Texas Agriculture Today

*How many acres of cotton will be planted in Texas this year?   *Several provisions crafted by Texas lawmakers were included in the House version of the Farm Bill.   *Texas Tech veterinary students are receiving a special opportunity from a clinic in Hereford.    *The DeltaPine New Product Evaluator program is kicking off its 17th year.   *Crops are growing and farming is in full swing across Texa...

There’s a new leader at the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management.  The House version of the farm bill has been voted out of committee.  Cattle placements are currently down, but that could change.  Strong rural land sales continue across Texas. Pneumonia is a serious and common problem in sheep and goats.

*There are things you can do to reduce the likelihood of cattle and equipment theft in Texas.  *Crop insurance options for silage production varies.  *Storms brought high winds, rain and even a tornado to Central Texas Wednesday. *The House Committee on Agriculture spent hours Thursday marking up its leadership’s version of the 2024 Farm Bill.  *Two men were imprisoned in Pennsylvania for using ul...

*This spring has brought some much-needed rainfall to parts of Texas.  *Cattle feeders are looking at various strategies to export more meat around the globe. *When producing forage, it’s important to consider irrigation capacity, wells and ability for wells to recover.   *The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture is expressing his concerns with the House GOP farm bill. *There are new regulations regardin...

*Farmers in the Rio Grande Valley are still waiting on water from Mexico.  *There are both pros and cons to silage production.  *A small lizard found in parts of far West Texas is being added to the endangered species list.  *Efforts to rebuild the nation’s cattle herd continue.  *The U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies are taking additional action to protect livestock and pe...

*Although drought conditions continue to improve across much of Texas, some areas could still use a rain.  *An investigation into imported 2,4-D, and potential duties on those imports, will continue.  *Rural agricultural land sales are strong. High interest rates and input costs are putting pressure on cattle feeders’ margins.  *There are a limited number of drugs approved for use in sheep. 

*Final results are in from the 2024 Wheat Quality Council’s Hard Red Winter Wheat Tour. *A Texas ranch has been honored for its conservation efforts.   *The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is filing a civil suit in Texas against Agridime, LLC.   *The majority of Texas is now drought free. *There has been a big increase in silage production in the Texas High Plains.   *The new Farm Bill could...

*Recent rains were welcome in the Texas Coastal Bend.   *Cotton could be a profitable crop in Texas this year, but the margins will be thin.   *Burned out Panhandle wildfire victims need fencing materials.  *There’s reason to be optimistic about the wheat crop on the Texas High Plains.   *A U.S. congresswoman from South Texas is fighting to get help for farmers in the Rio Grande Valley.   *May is...

*The Wheat Quality Council’s Hard Red Winter Wheat tour is underway across Kansas.   *An invasive pest that is killing ash trees is spreading across Texas.   *The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is taking applications for the new Leadership Development Foundation’s Working Grant Program.   *If a landowner leases property to a solar company, can the landowner still farm on that la...

*Planters continue to roll in Texas.   *The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will decide next week if Texas should be required to check traps regularly for mountain lions.   *This year’s Texas wheat crop is expected to be smaller than last years. *Lease offers from solar energy companies is becoming more common across Texas.   *Senate Agriculture Committee leadership is outlining their goals fo...

A bipartisan group of the Texas congressional delegation is demanding Congress withhold federal funding for Mexico because of their unwillingness to abide by the 1944 water treaty.   The House Agriculture Committee will mark up the Farm Bill next week.   More money was raised for Texas wildfire victims last week. It’s a busy time for farmers in the Texas High Plains.   The current extension of the...

*USDA announced the launch of financial assistance for dairy farmers affected by the H5N1 virus.  *Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz introduced the Texas Agricultural Producers Assistance Act.  *The volatility in cattle futures continues as cash prices remain strong.  *Producing and selling beef on dairy calves has been beneficial for both feedyards and dairies.   *Two Texas lawmakers are working to...

*Texas spring crop planting is right on schedule.   *The 2024 Oklahoma Wheat Crop Tour forecasts more than 2 million harvested acres this year. *Forage is not always enough when it comes to the nutritional needs of cattle.   *Officials discussed cyber attacks and the threat to U.S. agriculture at a recent Senate committee hearing.   *Central Texas farms are waterlogged after a string of heavy rain...

