Texas Ag Today

*USDA is planning a sterile screwworm distribution facility in the Rio Grande Valley.  *Rain has put a big damper on the Texas wheat harvest.*Rain is also slowing cotton planting.*Texas A&M broke ground on a new veterinary hospital.*Nominations are being accepted for local Farm Service Agency committees.    *Rains in the Texas High Plains are impacting ranchers' decision making.  *Extreme South Texas is hot and dry.  *Flies cause 6 billion dollars each year in damage to the U.S. cattle industry.  

*The Texas Wheat harvest is at a stand-still.  *The U.S. Department of Labor is hosting a webinar on federal guidelines for agricultural workers.  *Growing cotton will be a losing endeavor for most Texas farmers this year. *Texas farmers learned about two new sorghum varieties available this year.  *Margins are getting tight for Texas cattle feeders. *Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins addressed concerns over reductions in staff at USDA offices.  *Farmers in the Texas Southern Plains are dealing with the aftermath of severe weather. *There have been some positive changes made at the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.  

*The Texas Panhandle is getting historical rains.  *Cow herd rebuilding may be getting underway.   *Heavier carcass weights are creating some unique challenges for the beef industry.  *Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins shared what it will take to let Mexican feeder cattle back into the United States.  *Corn prices are low right now, and the outlook isn't positive.  *Grass is growing in East Texas thanks to great spring rains.  *The Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners has made some positive changes.  

*Cattle herd rebuilding may be getting underway.    *Registration is underway for Texas A&M's Prescribed Burning School.  *Winter wheat harvest has come to a halt due to rain. *West Texas A&M is helping the beef industry deal with increasing feedlot cattle weights.*U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins gave the House Agriculture Committee and update on her efforts to improve ag trade.*Cowherd expansion is slow, while cattle prices continue to hit new records.  *The lower Coastal Bend of Texas has been in a prolonged drought.  *There are aggressive bees in Texas that will attack livestock.  

*Texas cotton acreage is expected to fall this year.*Interest in the Livestock Risk Protection program is increasing.*U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales is pushing for a sterile fly facility in West Texas.*Texas farmers attend a field day on the Upper Gulf Coast.*Study examines the response of the equine herpes vaccine given in the nose and muscle.*Range management for livestock grazing can be challenging, but proper management for better production from cattle, sheep and goats can be achieved.

*The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol continues to grow.  *The United States and China have reported reached a tentative trade agreement.  *Corn planting is wrapping up in Texas. *In the Texas High Plains, crop insurance claims are coming in after last week's severe weather.*New news on the fight against New World Screwworms is expected soon.  *A field day in Southeast Texas gave farmers an opportunity to learn more about the crop varieties they are growing on their own farms.  *East Texas hay and pasture growers need to watch for a specific insect pest this year.  *A corkscrew claw in cows can be a difficult problem to treat. 

*The Texas wheat harvest continues.   *Texas Tech is home to a state-of-the-art machine that will enhance the study of crop traits.   *Texas cotton acreage may be higher than the current USDA estimate of 5.5 million acres. *Some of the world's top beef industry minds are in Amarillo this week.  *A U.S. lawmaker from Texas has introduced a bill to prevent foreign ownership of American farmland.  *We are officially in hurricane season.  *Now is the time to prepare plants and landscapes for the Texas summer heat.  *Head shaking is a difficult problem to treat in horses.  

*Texas cotton planting is half done.   *Winter wheat harvest results are coming in.   *Times are pretty good for Texas feedlots right now.   *The future of crop protection products is a concern for Texas farmers.  *Lawmakers are pushing for resources to help Texas fend off New World Screwworms.  *The Texas Beef Council received an update on beef exports.  *The Texas Rolling Plains is getting a lot of rain this spring.  *Orphaned wildlife may not be orphaned at all.  

*Feedlots have been making money, but that may not last.  *Times are tough for Texas High Plains farmers. *USDA is making payments to livestock producers under the Emergency Livestock Relief Program.  *International trade adds a lot of value to U.S. cattle.  *Extreme South Texas is hot and dry. *Orphan wildlife are commonly found by humans.  

