Texas Agriculture Today

*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 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.  ...

*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...

*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...

*Drought continues to devastate Texas Panhandle wheat fields.   *Screwworm cases are getting closer to Texas.     *Providing for animals during times of disaster was the focus of an AgriLife training event in Amarillo.   *First quarter rural land sales in Texas were solid.   *Lawmakers discussed proposed changes to the USDA budget.   *Evaluating soil test results can help you decide the most effic...

*Are we rebuilding the beef cow herd?   *Canadian officials are not expecting many changes in the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement.   *Funding is available for landowners in the Nueces River watershed to secure conservation easements.   *Introducing honey bees to cotton fields could boost yields.   *Water efficiency is key to producing a cotton crop in West Texas.   *The U.S. ag trade deficit continue...

*The Texas wheat crop is still the worst in the nation.   *USDA has extended the deadline to submit offers for the continuous Conservation Reserve Program.   *Cotton planters are starting to roll.   *The weather in the Texas High Plains has not been helpful to area beekeepers.   *Telling the story project dot org is a website dedicated to saving farmers’ lives.   *Ag labor is a top issue farmers a...

*The latest Cattle on Feed report is out.   *Recent rainfall has eased drought in some parts of Texas.   *The Texas Water Development Board is taking comments on the draft 2027 state water plan.   *Farmers and ranchers are telling their stories about farm safety.   *The new AgriLife facilities in Canyon are helping researchers meet the challenges in modern day agriculture.   *We have additional de...

*Screwworms are moving closer to Texas.   *The U.S. Commerce Department is slightly lowering duties on some fertilizer imports.   *Texas spring planting progress is moving forward.     *A major fundraising effort has raised a lot of money for programs and projects at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.   *There are a lot of factors involved in cotton planting decisions this year.   *Just days...

*Texas has the worst wheat crop in the nation.   *Wheat growers need to secure seed now for this fall’s crop.   *The Texas A&M Ranch Raised Beef conference is May 14-15.   *What does regenerative agriculture mean for ranchers?   *Diseases have taken a bite out of Texas wheat yields this year.   *The Trump Administration is expected to announce action this week to help ease fertilizer prices.  ...

*The groundbreaking for the sterile screwworm production facility was held Friday in the Rio Grande Valley. *There's talk in Washington of another economic aid package for farmers and ranchers. *Five farmers and ranchers have been appointed to serve on the Texas Farm Service Agency state committee. *There are less cattle in Texas feedlots. *Many Texas wheat fields have been hit with disease outbre...

*Education is a big part of fighting the screwworm.    *Solar grazing with sheep is a growing industry in Texas.   *Walmart has joined the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.   *Water conservation is a major focus of research in the Texas High Plains.   *Bovine respiratory disease can occur year-round.   *Work continues on the Farm Bill.   *Early April rainfall has been a huge help for crops and livestock...

*Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin will be in Edinburg on Friday for the groundbreaking of the sterile New World screwworm production facility at Moore Air Base.   *The Texas strawberry season is off to a slow start.   *The Texas Farm Service Agency is hosting a quarterly webinar series called Texas Third Tuesday.   *The continui...

*Data centers are getting a lot of attention in rural Texas.    *There will be a few changes for Texas turkey hunters this year.   *Mexico may not live up to its promise to deliver water to the Rio Grande Valley.   *The push is on to increase demand for U.S. cotton.   *There has been a big economic turnaround for Texas feedyards in the last few weeks.   *President Trump has weighed in on high fert...

*An updated screwworm response playbook is out.   *Rising fuel and energy costs are hitting rural America the hardest.    *Texas A&M AgriLife’s new regional center on the West Texas A&M campus is expected to have many benefits.   *Increasing U.S. cotton demand is a top priority for the cotton industry.   *Texas farmers and ranchers sat down with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins last we...

*The screwworm is only 90 miles away from Texas.   *USDA’s April WASDE was a yawner.   *There isn’t much good news for the Texas wheat crop.   *Texas specialty crop producers have until April 24th to sign up for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program.   *Plains Cotton Growers held their annual meeting last week in Lubbock.   *The battle with weeds is already underway.   *The new U.S. ag...

*The Texas wheat crop is in rough shape.   *Cropland is getting converted to grass production in the Texas High Plains.   *Texas sheep and lamb producers can apply for a grant through the American Lamb Board.   *The Texas Panhandle needs more rain for spring planting.  *Cotton planted acreage is expected to go up this year.   *The White House unveiled the president’s proposed budget for next year....

*It’s important to keep young people involved in agriculture.   *A West Texas A&M professor has received a half million-dollar grant to study liver abscesses in beef cattle.   *Texas A&M is investing $133 million in a new meat sciences and technology center.   *We’re seeing a shift from La Nina to El Nino.   *The American Farm Bureau Federation is asking Congress to address farm labor issu...

*The chances of reopening the Mexican border for livestock imports may be small.   *Farmers are running out of time to apply for the Farm Bridge Assistance Program.   *The strike is over at the Greeley, Colorado JBS beef processing plant.     *The use of virtual fencing is saving ranchers both time and money.   *Conservation efforts are addressing flood control across Texas.   *The One Big Beautif...

*El Nino will bring more rainfall to Texas later this year.   *One Texas cattleman says we need to reopen the Mexican border for livestock imports.   *State and national agricultural organizations are asking the Commerce Department to remove duties on phosphate imports.   *Conservation programs are underway across Texas.   *Virtual technology is becoming more common in Texas agriculture.   *USDA h...

*A top agriculture official says the spike in fuel and fertilizer prices should be temporary.   *Calf and yearling prices have jumped higher over the past year.   *Screwworm cases in Mexico continue to grow.     *Water availability is a prime consideration when considering what type of forage to plant.  *The drought has taken a toll on winter wheat in the Texas Rolling Plains.   *Rising transporta...

*Texas wheat is getting hit from all sides.    *Corn prices are lower than a year ago.   *The American Sheep Industry Association has a new executive director.     *Stronger forages can make for a stronger ranch. *The Texas FFA continues to grow with dedicated young leadership.   *E15 legislation is gaining support.   *High fertilizer prices are hurting farmers and ranchers.  *Pinkeye can infect s...

*There will be a ground breaking soon on the sterile screwworm fly production facility in the Rio Grande Valley.    *Texas corn acreage is expected to increase slightly this year.   *Wheat acreage is expected to be the lowest in 100 years.      *Winter forage has struggled in the Texas High Plains.  *It was a hot, dry March across Texas.   *The Trump administration has announced a new renewable fu...

*There’s the possibility of the border reopening for livestock imports.   *There are less hogs and pigs in Texas.   *Calf and yearling prices continue to set new record highs.     *A celebration of agriculture was held in Washington last week, with several Texans in attendance. *New equipment designed for processing sorghum is getting some encouraging results.    *Many Texas Coastal Bend farmers h...

*It’s going to be a dry spring for Texas.   *Texas farmers have a lot to be concerned about going into the 2026 growing season.       *Texas farmers and ranchers were in Washington D.C. last week.  *DEF sensors are no longer necessary on diesel engines.   *There’s some new equipment that’s causing excitement in the sorghum industry.   *Spring is the time to fertilize lawn and garden plants.   *Ele...