The current High Pathogenic Avian Flu outbreak has broken records since it began more than a year ago.
U.S. ag officials have spent $670 million dollars to try to get it under control. According to APHIS, the majority has gone to compensation for depopulated birds and eggs. The rest has gone to culling and disposal, personnel, state agreements, and field costs.
To date, HPAI has taken nearly 59 million birds and caused countless losses for producers.
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Union leaders warn many federal researchers may leave their jobs rather than move to regional hubs.
USDA says planting progress remains strong nationwide, though some soybean fields are still slow to emerge.
The lower outlook follows months of drought stress across major winter wheat regions, where some producers have abandoned fields or shifted acres to grazing instead of harvest.
Aimee Bissell discusses Iowa planting progress, weather conditions, fertilizer costs, and concerns over early crop development.