a broad range of perspectives and news related to marginalized communities in agriculture. Welcome, Tahja! This amazing partnership is done with the help of American Farmland Trust. #diversity #agriculture #dei https://lnkd.in/ePAxYvXF

The recent reemergence of the New World screwworm in southern Mexico and Central America -- where it had been eradicated for decades -- has reignited concerns among veterinary and agricultural communities across the United States. The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly notorious for its tissue-consuming larvae, poses significant threats to livestock, wildlife, pets, and even humans. Despite its eradication in the United States in the 20th century, its current trajectory suggests that the pest could make a return to the Southern United States.Screwworm infestations plagued the United States for much of the early 20th century. Dr. Gary Thrasher, fondly known as “Doc,” is a respected veterinarian and rancher who played a pivotal role in screwworm eradication efforts in the American Southwest in the 1970s. More from AGDAILY Associate Editor Heidi Crnkovic #agriculture #ranching #cattle https://lnkd.in/etD6njkA