Texas Agriculture Today

*The first two gene edited Angus cattle are here in Texas.   *Texas A&M AgriLife is holding a webinar on minimizing drift on grazing lands.   *Cattle groups are praising the introduction of a Senate version of the Black Vulture Relief Act.   *The big fall in grain prices is putting pressure on Texas High Plains farmers.   *Partnerships and market diversification are important to improving agri...

*The cattle herd continues to shrink.   *Texas corn growers have more time to enter their crop into the National Corn Yield contest.   *Now is a great time to deworm cattle.  *Farmers and ranchers attending the Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show last week got a Farm Bill update from Texas A&Ms Dr. Joe Outlaw.  *El Nino is starting to influence Texas weather as December gets underway.   *Coastal Bend...

*The Texas Association of Dairymen reacts to the recent USMCA dispute panel’s ruling regarding Canada’s dairy import restrictions.   *Texas and Oklahoma farmers and ranchers hired less farm labor in the past quarter but paid them more.   *Another Texas livestock auctioneer has qualified for the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship.   *Desalinization is expected to play a major role in Texas’ fu...

*The final Texas Crop Progress and Condition Report of 2023 shows a poor Texas cotton crop, with better looking wheat and peanut crops.    *The profit outlook for grain elevators has improved significantly for the current marketing year.    *We should see more sorghum acreage in Texas next year.   *The State of Texas is committed to strengthening its water resources.  *The USDA public comment peri...

*Some farmers have a tough time during the holidays.   *Texas sesame farmers will have crop insurance available for next year’s crop.   *The U.S. is planning to allow beef imports from Paraguay.   *Water is an ongoing challenge on the Texas High Plains.   *Wheat growers are working on priority issues for the Farm Bill.   *Winter forages are in the ground and growing in much of Texas.   *Omeprazole...

*The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association approves of the one-year extension of the Farm Bill. *The condition of the Texas wheat crop is mixed.  Feeder cattle sales have been holding strong recently.   *Patch burning can reduce the threat of wildfire and increase grass quality for cattle.   *An international food trading company is working with Texas meat processing facilities.   *The U.S. ag tra...

*Texas winter wheat planting is almost finished.    *Texas A&M is doing research on coronavirus in cattle.   *USDA has appointed two Texans to serve on the United Soybean Checkoff’s board of directors.   *Wildfires are a big threat to rangelands across Texas.   *Companies are developing technology to improve soil fertilization for farmers here in Texas and around the world.   *Leaves are falli...

*The 2023 Texas crop harvest is winding down.    *The Texas ag and timber registration deadline is coming up.   *The state’s largest farm organization will meet next weekend in Frisco. *We now have a one year extension of the Farm Bill.   *Seasonable temperatures continue across Texas for fall crops and pastures.   *Cattle in East Texas may be a bit thin.   *Implanting calves before weaning is one...

*Cotton farmers in the northern Texas Panhandle are rethinking their plans to grow the crop.   *It has been another tough year for Texas peanut growers.   *Friday’s Cattle on Feed Report shows a slight increase in Texas feedlot inventories.   *The wheat market is drastically different than it was a year ago.   *U.S. pork exports are up sharply this year, but beef exports are down a bit.   *Timely...

*Friday’s Cattle on Feed Report did not contain any surprises.   *Drought conditions continue to improve across Texas.   *A group is studying a potential federal lamb insurance program.   *The wheat crop in the Texas High Plains is getting off to a mixed start.   *Thanksgiving dinner will cost a bit less this year, but the cost is still much higher than a few years ago. *Cool weather and rain have...

*National Sorghum Producers approves of the one-year Farm Bill extension.    *It has been another tough year for Texas peanut growers.     *Texas has another case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.     *Higher production costs have been a major challenge for production agriculture.     *Voting is underway across Texas in the Farm Service Agency County Committee elections.     *November has been...

*Texas is facing a forage shortage due to two years of drought.     *The Commodity Classic is headed back to Texas.     *The average cost of a classic Thanksgiving in Texas will be slightly more expensive than a year ago.     *Learning how to scout fields can help farmers maximize profits.     *Texas doctors are learning about the benefits of beef in a healthy diet.     *Coastal bend farmers and r...

