1. Trump administration sues California over egg regulations
AGDAILY.com
July 10, 2025
The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit against California, arguing that the state's animal welfare laws related to egg production are driving up prices across the country and infringing on federal authority.
According to Reuters, the Department of Justice filed the suit Wednesday in a Los Angeles federal court, asserting that California's laws violate the Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970, which sets nationwide standards for egg safety and labeling. The law is meant to ensure uniformity and protect consumers, and federal officials claim that California's more stringent rules on hen housing and out-of-state egg imports interfere with that federal mandate.
The lawsuit targets a couple of California laws: AB 1437, Proposition 2 (passed by voters in 2008) and Proposition 12 (approved in 2018). These measures prohibit the sale of eggs from hens that are confined in ways that prevent them from standing, lying down, turning around, or fully extending their limbs. The administration argues that the measures amount to "unnecessary red tape" that disrupts egg supply chains and forces price hikes on consumers nationwide.
Full text: https://www.agdaily.com/livestock/poultry/trump-administration-sues-california-over-egg-regulations/
2. Summer brings raised pinkeye concerns in cowherds
Stress from heat or summer transport can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
By North Dakota State University
Beef Magazine
July 8, 2025
While grazing summer pasture is generally celebrated among cattle producers, this time of year also comes with a greater incidence of pinkeye in cattle as the summer progresses.
Pinkeye is an infection that causes inflammation of and irritation to the surface of the eye (cornea) and the tissue on the inside of the eyelid (conjunctiva), explains Jake Galbreath, North Dakota State University Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist. It is often caused by bacteria (Moraxella bovis and Moraxella bovoculi); however, Mycoplasma species and viral pathogens like infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine viral diarrhea can also be responsible. If left untreated, pinkeye can lead to blindness and can spread within the herd, resulting in decreased productivity and increased economic loss.
The eye is armed with natural barriers to protect against infections, just like skin is meant to protect against infectious agents that may be encountered daily. Additionally, infectious bacteria are normally present on the surface of the eye or nasal passages. When natural barriers are broken or irritated, the risk of infection increases. Environmental factors like blowing dust, ultraviolet light, and physical trauma from grazing coarse forages or tail switching when crowded can cause eye irritation and inflammation, breaking the natural barrier. Stress from heat or transport can also weaken the immune system and increase risk of infection.
Full text: https://www.beefmagazine.com/cattle-health/summer-brings-raised-pinkeye-concerns-in-cowherds
3. Mexico to Open Sterile Fly Plant to Combat Screwworm in 2026
By Adriana Barrera, Reuters
Successful Farming
July 8, 2025
MEXICO CITY, July 7, 2025 - Mexico's government said on Monday that it has started to build a $51 million facility in the country's south as part of an effort to combat screwworm, a pest that has disrupted Mexican exports of cattle to the United States.
Mexico's agriculture ministry said in a statement that the plant, a joint project with the U.S., will produce 100 million sterile screwworm flies per week once completed in the first half of 2026.
The release of sterile flies, which reduce the reproducing population of the wild flies, is a key tool in controlling the pest.
The United States, Mexico's biggest trading partner, is paying $21 million of the cost and Mexico is spending $30 million, the statement said.
4. Dairy farm modeling tool boosts sustainability, decision-making
By Krisy Gashler College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Cornell Chronicle
July 8, 2025
A new free modeling tool is enabling researchers, farmers and food processors to assess how changes in the ways a dairy farm is managed would influence its environmental impact, energy use and economics. The Ruminant Farm Systems (RuFaS) modeling tool, developed by Cornell researchers and collaborators across academia, industry, government and nonprofits, is available at no cost for open-source collaboration*.
*See: https://www.rufas.org/full-model
Cornell researchers created the scaffolding for the model and worked with collaborators to integrate Cornell and other dairy farm research on factors like animal feed, crop growth and milk production. The model predicts outcomes such as production costs, resource use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Cornell's Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) has led development of the model, with support from the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability.
The model synthesizes a vast array of factors and can accommodate additions of new research from multiple collaborators, said Daryl Nydam, professor of dairy health and production in CVM.
5. Watch the June 4, 2025 ZOHU Call Video
CDC
July 9, 2025
Presentations:
Investigating zoonotic sources of exposure to?borealpox virus - Alaska, 2024
Victoria Balta, PhD, MPH, Epidemiologist, CDC Arctic Investigations Program
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Preventing backyard poultry-associated salmonellosis:?don't just wing it!
Rochelle Medford, DVM, MPH, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, Enteric Zoonoses Activity; Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System, 2022
Kaylea Nemechek, MPH, Epidemiologist, Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
AND
Muhammad Thuneibat, MPH, MBA, Epidemiologist, Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Video: https://tinyurl.com/2jm5ycyp
6. Sen. Roger Marshall says NBAF transition taking 'exceedingly long'
By Megan Moser
TheMercury.com
July 10, 2025
Sen. Roger Marshall on Tuesday said he doesn't expect to see more federal funding cuts like the ones that affected the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in February. However, he said the process of getting the lab fully operational has taken too long.
As part of sweeping Department of Agriculture cuts, the White House and its Department of Government Efficiency in February fired and subsequently rehired dozens of employees at the Manhattan-based NBAF, a federal lab studying high-risk animal diseases.
Marshall said he's certain leaders know how crucial NBAF is.
"I think that we've seen all the major cuts out there right now," he told The Mercury and KMAN in a phone interview. "And in fact, I just got back from a press conference with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who has become a close friend, and talking about the importance of biosecurity and how important NBAF is to the future."