Senate farm bill cuts act forbidding states from setting livestock production laws
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry released its long-awaited draft farm bill on June 23 that cuts the Save Our Bacon Act.
New H-2A changes could ease dairy labor shortages
The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 aims to end the crippling dairy labor shortage. By removing seasonal H-2A visa limits and stabilizing unpredictable wage rate fluctuations, this legislation would provide vital relief to struggling U.S. dairy operations.
Blood in the well: One town’s fight against the slaughterhouse polluting it
Trish Leigey's water ran brown with bovine DNA, leading to a legal battle against Nicholas Meat, a Pennsylvania slaughterhouse that spreads millions of gallons of animal waste on local fields each year. While a jury held the company liable, lenient regulations mean the fight for clean water is far from over.
Ohio releases 2026 sandhill crane count results
Volunteer observers reported 344 sandhill cranes in Ohio during the 2026 Midwest Crane Count, below last year's count and the three-year average.
Friend or farm foe? Balancing groundhog benefits and damage
Whether you call them groundhogs, woodchucks or whistle-pigs, these critters have a mixed reputation. While their burrows threaten farm pastures and foundations, they also aerate soil and create wildlife habitats. Retired wildlife officer Jim Abrams weighs the pros and cons.
Farm and Dairy Weekly Rundown: Episode 64 (7-2-26)
Reporters Liz Partsch and Paul Rowley give a rundown of the top stories in Farm and Dairy newspaper for the week of July 2, 2026.
Federal government considers a lifeline for Ohio River
Farm and Dairy's Paul Rowley reports on the bipartisan Ohio River Restoration Program Act, a new bill that could deliver critical federal funding to combat pollution, upgrade aging infrastructure and restore habitats across the 15-state basin.
Stinkhorn: The phallus of the forest
The elegant stinkhorn turns heads with its suggestive appearance and unforgettable smell. Tami Gingrich takes readers into the woods to discover why this peculiar fungus looks the way it does and how its stench helps ensure the next generation.
Should you swim in Pittsburgh’s rivers? A water researcher breaks down the answer
While fish populations have rebounded drastically over the last 50 years, raw sewage overflows after rainfall still pose significant health risks in Pittsburgh's three rivers. Learn how water quality is tracking and when it's safe to dive in.
Ohio Power Siting Board approves fifth natural gas power plant in New Albany
Ohio approves its fifth behind-the-meter natural gas plant in New Albany: a 250 MW facility with battery storage built to power a Meta data center. But that's not all! There are two more such power plants in the application process with the Ohio Power Siting Board.