*Will Brazil continue to take cotton customers away from the US? *TFB President Russell Boening testified in front of a House Ag subcommittee Thursday on farm bill conservation programs. *The economic situation has influenced how farmers are dividing their acres this year. *Texas legislative session good for Texas agriculture.  *Grain is filling out in Coastal Bend. *The disease anaplasmosis is an ongoing battle in the cattle industry. 

*The Texas Cattle Feeders Association is working with other sectors of the livestock industry in Texas to prepare for New World Screwworms. *A bill that would expand students' milk options at school has cleared a key hurdle.  *What does sustainability really look like in the cattle business? *Grazing conditions in Central Texas have been good for sheep.  *CBD is being used on many different animals and people.  *The South Plains cotton crop is emerging, and grain sorghum is looking good.

*The Texas Supreme Court recently issued an important ruling that clarifies who owns the pore space beneath land.*Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar expresses concern with reductions-in-staff at USDA and proposed SNAP cuts.*Despite tariff uncertainty, red meat exports are on-par with last year.*It was a rainy spring in the Texas Panhandle. What's the forecast for this summer?*Summer is the time to watch out for blue-green algae. *The Central Texas Sheep and Goat Conference was recently held in McGregor.

*Cattle markets have been setting new records over the past couple of weeks. *The farm bill's conservation title was the focus of a recent Senate Ag hearing. *It was a marvelously wet spring for the Texas Panhandle. *US meat exporters are taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to tariffs.  *Hand walking, icing, stretches and stall rest are all important parts of the rehabilitation and recovery from a soft tissue injury for horses. *The lack of an appropriate fertility program may be the number one cause of bermudagrass decline.

*Cotton futures continue to trade at unprofitable levels in the mid to high sixties. What's keeping them in that range? *Changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Orders went into effect Sunday.  *Texas is expected to see above-average temperatures and barely average rainfall in June.  *The Beef Improvement Federation research symposium and convention is coming up in Amarillo.  *Recovery and rehabilitation from a soft tissue injury can be lengthy for horses.  *It's been wet in East Texas recently, and that's prevented hay harvest.  

*Texas sorghum is looking very good this year.*There's a possibility the U.S. could lift restrictions on livestock imports from Mexico later this year. *Texas farmers' input helped shape a bill addressing the MAHA movement. *Grain sorghum farmers should consider the benefits and cost of leaving residue in the field after harvest. *New duties on 2,4-D imports have been set. *Veterinarians are seeing more cases of Johne's disease in beef cattle.  

*Texas pasture and range conditions are better than last year.  *New tariffs on products from the European Union have been delayed.  *USDA is investing $21 million to retrofit a facility in Mexico to produce sterile screwworm flies.*Analysis of last year's Texas Panhandle wildfires is continuing.  *An active hurricane season is ahead of us.  *USDA issued a series of proposals intended to support small farms. *There are multiple options to identify cattle.  

*A bill to protect farmers from city government overreach is on the governor's desk.   *The state's largest farm organization is accepting applications for the first-ever Ag Influencer of the Year contest.  *There's a big variation in crop development in the Coastal Bend.   *The devastating wildfires that scorched over a million acres of land in the Texas Panhandle last year continue to receive attention from researchers.  *USDA has rolled out policies to support small family farms.  *The sheep and goat market has fallen from the seasonal spring holiday highs.  *The Make America Healthy Again Commission released its first report this week. *Managing pain in performance horses requires a diagnosis to know the source of the pain.  

*There were no surprises in the latest Cattle on Feed report.   *Texas farmers impacted by a lack of irrigation water in the Rio Grande Valley have more time to apply for financial help.  *The CME Group has reset daily price limits for live and feeder cattle futures contracts. *Wheat streak mosaic virus showed up in the Texas Panhandle late in the season. *The “Make America Healthy Again” report is out.  *A strong locking gate is important for rural landowners.  *There's an annual cattle drive river crossing that has been going on for over 100 years. *Umbilical hernias are not uncommon in calves.  

