Bird flu spreads from cattle to human in Texas
A Texas patient tested positive for the bird flu virus after exposure to dairy cattle believed to be carrying the disease — the first known instance of cattle-to-human transmission in the United States, said public health officials on Monday. The patient reported eye redness, consistent with conjunctivitis, as the only symptom and was recovering, said the Centers for Disease Control.
House conservatives would rewrite farm supports in Trump’s name
Congress would cut off crop subsidies to wealthy farmers and require growers to pay at least half of the cost of crop insurance premiums if it adopted the policies proposed by Donald Trump when he was president, said the Republican Study Committee in its budget outline for this fiscal year.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
First winter wheat ratings: Some 56 percent of the U.S. winter wheat crop was in good or excellent condition at the start of this week, double the 28 percent reported a year ago, said the USDA in its first Crop Progress report of the growing season. (USDA)
Bacon faces closer race: Rep. Don Bacon’s race for re-election in Nebraska “tilts” Republican, a downgrade from the previous “leans” Republican, said election analyst Nathan Gonzales; Bacon has a challenger in the May primary and would be in a rematch with state Sen. Tony Vargas in the general election. (Roll Call)
Revolt among European farmers: Producers’ grievances against environmental regulations, rising costs, and unrelenting competition are forcing EU leaders to trim their climate ambitions; “it’s the end of the world vs. the end of the month,” said a French farm leader. (New York Times)
SNAP enrollment declines: Some 41.2 million people received SNAP benefits at latest count, the smallest enrollment since August 2022; benefits averaged $193.76 per person per month. (USDA)
