Texas Agriculture Today

*Mealybugs are attacking Texas pastures.   *U.S. organic farmers will soon receive a letter from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.   *Cargill has no plans to close beef processing plants.   *It’s a slow time for farm equipment sales.   *Trade negotiations continue with China.   *Several Texans were in the room when President Trump announced the $12 billion aid package for farmers.   *F...

*The Texas grain harvest is almost done.   *Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is showing up in wild birds.   *The Texas Wheat Producers Board presented the  Texas Wheat Legacy Award to wheat breeder Dr. Jackie Rudd.    *Regaining access to China is good news for Texas sorghum growers.   *High input costs continue, with fertilizer playing a major role.   *Regenerative agriculture is getting a fundi...

*The Livestock Protection Program proved its worth this year.   *Texas cotton acreage will continue to be lower than past years. *Silage demand has been growing in the Texas Panhandle, but it may slow down this year. *This was a very good year for grain production both here in Texas and across the nation.   *The Trump administration is pushing out 12 billion dollars in financial assistance for the...

*President Trump puts the pressure on Mexico to send water to the Rio Grande Valley.   *Drought conditions are improving across Texas.   *The Food and Drug Administration has approved another product to treat and control screwworms.   *2026 is likely to be another tough year for Texas farmers.   *Grain harvest is wrapping up across the country.   *The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Co...

*President Trump announced a $12 billion aid package for farmers.   *Texas weather conditions in 2025 were very unexpected.    *This has been a volatile year for cattle prices. *A Virginia cattleman will take the helm of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association next year.   *The EPA is now accepting comments for its new Waters of the U.S. rule.   *Cotton strippers are finding good yields in the T...

*Cotton harvest is wrapping up in the northern Texas Panhandle.   *Rising crop prices and improved export prospects have improved farmers’ outlook.   *The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is giving over $30 million to educational programming and scholarships.    *This year’s Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show was attended by thousands of people, including the famous animal behavior specialist Temple Gra...

*Strong demand is supporting corn prices.   *There are signs that cow herd rebuilding is underway.   *The growing importance of beef on dairy calves represents a historic change for Texas High Plains feedlots.   *The latest beef and pork export numbers are out.   *Another case of New World screwworms has been detected in northern Mexico.   *We’ve had a good cotton harvest in the Texas Southern Pla...

*Rio Grande Valley citrus trees are suffering from a lack of water.   *Texas A&M is adding a new meat science and technology center in Bryan.    *The Trump administration is expected to announce an aid package for farmers next week.   *What’s the status of cow herd rebuilding in the Texas Panhandle?  *Interest rates are moving lower.   *The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids act is moving through Con...

*Texas cotton production is up, but acreage is down.   *Money is allocated for electronic ID tags.   *Texas feedlot inventories are much lower than a year ago.   *A tight cattle supply is one of the biggest issues in the cattle industry.   *South Texas harvested an above average cotton crop this year.   *USDA is taking several actions to reduce costs for small beef processors.   *There’s a new web...

*The sorghum industry is struggling.   *USDA is estimating an increase in wheat yields and production.   *It’s important for farmers in the Texas High Plains to conserve water.   *Dry conditions will continue across Texas in December.   *Texas Farm Bureau continues to advocate for an updated Farm Bill.   *Coastal Bend farmers have something to be thankful about.   *The neurologic form of equine he...

*Texas Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting is coming up.  *An equine virus outbreak has horse owners concerned. *Finding information on the federal government’s efforts to combat New World Screwworms just got a lot easier. *The Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show is just around the corner. *Goat owners should look for minerals that are palatable and affordable. 

*A record high corn crop is coming in this year. *Farmers who grow wheat in the Texas High Plains have a wide variety of ways they can market that crop. Unfortunately, none of their options look particularly strong right now.  *The Texas Farm Bureau board recently discussed the need for economic assistance with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.  *USDA recently released its first Cattle...

*The administration is reportedly considering potential trade aid for farmers. *There are some changes to the Livestock Risk Protection Program. *It’s an unfortunate time for a dry spell on the Texas High Plains.  *A global agricultural science company continues to develop tools to help address the ongoing water situation in Texas.  *There are a lack of veterinarians practicing on livestock.

