Texas Agriculture Today

The president has taken action that could lead to mandatory country of origin labeling on beef.  As a new season begins, what's ahead for winter wheat in the Texas High Plains? Pasture mealy bugs have been an issue for Texas ranchers this year in their pastures. Texas livestock auction market operators welcome the release of screwworm infested zones. Most of Texas is experiencing excessive heat and this can affect our horses. 

On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a pair of executive orders the White House says will protect U.S. ranching. The recent run-up in commodity prices can make it tempting for farmers to delay marketing their crops. September is the peak of the Atlantic tropical season.  The American Lamb Board is building demand for American lamb. Anthrax was recently found in a goat in Edwards County. 

*The cotton futures market traded above 90 cents last week.   *Recent rains did not make much of a difference in the Texas High Plains.  *Agriculture and baseball are teaming up in Texas.  *One of the two Texas members of the House Agriculture Committee has an update on the Farm Bill.  *It’s been a good year for hay production in East Texas, despite the hot, dry August.  *Texas A&M AgriLife has developed a New World screwworm guide for cattle producers.  

*Texas livestock market operators want Washington to stay out of the cattle market.  *U.S. diesel supplies have fallen to the lowest seasonal levels ever.  *The condition of the Texas cotton crop continues to get worse.   *Cotton harvest continues in the Rio Grande Valley. *Wildfire losses are growing.  *This is a brutal year for corn in the Texas High Plains.  *USDA plans to modernize its data reporting for acreage and yield estimates.*The citrus harvest is getting close in the Rio Grande Valley. *The U.S. is importing more fruits and vegetables than ever before, putting a strain on already-squeezed growers. *Laminitis is a painful disease for many horses. 

*The Texas sorghum harvest is moving forward.  *Farmer sentiment improved last month.   *American Ag Credit is suing Double J Lamb for unpaid loans tied to the shutdown Double J processing facility in San Angelo. *Texas High Plains farmers are adapting to declining irrigation water supplies.  *August was hot and dry.  So what does the fall forecast look like?  *There are now only two active screwworm cases in Texas.  *There was no rainfall at all in August in the Lower Coastal Bend. *There are new methods of determining lameness earlier in herd bulls. 

*Texas grain thieves have been caught.  *Texas has reached a significant milestone in the screwworm fight.  *The opening of the Mexican border for cattle imports is restoring an important supply chain for Texas feedlots. *North Central Texas wildfires have caused a lot of damage. *Landowners in the Texas High Plains have been approached by data center developers.  *The Department of Labor is changing the way it calculates H2A wage rates.  *A new plan from the White House to import foreign beef could deal a significant blow to U.S. cattle ranchers. *Sheep and goats are susceptible to screwworms.  

*Mexican feeder cattle are fetching a good price.  *NASA was in the Texas Panhandle last week.   *The Texas Cattle Feeders Association’s annual meeting will be in Oklahoma City.   *Texas High Plains landowners have been approached by data center developers.  *Farmers and ranchers are discussing agricultural policy issues.  *Cattle coming across the border from Mexico go through a stringent inspection process.  *The pasture mealybug is spreading across Texas pastures.  *Platelet rich plasma is commonly used in horse joints. 

*New developments will help the fight against screwworms.  *Many harvested farm fields will be full of dove hunters soon.   *There’s a growing interest in raising sheep in the Texas High Plains.  *New conservation investments will benefit working ranches in Texas.*Farm groups sent a letter to President Trump regarding his plan to import foreign ground beef.  *Those imports of tariff free foreign beef will begin this week.  *Dry weather is taking a toll on crops and livestock on the Texas Rolling Plains.  *A researcher has developed a tool to predict Chronic Wasting Disease in deer.  

