Texas Ag Today

*Cattle prices have been in a free fall.  *Cotton gins across Texas are receiving grant funds from the AgLink Continuity Grant Program.  *House Republicans are pushing for a $12 billion farm aid package. *Can planting newer corn hybrids allow farmers to use less nitrogen?  *The summer heat can bring a lot of challenges for hog producers.  *The EPA is considering a proposal that would eliminate DEF deratements. *Landscapes in Texas have changed a lot over the past few years.  *Breakover of the hoof is an important concept for horse owners to understand.  

*It's an agricultural disaster in Central and South Texas.  *The nation's premiere beef cattle educational event is just a couple of weeks away.  *Time is running short in Washington D.C.  *Livestock producers in the Texas Panhandle are keeping watch for screwworms.  *USDA is making half a billion dollars available to support beef processing.  *If you're putting up hay this summer, remember that what happens after cutting can have a big effect on forage quality.  *Texas A&M has a veterinary emergency response team built for disasters. 

*Flooding is devastating Central and South Texas.  *The Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting is this week in Denver.   *More than half of U.S. farmers do not see any meaningful benefit in Artificial Intelligence.  *There's a new field guide to help beef cattle producers navigate a screwworm infestation.   *Livestock producers in the Texas High Plains are preparing for screwworms.  *A bill that would stop twice yearly time change is moving forward.  *Farmers and ranchers in the Rolling Plains of Texas are still waiting on the cool wet summer that was forecasted.  *Tetanus is not uncommon in large animals this time of year.  

*Texas has the worst cotton crop in the nation.  *There are two competing bills in Congress that would stop the twice-yearly time change.  *Global wheat production is dropping. *The Texas High Plains cotton crop is facing some challenges.  *Tax policy discussions are underway at the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting.  *USDA and the Small Business Administration are working together to provide a government-wide shield against lawfare.  *The Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers annual meeting gets underway today in Fredericksburg.  *The summer heat can cause heat stress in your horse. 

*The Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers annual meeting is this week.   *USDA is accepting comments on a proposal to update its prime beef grading standard.   *Some important crop insurance deadlines for forage producers are coming up this week. *The Texas Panhandle had a dismal winter wheat crop this year.  *The Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting is underway in Denver. *Congress is discussing Daylight Savings Time and the Farm Bill.*Heat stress can have a negative effect on your cattle.  

*Winter wheat acreage is at a historic low.  *Amarillo native John Rich of the country music duo Big and Rich is President Trump's Special Envoy for American Landowners.  *The National Cotton Council's Producer Information Exchange tour gets underway this week. *Texas A&M AgriLife has released some important information for Texas wheat growers.  *We're still looking for a full strength El Nino to kick in across Texas.  *Several members of Congress are asking questions about staffing cuts at the Farm Service Agency. *It has been hot and dry across the Central Texas Blacklands.  *Equine herpes virus was found in Texas last month.  

*Agriculture in the Rolling Plains of Texas is enduring the summer heat.   *The U.S. will maintain anti-dumping duties on Mexican tomatoes.  *Texas agriculture lost a long-time voice. *The northern Texas Panhandle has had a tough start for the summer growing season.  *Bollguard cotton is celebrating its 30 year anniversary. *The FDA has not approved any medicated feed products for treatment and prevention of screwworms in deer and cattle.  *The tropical season is off to a slow start.  *Screwworms can infest all warm blooded animals.

*Over 2 million acres have been accepted into the 2026 Conservation Reserve Program.  *Texas enrolled 106,000 acres in the CRP.   *The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering an enhanced guaranteed loan program for business in the food production chain. *There have been some good rains around the Texas High Plains in the last few weeks.  *The deadline for the Farm Dog of the Year contest is coming up.  *Investigations into the fertilizer industry continue.  *Harvest season is underway in the Texas Coastal Bend.  *Aural plaque may be found in your horses ears.  

*The condition of the Texas corn crop is dropping.  *Farmer sentiment fell in June.  *Texas is experiencing a surge in data center development.   *Moth trapping is a way to help farmers know when certain pests are on the rise in their fields.  *Texas pecan growers are preparing for their annual conference.  *USDA is testing a new system for acreage reporting.  *Recent changes to the Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit could benefit farmers and ranchers in the future. *Preparing lambs for ethnic holiday market requires some planning.  