*There's a big variation in crop conditions in the Coastal Bend.  *Registration is underway for the largest beef cattle educational event in the world.  *Is cow herd rebuilding underway? *Wheat streak mosaic virus has struck a number of wheat fields in the northern Panhandle.  *The “One Big Beautiful Bill” has cleared a key hurdle in Washington.  *Rural landowner should take advantage of modern security technology.  *Bermudagrass decline is characterized by gradual thinning of stands over time.  *Some newborn foals can have difficulty swallowing.  

*Wheat disease pressure was light this year.  *The Farm Service Agency is now accepting applications for general and continuous CRP.  *Texas cotton gins saw a lot more business last year compared to the previous two years. *The Texas legislature is once again strengthening the right to farm and ranch.  *Texas Panhandle wheat suffered from a lack of moisture early in the spring.  *The Natural Resources Conservation Service wants employees out in the field.  *The hot summer is near and that can affect turfgrass production.  *Avian Influenza has been found in many mammal species in the Texas Panhandle.  

*The U.S. Meat Export Federation is meeting in Ft. Worth.  *Efforts to bring high speed internet to farmers and ranchers continue.   *May is mental health awareness month.   *Texas Panhandle crops are showing the benefit of early spring rains.  *A report from the Make American Healthy Again commission could target pesticides.  *The latest Texas Crop Progress report shows varied amounts of rainfall across the state.  *There is a lot of farm machinery running across Texas right now.  *It's important to be able tell the approximate age of a goat by looking at their teeth.  

*Cotton planting is running behind both here in Texas and nationwide. *A new facility in Texas will help livestock researchers better understand livestock reproduction issues.  *A potential screwworm infestation could have big effect on the Texas deer population. *Cattle feeders are getting the best prices they've ever received.  *EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says farmer input was taken into consideration when crafting a final insecticide strategy. *Beef loving Texans will be firing up the grill for the Memorial Day weekend.  *The U.S. is clamping down on the import of livestock from Mexico.  *Should we be delaying vaccination in high risk calves?  

*The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee defended farm safety net spending.  *Drought conditions are improving across parts of Texas.  *Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz is asking the U.S. Trade Representative to include the 1944 water treaty in the USMCA. *Memorial Day will kick off the summer grilling season.  *Cattle feeders in Texas are enjoying a period of economic strength.  *EPA has released a draft insecticide strategy.  *Temperatures are heating up on the Texas Southern Plains.  *A mare must produce good quality colostrum for the newborn foal to be healthy.  

*We set record highs in the cattle market last week.  *U.S. lawmakers from Texas have reintroduced a bill to help ranchers recover from natural disasters like the panhandle wildfires.  *The results of the Hard Red Winter Wheat Tour are in. *A dream has become reality for the Texas Tech Vet School.  *A Texan went to Washington D.C. to discuss the importance of Farm Bill conservation programs.*Cotton growers will be evaluating new varieties for 2026. *Central Texas has had great rainfall recently.  *Equine Herpes Virus is a serious neurological disease in horses.  

*The condition of the Texas winter wheat crop is improving.  *A new bill to help fight screwworms has been introduced in Congress.   *There is a very high likelihood of screwworms reentering Texas in the coming months. *Texas state legislators are addressing foreign ownership of agricultural land.  *The House Agriculture Committee has passed its part of the budget reconciliation package.  *Insects are a big issue that farmers have to deal with all the time.  *It looks like summer is coming early for extreme South Texas.  *A recent study measures pain in foals using facial expression.  

*Texas ranchers should prepare for screw worms.  *The comment period for a proposal to list the Monarch butterfly as threatened is closing soon.  *Corn planting is ahead of schedule. *Texas High Plains cotton farmers may need some additional strategies to deal with wire worms.  *Managing 13 million acres of state land is challenging.  *U.S. lawmakers from Texas have introduced legislation to combat screw worms.  *Weather conditions have improved in the Coastal Bend.*Copper toxicity can be a concern in dairy cows.  

