Texas Agriculture Today

*USDA is tightening up the balance sheet for U.S. cotton.    *Row crop farmers are facing challenges while cattle producers are experiencing record high prices.  Whole milk is back in schools.   *Herd rebuilding has begun as some Texas High Plains ranches.   *A new South Texas sorghum variety is in the works.   *Enrollment in the Dairy Margin Coverage program is now open.   *Mild temperatures coul...

*The Farm Service Agency is looking for the next generation.   *Drought will continue to affect herd rebuilding this year.     *The weather has been unusually warm and dry in the Texas Panhandle.   *Fertilizer costs are a big burden on farmers.   *There’s good news for school students and dairy producers.   *Spring planting plans are underway across Texas.  *Johne’s disease can affect cattle, shee...

*A Texas Panhandle young farm couple placed second in the nation.   *The National Cotton Council is working to increase demand for cotton.   *Congressional ag committee leaders are hoping to address ag labor issues soon.   *Texas is one of 42 states involved in a national pork brand campaign.   *The Texas A&M AgriLife Center in Amarillo is getting a new location and a new name.   *South Texas...

*Another screwworm case was discovered in northern Mexico.   *Rio Grande Valley farmers are optimistic about getting water from Mexico.   *Texas High Plains farmers are facing another tough farm economy.   *The American Farm Bureau Federation is holding its annual meeting this week in Southern California.  *The heads of the House and Senate agriculture committees discussed their plans for addressi...

*Texas is preparing for the cotton jassid.   *The U.S. is investigating strawberry imports from Mexico.   *Drought is affecting a big chunk of U.S. winter wheat acreage.    *Sorghum without prussic acid could soon become a reality.   *Drones are becoming more prevalent in agriculture.   *Lawmakers have introduced a bill that should help farmers retrofit older tractors to make them safer.   *Equine...

*The cattle market has recovered and rebounded.    *A steer in Briscoe County has tested positive for anthrax.   *Second and third year veterinary students can apply for the Texas Farm Bureau’s rural veterinary scholarship.   *There have been many improvements in cattle handling.   *The Endangered Species Act has affected pesticide usage.   *A group of Texas farmers and ranchers are in California...

*Texas continues to prepare for the screwworm.   *Applications are open for the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Program.   *The National Cotton Council is surveying growers for the 2026 NCC Planting Intentions report.     *The corn leaf hopper could be a problem in the upcoming growing season.   *There are a lot of farm policy challenges coming in 2026.   *The Trump administration has relea...

*The U.S. cow herd may be stabilizing.   *China plans to levy new tariffs on U.S. beef.   *A Texan is now the Chief Economist at USDA.    *There is a strong interest in planting corn in the Texas High Plains this year.   *There are a lot of factors that determine the price of fertilizer.   *USDA is preparing for the 2027 Census of Agriculture.   *Eligible farmers and ranchers are now invited to ap...

*Staffing shortages are a challenge for the Farm Service Agency.    *The Livestock Marketing Association is working to secure more flexibility for livestock haulers.   *With current cattle prices, it’s very important to make sure every cow has a calf.   *Could Congress finally approve year-round E15 gasoline?   *We do not produce enough lamb meat in the U.S. to keep up with the demand for it.   *S...

*Beef production is expected to drop again in 2026.   *The annual report for the U.S. cotton trust protocol was recently released.     *There is a surplus of silage in the Texas High Plains.   *New corn technology is constantly being developed.   *We now know more about the Farm Bridge Assistance Program payment rates.   *Flies can be a year-round problem in Texas, so it’s important to have a year...

*The payment rates are out for the Farmer Bridge Assistance program.   *USDA has had a quick response to last week’s screwworm detection in northern Mexico.   *Trucking regulations have a big impact on livestock auction markets.   *The outlook for row crops on the Texas High Plains looks similar to this past year.   *Farm labor is a continuing challenge for the Texas pork industry.   *New trade ag...

*Another case of New World screwworms was detected in northern Mexico.   *There are fewer hogs and pigs in Texas.   *2025 was year of mixed results for agriculture. *Texas High Plains farmers and ranchers have experienced unseasonably warm temperatures recently.   *Farmers and ranchers are hoping for a good forecast for the new year.   *The U.S. and Canada are gearing up to review the U.S. Mexico...

