Texas Agriculture Today

*A Texan is at the helm of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.    *The drought has financially stressed farmers in Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico.   *The American Lamb Board is holding a grazing workshop in Temple on May 8th-10th.  *Body condition scores are an important part of evaluating bulls. Interest rates have added to the cost of doing business.   *Now is the time to plan your landscape for th...

*Cotton acreage is expected to stay about the same as last year.   *A Texas rancher’s property rights case will be heard by the United States Supreme Court.   *Proper management of bulls is one topic livestock producers have been hearing about during winter meetings.   *Farm income costs have come down a bit for the 2024 crop, but so have prices.   *Texas 4-H and FFA members are preparing for stoc...

*Pasture and range conditions still look poor across Texas.   *Recent rainfall continues to ease drought conditions across our state.   *The recent prescription requirement for certain animal antibiotics seems to be transitioning well. *Higher interest rates are having an impact on Texas farmers and ranchers. *Recent rains across Texas have helped improve conditions for Texas ranchers.   *The Amer...

*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, rancher...

*Texas cattle herds continue to shrink.   *Registration is open for the Winter Garden Row Crop Conference.   *The largest beef cattle show in North America is now underway at the Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City.   *The winter meeting season has arrived in the Texas High Plains.   *The farm economy outlook for 2024 is a cloudy one with high inputs and lower prices.   *Ranchers in East Texas a...

*This should be a year of cooler, weather thanks to El Nino.   *Farmers can now enroll or change their Farm Bill safety net program for the upcoming crop year.   *Registration is now open for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s annual convention and trade show.  *There are several things to consider when getting your farm or ranch back in order after a wildfire.   *Soil tillage...

*Deworming cattle can pay back big returns. *There is a strong potential for wildfires on the Texas High Plains right now.   *We should have the results of the latest Census of Agriculture soon.  *2023 was a year of ups and downs in the Rio Grande Valley. *One of the most common causes of infertility in mares is early embryonic loss.   *There will soon be additional wildlife crossings in Deep Sout...

*Forage supplies are low across Texas as winter gets underway. *There are a lot of youth programs in agriculture.   *Family farms still make up a big part of American agriculture.   *Farmers and ranchers in the Texas Coastal Bend are gearing up for 2024.   *The equine microbiome is the type and number organisms involved in certain systems of the horse.   *The public can now weigh in on a proposal...

*2023 was a great year for some Texas farmers, and not so great for others. *Silage demand is growing on the Texas High Plains.   *El Nino should reduce tropical activity in the Gulf next year.   *Winter is now officially here.   *Joint injections are very common in performance horses.  *Youth hunters may have an additional day to hunt Turkey, deer and squirrel next fall.  

*Producer profitability is a very important goal for the Livestock Marketing Association. *Texas Panhandle farmers are considering their planting options for 2024.   *We may see more snowfall in Texas this year.   *This is a week to look back at 2023 and look forward to 2024.  *Most cattle will need extra nutrition for the upcoming winter.   *The public can now weigh in on a proposal to change the...

*A hemp fiber processing facility will begin operations in Texas soon.   *It has been a tough year for crop prices.   *This is supposed to be an El Nino winter.   *East Texas could use a shot of rain.   *Arthritis can become more of a problem as horses live longer.   *The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service is proposing additions to two national wildlife refuges in Texas.

*It’s the 20th anniversary of the cow that stole Christmas.   *The weather is creating some issues for wheat growers in the Texas Panhandle. *Microbes play a big role in soil health.   *Baby calves may need some extra protection from the cold this winter. *Researchers are looking for a way to clean up the infectious agents that could spread Chronic Wasting Disease.   *Memories of Christmas on the...

*The 2024 beef cow inventory will likely be lower than 2023.  *Two years of drought and poor cotton prices may boost sorghum acreage.   *Fed cattle prices have slumped recently, but the Texas Cattle Feeders Association expects a rebound.  *Having a current appraisal of your land can be helpful.  *Extreme South Texas has seen its coolest temperatures of the season.  *There are some new options for...