*A new threat to U.S. beef and dairy cattle is spreading.   *Texas farmer and ranchers along the Mexican border continue to face the consequences of illegal immigration. *Texas agriculture has lost a legend.   *The Environmental Protection Agency Committee has created a new subcommittee on animal agriculture water quality.   *The state’s largest farm organization is increasing its investments in s...

*Wildfire recovery continues in the Texas Panhandle.   *The biggest rebuilding cost for many burned out ranchers will be rebuilding the ranch infrastructure.   *Three U.S. Senators are calling for enhanced interagency coordination in response the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle.   *Texas is the number one horse state. *Flood waters are covering many counties in Texas after heavy rainfall.   *There h...

*The Panhandle wildfires caused $123 million in agricultural losses.   *Will there be any type of loss program for dairy farmers affected by H5N1?    *It’s time to plant cotton in the Texas Panhandle and Southern Plains. *Farmers and ranchers on the South Plains of West Texas could use some rain.   *House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders have release dualling frameworks for the Farm Bill....

*Texas wheat conditions are improving.   *This is a good time to lock in a price on your calf crop using the Livestock Risk Protection program.   *A good mineral supplementation program is vital for cattle in the spring.   *Lawmakers are asking USDA to reconsider cutting reports that are vital to agriculture.   *Farm Bill markup is expected to start later this month.   *A common pasture management...

*Action is happening on the Farm Bill in Washington.   *El Nino is on the way out, while La Nina is on the way in.   *No live H5N1 virus has been found in tests of retail ground beef. *Providing beef consumers with a positive dining experience was a topic at the recent Hemphill County Beef Conference in Canadian.  *USDA recently announced cuts to several livestock and crop reports.   *Southeast Te...

*USDA is testing retail ground beef for the H5N1 virus in states without breaks of the virus in dairy cattle.   *There is a lot of optimism this year for growing cotton in Texas.   *The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is taking applications for the TSCRA Leadership Development Foundation’s Working Grant Program. *Cattle prices are expected to get stronger this year, but we could...

*USDA is making another move toward an electronic identification system for livestock.   *Corn stunt disease is showing up in Texas, but it’s not expected to affect yields much.   *The outlook for cattle prices remains optimistic.   *The closure of Texas’ only sugar mill is getting a lot of attention from lawmakers.   *Spring is bringing optimism to farmers in the Texas Rolling Plains.   *May is e...

*Strong storms brought big rain to some parts of Texas.   *The state’s largest farm organization is now offering grants to agricultural mechanics and metal technologies educators.   *The Texas Department of Agriculture is thanking other state agriculture departments for their help during the Panhandle wildfires.   *The State of Texas is looking for ways to reduce the wildfire threat.   *The U.S. T...

*Herd rebuilding may be getting underway according to the latest Cattle on Feed report.   *The area of Texas impacted by drought rose slightly over the past week.   *The wildfires damaged a lot of water wells in the Texas Panhandle.   *Getting better control of wildfires was a big topic at last week’s Hemphill County Beef Conference.   *A very good winter wheat crop is progressing in the Central T...

*The condition of the Texas wheat crop is declining.   *South Texas citrus may be under attack from an invasive pest.   *Applications are open for the American Sheep Industry Associations annual Sheep Heritage Foundation scholarship.    *The outlook for herd rebuilding in the Texas High Plains is unclear for now.   *If Congress want to pass a new Farm Bill this year, members say it must be biparti...

*There are new restrictions on moving dairy cattle across state lines.   *The state’s first anthrax case of the year has been detected.   *Recovery continues for Texas ranches burned out by wildfires. *The battle over beef imports from Paraguay takes an interesting turn.   *A U.S. Senator from Texas is fighting for fair disaster payments through USDA.   *Tight U.S. beef supplies are challenging re...

*Cotton planting is moving forward in Texas.   *The aftermath of the Panhandle wildfires can cause mental health issues that need to be addressed. *Beef on dairy has become a very big deal for dairies and feedyards in the Texas Panhandle.   *EPA recently took action to save drivers money at the pump and help ethanol production.   *A North Texas cattle ranch was named the National Environmental Ste...