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Top 5 Rural News Stories from Last Week (May 6, 2024)

Maritime trade resumes in Baltimore, as rail labor halts in Canada; farmer sentiment drops; plus, new studies and aid in the wake of HPAI H5N1 cases in dairy cattle.

This week’s RURAL WRAP-UP covers the week of May 6-11, 2024.

For a list of today’s top headlines, check out the RURAL RUNDOWN.

1

Work-In-Progress: Updates following the Port of Baltimore bridge collapse

Progress is being made to restore cargo traffic at the Port of Baltimore. Four temporary channels have been opened since the bridge’s collapse, and the plan is to have traffic back online by the end of the month.

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2

U.S. farmer sentiment drops to lowest level since June 2022

Purdue University Professor of Ag Economics, Dr. Jim Mintert spoke with RFD-TV’s own Suzanne Alexander on what contributed to the decline in sentiment, farmland value expectations, and his big takeaways from the report.

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3

Michigan issues emergency order further protecting poultry & livestock industries from HPAI

Michigan Dept. of Ag and Rural Development Director Tim Boring spoke with RFD-TV’s own Tammi Arender on the Market Day Report about HPAI’s impact on the state, details of their emergency order, and how this will protect producers and the industry.

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4

Supply Chain Kryptonite: What are the possible ripple effects of a rail strike in Canada?

Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition spoke with RFD-TV’s own Suzanne Alexander on the latest updates, how it will impact the ag supply chain, and if U.S. producers will be affected.

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5

Texas man who contracted HPAI wasn’t wearing PPE, according to a new report

New details from the New England Journal of Medicine show the Texas dairy worker who fell ill with High-Path Avian Flu (HPAI) was not wearing any protective equipment, or “PPE,” when he contracted the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says the worker had a serious case of pink eye but did not show signs of respiratory issues or fever. The CDC strongly urges farm workers to wear protective gear when working with livestock, especially dairy cattle and poultry, raw milk, sick birds, or other animals.

New pre-published studies link HPAI H5N1 infections in dairy cattle to the mammary gland rather than a respiratory infection, increasing the likelihood that humans and cattle are infected and transmit HPAI in new and different ways than cases involving poultry. Further study needs to be done to determine how the virus is descending into dairy cattle’s mammary glands and confirm the path of cow-to-cow and cow-to-human transmission.

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Related Stories
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer discusses the status of USDA disaster aid, including delays to Stage 2 of the SDRP program, and what farmers should watch for as lawmakers negotiate an end to the government shutdown.
Sen. Roger Marshall explains which types of beef are imported into the United States, how there’s room for new imports, and logical reasons for current high prices.
Record Australian exports and rising U.S. imports reflect continued tight domestic cattle supplies — a reminder that herd recovery remains key to balancing future beef prices.
U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) discusses the USDA’s new cattle plan, ethanol policy, and the broader challenges ahead for rural America.
Bioethanol continues to gain ground as the bridge fuel connecting agriculture, aviation, and maritime industries in the global shift toward lower-carbon energy.
Lyndsey Smith with RealAg Radio discusses how global trade dynamics could shape the future of Canada’s pulse exports.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

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