*Winter wheat production is disappearing.  *There is a new mental health service for Texas farmers and ranchers.  *A worldwide sorghum conference is coming to Lubbock.  *Dairy farms are concentrating into five states, with Texas now the 4th largest dairy producing state in the U.S. *An early warning system for crop pests is a valuable tool. *The second quarter of this year was strong for rural Texas land sales.  *New ag labor legislation could help the dairy industry.  *As July gets underway, temperatures are high and rainfall is low across much of Texas.  *Antibiotic resistance is becoming a problem when treating pneumonia in foals.  

*Screwworm quarantines are growing, but that doesn't mean you can't move livestock.  *A lack of irrigation water is affecting crop acreage in the Rio Grande Valley.   *There's a north-south split when it comes to rainfall and drought in the Texas High Plains.  *Rural Texas land sales were strong this spring.  *USDA launched a new program to increase fertilizer production. *Plants need more water during hot, windy summers.  *Pneumonia is a common problem with foals.  

*The Agriculture Department is supporting small and mid-sized beef processors.  *Texas farmers planted fewer acres of rice and peanuts this year.  *Yara International is buying an ammonia facility in Texas. *One of the nation's top agronomists has some interesting fertilizer advice for sorghum growers.*The heat of summer is here, and it can take a toll on livestock.  *Agricultural groups are expressing support for new ag labor legislation.  *U.S. cotton growers are feeling the strain of a down agricultural economy. *Some horses have an unusual gait called a sidewinder gait.  

*Texas corn and sorghum acreage is down, while cotton acreage is higher.   *A heat dome is bringing high temperatures to Texas.  *Governor Greg Abbott has approved an agreement with USDA to hire additional screwworm inspectors. *Late arriving rains helped sorghum fields in the Texas High Plains.  *The annual Texas FFA Convention is next week.*President Trump is pulling the U.S. out of the US Mexico Canada trade agreement and lifting some duties on fertilizer imports.  *Farmers on the Texas Southern Plains farmers are running irrigation as they wait for the next rain event.  *There's a new drug being tested for breeding synchronization in cattle.  

*The Texas corn crop doesn't look great, but it is looking good.  *Crop growers associations are opposing a new petition calling for additional duties on imported glyphosate.  *The Livestock Marketing Association of Texas has a new CEO. *Recent rains are helping crops in the central part of the Texas Panhandle.  *June was a wet month for much of Texas.  *New ag labor legislation is introduced in Congress.  *There's a lot going on in agriculture across the Texas Rolling Plains. *Medical devices used in horses are not drugs.  

*What's the number one question livestock producers have about screwworms?   *A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas shows stable but depressed conditions for farmers and ranchers.  *Nominations are open for the Texas Ag Influencer of the Year contest. *There's a lot of repair work to be done on wildfire damaged ranches in Randall County.  *The cost of the 4th of July cookout reflects an inflation increase.   *There are now two facilities producing sterile screwworm flies.  *Coastal Bend farmers are preparing for a new challenge.*This is the time of year many horses have allergies.  

*Heavier fed cattle weights bring challenges at marketing time.  *Recent rains have helped lower drought conditions across Texas.  *The number of sterile flies available to combat New World screwworms will soon go up. *Wildfire damaged pastures in Randall County are still recovering. *The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is investing in youth and agriculture.  *President Trump signed an executive order on regenerative agriculture.  *The first weeks of summer have been very active in East Texas.  *A cow calf checklist for beef cattle should be used at this mid-point of the year.  

*Another case of screwworms is confirmed in Texas.  *Texas A&M AgriLife is producing screwworm kits to help identify screwworms.  *Heavy rains are taking a toll on watermelons in South Texas.   *Drought conditions are improving in the Texas Panhandle.*The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is planning to build new facilities.  *The White House is asking for money to help U.S. farmers.*June was a wet month in Central Texas.  *Elastic therapeutic tape is being used on horses.  

*Sorghum planting is wrapping up while sorghum harvest is beginning.   *Three more Texas screwworm cases have been confirmed by USDA.  *The U.S. dairy herd has grown to its largest size in 30 years. *Wheat growers in the Texas High Plains are urged to try something new in the upcoming season.  *The annual Texas Pecan Growers conference is coming up. *Two provisions in the House Farm Bill did not make it into the Senate's version.  *Screwworm cases are increasing in South Texas, while rainfall has been a blessing.  *The H5N1 virus in dairy cattle is believed to be spread by milk and milking equipment.  

