Fried falls in run for Florida office: In a landslide vote, Florida Democrats on Tuesday chose veteran Rep. Charlie Crist as their nominee for governor over state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a newcomer elected to statewide office in 2018. In New York, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, easily won the Democratic nomination for his sixth term in the House. (Ag Insider)
Urban crops, high yields: Urban gardeners and hydroponics can match and sometimes exceed the yields of farm-grown produce, with cucumbers, tubers and lettuces showing the highest yields, according to a survey of urban agriculture studies from 53 countries. (American Geophysical Union)
New Equity Commission subcommittee: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed a 12-member subcommittee on rural development as part of the Equity Commission that is examining USDA programs for systemic racism. (USDA)
Bird flu vaccine debate: Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza persist in the United States, prompting a renewed debate in the poultry industry whether to embrace bird flu vaccines. (Watt Ag Net)
U.S. trees in danger: As many as one in six trees native to the continental United States are in danger of extinction because of global warming, invasive insects and disease, according to the journal Plants, People, Planet. (Washington Post)
Worst drought in 500 years: Two-thirds of Europe is under some sort of drought warning, according to the Global Drought Observatory; the European Commission said preliminary data suggest “the current drought appears to be the worst since at least 500 years.” (BBC)