The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing millions of dollars to expand broadband in rural areas, but rural internet providers are facing shortages and long waits for equipment. 

A viral outbreak in hogs just off the U.S. coast has U.S. officials ramping up efforts to make sure it doesn’t decimate the American pork industry.

African swine fever, an infectious and lethal virus for pigs, has been detected in the Dominican Republic — the closest it’s been to the U.S. in 40 years. 

In the mounting battle between manufacturers trying to protect their technology from intellectual theft and customers who want more freedom to fix things when that technology breaks down, the Biden administration has won some gratitude in farm country.

Early last month, President Joe Biden issued an executive order telling the Federal Trade Commission to let individuals and repair shops fix products — from six-figure tractors to smartphones — rather than only turning to manufacturers.

While Missouri is known for many crops, lavender is not necessarily one of them — but one couple in mid-Missouri decided to give it a try.

Katie Lockwood and her husband both work for the University of Missouri System's IT department but have also been hobby farmers for 20 years.

So, when they moved to Centralia in 2011 and had a small plot of land beside their house, they weren’t sure what to do.

Katie said, for her — it was simple. She had always wanted to try and grow lavender. But, as they quickly realized, it was a different kind of crop than they were used to.

A fungus that attacks vegetables has shown up early this year, and that could threaten the availability of pumpkin pie filling at Thanksgiving.

Phytophthora blight is a vine infection that can damage vegetables including peppers, cucumbers, squash and pumpkins. It shows up most years, but this summer, heavy rains in late June and early July have made it appear early.

Updated July 9, 12:09 p.m.: President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Friday directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make rules to increase competition in the meat industry, according to a White House announcement. 

The new rules are part of 72 initiatives to increase competition in the economy.