*More screwworm cases are confirmed in Texas.  *Texas dairies produced more milk last month, while the dairy herd grew.  *Texas Corn Producers has a new executive director.  *Senate Ag Committee leadership released a draft of the Farm Bill.*What could a Super El Nino mean for the Texas High Plains? *The future is bright for cotton technology.  *Bermuda grass growers in Texas have several pests to fight. *Low starch diets are important for many horses.  

*Wildfires have devastated some Texas Panhandle cattle operations.  *The cotton jassid is a highly destructive pest. *Texas Farm Bureau's Ag Mechanics grant program will award ten $2,500 grants this year. *El Nino is here.  *The South Texas Cotton and Grain Association addressed farmers in Southeast Texas.  *Representatives from the Food and Drug Administration gave Texas lawmakers an update on what they are doing to fight the screwworm. *Central Texas and the Hill Country have been blessed with rain.  *Treatment options for intestinal parasites in cattle are different now than they were several years ago.  

*The nation's first bale of cotton has been harvested.  *Wheat harvest is wrapping up in Texas.  *JBS is closing two beef processing facilities. *Feedyards in the Texas High Plains need more feeder calves.  *The upper Gulf Coast of Texas is getting major rainfall right now.  *USDA gave a recent update on the efforts to fight New World Screwworm.  *The weather was a bit cooler than usual this spring in the Texas Rolling Plains.  *A horse racing group has made a decision on Lasix.

*Feedlot inventories are larger than a year ago.  *A bill that would make Daylight Savings Time permanent is considered in Congress.  *The Texas House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock held a screwworm hearing last week. *The meat lab at West Texas A&M University is attracting attention. *Late spring rains are impacting Southeast Texas row crops.  *A Texas metro area has been chosen for a USDA hub.*Texas wheat harvest is wrapping up, and it's been a year many producers would like to forget.  *There are some new guidelines for parasite control in cattle.  

*Texas cotton planting is running slightly behind schedule.  *The state is offering a free online course to expand the number of certified screwworm inspectors in Texas.  *Some have a sense of relief now that the screwworm is finally here. *Several institutions in Texas are getting funding to help fight the screwworm.  *The high value of cattle involves more than just steaks and ground beef.  *There have been big changes over the past three decades in how beef is processed.  *Over 900 people showed up for a New World screwworm meeting in Fredericksburg.  *Allergies are common in horses.  

*Texas wheat harvest is 75% done.  *USDA Farm Service Agency county committee nominations are now open.  *The number of screwworm cases now stands at 12.   *There's been a slump in fed cattle prices lately.  *A beef research project from 30 years ago is paying off today.  *Representatives from the dairy industry are hoping to get more access to the Canadian market.  *More rain is falling in Central Texas.  *Difficulty giving birth is common in cows.  

*More sterile flies are coming to fight the screwworm.  *The nation's first bale of cotton has been harvested.  *The outlook for fall feeder cattle prices may be positive. *How are screwworms affecting Texas High Plains feedlots?*New cuts of beef and better value have reshaped the meat case.  *New legislation would add penalties for Mexico failing to comply with the 1944 water treaty.  *Recent rains have fallen on the Southern Plains of Texas.  *The old methods of treating parasites in horses do not work anymore.  

*U.S. wheat production continues to decline.  *Texas rice farmers are encouraged to scout their fields for the rice delphacid.  *Wheat harvest is 35% complete.*There is a growing interest in animal fats.  *U.S. pork exports were strong in April.  *U.S. lawmakers discussed the benefits of the U.S. Mexico Canada trade agreement.  *Screwworm cases are rising in South Texas.  *There is a lot of dewormer resistance in equine parasites.  

*The Secretary of Agriculture visited the site of the first screwworm case.*Construction continues on sterile screwworm fly facilities. *Pasture mealybugs are spreading fast across Central and Southern Texas.*Herbicides are an important tool in fighting weeds.  *Rio Grande Valley farmers are in their annual fight against crop pests.  *Gastric ulcers are very common in performance horses. 

*U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was back in Texas this week to work on the screwworm situation.  *Reporting screwworms is very important.  *Wheat growers need to book their seed now.  *President Trump has named Amarillo native John Rich as Special Envoy for American Landowners.*Texas High Plains farmers are looking at a difficult economic situation this year.  *Preventing wildfires is a year-round effort.  *Cattle producers are optimistic but cautious in East Texas.  *Heat stress can affect mineral needs in beef cattle.  