*Cattle feeders react to Tyson’s announcement.  *The Texas cotton crop is a much smaller one than we've seen in the past. *The new chair of the U.S. Meat Export Federation shares his goals. *The Texas Farm Bureau board of directors traveled to Washington, D.C. recently to discuss issues important to agricultural like economic assistance for farmers impacted by low commodity prices. *Antioxidants a...

*Equine herpes virus has been confirmed in Texas.    *The U.S. scrapie eradication program has been very successful.   *BASF opened enrollment for the FiberMax One Ton Club.   *New corn products and traits are on the way for 2026. *The Waters of the U.S. Rule is getting changed again.   *Leaves are falling in Texas.   *Prebiotics can help protect the microorganisms that live in a dairy cow’s diges...

*Several Texas farmers are affected by a grain company bankruptcy.   *Staying profitable remain a challenge for Texas High Plains feedlots.   *Beef exports are critical to keeping cattle prices profitable.  *Signup for three USDA disaster assistance programs is now underway.   *Ryegrass is a used by a lot of Texas cattle producers for winter grazing.   *Another foreign cattle disease could be head...

*World wheat supplies are growing.  *The La Nina weather pattern is going to stick around in Texas for a while.   *The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo made a $150,000 donation to the State of Texas Agricultural Relief Fund.   *The fed cattle market is facing a lot of uncertainty. *Mexico and Canada are preparing for the upcoming review of the U.S. Mexico Canada trade agreement.   *Mergers in the...

*Cotton harvest is rolling fast through the Texas southern plains and panhandle. *After more than 200 years, the Farmers' Almanac is saying goodbye. *A Texas FFA member earned National Honors at the recent National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.  *The U.S. Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is up for review next year, and that was a topic of discussion at the recent U.S. Meat Export Federation (USME...

*The outlook for cotton prices is grim.   *Signup will begin soon for Stage 2 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.    *USDA is providing funding for the Milk Loss Program and the On-Farm Stored Commodity Loss Program.   *We may be able to keep the New World screwworm south of the border.   *Protecting free trade agreements around the world is vital to U.S. red meat exports.   *Fertilizer p...

*A record corn crop is coming in this year.   *Texas continues to dry out.   *The deadline to enroll acreage for the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Insurance Program is December 1st.     *There are some cold days ahead for Texas Panhandle ranchers.  *There is progress in the fight against the New World screwworm.  *A Farm Bureau member recently discussed higher fertilizer and seed costs with Congre...

*The deadline to apply for the Emergency Livestock Relief program has been extended.   *There’s news in the fight against the New World screwworm.   *Texas wheat growers did well in the National Wheat Yield Contest.   *The U.S. Meat Export Federation’s fall meeting was held in Indianapolis, Indiana last week.   *Plastic contamination is a continuing challenge for the Texas High Plains cotton indus...

*The U.S. Meat Export Federation’s fall meeting is this week in Indianapolis.   *Agriculture Secretary was back in Texas this week.   *The Texas Department of Agriculture is alerting farmers and companies across Texas to verify their delivery and payment status with Hansen-Mueller.   *Ranchers in the Texas High Plains continue to prepare for the New World screwworm.   *Hurricane season is winding...

*Wheat planting continues across Texas.    *Young farmers and ranchers in Texas are being recognized for their hard work.   *Texas Congressman Jodey Arrington will not run for reelection next fall.   *Freezing temperatures have helped to terminate the cotton crop in the Texas Rolling Plains.   *High production costs are hitting Texas corn producers hard.   *Input costs were the topic of a Senate c...

*President Trump is calling for an investigation of the meat packing industry.   *We are nearing an end to the government shutdown.    *West Texas A&M hosted a groundbreaking for their new research feedlot.   *Corn is a major crop for the Texas High Plains region.   *Spacing and support are important when planting trees to enhance the value of rural property.   *Sometimes Bermuda grass stands...

*2025 was a good year for row crops in Central and South Texas.   *The Senate Agriculture Committee has approved the nomination of a Texan to the be next USDA Undersecretary of Agriculture and Food Safety. *President Trump is weighing in on beef prices again.   *Cotton harvest still has a way to go in the Texas High Plains.   *Trees can enhance the value of rural land.   *Two key fertilizer ingred...