Agri-tech & Research: Cornell’s CIDA Research Innovation Fund handed out 2026 awards to 13 student projects blending AI, robotics and data science to solve farm and food-system problems. Farm Labor & Policy: New federal clarifications expand who can use the U.S. H-2A guest worker program, with dairy operations now able to access temporary workers via the current process. Climate & Water Stress: Kenya’s Lake Victoria fish kills were averted after an AI underwater monitoring system triggered SMS alerts about falling dissolved oxygen; in Ghana’s Anloga, floodwaters submerged low-lying farms, threatening inputs and harvests. Disaster & Drainage Failures: Manitoba’s Interlake farmers say neglected watershed drainage left fields underwater after June flooding, calling for government action. Input Costs & Farm Income: Andhra Pradesh shrimp farmers face another hit as aqua feed prices jump after the earlier tariff shock, raising protest fears. Regulation & Markets: Nebraska proposed rules could ban food and drinks with any THC, drawing heavy opposition from hemp and CBD stakeholders. Local Food Systems: Wisconsin’s producer-only farmers markets—about 350 statewide—highlight how local buying supports nearby communities, while U.S. markets keep expanding services and access. Agricultural Finance: India’s PM-KISAN installment will send Rs 18,880 crore to 9.44 crore farmers, including 2.18 crore women beneficiaries. Livestock Biosecurity: Texas universities received about $105 million for New World screwworm detection and eradication projects.