*The North-South fed cattle premium is gone.   *U.S. farmers and ranchers are feeling slightly more optimistic about the agricultural economy.   *Texas cotton harvest is now 56% complete. *Supply and demand appears to be working against Texas feedlots.   *The Texas Beef Council is taking beef education into the doctor’s office.   *Warm season pasture grasses can be killed if it gets cold enough. *...

*Agriculture committee leaders in both the House and the Senate have reached an agreement on a one-year Farm Bill extension.   *USDA awarded Texas State University $750,000 to continue its work with new and small farmers and ranchers across Texas.   *Winter wheat planting in Texas is now 82 percent complete.  *Cattle futures have been on a roller coaster ride recently.   *A Central Texas elementar...

*A Farm Bill extension is in the works.   *This has been a disappointing year for many Texas cotton farmers.   *2023 has been another tough growing season in the Texas Southern Plains.   *There is some sticker shock happening at grocery stores and restaurants.   *There are five calf health considerations to increase immunity and decrease disease.   *Special mule deer antler restrictions remain in...

*Cotton is not a profitable crop for Texas farmers.   *Drought conditions continue to improve across Texas.   *Thursday’s USDA WASDE report showed a cut in Texas cotton production.   *Artificial Intelligence is playing a significant role in our society today.   *Worldwide beef consumption will be limited by the availability of beef supply.   *Central Texas has had some helpful rains lately.   *Med...

*Cattle futures have made volatile moves over the past two weeks.   *USDA has reappointed several Texans to the Cotton Board.   *H-E-B is expanding its San Antonio dairy plant.   *Many West Texas ag producers use the West Texas Mesonet to get important weather information.   *The U.S. Meat Export Federation is holding its annual fall conference in New Orleans.   *Extreme South Texas has had its fi...

*Texas wheat planting is on schedule.   *The Texas Farm Service agency is sending out ballots for county FSA committee elections.   *Texas peanut producers are right in the middle of the 2023 harvest. *The West Texas Mesonet is an important source of weather information for Texas High Plains farmers and ranchers.   *The Texas Beef Council is promoting the role of beef in a healthy and sustainable...

*Texas voters approved Proposition 1 Tuesday, the constitutional amendment protecting the right to farm and ranch in Texas.   *A new report has good news for the growing Texas dairy industry.   *Two Texans qualified for the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship tournament.   *Farmers in the Texas High Plains are hoping to get some snow this year.   *Strengthening beef’s reputation with consumers...

*This has been a tough year for Texas dairy farmers.    *Four Texans have been elected to positions on National Corn Growers Association committees.   *Texas High Plains farmers are facing the challenge of vanishing ground water.   *Animal health is in a pretty good position across Texas, but there are some issues to deal with.  *Deer season is in full swing in East Texas.   *Now is the time to pr...

*Drought conditions are improving in many areas of Texas.    *Three agriculture professionals from East Texas have been named finalists for the Texas Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture award.   *A federal appeals court has struck down the Environmental Protection Agency’s ban on chlorpyrifos.   *Texas High Plains farmers are wrapping up a season that had a promising start, but a disappointing f...

*The Livestock Marketing Association is throwing its support behind the Right to Farm constitutional amendment.   *Drought is declining in Texas.   *We have run out of time to get the 2023 Farm Bill done this year, but we may get an extension of the current bill. *Weather extremes took a toll on Texas High Plains crops this year.   *Online permits are now available for cutting Christmas trees in n...

*Cattle producers are still waiting to expand cow herds.    *Sorghum growers have a couple of weeks left to enter the National Sorghum Yield contest.   *The number of cattle covered by Livestock Risk Protection policies is growing.   *A lot of pastures in the Texas High Plains need rain.   *Who is buying the big ranches that have sold in Texas?   *The U.S. ag trade deficit reached a record level i...

*Texas cotton growers are starting the last section of Texas cotton harvest in the Southern Plains and the Panhandle.   *Texas corn growers will vote on board members and the fate of corn checkoff amounts.   *Texas crop harvest is wrapping up for the year.    *Texas A&M AgriLife is offering education on wildfires for Texas High Plains residents next week.   *Some huge Texas ranches are changin...

*The Texas dairy industry welcomes fall and winter temperatures.     *Scientists have developed a robotic arm that may help harvest cotton.     *Texas farm groups are urging voters to approve Proposition 1 during early voting.     *Freezing temperatures have hit the Texas High Plains over the past few days.     *The calendar says it’s fall, but the temperatures feel like winter in most of our stat...