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Texas Ag Today is a daily look at the latest news in Texas agriculture, hosted by veteran farm broadcaster Carey Martin along with the largest and most experienced farm news team in the Lone Star State. We cover agriculture in every corner of Texas, from the piney woods of East Texas to the rocky ranges of the Trans-Pecos and from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley.
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*Spring planting is on schedule for most crops in Texas. *The Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission has approved a trap check standard on mountain lions. *USDA has proposed allowing dairy farmers to bulk test milk for H5N1 before they can ship cattle across state lines. *The Texas A&M Forest Service is encouraging Texans to prepare for summer wildfires…
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*Crop conditions vary across Texas, depending on the weather conditions. *Farmers and ranchers in Texas and Oklahoma hired fewer workers last month. *Texas feedlots inventories are down slightly compared to a year ago, with placements taking a big drop. *Spring planted crops are in the early growing stages in the Texas High Plains. *USDA is allocat…
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*The number of cattle in feedlots is finally dropping. *Egg production in Texas fell last month. *Wheat harvest continues across the state. *A partnership between the Texas Tech Vet School and the Hereford Veterinary clinic will provide a lot of opportunities for both students and researchers. *The Farm Bill continues to move forward, so what’s nex…
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*How many acres of cotton will be planted in Texas this year? *Several provisions crafted by Texas lawmakers were included in the House version of the Farm Bill. *Texas Tech veterinary students are receiving a special opportunity from a clinic in Hereford. *The DeltaPine New Product Evaluator program is kicking off its 17th year. *Crops are growing…
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There’s a new leader at the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management. The House version of the farm bill has been voted out of committee. Cattle placements are currently down, but that could change. Strong rural land sales continue across Texas. Pneumonia is a serious and common problem in sheep and goats.…
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*There are things you can do to reduce the likelihood of cattle and equipment theft in Texas. *Crop insurance options for silage production varies. *Storms brought high winds, rain and even a tornado to Central Texas Wednesday. *The House Committee on Agriculture spent hours Thursday marking up its leadership’s version of the 2024 Farm Bill. *Two m…
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*This spring has brought some much-needed rainfall to parts of Texas. *Cattle feeders are looking at various strategies to export more meat around the globe. *When producing forage, it’s important to consider irrigation capacity, wells and ability for wells to recover. *The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture is expressing his concerns with the House GOP…
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*Farmers in the Rio Grande Valley are still waiting on water from Mexico. *There are both pros and cons to silage production. *A small lizard found in parts of far West Texas is being added to the endangered species list. *Efforts to rebuild the nation’s cattle herd continue. *The U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies are taking…
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*Although drought conditions continue to improve across much of Texas, some areas could still use a rain. *An investigation into imported 2,4-D, and potential duties on those imports, will continue. *Rural agricultural land sales are strong. High interest rates and input costs are putting pressure on cattle feeders’ margins. *There are a limited nu…
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*Final results are in from the 2024 Wheat Quality Council’s Hard Red Winter Wheat Tour. *A Texas ranch has been honored for its conservation efforts. *The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is filing a civil suit in Texas against Agridime, LLC. *The majority of Texas is now drought free. *There has been a big increase in silage production in the …
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*Recent rains were welcome in the Texas Coastal Bend. *Cotton could be a profitable crop in Texas this year, but the margins will be thin. *Burned out Panhandle wildfire victims need fencing materials. *There’s reason to be optimistic about the wheat crop on the Texas High Plains. *A U.S. congresswoman from South Texas is fighting to get help for f…
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*The Wheat Quality Council’s Hard Red Winter Wheat tour is underway across Kansas. *An invasive pest that is killing ash trees is spreading across Texas. *The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is taking applications for the new Leadership Development Foundation’s Working Grant Program. *If a landowner leases property to a solar comp…
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*Planters continue to roll in Texas. *The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will decide next week if Texas should be required to check traps regularly for mountain lions. *This year’s Texas wheat crop is expected to be smaller than last years. *Lease offers from solar energy companies is becoming more common across Texas. *Senate Agriculture Comm…
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A bipartisan group of the Texas congressional delegation is demanding Congress withhold federal funding for Mexico because of their unwillingness to abide by the 1944 water treaty. The House Agriculture Committee will mark up the Farm Bill next week. More money was raised for Texas wildfire victims last week. It’s a busy time for farmers in the Tex…
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*USDA announced the launch of financial assistance for dairy farmers affected by the H5N1 virus. *Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz introduced the Texas Agricultural Producers Assistance Act. *The volatility in cattle futures continues as cash prices remain strong. *Producing and selling beef on dairy calves has been beneficial for both feedyards and…
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*Texas spring crop planting is right on schedule. *The 2024 Oklahoma Wheat Crop Tour forecasts more than 2 million harvested acres this year. *Forage is not always enough when it comes to the nutritional needs of cattle. *Officials discussed cyber attacks and the threat to U.S. agriculture at a recent Senate committee hearing. *Central Texas farms …