*New World Screwworms are on their way to Texas.  *The U.S. and China have both agreed to temporarily lower tariffs.  *The Texas Senate Agriculture Committee has approved a bill that would ban lab grown meat. *Wire worms are a big concern for Texas High Plains cotton growers.  *We now know more about planned cuts to Farm Bill programs through the budget reconciliation process.*The cotton industry is watching the Farm Bill process closely.  *The southern pasture forage crop improvement conference was held recently in Corpus Christi.  *Feeding young horses incorrectly can lead to bone and joint diseases.  

*Texas corn planting is ahead of schedule.  *The application process for the disaster assistance portion of USDA's Emergency Commodity Assistance Program is coming soon.  *There will be no closures of local Farm Service Agency offices.   *The Texas Southern Plains has received a lot of rain recently.  *USDA has shut down imports of Mexican livestock due to screw worm concerns. *Should the U.S. be working with competitors to improve cotton demand?  *Turfgrass is an important part of landscapes in Texas.  *USDA has initiated mandatory testing for Avian Influenza. 

*The southern border is once again closed to Mexican livestock imports. *Higher conception rates can make more money for cattle producers. *Agricultural groups are weighing in on a new trade deal between the U.S. and the U.K.*The outlook for the U.S. cotton industry is challenging.  *Spring rains are a welcome sight on the Texas Rolling Plains.  *Equine herpes viruses are common pathogens.  

*Tight cattle supplies have given feedlots a lot of leverage over packers. *Legislation relating to the right-to-farm and ranch heads to the governor. *President Donald Trump announced a new trade agreement with the United Kingdom Thursday.*New harvesting equipment could make sorghum silage more useful to dairies.*The sheep and goat industries in the United States are close to eradicating scrapie, but now must face the threat of New World Screwworms.

*Retaining heifers to rebuild a cow herd is a hard thing to do.  *National Sorghum Producers is accepting applications for the 2025 National Sorghum Yield contest.  *Fifty-six cotton growers qualified for the BASF FiberMax One Ton Club.*A new technology is coming out that could reduce prussic acid poisoning in sorghum. *The rewrite of the Waters of the U.S. rule is moving forward.  *Exceptional and extreme drought continues in Far West and South Texas.  *Central Texas has had some drought busting rains this spring.  *Working with livestock can be extremely dangerous.  

*Cotton planting is falling behind in the northern Texas Panhandle.  *The economic assistance package passed by Congress in December is getting into the hands of farmers.  *The condition of the Texas wheat crop is holding steady.*Recent rains on the Texas High Plains are good for sorghum producers.  *The budget reconciliation process could impact the Farm Bill.  *Bayer Crop Science has a new leader. *Spring planting has wrapped up in South Texas.*Biphosphates are drugs used in horses to treat bone disease.  

*Spring rain is falling in Texas, but most of the state is still struggling with drought.  *Recent rain is improving the overall drought picture in Texas.  *More than 15,000 USDA employees have voluntarily left the agency.*Two Trump administration cabinet members visited a farm in Central Texas last week.  *Texas senators gave farmers an update on the status of the 1944 water treaty with Mexico.  *Today's high cattle prices don't necessarily translate in a windfall of profits.  *Weather in Deep South Texas is hot and dry. *Estrous synchronization can help improve your cow herd.  

*Wheat disease pressure was light this year.  *Texas Farm Bureau is providing financial support to high school ag mechanics programs.  *President Trump's nominee for USDA Undersecretary for Trade is defending the use of tariffs.*EPA administrator Lee Zeldin says he plans to address a backlog of pesticide registrations.  *Texas Panhandle ranchers are enjoying the record high cattle market.  *April was a month of active storms in the northern half of Texas.  *Spring rains are setting up East Texas ranchers for a good year. *Colorado has created a new position in veterinary medicine, and it may soon show up in other states. 