*Texas is taking a whole-of-government approach to fighting the screwworm.   *Drought conditions are improving across Texas.  *Corn planting is almost finished in Texas. *The Texas Panhandle has received some rain recently. *Sorghum midges are active in the Rio Grande Valley.  *Work continues on the Farm Bill.  *Rain has had a big effect on Texas Coastal Bend agriculture.  *The first case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been detected on a Texas dairy.  

*Texas High Plains ranchers are preparing for the possible arrival of the screwworm.  *Texas wildlife will be affected by the New World screwworm. *Cotton planting is running a bit behind schedule in the Texas Southern Plains area.  *The Federal Trade Commission is looking into high fertilizer prices.  *Pasture mealybugs are spreading across Texas.  *Parasite resistance is a very big problem in the sheep and goat industry.  

New World Screwworm cases are spreading.  A Texan has been appointed to help drive innovation in the search for technologies to combat New World Screwworms.  Canada has banned cattle imports from Texas. Governor Greg Abbot is committing state resources to combat the screwworm.A major meat science event is coming to the Amarillo and Canyon area.  Specialty crop producers can now sign up for financial assistance.  Farming activity is running at full speed in the Texas Rolling Plains.  Now is a great time to evaluate replacement ewe lambs and doeling goats.

*Farm groups are reacting to the detection of New World Screwworm in Texas.  *USDA has deployed a strike team to Texas to deal with the screwworm.*Hurricane season is here.  *The opportunity to increase base acres is an opportunity for cotton farmers in the Texas High Plains.  *The Central Texas wheat harvest is wrapping up.*Choosing a supplement for your horse can be complicated.  

*Screwworms are in Texas.  Now what?  *Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been found in a Texas dairy.  *The Texas wheat harvest is now 23% complete. *The winter wheat season in the Texas High Plains will be remembered as a crop devastated by drought.  *El Nino will affect this year's hurricane season.  *The EPA is working on the problems with Diesel Exhaust Fluid.  *Summer is creeping into Central Texas.  *Calves are worth a lot of money today, so calf survival rate is more important than ever.

*Screwworms are now in Texas.   *One crop in the Texas High Plains is off to a good start.  *Hurricane season is here.  *USDA has a plan to revitalize the cotton farm economy.  *East Texas has had a good spring so far, but there are some spots that are suffering from a lack of rain.  *Alternative therapies are used in treating performance horses.  

*The screwworm is close to Texas, but not as close as you may have heard.  *Specialty crop growers can now apply for financial assistance.  *Five Texans were appointed to serve on the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board.*Parts of the Texas Panhandle have gotten some rain recently.  *Cotton Council International continues to market U.S. cotton abroad.  *The last two weeks of May brought significant rain to the Texas Coastal Bend.  *It's time to process spring born beef calves. 

Cattle feeders are profitable, but high price feeder cattle are squeezing those profits.The Farm Service Agency is sending landowners letter about potential base acre allocations.Genetics have played a big role in improving beef quality in recent years, but that's definitely not the whole story.El Niño is just getting started and could impact June weather in Texas.Spring beef calf processing is coming up. Texas veterinarian Dr. Bob Judd has some guidelines to help in the process.

New World Screwworm found in bovine just 31 miles from US-Mexico border.The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has reportedly withdrawn its mountain lion harvest reporting proposal following significant opposition. USDA is celebrating the opening of a livestock insect research lab in Kerrville. Estate planning is critical on the farm and ranch.The path to profitability is not an easy one for Texas High Plains corn farmers this year.Young people can obtain a veterinary science certificate from Texas A&M AgriLife.

Sheep and goat prices look good this spring.There's a little uncertainty about corn acreage in the Texas High Plains this year.Staff for members of the Texas Legislature are learning more about agriculture.Students at Colorado State University have developed an AI tool to help grade beef.Horn flies cost cattlemen a lot of money.

Farmers are expected to see above-average farm bill safety net payments this fall. Conditions in the Coastal Bend have switched from drought to flood.Cotton farmers on the Texas High Plains have seen a lot of challenging weather already this season.Texas legislative staff gain agricultural insights at demonstration farm.There are different options for intraarticular joint therapies in horses.

Free mental health services are available for those involved in Texas agriculture.The High Plains has finally received some rain. There are three steps that sellers of rural land should take before they attempt to market or sell their property. This time of year, busy performance horses by need anti-inflammatories for sore joints. The world's largest ammonia plant, which is expected to help strengthen the U.S.' fertilizer supply chain, is one-step closer to opening its doors.Broomsedge is an indicator plant that tells you if there's a problem in your pasture or hay meadow.

