Screen 600 poultry workers: In a weekly update, the CDC said more than 600 laborers involved in killing and disposing of infected chickens on Colorado farms have been screened for flu-like symptoms and 106 were tested on the way to finding nine cases of bird flu in July. (CDC)
USDA clean energy grants: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $163 million in loans, grants, and technical assistance for 338 clean energy projects in 39 states and Guam through the Rural Energy for America Program and the Rural Energy for American Technical Assistance Program. (USDA)
Third-largest almond crop: California is forecast to harvest its third-largest almond crop this year, 2.8 billion pounds, thanks to higher yields per acre at the same time that historically low market prices have tightened almond growers’ margins. (Fruit and Tree Nut Outlook)
Agricultural robots with lasers: The fieldworker of the future may be a robot that employs lasers to zap weeds, or uses a mechanical arm to pull weeds, making it easier to raise crops without pesticides, say companies trying to automate agriculture. (Los Angeles Times)