*Mexico has committed to help the U.S. fight New World screw worms.   *USDA has issued a disaster declaration for Texas farmers along the Red River.  *Duties will be placed on imported 2,4-D.*Over three hundred Texas farmers and ranchers were in our nation's capital last week. *Water legislation is moving through the state legislature.  *Hundreds of people showed up for the Hemphill County Beef conference last week.  *Coastal Bend farmers and ranchers are hoping the month of May will bring some much-needed rainfall.  *Back pain in horses can be difficult to diagnose without a hands-on exam.  

*Texas farmers and ranchers are in Washington D.C. this week.  *Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin met with Texas farmers.  *Two U.S. cabinet secretaries visited a Central Texas farm.  *A good vaccination program is vital for a cattle operation.  *The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act may get renewed soon.*Texas Congressman August Pfluger is asking the Department of the Interior to remove the dunes sagebrush lizard and the lesser prairie chicken from the threatened and endangered species list.*Rain has been falling on the Texas Southern Plains.   *There are several parasites and diseases that can harm sheep. 

*Mexico is delivering more water to the Rio Grande Valley.   *The U.S. needs to build a sterile fly production facility to fight New World screwworms.*Texas Panhandle farmers are already facing a big battle with weeds.  *What do consumers think about cotton?  *House Democrats are expressing concerns over USDA layoffs.  *The TCU Ranch Management program has a long reputation of educating livestock producers.  *Be on the lookout for strangles this spring.  

*Mexico is not cooperating in the fight against screw worms.  *Bayer may stop producing Roundup.*Spring planting is underway in the Texas Panhandle.  *A new bill is under consideration in Congress to make it easier for ranchers to protect their livestock from black vultures.  *Angus genetics make up a vast majority of the U.S. cow herd.  *Chicken litter is a popular source of pasture fertilizer in Central and East Texas. *It's very important to clean feeding equipment for dairy calves.  

*Feeder cattle prices are at record highs.  *The trade war with China is affecting U.S. pork sales.  *Five wheat farmers were reelected to the Texas Wheat Producers Board.*Texas Panhandle wheat farmers have been getting some rain to finish off the crop. *The Trump Administration will attempt to address unfairness affecting U.S. rice exports. *Recent tornadoes touched down in North Central Texas.  *Spring is one of the best times to fertilize outdoor plants.  *Proper sanitation of dairy calf feeding equipment can prevent the spread of diseases.  

*Texas has some good wheat and some bad wheat.  *Texas milk production topped 1.5 billion pounds last month.  *Cow herd rebuilding will be a very slow process.*One half of the Texas legislature has passed a financial assistance bill for farmers and ranchers.  *Artificial intelligence may have something to offer the beef industry.  *Cuts to food stamps in the budget process could impact the progress of the Farm Bill.  *There are a lot of interesting things to see in Texas.  *Different fat sources are being considered for use in milk replacers for calves.  

*Cotton planting is underway across the cotton belt.  *The latest seasonal drought outlook has both good and bad news for Texas.  *Mexico has committed to deliver water to the Rio Grande Valley.*Southwest Texas got some well needed rainfall.  *The cattle markets could be in for a rocky ride in the months ahead.  *Work is underway to once again to rewrite the controversial Waters of the U.S. rule.  *Grain crops are going in the ground in the Texas Southern Plains.  *A company is offering free Cushing's testing for your horse.  

*A Texas Panhandle farmer is focusing less on cotton and more on cattle.   *Drought continues to worsen across parts of Texas.  *Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller hopes trade negotiations will get resolved quickly. *Texas High Plains ranchers are dealing with volatile markets.  *The U.S. Trade Representatives office has released changes to its port service fees on ships.  *The agricultural sector is seeing more influence from artificial intelligence.  *The sun is shining and spring is in full swing in East Texas.  *BRD is the most serious disease in calves.  

