Texas Agriculture Today

*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 agreements are good news for U.S. corn growers. *Farmers in the Texas Rolling Plains are trying to figure out what to do next. *Feeding insulin resistant horses correctly is critical to their survival.

*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 Canada trade agreement. *Weed pressure can get ahead of you fast. *Coccidiosis can be an issue in post weaned calves.

*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 has released a new agricultural trade forecast. *2026 brings a new year for Texas gardens and landscapes. *Another medication has been approved for treatment and prevention of screwworms.

*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 is coming up in Central Texas. *As temperature gets colder, stress on cattle increases.

*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. *Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been reported in an East Texas commercial poultry flock.

*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 delayed a decision about monarchs. *Cotton gins are running on the South Plains of Texas while the harvest wraps up. *Feral hogs are causing major problems in national parks.

*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 important in both human and animal medicine.

*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 deals are beneficial for sorghum growers. *As the year draws to a close, farmers and ranchers in the Coastal Bend have a lot to be thankful for, despite a very challenging year. *There is a new treatment for common skin tumors in horses.

*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. *Economic assistance is available for milk and grain losses. *Fertilization of winter pastures should be based on soil tests. *Researchers are studying how cattle can become infected with salmonella.

*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 happening in the Texas Rolling Plains. *Safety is a major concern in racehorses.

*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, there are some great choices for Christmas gifts. *As the weather turns colder, the chances of BRD get higher.

*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 updates to federal crop insurance. *Central Texas is experiencing a typical cool and wet December. *GastroGuard is used to treat stomach ulcers in horses.

*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 piece of milk legislation has cleared an important hurdle. *Colder weather has arrived in South Texas. *There are several things you can do to help your cow herd endure the Texas winter.

*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 equipment costs be ahead? *Now is the time to prune trees in Texas. *Regenerative medicine is becoming more common in horses.

*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. *Farmers and ranchers in the Texas Coastal Bend area are hoping for more rainfall this month. *Lice are common in Texas cattle herds during the winter.

*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 funding boost. *Many Texas soils are acidic. *Gastric ulcers are a major problem in horses.

*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 nation’s farmers. *Cattle nutrition is very important as we enter the coldest months of the year. *Fall and winter are the most common times for equine asthma.

*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 Commission are investigating the food supply chain. *A national political pundit spoke to Texas farmers and ranchers last weekend.

*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 Texas Rolling Plains. *Veterinary oversight is helpful when transitioning cattle from fall to winter.