Biggest Nebraska cattle feedlot: The owners of Blackshirt Feeders say they will begin shipping cattle to their new $200-million feedlot in southwestern Nebraska within a month, with the eventual goal of 150,000 head in the feedlot, the largest such operation in the state. (Nebraska Examiner)
A month without HPAI: A USDA database tracking highly pathogenic avian influenza said there were no reported outbreaks of bird flu among commercial poultry flocks during August. (USDA)
Post-wildfire erosion worsens: A study by the U.S. Geological Survey says hillside erosion after wildfires in California is 10 times worse than it was in the late 1980s; sediment can deprive fish of oxygen, fill reservoirs, and damage flood control structures. (Los Angeles Times)
Strengthening animal health networks: The USDA awarded $380,000 toward four new cooperative agreements with tribal partners to enhance their animal disease response capabilities against high-risk pests and diseases. (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)