1. Two California Horses Test Positive for EIA
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
March 23, 2026
On March 19, a 7-year-old Quarter Horse gelding and an 8-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in Stanislaus County, California, tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). Twenty-five potentially exposed horses on the premises have been tested for EIA. They will be quarantined until pending lab results are received and their 60-day retest samples are completed.
Epidemiological tracing is ongoing, but transmission is suspected to be iatrogenic.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1143065/2-california-horses-test-positive-for-eia/
2. Why people are flocking to Iowa hatchery for backyard birds
By Matt Kelley
RadioIowa.com
March 23, 2026
A new study finds 13-percent of all homes in America now have some sort of backyard bird flock, and the nation's largest producer of "pet" poultry is in north-central Iowa.
Rudd-based Hoover's Hatchery sells millions of chicks every year across the country and offers more than 200 poultry breeds.
Besides the many varieties of chickens, there are ducks, turkeys, geese, quail, pheasants and other game birds. Hoover's spokesman Matt Bradley explains how raising poultry got to be so popular.
"People really want to understand where their food comes from, and they want to be closer to it, and they see the health benefits of that," he says. "During the COVID era, people really wanted to do something productive around the house, and so they really got into it there, and it expanded greatly in those years. And anytime egg prices go up, they start to look into it, and once they get into it, they don't tend to leave."
Full text: https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/03/23/why-people-are-flocking-to-iowa-hatchery-for-backyard-birds/
3. ARS Researchers Develop Indoor Air Scrubber That Purifies Air, Reduces Ammonia Levels
Researchers from USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) created an indoor air scrubber that purifies the air in chicken houses and reduces ammonia levels by 87% to 99%.
QualityAssuranceMag.com
March 23, 2026
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researchers recently developed an indoor air scrubber that purifies the air in chicken houses and reduces ammonia levels by 87% to 99%.
High levels of ammonia pose problems for poultry and agricultural workers. Ammonia, which is released from litter in poultry houses, reduces birds' body weight gain, causes poor feed conversion and makes birds more susceptible to viral diseases, ARS said. In addition, ammonia exposure can pose health risks to agricultural workers.
Poultry manure accounts for 27% of atmospheric ammonia emissions in the United States, according to ARS, representing a significant loss of nitrogen that could otherwise be used as fertilizer for crop production.
Currently, farmers use poultry litter acidifying amendments such as adding aluminum sulfate, known as alum, to litter to reduce ammonia levels in poultry houses. However, the amendments only last up to three to four weeks, ARS said. Ammonia scrubbers offer an alternative solution; however, current systems only treat exhaust air. As a result, according to the service, they provide no direct benefits to poultry production and are not cost-effective.
4. States Take USDA to Court Over New Funding Conditions
By Farms.com
March 23, 2026
Multi-state lawsuit seeks to block USDA 2026 funding rules that threaten farm support, research, and nutrition programs
On Monday, March 23, attorneys general from 21 states, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia joined forces to file a lawsuit against the current administration, seeking to block sweeping new funding conditions imposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The coalition argues that the changes jeopardize billions of dollars in funding for critical state programs that support agriculture, food security, and rural communities.
"The federal government cannot hold critical funding hostage to force states to comply with vague, ideological directives," said New York Attorney General Letitia James. "These new conditions put essential programs at risk and cause chaos for states that rely on this funding to feed families, support farmers, and keep communities safe. I will keep fighting to protect New Yorkers and ensure they receive the resources they depend on."
At the center of the legal challenge are the USDA's newly announced "2026 Conditions," which states must certify compliance with in order to receive congressionally approved funding. According to the lawsuit, these requirements force states to adhere to vague and, they argue, unlawful policy standards or risk losing essential support for programs that feed families, assist farmers, and protect natural resources. The coalition has asked the court to block the implementation of the conditions and safeguard continued access to funding already authorized by Congress.
5. USDA Under Secretary Provides Update on New World Screwworm Efforts
SoutheastAgNet.com
March 23, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been working to eradicate the New World Screwworm through a five-pronged plan and Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins provided an update on their efforts so far.
Under Secretary Hoskins said, "One of those key pillars under that five-pronged plan was enhancing our capability and infrastructure and enhancing the sterile fly production that we currently have. We're still relying on our facility in Panama that produces about 100 million sterile flies per week. We continue to disperse those wherever and however we can when we're seeing the highest risk movement of flies in Mexico."
"The Secretary has initiated an additional dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico that we completed construction on last November. It helps us be more nimble in our aerial dispersal in Mexico, places hard to get to, so that's been a critical asset to us in that toolbox. Most recently, the Secretary was in McAllen, Texas at Moyer Base and participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to bring the new dispersal facility online in McAllen. That dispersal facility is operational. It's dispersing flies as we speak," said Hoskins.
Source: https://southeastagnet.com/2026/03/23/usda-expands-screwworm-eradication-sterile-fly-program-update/
6. Get ready-the Saul T. Wilson Jr. Internship Program [APHIS-VS] is coming soon!
USDA APHIS Press Release
March 23, 2026
To help you prepare, APHIS Veterinary Services is launching a dynamic three-part virtual webinar series. Each session is designed to give you valuable insights into APHIS Veterinary Services, our Externship program, the updates to the Saul T. Wilson Jr. Internship Program, Federal résumé writing, and tips for navigating USAJOBS with confidence.
Check out the dates, times, and registration links below-and don't miss your chance to join us as you take the first steps to Find Your Future with Us!
We look forward to connecting with you!
Webinar Schedule:
March 26
Protecting Animal Health Starts with You: Careers in APHIS Veterinary Services
March 26, 2026
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register:
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/d68b19c2-41a1-4f52-b676-afb5baeaca05@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697
April 2
The Saul T. Wilson Internship Overview & Résumé Writing Webinar
April 2, 2026
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register:
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/5671afcf-beed-4313-81b0-48156eaaf695@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697
April 10
How to Navigate USAJOBS Webinar
April 10, 2026
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Register:
https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/02dd8e10-9525-4c8a-8c1a-20ad34064ff6@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697
Can't make the live session? Register and we'll email you the recording.