WorldFood kits of fortified rice, black beans, oil and supplementary food, supplied through USDA's Food for Peace programme, will go to families in five departments facing rising acute food insecurity.
CropsA Nature Food study led by Chinese researchers with NASA finds widely used models underestimate how much droughts, heatwaves and the two together already cut wheat, and that irrigation's protective effect is weakening.
LivestockTerrain Ag analyst Dave Weaber has cut his US cattle price forecasts sharply, citing drought-driven hay costs, slaughter capacity still below last year, resumed Mexican feeder imports and extra tariff-free beef.
EnvironmentWith 265 of its 358 talukas declared drought-affected, Maharashtra has ordered at least a 10% cut in water supply, Nagpur has banned new borewells and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has restricted water for irrigation.
Mealybugs have attacked Aman rice fields across Kurigram, including Ulipur and Rajarhat; the extension office says drought may be driving the outbreak and is advising farmers in the field.
EnvironmentThe Environment Agency has put Yorkshire in drought after its fifth-driest April-September on record, England's third drought in five years, while the Met Office warns of wetter, stormier weather that could bring run-off and erosion.
AgribusinessNFU Mutual's Farm Fires report puts 2025 damage at £150m, over £400,000 a day, with east of England costs nearly tripling; the NFU wants better-funded rural fire services and a national wildfire strategy.
On International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, experts said a strong El Nino could raise drought and heatwave risk in Bangladesh, driving up irrigation demand and farm costs, and urged earlier seasonal forecasts so farmers can be warned in time.
FruitsNashik received only 34.3% of its normal monsoon rain. Vineyards may survive to the December-January harvest on stored water, growers say, but could die in 2027, while some onion farmers may plant more.
CropsKarnataka's second memorandum puts losses in 177 of its 217 drought-hit taluks at close to Rs 46,000 crore; the state expects the total to reach Rs 50,000-60,000 crore.
AgrotechBioWorks has launched BioRain Ax, a liquid mix of three beneficial soil bacteria meant to improve water retention around roots; in a company watermelon trial treated plants gave fruit 14.5 percent heavier.
HealthOn World Mental Health Day the DPJ Foundation's Kate Miles said drought, wildfires and bluetongue have piled pressure on farmers and asked them to take stock and seek support before winter.
EnvironmentA study in Earth's Future finds about 77% of pantropical forests were hotter and drier than usual during the 2023-24 El Nino, and warns such heat could be normal within 20 years under likely emissions.
