Northeast United States: Fruit farmers in the northeast can’t remember a year when fruit trees bloomed so early in the spring. They are hoping the weather stays warm. A freeze on blooming cherries, apples, blueberries and plums could be disastrous.

Once buds emerge, they can easily be killed off by a hard and sudden frost. An unseasonably warm spring (temperatures reached 92 degrees in parts of New England on April 7) combined with early snow melt and heavy rains in March had trees blossoming two to three weeks ahead of schedule.

Nationwide: Two reports in the April 15, 2010, edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association describe why veterinarians choose to practice in rural settings and why some leave rural practice. Rural towns are finding it more difficult to attract and retain veterinarians.

The top-five reasons for entering rural veterinary practice were working in animal care at the herd level, working with individual animals, the location of family and friends, and the desire to practice where a community need for veterinary care exists. The top-five reasons for leaving included excessive emergency duty, lack of time off, the salary, the practice atmosphere, and family concerns.

Iowa: Finding volunteers for small town emergency response is often difficult. In Akron, Iowa, teenagers are helping solve the problem. Last month six students from Akron-Westfield High School completed the EMS program through Western Iowa Tech Community College.

The Akron area had just 13 volunteers manning the ambulance, but high school students increased the number to 19. The need for medical volunteers is especially great during the day, when most adults are at work. The high school students can leave school to respond to emergency calls. “I was in music class and I just jumped up and ran out of the room,” says student Christina Clary of her first call.

Contact: Virginia Wolking, virginiaw@cfra.org or 402.687.2103 x 1017 for more information.