FMD Vaccine Access: South Africa’s Department of Agriculture reached a settlement with livestock groups after a court ruling, clearing the way for private procurement and distribution of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines and aiming to speed up vaccination during widespread outbreaks. Pest Threats to Livestock: The USDA released nearly 400 million sterile New World screwworm flies in Texas to disrupt the pest’s breeding cycle, while Missouri updated animal-entry rules for at-risk areas. Climate and Crop Risk: Ivory Coast cocoa farmers say below-average rainfall left soil too damp and cloudy spells are still needed to support the main crop; in the U.S., drought and heat are stressing crops and livestock in multiple states, with Illinois also seeing severe-weather recovery support. Water and Power for Farming: Zimbabwe reserved 150MW for winter wheat irrigation, and India’s Jharkhand lawmakers are pressing for repairs to the Chandil canal as farmers warn of Kharif losses. Ag Finance Push: Sudan announced a 3-trillion-pound agricultural finance portfolio for the 2026 season, including support for insurance and cooperatives to improve input access. Tech for Farmers: Nepal is testing AI to detect and deter crop-raiding macaques, with farmers still relying on guards and deterrents as compensation lags. Trade and Market Access: China upgraded its “Green Channel” customs clearance to speed African fresh produce exports, and Nigeria-UAE ties expand across agriculture, energy, AI and trade. Support for Agri-Workforce and Data: The Philippines plans to rebuild extension worker capacity to improve farm data collection, using satellite imagery and AI with the statistics agency.