Texas Agriculture Today

*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 website focusing on screwworms.

*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 herpes virus was recently discovered in Texas.

*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 on Feed report since September. *Management and early life conditions are critical to a calf’s success.

*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 are one of the supplements available for equine joint health, but all antioxidants are not effective.

*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 digestive system.

*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 headed our way.

*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 seed and fertilizer business may be contributing to higher prices. *Cotton harvest is underway on the Texas Rolling Plains. *Artificial intelligence is being used in veterinary medicine.

*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 (USMEF) Fall Conference. *How close is New World Screwworm to the southern US border? *Research and development and tariffs are contributing to higher seed costs. *A CEU program is coming up in Central Texas. *Scour in baby calves is common.

*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 prices have gone up. *East Texas has dried out recently, but high cattle prices and deer season have everyone in a good mood. *There are several drugs available to treat arthritis in horses.

*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 Congress. *Fall fertilizer has been going into many fields across Texas. *Non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs are commonly used to treat arthritis in horses.

*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 industry. *The government shutdown is over. *The Rio Grande Valley continues to suffer from a lack of water deliveries from Mexico. *It’s challenging to add productive heifers to your beef herd.

*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 down. *Congress recently heard from the woman nominated to the next chief ag trade negotiator. *Dry weather and low prices have Coastal Bend farmers worried about next year’s crop. *Texas livestock producers are hoping winter will slow the spread of the New World screwworm.

*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 committee hearing in Washington. *November is a transition month for Texas landscaping. *Rehabilitation is a major part of healing tendon and ligament injuries in horses.

*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 slowly thin or die over time. *Wildlife can be affected by the New World screwworm.

*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 ingredients have been added to a list of critical minerals. *Wheat planting is winding down while cotton harvest is in full swing in the Texas Rolling Plains. *Donkeys are equines, but they are a different species from horses.

*The beef checkoff is bringing in less money. *Drought continues to spread across Texas. *Three senators have introduced a bill to make it easier for beef producers to sell meat directly to consumers. *As one crop season comes to an end, the planning for the next one begins. *Winter wheat is going in the ground in the Texas Rolling Plains. *USDA is expanding its outreach to veterans interested in agriculture. *The cool fall has moved into East Texas. *Salmonella is a serious problem in both humans and animals.

*Texas feedlots have empty pens. *Cattle producers are optimistic, while row crop farmers are not. *Texas sorghum producers took a trip to Asia to expand trade opportunities. *The Texas Panhandle is in a dry spell. *Voters approved all 17 Texas constitutional amendments. *The Trump administration is moving forward with the plan to buy more beef from Argentina. *Cotton harvest is underway on the South Plains of Texas. *Hoof health is important in sheep and goats.

*The U.S. is not ready to open the Mexican border for livestock imports. *The U.S. Department of Labor is bringing employees back to work to process H2A guest worker program visas. *The American Sheep Industry Association is asking for an investigation into lamb imports. *There are a couple of different growing seasons happening in the Texas panhandle. *Texas farmers and ranchers are addressing issues important to agriculture. *USDA is working to improve compensation for ranchers who are affected by predators. *CEU programs are important for Texas farmers. *Trace minerals are commonly deficient in beef cattle.