Texas Agriculture Today

*Texas farmers would like to see improvements to the Conservation Reserve Program.   *A nationwide cattle traceability program is moving forward.   *The northern Texas Panhandle is one of the driest parts of the state right now.   *What does the weather forecast hold for April?   *The Farm Bill is about more than protecting farmers.  It’s an issue of national food security.   *Cushing's disease is...

Corn planting is half done in Texas, but Northeast Texas farmers are struggling to get seed in the ground. The Texas dairy industry continues to grow. Watching every expense will be vital to growing a successful crop this year.   Truth in labeling legislation is making its way through the Texas Legislature.   We’ll go to Lubbock for a wheat crop and spring planting update. The market for CBD produ...

*It's too wet to plant in Northeast Texas.   *Horn flies are now arriving in cattle pastures.   *Texas rice farmers have some financial assistance coming soon.  *The weather and livestock shows are the big topics of discussion right now in East Texas.   *We are just beginning the breeding season for spring calving beef cows.   *Turkey season opens for additional Texas counties in a few days.    

*There is no change in the condition of the Texas wheat crop, with half the crop looking good and half looking bad.   *Dry weather and high winds have put an end to much of the wheat on the Texas High Plains.   *Springtime livestock grazing conditions are looking much better in the eastern half of the state.   *Extreme South Texas is cool but dry.   *Physical exercise and training are vital to dev...

*Work continues at the State Capitol to protect the right to farm in Texas.   *Brazil is a growing competitor for the U.S. cotton industry.   *Higher interest rates are adding more costs to grow crops and livestock.   *We'll check on cotton planting intentions in the Texas Concho Valley.   *The recent cold snap has grain farmers nervous in the Central Texas Blacklands.   *Newborn calves sometimes...

*Input costs and supply chain problems continue for Texas farmers and ranchers.   *Payment limits for farmers could hurt family farms in Texas. *Planting time is coming soon on the Texas High Plains, but farmers there may be having a tough time trying to decide what to plant.   *Beef research and global beef demand was one of many topics discussed at the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers conve...

*There's a lot of optimism in the cattle market this year.   *The West Texas drought is causing a lot of uncertainty for spring planting.   *Efforts to protect Texas farmers and ranchers from urban encroachment are making their way through the Texas legislature.   *Pest control will always be a big issue for Texas High Plains farmers every summer.   *The American Farm Bureau Federation signed anot...

*Texas lawmakers debated a constitutional amendment Wednesday that would protect the right to farm.   *The latest crop ratings show a slight increase in Texas wheat crop conditions.   *There’s some good news and some bad news when it comes to the cost of growing a crop.   *Members of congress were in Texas last week to hear input on the 2023 Farm Bill.   *Feeding alfalfa has been shown to decrease...

*A lot of money is needed to accomplish the goal of strengthening the farm safety net in the 2023 Farm Bill.   *The Texas dairy industry is watching a couple of bills in the Texas legislature.   *Moisture concerns are making an impact on spring planting on the Texas High Plains.   *The ongoing West Texas drought is having a big effect on the wheat crop there.  *Last year’s drought had a big impact...

*A Texas judge halted the implementation of the new Waters of the U.S. rule in Texas and Idaho.   *Protecting the right to farm is being debated in the Texas legislature.    *This is National Ag Week across the nation.   *Cotton farmers are expected to plant fewer acres this year.   *The Farm Bill debate continues.   *Horses are sometimes diagnosed with heart murmurs.   *Signup will soon begin for...

*There are less cattle in feedlots both in the U.S. and here in Texas.   *Texas largest cattle event is happening this weekend in Ft. Worth.   *Farm groups from across Texas gave their input on the 2023 Farm Bill last week in Waco.   *The expansion of the FiberMax Center for Discovery in Lubbock is expected to get underway this year.   *Spring is here and Texas turf grass will start greening up so...

*The U.S. House Agriculture Committee took a tour of Texas agriculture.   *Right to Farm legislation is moving forward in the State Legislature.   *Scouting fields to look for various pests is an important task for the success of any crop.   *It’s time to nominate your special farm dog for national recognition.   *Cleaning your horse barn and riding equipment will help prevent the spread of infect...

