Texas Agriculture Today

*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.  

*Winter wheat fields are abandoned across the High Plains.  *USDA has designated 34 Texas as natural disaster areas. *There are multiple diseases affecting wheat in the Texas High Plains this year.  *A commitment to cotton innovation continues.  *House ag leaders say they would like to see the U.S. Mexico Canada trade agreement renewed. *Weed control is an important part of pasture management.  *Recent rains in parts of Texas could cause some horses to develop laminitis.  

*The debate continues over cow herd rebuilding.   *The Farm Service Agency is now accepting applications for grasslands CRP.  *The Texas Corn Producers Association is applauding the introduction of a bill to lower fertilizer prices. *Texas High Plains farmers may see a new disease threat this year.  *The Army Corps of Engineers is working on many water projects.  *The House is expected to take up E15 legislation soon.*May is here and farming activity is busy on the Texas Rolling Plains.*Moving cattle soon after breeding is not a good idea.

*Texas farmers were denied their claims against Hansen-Mueller.  *Farmer sentiment went down in April.  *Over half of the Texas wheat crop is in poor to very poor condition. *U.S. beef is being shipped to the United Kingdom duty free.  *Monitoring for pests early in the season is critical for Texas cotton producers.  *A new bill in Congress aims to reduce fertilizer costs.  *Late April rainfall has benefitted Central Texas crops and pastures.  *There are multiple options for treating laminitis in horses. 

*The cotton market is bullish.   *State and national animal health officials are investigating a case of pseudorabies virus reportedly linked to a hog facility in Texas.   *We’re looking for good farm dogs.  *Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche says the Department of Justice is investigating major beef processors.  *Corn leaf hoppers may not be much of a threat to Texas High Plains corn growers this year.  *Farmers on the Southern Plains of West Texas are getting ready to plant, but they need rain.  *What percentage of beef cows need help calving?  

*Wheat prices are having a huge rally.  *The push is on the pass the Buy American Cotton Act.  *Texas 4-H now has its own headquarters.  *Helping Texas High Plains agriculture deal with depleting groundwater supplies is a major focus for AgriLife researchers.  *Central Texas dairy farmers have a new market opportunity thanks to Walmart.  *The Farm Bill has cleared a key hurdle in Congress.  *A new topical powder has been approved to treat screwworms.

*Texas farmers are getting spring crops in the ground on time.   *The northern Texas Panhandle is still dealing with drought.  *A dairy industry group is asking federal regulators to enforce labeling rules. *Many Texas High Plains farmers are looking to get the most out of their ground water supply.  *May is a severe weather month for Texas.  *There has been a lot of talk in Washington about the Farm Bill.  *South Texas livestock producers are preparing for the screwworm, while Mexican farmers are burning fields to prepare for planting.  *Penetrating wounds on a horse’s foot can be deadly.  

*The Texas wheat crop is dismal.  *Duty free shipments are on the way to the United Kingdom for the first time in five years.  *Florida has implemented restrictions on importing livestock, pets and wildlife from six South Texas counties. *Growing and marketing sorghum is a big part of Texas Panhandle agriculture.  *Cotton Council International is working to grow U.S. cotton demand overseas.  *Work is underway to help lower fertilizer costs for farmers.*The Coastal Bend has seen some drastic changes during the last month.  *Diagnostic tests can help improve a beef cattle deworming program.  

*Mexican cattle imports may never fully recover.  *Getting E15 fuel available year-round is a priority for ag groups in Washington.  *The battle to keep screwworms from crossing into Texas continues.   *Wheat diseases have been a big problem across the state this year.  *Increasing U.S. cotton exports is key to increasing demand.  *We could see a vote on the Farm Bill this week.  *The House Natural Resources Committee has proposed a comprehensive update of the Endangered Species Act. *Caring for livestock after a wildfire can be a difficult challenge.  

*Screwworm cases in northern Mexico are multiplying.  *The outlook for spring planting is bleak in the Texas Panhandle.   *USDA increased the payment factor for the Supplemental Disaster Relief program for 2023 and 2024 losses.*Rural land sales in Texas have been strong.  *U.S. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins recently addressed concerns about USDA budget cuts.  *The money set aside for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program has almost been entirely delivered.  *The drug pentosan can treat arthritis in horses. 

*Staffing shortages are a challenge for the Farm Service Agency.   *The Livestock Marketing Association is working to secure more flexibility for livestock haulers.  *With current cattle prices, it’s very important to make sure every cow has a calf.  *Could Congress finally approve year-round E15 gasoline?  *We do not produce enough lamb meat in the U.S. to keep up with the demand for it.  *Shivers is an equine disease common in larger horses. 

*It’s wildfire season in Texas.  *There is assistance available for Texas dairies affected by avian influenza.*Another arctic blast is coming into Texas.  *Electronic ID tags for Texas cattle producers are available for free.  *USDA has withdrawn a proposed rule change to the Packers and Stockyards Act.  *Northeast Texas dealt with some severe weather recently.  *Increased nonstructural carbohydrates in the pasture can increase insulin levels in horses. 

*A new study shows a big return on the beef checkoff. *The U.S. agricultural trade deficit is getting higher.  *Cattle feeders in the Texas High Plains are making good profits.  *The new Producer Owned Beef plant in Amarillo received a $10 million grant from USDA. *Texas farmers are active with mid-summer crops.  *Hurricane Beryl brushed by the Rio Grande Valley.  *Anemia is common in small ruminants due to parasites.  

*Texas sugarcane acreage is dropping because of an irrigation water shortage.*Political pressure is needed to solve the water crisis in the Rio Grande Valley.*There is a critical shortage of veterinarians in Texas.  *We may not see a completed Farm Bill this year.  *Rural child care may help reduce farm accidents involving children.*Cold winter weather can be tough on livestock, including sheep.  

*The first cotton acreage estimate for the 2024 crop is out.  *The number of hogs and pigs in Texas has dropped.  *Fuel prices are declining following a slight holiday increase. *The Pioneer crop production clinics are getting underway next week in the Texas Panhandle.  *This should be a better year for precipitation in Texas.  *Congress can strengthen the partnership between farmers, ranchers and food banks by investing in a program in the new Farm Bill.  *Managing dry cows through the fresh period pays dividends down the line.  *The special late deer season for part of the state opens Monday.