Bird flu hits flocks: After two months with virtually no U.S. outbreaks, highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed on two egg farms, in Utah and Washington, with a total of 2.69 million chickens. The disease has killed 103.5 million birds in domestic flocks since February 2022. (USDA)
Big corn sale to Mexico: Private exporters announced the sale of 1.62 million metric tons of U.S. corn, worth $261 million at current futures prices, for delivery to Mexico over two marketing years. (USDA)
Rural groceries close: The number of independent rural grocery stores in Nebraska shrank 30 percent in the five years ending in 2021, “and closures have since continued,” said a report to legislators. (Center for Rural Affairs)
Giving away chickens: At least six Wisconsin farms turned to social media to give away thousands of chickens they were raising on behalf of a poultry processor who has declared bankruptcy and no longer provides feed for them. (Wisconsin Public Radio)