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*A new threat to U.S. beef and dairy cattle is spreading. *Texas farmer and ranchers along the Mexican border continue to face the consequences of illegal immigration. *Texas agriculture has lost a legend. *The Environmental Protection Agency Committee has created a new subcommittee on animal agriculture water quality. *The state’s largest farm org…
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*Wildfire recovery continues in the Texas Panhandle. *The biggest rebuilding cost for many burned out ranchers will be rebuilding the ranch infrastructure. *Three U.S. Senators are calling for enhanced interagency coordination in response the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle. *Texas is the number one horse state. *Flood waters are covering many counti…
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*The Panhandle wildfires caused $123 million in agricultural losses. *Will there be any type of loss program for dairy farmers affected by H5N1? *It’s time to plant cotton in the Texas Panhandle and Southern Plains. *Farmers and ranchers on the South Plains of West Texas could use some rain. *House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders have rele…
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*Texas wheat conditions are improving. *This is a good time to lock in a price on your calf crop using the Livestock Risk Protection program. *A good mineral supplementation program is vital for cattle in the spring. *Lawmakers are asking USDA to reconsider cutting reports that are vital to agriculture. *Farm Bill markup is expected to start later …
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*Action is happening on the Farm Bill in Washington. *El Nino is on the way out, while La Nina is on the way in. *No live H5N1 virus has been found in tests of retail ground beef. *Providing beef consumers with a positive dining experience was a topic at the recent Hemphill County Beef Conference in Canadian. *USDA recently announced cuts to severa…
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*USDA is testing retail ground beef for the H5N1 virus in states without breaks of the virus in dairy cattle. *There is a lot of optimism this year for growing cotton in Texas. *The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is taking applications for the TSCRA Leadership Development Foundation’s Working Grant Program. *Cattle prices are exp…
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*USDA is making another move toward an electronic identification system for livestock. *Corn stunt disease is showing up in Texas, but it’s not expected to affect yields much. *The outlook for cattle prices remains optimistic. *The closure of Texas’ only sugar mill is getting a lot of attention from lawmakers. *Spring is bringing optimism to farmer…
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*Strong storms brought big rain to some parts of Texas. *The state’s largest farm organization is now offering grants to agricultural mechanics and metal technologies educators. *The Texas Department of Agriculture is thanking other state agriculture departments for their help during the Panhandle wildfires. *The State of Texas is looking for ways …
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*Herd rebuilding may be getting underway according to the latest Cattle on Feed report. *The area of Texas impacted by drought rose slightly over the past week. *The wildfires damaged a lot of water wells in the Texas Panhandle. *Getting better control of wildfires was a big topic at last week’s Hemphill County Beef Conference. *A very good winter …
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*The condition of the Texas wheat crop is declining. *South Texas citrus may be under attack from an invasive pest. *Applications are open for the American Sheep Industry Associations annual Sheep Heritage Foundation scholarship. *The outlook for herd rebuilding in the Texas High Plains is unclear for now. *If Congress want to pass a new Farm Bill …
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*There are new restrictions on moving dairy cattle across state lines. *The state’s first anthrax case of the year has been detected. *Recovery continues for Texas ranches burned out by wildfires. *The battle over beef imports from Paraguay takes an interesting turn. *A U.S. Senator from Texas is fighting for fair disaster payments through USDA. *T…
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*Cotton planting is moving forward in Texas. *The aftermath of the Panhandle wildfires can cause mental health issues that need to be addressed. *Beef on dairy has become a very big deal for dairies and feedyards in the Texas Panhandle. *EPA recently took action to save drivers money at the pump and help ethanol production. *A North Texas cattle ra…
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*There will be no more sugarcane grown in Texas. *Orange production in Texas fell last year, while grapefruit production increased. *BASF recognized 56 farmers in Lubbock for making the FiberMax One Ton Club. *A change in the weather could a strategic consideration for Texas High Plains farmers. *Agricultural trade was one of the many topics Texas …
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*A Texas ranch is suing power companies over the recent wildfires. *Texas landowners have more time to apply for funding and technical assistance to improve water quality. *A North Texas ranch won a national award for environmental stewardship. *The number of cattle in Texas feedlots remains high. *Lawmakers from Texas are working to resolve the Ri…
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*Texas ranchers and landowners got a unanimous victory from the Supreme Court. *A bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken about the lack of water payments from Mexico and the effect it’s having on the Rio Grande Valley. *Getting a Farm Bill passed this year won’t be easy. *A groundwater conservation di…
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*Texas has the best wheat crop in several years. *USDA is now accepting nominations for farmers who would like to serve on the United Sorghum Checkoff Board. *Cotton planting nationwide is 8% done. *Students in the West Texas A&M Collegiate Farm Bureau chapter are preparing to hold a special event for students with disabilities. *Texas farmers and …
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*USDA is cutting several cattle reports, and that could cause a problem for the Texas cattle industry. *Registration is now underway for the virtual South Texas Agriculture Symposium. *Industrial hemp processing is underway in Wichita Falls. *West Texas A&M University is getting a boost in its effort to build new feedlot research facilities. *Texas…
