Poison hemlock spreading in Midwest U.S. threatens livestock and humans; dairy transport rules tightened.

Poison hemlock, a toxic European plant, is spreading rapidly across the U.S. Midwest due to floods, storms, and human activity, posing serious risks to livestock and humans, especially when mixed into hay or forage. Meanwhile, Indonesia is trying to import one million dairy cattle over five years to support a national milk program, but progress has been slow, with fewer than 12,000 imported by mid-2025, raising concerns about infrastructure and inexperienced importers. In the U.S., new guidelines stress that sick, weak, or lame dairy animals must not be transported, with strict protocols to ensure animal welfare and safety.