*Cattle prices are expected to be higher in 2024.   *Six Texas farmers are recognized for their sorghum yields this year.   *The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution targeting the critical water shortage in South Texas.   *Cattle feeders in Texas have been hit with a price slump.   *Rural land appraisals can be a real challenge if you don’t know what you’re doing.   *Weathe...

*Another Texas based cattle scheme has come unraveled.   *A new and improved test for brucellosis could be developed here in Texas.   *Governor Greg Abbot appointed two new members to the Texas Animal Health Commission.    *The future of cotton in the Texas Panhandle is a big topic of conversation right now.  *Texas rice farmers will have a new formulation of a rice herbicide available next year. ...

*Texas farmers and ranchers are enjoying nice rain events in many areas of the state following two years of devastating drought.   *The National Corn Growers Association is recognizing Texas corn farmers for their outstanding yields.    *Texas legislators have been busy all year, with several special sessions.   *2023 was another tough year for cotton farmers on the Texas High Plains.   *Cotton fa...

*Winter will officially be here in a few days, but spring planting is just around the corner.   *A professor at West Texas A&M University has been awarded a grant to study liver abscesses in feedlot cattle.   *This was not a good year for cotton in the northern Texas Panhandle.   *AgriLife is offering some educational opportunities for farmers on the Texas High Plains.   *Texas Christmas tree...

*This is Career Week for Texas FFA members.   *Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller is opposing the decision to allow beef imports from Paraguay.   *Will agriculture be a major issue in the presidential race?   *Real Texas Christmas trees boost the economy.   *Ryegrass is often used for winter grazing in East Texas.   *EPM is common in Texas horses.    *Changes are coming to the federal du...

*The Farm Bill debate continues as we move into an election year.   *A Texas congressman is calling for Congress to get the Farm Bill done.   *Diesel prices have declined for 12 weeks in a row.   *It’s a very tough political environment right now to get things done on behalf of agriculture.  *Deltapine is releasing some promising new cotton varieties for 2024.   *Mexico is not holding up its end o...

*Strong international demand is supporting sorghum prices for Texas farmers.   *USDA wants to know more about Texans involved in aquaculture.   *Texas dairy farmers are dealing with forage shortages heading into winter. *Texas A&M AgriLife is ready to rebuild in Vernon.   *New cotton varieties are ready to go for 2024.   *Fall is now wrapping up as the official start of winter gets underway ne...

*Texas dairy farmers are ready for winter.     *Texas A&M Kingsville is helping farmers and ranchers in South Texas apply for grants and loans for wind turbines and solar energy projects.     *Fed cattle carcass weights have reached an all-time high.     *Texas A&M AgriLife is preparing for a big move in the Texas Panhandle.     *The U.S. is targeting Southeast Asia for red meat exports. ...

*Texas Congressman Jodey Arrington is joining 65 other members of the House and Senate in calling for changes to the latest round of farm disaster aid.   *Forage supplies are low across Texas heading into winter.   *A Texas A&M economist says farmers should be extra careful with risk management decisions.   *USDA’s conservation programs continue to be successful in Texas.   *Texas Farm Bureau...

*The final wheat seeds are going in the ground for the 2024 crop.     *Senator Ted Cruz is working to keep automakers from taking AM radio out of vehicles.     *It was an up and down season for sorghum on the Texas High Plains.     *We’ll take a look back at the 2023 corn crop and ahead at next year’s crop.   *There is a positive attitude in East Texas agriculture right now.     *Cattle producers...

*The freefall continues in the cattle futures market, and no one can explain why it’s happening.    *Drought conditions have improved for the fifth week in a row.    *Texas Tech researchers have been awarded nearly $5 million to study climate smart crops.   *2023 was a challenging growing season on the Texas High Plains.   *One midwestern state is helping Texas deal with the border crisis.   *Cool...

*Texas farmers and ranchers celebrated an anniversary and a victory over the weekend.    *The state's top young farmers and ranchers were recognized at the Texas Farm Bureau annual convention.   *Texas landowners are invited to a couple of meetings this week on potential conservation measures for the Texas kangaroo rat.   *Grain prices are not what they were just a year ago.   *Balancing crop prod...