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*Texas Panhandle ranchers are recovering from the wildfires. *National Sorghum Producers is accepting entries for the National Sorghum Yield Contest. *The Texas NRCS announced an additional signup for the National Water Quality Initiative. *Fed cattle prices remain strong, but Texas feedyards are finding it challenging to make a profit. *Agricultur…
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*Corn planting is getting underway in West Texas. *Early registration is underway for the Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Guardian Dog field day. *Texas strawberry growers have enjoyed an early start to their season, and the crop looks excellent. *Selling wheat as hay may be the most profitable option for wheat growers in the Texas Panhandle. *USDA is…
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*USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is cancelling the July Cattle Inventory report. *Nominations are being sought for Texas representatives on the Cattlemen’s Research and Promotion Board. *The likelihood of getting a Farm Bill passed this year is slim. Another crop season is getting underway in the Texas Panhandle, and farmers will on…
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*Texas farmers are suing USDA over disaster aid discrimination. *Time is running out for Texas dairy farmers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage program. *The King Ranch has acquired a 50% stake in Cobalt Cattle, which is the nation’s 4th largest cattle feeder. *Farmers can find both economic and agronomic benefits by diversifying their crop mix…
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*The American Association of Bovine Practitioners released a new name for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in cattle. *Drought conditions continue to improve across Texas. *Livestock producers should be careful when restocking drought stressed rangelands. *We’re getting very close to spring planting time on the Texas High Plains. *Rio Grande Valle…
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*Dairy cattle are recovering from HPAI. *There is more corn in storage now than at this same time last year. *Texas is losing a livestock sale barn. *When weather forecasters in the Texas High Plains are trying to assess the potential for severe weather, a key issue is determining where the dry line is. *U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack sa…
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*Agriculture is an integrity-based industry, but farmers and ranchers need to be careful about who they do business with. *The weekly cash fed cattle price is very important to cattle marketing. *Texas cotton growers are watching the Farm Bill debate closely. *When severe weather situations develop, getting the earliest possible warning is critical…
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*The political environment in Washington D.C. is getting tougher for agriculture. *The Texas Bankers Association held its Agriculture and Rural Affairs conference last week in Ft. Worth. *What was behind the recent run up of old crop cotton to over one dollar a pound? *Texas High Plains will be getting the new crop season underway very soon. *Cotto…
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*A Texas ranch is on the cutting edge of gene editing. *A group of Texas lawmakers has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of State asking for enforcement of the 1944 U.S.-Mexican water treaty. *Texas corn planting has passed the halfway mark. *Most are quick to point to Avian Influenza when it comes to the mysterious disease affecting Texas Panha…
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*Preserving the Livestock Risk Protection program is a top priority for cattle feeders. *There are fewer hogs and pigs in Texas right now. *A poultry facility in the Texas Panhandle has contracted Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. *The Texas wheat crop is now in the home stretch. *Texas cotton farmers are looking forward to another growing season.…
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*A new vaccine for bovine respiratory disease has been developed at Louisiana State University. *Texas ranchers who use traps may have to check them every 36 hours for mountain lions. *USDA’s Prospective Plantings report released last week shows a big drop in possible corn acreage this year. *The Texas Panhandle wheat crop has very good potential t…
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*Cotton has a demand problem. *Our time with El Nino is coming to an end. *There are new tools to help Texas ranchers control mesquite. *The condition of the Texas wheat crop is improving. *Forage sorghum is proving to be a good fit for the Texas High Plains. *The chances for getting a new Farm Bill are going down by the day. *April is expected to …
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*Texas cow-calf producers have a positive future ahead. *The recent cases of HPAI in dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas are not the only cases of the disease crossing over into mammals. *Corn planting is nearing the half-way point in Texas. *Spring planting is getting close in the Texas Panhandle. *Farm organizations are asking the EPA to allow E-15 …
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*Lufkin cattleman Carl Ray Polk was elected as president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association at their recent annual convention. *USDA recently authorized landowners enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program to donate their grazing or haying rights to help ranchers impacted by wildfires. *Cotton may be a profitable crop in Te…
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*We are seeing record cattle prices in 2024, thanks to a shrinking cattle herd and strong demand. *Helena AgriEnterprises has an update from the TSCRA convention in Ft. Worth. *The Texas Panhandle wildfires are out, but the need for relief will continue for a long time. *USDA is forecasting lower net farm income this year. *A donation of cotton bla…
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*Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was discovered in milk samples from two Texas dairies. *This year's first case of HPAI in birds was detected a few weeks ago. *The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association has a new president. *Prescribed burning may help prevent future wildfires. *U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack clarified comments…
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*Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been found in Texas dairy cows. *Cattle traceability is a hot topic in the cattle industry right now. *Texas High Plains feedlots are staying full. *USDA is looking to increase its budget by over $2 billion. *Farmers are busy with field preparation on the Texas Southern Plains. *Coastal Bend farmers are experi…
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