*The House Agriculture Committee held a Farm Bill listening session in Waco on Wednesday.   *The city of Amarillo continues its efforts to bring more food companies to the city.   *The deadline is approaching for Texas cotton farmers to enroll their 2022 crop in the US Cotton Trust protocol.   *Weather is the big topic of discussion in East Texas.   *Highly pathogenic avian influenza is commonly c...

*The Texas wheat crop ratings continue to look bad with half the crop rated poor to very poor.   *Drought isn't the only thing causing problems for Texas wheat growers.  It's been too wet in some areas.   *Higher feeder cattle prices are creating headaches for Texas cattle feeders.   *Corn farmers are making big gains on the sustainability front.   *The U.S. is stepping up efforts to deal with the...

*Several young Texans attended the Commodity Classic in Orlando last week.   *Tight supplies of feeder cattle are putting a pinch on feedlots on the Texas High Plains.   *Fertilizer costs have exploded, so it worth the money to fertilize hay meadows?    *A Lubbock area farmer gives us an update on conditions in his area.   *Hypothermia is common in calves born during the winter.   *Registration is...

*The Farm Bill was a hot topic of discussion at last week's Commodity Classic in Orlando.   *One ag policy expert doesn't think there's enough time to get a Farm Bill done.   *A big change is coming for those in the cattle business.   *Concho Valley cotton farmers are optimistic about the upcoming cotton season.   *The 2023 crop season looks favorable for farmers and ranchers in Central Texas.   *...

The U.S. Trade Representative is finally taking action to hold Mexico accountable for their biotech corn ban under the U.S. Mexico Canada trade agreement.   A landowner liability bill went before the House Judiciary and Civil Juris Prudence Committee in the Texas State Legislature.    There is a big advantage for those who want to plant sunflowers on the Texas High Plains.   Extreme South Texas is...

Wheat conditions are bad all across the Great Plains thanks to drought.   Challenges with water have many Texas High Plains farmers looking for alternative crops that use less water.   The sorghum checkoff program continues to provide sorghum growers with tools to communicate with consumers about their product.   As the temperatures get warmer, it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming hay se...

Texas farmers are looking forward to planting cotton, despite the awful year they had last year.   Texas cattle feeders are working on a cattle traceability program.   Winter wheat may influence spring planting on the Texas High Plains.   Neutral weather conditions are expected to begin for our area of the country in the next couple of months.   Spring is around the corner and Texas gardeners are...

Next week, the House Ag Committee will hold a farm bill listening session in Waco. U.S. sheep numbers have hit a record low. Is an end to La Niña on the horizon? Congress is taking aim at a bad SEC proposal that impacts farmers and ranchers. We’ll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.

More big winds moved through Texas last week.   The Texas AgriStress Helpline is saving lives.   A new organization in Amarillo is trying to elevate the city’s position as a global food leader.   Seed and crop protection companies are spending billions of dollars to bring farmers the latest technology and traits.   Spring is bringing a lot of activity to Texas agriculture.   A study looks at feedi...

*There will be no irrigation water available from the Colorado River for Texas rice farmers this year.   *Texas High Plains farmers are rethinking their planting intentions due to the drought.   *A switch from grain production to forage production is a trend that we’ve seen in the Texas High Plains recently.   *Wild hogs are still running wild in Texas, and farmers and ranchers are asking the stat...

*We continue our coverage of the big wind and sand storm that hit the Texas High Plains over the weekend.   *Littlefield farmer Brad Heffington gives us an update on what the storm did to his farm, and we check in with Laramy Friemel of Hereford.   *FFA members across Texas celebrated National FFA Week last week, highlighting the benefits of FFA membership.   *Farmers and ranchers in East Texas ar...

A big wind and sand storm took a toll on farmers in the Texas Panhandle and Southern Plains Sunday.  With high cattle prices, many Texas ranchers will be tempted to rebuild their herds this year.  March is a transition month for weather.  The West Texas winds are drying out fields fast.  We are in the middle of foaling season.  Texas anglers continue to reel in massive largemouth bass.    

The latest Cattle on Feed Report shows placements continuing to drop while marketings are increasing.  Big winds took a toll on Texas Panhandle agriculture over the weekend.  Fighting predators in sheep herds is a big challenge.  Spring calving season is getting underway in Texas.  Last year’s drought can have big effects on this year’s crop.  It is time to plant corn in Central Texas.  If you’re...