Agriculture

A growing number of farmers can’t afford to plant their crops this year. It’s because of rising costs for diesel, fertilizer, and equipment parts — coupled with low crop prices.

As climate change drives hotter, drier summers, vineyard owners are turning to grape varietals more suited to warmer weather.

Farmers across the U.S. are entering planting season with uncertainty as the war in the Middle East drives up fertilizer and diesel prices.

The latest data on producer prices from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed an almost 49% rise in the price of vegetables last month.

Crude oil, fertilizer, and diesel prices are up. These increases due to the war in the Middle East are putting pressure on farmers, while the oil industry is poised to benefit.

Some Christians don’t eat meat on Fridays before Easter. That means we’re in the thick of fish fry season. Usually the spike in demand is no problem for fisheries, but this is not a usual year.

According to the February CPI report for February, egg prices are down 42%. But don’t put all of them in one basket — other grocery staples got more expensive.

Ilena Peng, an agriculture reporter for Bloomberg, talks about ube’s popularity and its effects on the supply chain.

Palm oil and wheat among them.

The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly, has been eradicated from the U.S. for over 60 years. But in recent months, it has been detected as close as 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.