*Mexican cattle are receiving a thorough inspection as they cross the border.  *Ranchers and cowboys are relocating cattle as wildfires spread.  *The Texas Department of Agriculture has activated the STAR fund and the Hay and Feed Hotline. *Farmers in the Dumas area will have an opportunity to learn more about water efficient crop production.*Crops in the Texas Rolling Plains need rain.  *Officials broke ground this week on what will become the world’s largest ammonia plant.  *The hot dry summer weather is affecting trees.  *A recent study looked at the shortage of veterinarians in rural areas.  

*Feedlots inventories are larger than a year ago, but placements and marketings are taking a big drop.  *It is hot and dry all across the Lone Star State.  *The Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour showed corn production and yields may be lower than expected. *It’s turning out to be a very bad year for Texas Panhandle crops.  *East Texas cattle are holding up to the heat.*The wage rate paid to H2A employees has changed.  *Corn harvest is wrapping up in Central Texas.  *What’s the difference between generic and pioneer drugs?  

*More beef imports are coming.  *Corn harvest in Central Texas looked pretty good this year.  *Screwworm cases are low across Texas.*There are more cattle in feedlots both nationwide and here in Texas.  *The hot dry weather is taking a toll on the Texas Southern Plains.  * EPM can cause serious problems in horses.  

*The Rio Grande Valley is still struggling to eradicate the boll weevil.  *Lubbock is gearing up to host one of the biggest agricultural events of the year.   *Wheat silage has become an important product for wheat farmers in the Texas High Plains.  *How will proposed electric transmission lines affect private property rights?  *The Trump administration is working to turn our ag trade deficit into a surplus.  *The dog days of summer are hitting South Texas hard. *Wet conditions and hot weather can increase the chances of foot rot in cattle.  

*The Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Program has been a huge success.  *USDA is accepting applications for grants designed to increase sheep production and promotion.  *Texas A&M has published an updated fact sheet on the pasture mealybug. *New irrigation technology is being put to the test in the Texas High Plains.  *An interest rate reduction program for Texas farmers and ranchers has been very popular.  *The threatened 50% tariffs on Canadian exports to the U.S. are on hold. *Cotton harvest is picking up speed in the Texas Coastal Bend.  *Back problems are common in horses.  

*We’re losing beef packing capacity, but we’re also gaining some.  *A new report reveals fertilizer prices will remain high through 2028.  *The annual Southwest Dairy Day will be held on September 2nd in Dalhart.  *Fed cattle prices are dropping.  *Pork exports are going down.  *The Chairman of the U.S. House Ag Committee is pushing ag labor legislation. *Feeding hay is an expensive way to get cattle through the winter.  *Early weaning can be helpful in certain situations.  

*Cattle groups are reacting to the restructuring of the beef processing industry.   *A sheep in Texas tested positive for anthrax.   *One new screwworm case was reported Monday.   *Fed cattle prices keep dropping.  *It is Harvest Safety Week.  *Leadership of the House and Senate Ag Committees will get a shakeup in the next Congress.  *The state tree of Texas is the pecan.  *There are several rehab exercises you can do to help your horse recover from an injury.  

*There’s a new approval to help fight pasture mealybugs.  *Tyson Foods is closing two beef facilities and selling another.  *The drought in the Texas Panhandle is reaching extreme levels.*The Southern Plains of Texas is drying out.*The U.S. does not intend to reinstate the US Mexico Canada Trade agreement in its current form.  *Policy development meetings for Texas Farm Bureau are underway across the state.  *Rehab exercises are important in helping horses recover from injuries.  

*Texas corn harvest is moving forward, but the condition of the crop is going down.   *Farmer sentiment improved in July.  *The Texas Animal Health Commission published a list of certified screwworm inspectors.   *Capitol Hill has long been a tough place for agricultural advocacy.  *Beef export values were up in June.  *The USMCA review continues.  *Alfalfa fields are an oasis in the West Texas desert landscape.  *Elastic resistance band training is used on horses.  

