USDA

Federal officials say rapid reporting is critical to stopping the flesh-eating parasite from becoming established in Texas. Miller suggested some ranchers may hesitate to report cases because of quarantine restrictions.

Kansas agriculture can suffer if Trump administration can’t deflect parasite

New cases involving a calf in La Salle County and a goat in Gillespie County bring Texas' total to five confirmed detections in less than a week. Federal officials are also investigating an infested dog linked to New Mexico and Mexico.

The detection in a six-day-old calf marks the first appearance of the parasite in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

The state paid out November benefits amid changing conditions in court.

The federal funding package to reopen the government included a one-year extension of certain 2018 Farm Bill programs. Several expired Sept. 30 or would have been null by the end of the year.

The U.S. agricultural industry depends on undocumented immigrants, but President Trump's immigration crackdown is further depleting an already tight workforce. The labor crisis may be setting the stage for big changes to a federal program that allows foreign workers into the country legally.

As the nation prepares for SNAP benefits to halt on Saturday, leaders turned their attention to public schools. For millions of students, school is the most reliable source of meals.

Food bank staff expect a wave of new demand as millions of Americans are set to lose federal food assistance in November. But they insist that their services alone won't be enough to feed everyone who relies on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Offices for the financial support arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are expected to reopen Thursday, and core operations will also resume during the federal government shutdown.