Latest News From Weather - General

Peter Bretting, the USDA Agriculture Research Service's national program leader for crop production and protection, shares what's new about this updated plant hardiness map.

Advocates are urging action to support workers outside who are harvesting, packing and transporting fresh produce through a summer of record-breaking temperatures.

When Tropical Storm Hilary hit Southern California, Palm Springs received nearly 50% of its yearly rainfall in a matter of hours. While the deluge caused flooding, one area farmer is cautiously optimistic.

For those whose livelihood depends upon working outdoors or in less than favorable conditions, this week looks to be quite difficult with higher-than-normal temperatures and humidity predicted.

Bret Walts of BAM Weather predicts the transition to a colder pattern will be later in September and into October.

Weather has had an impact, said Anita Fernandez, manager of the Avocado Administrative Committee, but the 2023-24 season outlook for Florida avocados is still good.

It doesn’t matter if it’s spring, summer, winter or fall, weather is always on producers’ minds. While slower seasons can offer relief, winter can drain emotional batteries. Here are two steps to help find relief.

Growing up in New Mexico, around a family of farmers and ranchers, rain was the currency of hope. I spent every season waiting on rain. Anything over a 10% chance was a “good chance” for moisture. 

Intentional or not, humans have helped shape today’s weather patterns. Now they’re looking at technology to protect their future.

All of California's national forests are now closed to the public due to raging wildfires. Wildfire threats and issues continue to grow as more than 6,800 wildfires have already burned 1.7 million acres in the state.

As Tropical Storm Henri weakened, it remains a threat due to heavy rain, which is causing flooding. All of this as a rural area of Tennessee is still searching for those missing after 17 inches of rain fell in 24 hours.

As Tropical Storm Elsa neared landfall Wednesday, Meteorologist Eric Snodgrass says the early start to the hurricane season may be a strong sign of an active hurricane season ahead.

As rains drop needed moisture for areas of the country dealing with drought and in need of relief, the situation is growing more dire in the West.

“When we have cooler years, the berry quality is a lot sweeter and firmer...this year’s quality of fruit is going to be next-level. Hopefully, the market will prevail, and everyone is happy, COVID notwithstanding.”

Favorable planting and growing conditions have onion growers and shippers in South Texas anticipating a timely start and smooth season in 2020.

A fifth person has died in Michigan from Eastern equine encephalitis, also known as EEE. That brings the total number of deaths in the nation to 12.

The threat from Eastern Equine Encephalitis is continuing to grow, especially in Michigan where state health officials now say 12 counties have confirmed having human or animal cases of EEE.

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences reports minor losses to grapefruit along the east coast as winds ripped developing fruit from tree branches.

Emerging from the wettest May many can remember, California cherry growers and shippers say harvests will be late and production will be down due to rain-related fruit damage.

Florida growers set to collect smallest crop since 1945.

Struggling Florida citrus growers face tough decisions

Jay and Cara Myers of Colfax, North Dakota are no strangers of technology. Farming in the state can be challenging due to a smaller window to plant and harvest. That’s why these 2014 Top Producer of the Year Candidates want to make every acre count.  As the remaining bushels of the 2017 crop gets shut in the bin, this North Dakota farm family is turning toward more pressing issues. AgDay national reporter Betsy Jibben has the story. 

This year’s U.S. Atlantic hurricane season is officially the most expensive ever.    

Hurricane Irma roared across the gulf coast of Florida as citrus trees sat with full, nearly ripe fruit.

California’s Napa and Sonoma Valleys are continuing to clean up after recent wildfires swept through the area. 

Some South Texas pecan crops damaged by Hurricane Harvey

The world may produce the least wine this year in half a century,

Florida Orange Crop Seen Plunging to 71-Year Low After Irma

Rain delays Idaho potato, wheat planting

The high temperatures mean fruit trees are waking up early.

Climate change is usually talked of as a negative, and it often acts accordingly through more weather volatility and more extreme weather events. Even so, climate change can give farmers a helping hand.

Agriculture officials say that poultry and hog operations appeared to have come through the storm all right. But when the rains came, workers were just getting into the fields to harvest such things as peanuts, sweet potatoes and tobacco.

A jury awarded more than $4 million to the family of a farmworker electrocuted by a Southern California Edison power line.

The lawsuits, filed in 2009 and 2012, accused the state of repeatedly failing to protect farm workers being denied basic access to water and shade while working in extreme heat in California fields.

“Ag and food production as we know it in the U.S. is perhaps at a far greater risk than we even realize."

Recently, the Pew Research Center released the results of a survey on what scientists and the American public think about several issues. On some topics, these two groups largely agreed. But on many others, they didn't. Sometimes the gap was pretty wide.

New study looks at how climate variability contributes to (or detracts from) worldwide grain output.

Time is not on our side, but something else is.

Recent data reveals that Earth’s groundwater supplies may be under some serious strain.

New data visualizations from NOAA’S National Climate Data Center gives a state-by-state look at how the country warmed (or cooled) as the decades roll by.

Governor Jerry Brown and California Democratic lawmakers enlisted business support of a $7.2 billion plan composed mostly of new bonds for water storage and delivery to drought-stricken cities and farms.

A glacial region of western Antarctica that’s already melting rapidly has passed “the point of no return,” according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

A warming climate along with the development of faster-maturing seed varieties is pushing the Corn Belt north of what was imaginable a generation ago.

A group of farmers and business owners sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday, saying the agency's decisions since 2006 have contributed to major flooding in five states.

While agriculture’s part in driving the state’s climate change is only 7%, the state’s agricultural industries will be heavily affected by climate changes.

What we talk about when we talk about climate change.

The far southeast corner of the state will set all-time records for precipitation. These stations have data for over 100 years, including the Dust Bowl.

The cumulative effects of sediment deposits from last year’s flood, coupled with receding waters this summer, are visible from space.

Stanford researchers say modern production methods cut carbon and greenhouse gas emissions by 30%.

New Farm Journal series explores ag's role in the crisis