*Cotton acreage is going up while yield estimates are dropping.  *A Texas ranch is a regional winner of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Environmental Stewardship Award.  *The Texas rice harvest continues with steady yields and low insect pressure.   *One year’s sorghum regrowth can help the next year’s crop.*The heat and dry weather are making ideal wildfire conditions.  *Funding is available to help Texans control wild hogs.  *Two tick-borne diseases cause similar clinical signs in cattle. 

*There are only three active cases of screwworms in Texas.  *USDA is giving farmers more time to apply for the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.  *The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for a screwworm preventative spray.   *High cattle prices are causing producers to sell calves at lighter weights.  *Rainwater collection could help with water needs on newly purchased rural property.  *The head of the Senate Ag Committee says he understands the frustration over the lack of movement of the Farm Bill. *Row crops in the Southern Plains are suffering from high heat and low rainfall.  *Pinkeye is a costly problem in cattle. 

*The new sterile screwworm production facility in the Rio Grande Valley will open earlier than planned.   *Time is running out for farmers to submit applications for the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.  *USDA plans to reopen the Mexican border for livestock imports later this month. *It’s too dry, too hot and too windy in the Texas High Plains. *Developing water needs on newly purchased rural land can add a lot of value.*Are lamb imports hurting the domestic sheep industry?  *It’s been a good year for hay production in East Texas.  *Managing back pain in horses is a challenge.  

*High cattle prices are affecting all sectors of the industry.  *USDA has confirmed a case of classical scrapie in Oregon.   *Texas A&M AgriLife is hosting an event near Plainview to allow producers to learn more about High A corn.*Data centers are a hot topic of discussion in rural Texas*The Senate Agriculture Committee did not move the Farm Bill forward last week.  *Cotton harvest is underway in the Texas Coastal Bend.  *Back pain in horses is difficult to diagnose and treat.  

USDA is giving farmers more time to pay their crop insurance premiums.Corn harvest continues to move through Texas.Cotton conditions are declining all across the cotton belt.Texas Gulf Coast rice yields are down somewhat, but the quality is very good.The Randall County Extension Office will soon offer a presentation on data centers.It may be called pigeon fever, but the bacterial infection can affect horses.

We're still waiting to rebuild the cow herd. The Farm bill failed on a first vote in Senate Ag Committee.There are alternatives to 765 kV transmission lines.The cattle herd in Hale County is on the rise.A new study shows calves like being with their buddies.

A Central Texas cattle producer says it’s been one of the best summers ever.A group of House Republicans is urging EPA to reconsider its limit on chlorpyrifos use.Corn in parts of the Panhandle is feeling the heat.Drought and heat have made things challenging for Texas High Plains ranchers.The deadline to approve additional base acres is Aug. 31.A new report from USDA looks at land values and cash rents.There’s still a lack of quality control, safety and efficacy data for the majority of equine supplements.

*There were no surprises in the recent Cattle on Feed report.  *The National Sorghum Producers yield contest is now open.   *The number of companies using USDA’s voluntary Product of the U.S. label is growing. *Drought seems to be improving in the southern part of the Texas High Plains.  *Hay production in East Texas is good in some places, not so good in others.  *The Senate Ag Committee will consider the Farm Bill this week.  *As Congress works toward approving a budget, the House has authorized $12 billion in additional farm aid. *Vitamins are important for goats.  

*There are industry concerns about the new CME sorghum basis futures contract.  *There’s good news in the fight against feral hogs.  *The number of screwworm cases in Texas now stands at 42, with only eight of those active. *There’s something new for corn farmers in the Texas High Plains.  *Farmers and ranchers are still waiting for the El Nino weather pattern.  *Congress is considering a budget package that includes additional assistance for farmers.  *The Texas Hill Country has seen some good rain this summer.   *What are the vitamin needs of goats? 

*Cattle feeders are cautiously optimistic about the border reopening.  *The deadline for county Farm Service Agency committees is coming up soon.   *Crops are drying out in Randall County.  *Increased power demands are causing concerns for Texas landowners.  *USDA is making another investment in the fight against screwworms. *There’s still an El Nino waiting out there somewhere.  *Omega 3 fatty acids are beneficial for horses.  

