Environment
Venomous Snake Bites Four Girls in School Hostel in India, One Dies
A 13-year-old girl died and three others were seriously injured after a krait entered a residential school hostel in Lohardaga district of Jharkhand, India.
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World
Environment
Cobra in the Middle of the Road Halts Traffic for 30 Minutes
A cobra sitting with its hood raised in the middle of a busy Bengaluru road stopped traffic for about 30 minutes until police moved it to safety.
AgribusinessLarge family farms produced 73% of US dairy value in 2024, ERS says
USDA's Economic Research Service reported in July 2026 that large-scale family farms produced most of the 2024 value of US dairy, specialty crops, cotton, beef and cash grains, while small family farms led in hay.
AgribusinessBetter Life Farming centres bring farm advice to villages around Saidpur, Bangladesh
In July 2026 the World Bank described how a young graduate running a Better Life Farming centre in Saidpur, Nilphamari, serves more than 500 farmers across five villages, part of a plan to train over 1,000 agri-entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.
Environment
Woman Hospitalised After Sucking Cobra Venom From Husband's Bite in China
A woman in Yunnan, China, ended up in hospital alongside her husband after trying to suck cobra venom from his bite, copying a method she had seen on television.
AgribusinessUS puts $500m behind building fertilizer plants at home
The FIELDS programme will make awards of $15m to $150m to expand American production of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur, with applications closing on 15 August.
LivestockUSDA offers $500 million to keep independent beef processors running
The Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers programme will pay eligible U.S.-owned beef plants that are not among the dominant packers, as the cattle herd sits at a 75-year low.
EnvironmentUS irrigated land stops growing as water use per acre falls
American irrigated area grew more than tenfold from 1890 but has stalled since 1997, even as the water applied to each acre has fallen sharply.
CropsUS corn area fell 3% in 2026 as soybean plantings rose 5%, USDA says
USDA's Acreage report of 30 June 2026 put US corn plantings at 95.3 million acres and soybean at 85.4 million, while corn stocks on 1 June stood 14% above a year earlier.
AgribusinessUS temporarily suspends countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer imports
A proclamation signed by President Donald J. Trump on 29 June 2026 temporarily lifted countervailing duties on certain phosphate fertilizer imports; USDA estimated prices would fall by about 22 percent, saving farmers some $1.82 billion a year.
Crops
Which Mango Makes the Best Juice?
Not every mango is equally good for juice; the best are fibreless, sweet and have thick pulp, and a handful of varieties dominate juice-making at home and abroad.
AgribusinessWorld Bank: agrifood investment could create 5 million jobs in MENA, Afghanistan, Pakistan
A World Bank Group report released on June 29, 2026 estimated that an extra US$12 billion a year for water-efficient irrigation and farm innovation, with policy reform, could help create 5 million jobs in the region by 2050 and lift cereal yields by 72 percent.
Environment
Civet or Cat in the Child's Arms? The Mystery of a Viral Video
The animal carried by a child in a viral video, with a porcupine walking behind, is widely claimed to be a civet, but evidence suggests it is most likely her grey pet cat.