Food Prices & Supply Chain Pressure: An agricultural economist points to weather shocks, labor shortages, energy and shipping costs, and trade fallout as reasons lettuce (+32%) and tomatoes (+20%) are still costing more—and relief may be slow. Water & Irrigation Investment: Kyrgyzstan’s “Uch-Korgon” reservoir project is set to improve irrigation and water supply for thousands of hectares in the Tonsky area. Dairy Industry Strain: Vermont dairy farmers say processor closures and consolidation are leaving them behind, with costs outpacing milk sales in the state. Plant Health & Pest Readiness: A new Hutton project will use DNA-based methods to strengthen plant disease detection, relying on shared reference data from growers and nurseries. El Niño Warnings: Malaysia is urged to prepare early for Super El Nino impacts on heat, haze, water security, and farm output. Cyclospora Recall Hits Produce: Taylor Farms expanded an iceberg lettuce recall tied to cyclospora, with consumers told to discard affected products across 27 states. Local Market Enforcement: India’s APMC Azadpur stepped up anti-encroachment actions to clear roads and restore flow in major produce markets. Grain & Farm Output Updates: Turkmenistan reported grain production up 11.6% in H1 2026, while drought and low reservoir levels are threatening crops in parts of India.