CNH Industrial workers strike
Over 1,000 CNH Industrial workers in Racine, Wisconsin, and Burlington, Iowa, started a strike on Monday. The six-year contract agreement at both facilities expired at midnight on April 30. “Our members at CNHi strike for the ability to earn a decent living, retire with dignity and establish fair work rules,” said Chuck Browning, vice president and director of the UAW’s Agricultural Implement Department. – Reuters
2022 World Food Prize Laureate announced
Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig, a NASA scientist, was named the 2022 World Food Prize Laureate on Thursday. She is recognized for her work understanding and predicting the impact of climate change on agriculture and food production. Her data and research is used by decision-makers around the world. – Farm Progress
Caterpillar rolls out new loaders
Caterpillar is launching three new compact wheel loader models with a range of user comfort and productivity features. The new machines now feature the full-size wheel loader cab on these compact machines. There are more features and options for the powertrain, and the hydraulics and machine structure have been modified to improve working capacity. – Farm Progress
USDA accepts CRP contracts on 2 million acres
Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux says about 90% of enrolled acres were accepted, and the agency hopes to encourage producers to consider additional enrollment options in the Grassland and Continuous signups, both of which are currently open. An estimated 3.4 million acres of enrolled CRP acres expired this year. – Farm Futures
Climate change increases aflatoxin risk
Researchers at Michigan State University expect aflatoxin to become more of a problem in the U.S. Corn Belt between 2031-2040. Aflatoxin degrades corn quality and can cause health problems for humans and animals depending on the amount and length of time ingested. Aflatoxin contamination occurs annually in the southern U.S. but has not previously been a serious problem in the Corn Belt region. – BEEF
Fertilizer chaos to last into 2023
Fertilizer prices have soared to all-time highs as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and sanctions on Belarus threw a massive chunk of the world’s supply into disarray. Nutrien, the world’s top fertilizer maker, expects disruptions in the fertilizer markets to extend beyond 2022. The company has boosted potash production by 1 million metric tons. – Bloomberg
New Zealand close to wiping out Mycoplasma
Found in cattle in the U.S. and Europe, Mycoplasma bovis is a bacteria that can cause cows to develop mastitis, pneumonia, arthritis and other painful conditions. After a four-year campaign, only a single farm in the country still has the bacterial disease. New Zealand would be the first country that has managed to wipe it out completely. – AP News