*The farm labor crisis is on President Trump's radar.  *Avian influenza is being detected in the Texas Panhandle.  *Texas corn producers are preparing to deal with the corn leafhopper again this year.*Texas High Plains ranches are having a pretty good year so far.  *OSHA will hold a virtual public hearing on its proposed heat injury rule.  *The water infrastructure in our state will require a lot of money to meet the needs of a growing population.  *The weather has turned warm and windy in deep South Texas. *Acupuncture can be helpful for several conditions in horses and other animals.  

*The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture was in Texas twice last week.  *Texas citrus production is expected to go down this year.  *The latest Cattle on Feed report was released Friday.*Feedlot inventories are dropping in the Texas High Plains.*The Trump Administration is reportedly willing to work with farm workers who are in the country illegally.  *Expanding our water supply is a challenge in our growing state. *The 2025 crop year is off to a rough start in the Texas Coastal Bend.  *Acupuncture is being used to treat horses and other livestock.  

*Texas animal health officials are working to keep the New World screw worm out of the state.  *U.S. Agriculture Secretary was back in Texas for the second time in a week.  *USDA is raising its fed steer price forecast.*State legislators are concerned about the high speed rail project.  *The expected drop in cotton acreage this year could create opportunities.  *Mexico is trying to reach a new tomato agreement with the U.S.  *Central Texas needs a rain.  *BRD continues to be a big problem for the cattle industry.  

*The cattle markets are nervous about the Trump tariff wars.  *USDA is allocating money for animal health research in Texas.  *Corn and sorghum planting is ahead of schedule, but cotton planting is lagging behind.*The winter wheat crop in Moore County is the best it has been in years.  *President Trump is calling on Congress to stop the annual time changes.  *2025 is another good year for the cattle producers, but drought is still a problem.*April showers can bring May flowers, but they can also bring weeds.  *A severe disease can occur in newborn piglets.  

*The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association met last weekend in Fort Worth.  *Mexico is delivering some of the water it owes to the Rio Grande Valley.   *Texas cattle feeders are seeing good times right now, but there could be troubles ahead.  *The U.S. is preparing to levy new duties on tomatoes from Mexico, while China has raised it tariffs on U.S. goods. *The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was a record-breaking success this year, thanks to some great partnerships.  *Nursery production and sales are strong in the spring.  *Thrush is a common horse foot disease.  

*The American Lamb Board's “Lamb Jam” is coming to Texas.  *Strawberry harvest is underway in Texas.  *Spring planting is moving forward across the state.*The fight over the right to farm continues in the Texas legislature.  *A pest concern is altering the planting timeline for some Texas High Plains farmers. *The tariff situation seems to change every day.  *A Central Texas small grains field day is coming up soon.  *The in-person physical exam is the most important procedure in veterinary medicine. 

*New World screw worms are a real threat to Texas livestock producers.  *U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins says the Trump administration will protect U.S. farmers and ranchers when negotiating tariffs.*The economic situation for Texas High Plains feedlots is pretty good right now.  *Mexico is sending water to South Texas.  *The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo raised a record amount for youth education.  *The outlook is bright for the Texas FFA.  *There are some options for treating small ruminant diseases that have no vaccines.  

*Fed cattle weights are bigger than ever.  *A Texas farm and a cattle company are both being recognized for their efforts to preserve and protect the environment.  *The American Farm Bureau Federation weighs in on the tariff situation.*President Trump is taking on the issue of Mexico not delivering water to the Rio Grande Valley.  *This was a record breaking year for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  *Cattle ear tags can be an important source of information.  *Two new grain sorghum varieties are available to Texas farmers this year. *There are lots of diseases in small ruminants that do not have vaccines available.  

*The agricultural markets are reacting to the tariff situation.  *Cattle herd rebuilding will happen slower than expected.  *Texas legislators are considering changes in agricultural economic assistance programs.  *One Texas High Plains farmer is growing a crop with two purposes in mind.  *U.S. lawmakers are expressing both support and concerns over tariffs.  *It was a challenging winter for farmers in the Texas Rolling Plains, but an April rain makes things feel a lot better…*Changing cattle diets too quickly can lead to acidosis.