*Congress has earmarked money to pay for electronic ID tags.   *Texas dairies produced more milk with more cattle last month.   *Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced an investment of $1.4 billion to improve rural health care across the state.   *How much output per acre do organic cotton farmers produce?   *The annual Blacklands Income and Growth conference is next week in Central Texas.  *USDA ha...

*We have more time to prepare for the New World screwworm.    *USDA is not considering any additional aid for farmers.   *Texas teachers can sign up for a free accurate ag book.   *How does the budget for organic cotton compare to conventional cotton? *Rural land sales were active this past fall.   *The U.S. has a new chief ag trade negotiator.   *The 64th annual Blackland Income Growth conference...

*New Farm Service Agency County Committees take office this week.   *The push continues to keep E15 ethanol in gas pumps year-round.       *Organic cotton brings a premium price, but there are rules you have to follow.   *The fall of 2025 brought some good land sales for hunting and recreation.   *A Texan will once again lead food safety at USDA.   *2025 was a dry year for Deep South Texas.   *Hig...

*What are the net effects of President Trump’s tariffs?   *USDA is preparing for its next Agricultural Resource Management survey.    *Cody and Erica Archie have been named Texas Farm Bureau’s “Texas Ag Influencer of the Year.”   *Micronutrients are important for cotton.   *Some farmers weren’t always farmers.   *A key deadline is coming up for NRCS conservation programs. *The White House has dela...

*Cattle supplies may get tighter in 2026.      *Animal behavior specialist Temple Grandin would like to change the way we think about thinking. *Agricultural trade has a lot of acronyms. *Voluntary country of origin labeling will face stronger enforcement in 2026.   *Proper nutrition for the cow herd is so important as we move into the coldest time of the year.   *Careful antibiotic use is importa...

*It has been a busy year for the Texas Farm Service Agency.    *Texas Tech’s School of Veterinary Medicine is launching its first food animal residency program.    *2026 may put drought conditions behind us for a while.   *Temple Grandin is a world-renowned animal behavior specialist. *High fertilizer prices are an incentive to make sure you’re applying exactly what your crop needs.   *New trade d...

*Feedlot inventories continue to drop.   *USDA’s NRCS has set a single deadline for farmers and ranchers to sign up for conservation programs.   *The application period for the Texas Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is now open.    *The beef industry has made massive improvements in the quality of beef sold to consumers.   *A new pasture herbicide will be available for forage producers.   *Econo...

*El Nino is moving into Texas.   *A big chunk of Texas is still dealing with drought.   *The Beltwide Cotton Conferences are coming to Texas.   *It has been an eventful year for Texas High Plains cattle feeders.   *It’s a new season for livestock across Texas.   *Nine U.S. lawmakers from Texas are not seeking reelection to Congress.   *As the new year approaches, there are both good and bad things...

*2026 doesn’t look like a profitable year for corn production.   *Free RFID tags are available for hog producers.   *Texas rice acreage took a big drop this year.   *Weeds can steal a lot of moisture if they get out of control.   *China is not fulfilling their Phase One trade agreement commitments.  *USDA is making some changes to federal crop insurance.   *If you have a gardener in your life, the...

*There may be profitable cotton prices in 2026.   *U.S. farmers bought fewer tractors and combines last month.   *The American Sheep Industry Association is asking the federal government to investigate lamb imports.   *It’s been about a year since avian influenza has been found in a Texas dairy herd. *New cotton varieties will be available for 2026 for the Texas High Plains.   *USDA is making some...

*2026 could be another good year for Texas weather.    *U.S. corn exports are well above last years’ pace.   *Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller is asking the Trump administration to consider letting Mexican rodeo calves cross the border.    *Feedyards in the Texas Panhandles have very low inventories.   *Central Texas cotton farmers have some new varieties to consider for next year.   *An important...

*Mexico should begin delivering water to the Rio Grande Valley this week.    *Fed cattle prices have been rising recently.   *Texas farmers have tested new cotton varieties for 2026.   *HPAI has been found in a commercial poultry flock in East Texas.   *World wheat production is at record levels. *Regenerative medicine is becoming more popular in horses.

*More approved drug treatments are needed to battle screwworms.   *The reorganization of USDA is underway.   *Highland Dairy’s East Texas plant expansion in Tyler is scheduled to begin operations early next year.   *Ag producers in the Texas High Plains have an opportunity to earn a lot of CEUs this week. *New equipment innovations for Texas farmers will hit the market in 2026.   *Could lower farm...