The switch to El Niño is coming.An information service can help farmers in the Texas High Plains as they face challenges with insect pressure.U.S. beef demand continues to be strong around the world.House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson gives us an update on ag labor legislation. Ultrasounds are now being used to help in the diagnosis of pneumonia in calves.

Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman gives us an update on the farm bill and potential economic assistance for farmers. The cattle futures market is fighting with the cash market.Consumer demand for beef remains strong even with high prices.Market access for U.S. red meat exports continues to grow.A new strangles vaccine is on the way.

*U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins addressed TFB members in Washington, D.C. this week.*Texas cotton planting is right-on-track in Texas. *Zoetis receives additional approval for Dectomax to treat New World Screwworm.*Registration is now open for the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course.*Cattle inventories remain very tight.*The U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking for producer input for its June agricultural survey.*USDA has confirmed cases of pseudorabies in Iowa and Texas.

*China should be buying U.S. beef again.  *The latest Texas wheat crop ratings are out.   *High energy prices are helping to boost cotton prices.*Feedlots are making money, but they still need higher fed cattle prices.*Millennials are buying more beef.*There's some good news in the fight against the New World screwworms.  *Data centers are a touchy topic in Texas agriculture.*Preparations continue for the possible arrival of screwworms in Texas.  

*The feeder cattle market is red hot.  *USDA is raising the average cotton price for the marketing year.  *Nominations are open for the Texas Environmental Stewardship Award Program. *About 300 Texas farmers and ranchers are in Washington this week. *Record high fed cattle prices are good news for Texas feedlots.   *A new survey shows consumer's meat consumption priorities.  *The rising cost of fertilizer is squeezing the balance sheets of farmers across the U.S.*Screwworms are not in Texas, but we should be on the lookout for them.  

*Cattle futures trading limits are expanding.  *Hurricane season gets underway soon.   *China is expected to buy $17 billion in agricultural products from the U.S.  *Southeast Texas County Farm Bureaus hosted a Legislative Ag Day last week.  *Cotton and sorghum seem to be the best options to grow in the Texas High Plains this year.  *A few fertilizer plants have been damaged by the conflict in the Middle East.  *Farmers on the Texas Southern Plains need rain to get spring crops in the ground.  *Extracting a horse tooth is not an easy job.  

*The Trump Administration is thinking twice about interfering in the beef market.   *The Wexford Ranches of South and West Texas are recognized for their conservation work.  *More screwworm cases have been confirmed in northern Mexico. *Farmers in South Central Texas held a legislative ag day.  *The new growing season is just beginning in the Texas Panhandle. *E15 legislation is moving forward.  *Central Texas is currently in a wet weather trend.  *Mules are different from horses in many ways.  

*U.S. wheat production is taking a big drop.  *A bipartisan group of member of Congress have sent a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative asking for help for specialty crop producers.  *The annual Kansas wheat crop tour is this week. *Agriculture is benefitting from some important achievement in the policy arena.*The U.S. Meat Export Federation's Spring conference is next week.  *The Trump administration's plans to increase beef imports is on hold.  *It's breeding season for spring calving beef herds.  

*The wheat market got a big boost from the USDA WASDE report.   *The latest Texas wheat crop ratings are out.  *The number of heifers in feedlots is going down. *Are cotton prices high enough to make a profit?  *A state legislative committee heard testimony on the state's New World screwworm plan.  *President Donald Trump is in China for trade talks. *The crop and livestock outlook is improving in the Texas Coastal Bend.  *There are several health concerns for horses this spring.  

*Beef imports are increasing.  *Drought conditions in Texas have improved.  *The entire U.S. cotton belt is experiencing drought. *Many Texas High Plains farmers are making a gamble with dry planted cotton.  *The Buying American Cotton Act is designed to increase demand for U.S. cotton.  *Whole milk is coming back to school lunches.  *The American Farm Bureau Federation is encouraging action on year-round E15.  *Health problems for sheep and goats increase at this time of year.  

*Sterile screwworm flies are dropped in more South Texas counties.   *The Department of Justice says a new settlement will help ease consumer meat prices.  *The Texas Special Rangers is reminding livestock owners to brand their animals. *Drought continues throughout the Texas High Plains.  *Beef is winning with consumers.  *The Farmer Bridge Assistance Program has sent out over $9 billion in farm assistance.  *Volunteer plants in gardens landscapes are showing up at this time of year.  *Spring brings some health problems for sheep and goats.