*The Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course is next week.  *Speaker of the House Mike Johnson spoke to farmers in Northwest Louisiana.   *It’s time for a new winter wheat season in Texas.  *USDA unveiled new priorities for the department.  *The Senate Ag Committee could take up the Farm Bill next week.  *Congestive heart failure is a major cause of death in feedlot cattle.  

*The condition of the Texas corn crop continues to decline.  *The sterile screwworm fly production facility in Texas could open ahead of schedule.  *The Texas Wheat Producers Board named Kristie Keys as the 2026 Texas Wheat Agent of the Year. *In the Texas High Plains, the cotton crop’s need for rain grows more each day.  *Crops in the Southern Plains of Texas are also thirsty for rainfall.  *USDA has released the latest farm expenditures report.  *During a drought, there isn’t much you can do to increase forage growth.  *Probiotics are routinely recommended for horses.  

*The corn crop in the High Plains of Texas is suffering from the summer heat.  *A budget package that includes additional economic assistance for farmers is moving forward.  *Texas livestock producers who experienced losses in the recent flooding may get help from USDA disaster programs.  *Corn harvest is underway in Central Texas.  *It’s been another dry year for cotton farmers in the Texas High Plains.  *Negotiations continue on the U.S. Mexico Canada trade agreement.  *Beef prices and consumer demand were topics discussed at the recent Cattle Industry Summer conference in Denver.*Bulls with increased back fat may have lower fertility.  

The reaction to the border opening is mostly positive.   Texas dairies produced more than 1.5 billion pounds of milk last month.  A federal judge has vacated endangered species protections for the dunes sagebrush lizard in West Texas.   Texas A&M Agrilife can help you select wheat varieties for this fall’s planting season.  Texas FFA members served the Ft. Worth community.  Some global tariffs ended Friday, while new ones went into effect.  Where you keep your horses can affect their chances of developing asthma.  

*A sorghum basis futures contract will be available soon.  *USDA tightened its beef production forecast and increased the steer price forecast.  *There’s a screwworm disaster declaration in the Rio Grande Valley.   *There’s good news about the nitrogen requirements of newer corn hybrids.  *It’s watermelon harvest time in Northeast Texas. *Negotiations continue on the U.S. Mexico Canada trade agreement.  *It’s hay and watermelon season in East Texas.*There have been some changes to laws regarding telemedicine in veterinary medicine.  

The big correction in the cattle market has caught many by surprise.USDA has updated its rating of the Texas cotton crop.Research suggests corn breeders have developed new hybrids that require less nitrogen.A former Texas Farm Bureau staffer is mentioned among the stories from the portrait photographer behind American Farmer: The Heart of Our Country. Young farmers and ranchers recently visited Washington, D.C. to advocate on behalf of agriculture.Artificial intelligence is being used routinely in horses for gait analysis, but there are some concerns.

*Wheat harvest is moving north.  *The U.S. is imposing a 50 percent tariffs on some products imported from Canada.  *Texas farmers are feeding the hungry. *Drought is driving more cattle into feedlots.  *A Texan was in Washington this week discussing New World screwworm legislation.  *The American farmer is the heart of our country.  *Screwworms are showing up in the Rio Grande Valley, and a tropical storm could bring more rain to South Texas.  *Dealing with downer cow is a frustrating experience.  

*Wheat prices have taken a big jump higher.  *Bayer is no longer asking for duties on imported glyphosate.  *A dairy processing facility is under construction in East Texas.   *Fed cattle prices have tanked.  *Keeping hogs cool in the summertime is a difficult job.  *EPA is accepting comments on a proposal to eliminate DEF shutdowns.  *Planting delays have turned into harvest delays in the Texas Coastal Bend.  *Breakover of the hoof in horses is very important.  

*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.