Texas Agriculture Today

*Mexico confirmed more cases of New World screwworms in northern Mexico.  *USDA is launching the New World Screwworm Grand Challenge.  *The outlook for cattle prices is positive in 2026. *Tough economic times call for changes in farm management.  *Variation in a cow’s weight could affect reproduction.*East Texas has had a dry winter, until now.  *Crop insurance is a very important risk protection tool. *Head shaking in horses can be caused by many things. 

*A federal judge has denied the State of Texas’ motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on cell cultured protein.  *The latest livestock production and price forecasts are a bright spot in agriculture this year.  *The American Sheep Industry Association is asking for the inclusion of wool in the Farmer Bridge Assistance program. *There are all kinds of ways that ranchers are marketing their animals.  *The Fort Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo puts an emphasis on agriculture.  *The Farm Bill may address California’s Proposition 12.  *January is an exciting time for thousands of youth in the Texas Coastal Bend.  *Respiratory disease in livestock is commonly related to stress.  

*Screwworm cases in northern Mexico are on the rise.  *The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from Bayer, the maker of Roundup herbicide.  *Nominations are open for the 2026 National Golden Spur and Ranching Heritage Association Working Cowboy awards. *We still don’t have a new Farm Bill.  *Feedyard cattle in the Texas High Plains have been putting on the pounds quickly.  *Why do people buy rural Texas land?  *South Texas has been warm this winter, but that’s about to change.*Lots of performance get maintenance joint injections, but is it necessary? 

*Rio Grande Valley farmers may be planting more this year.   *Cotton harvest ran a bit late in the northeast Texas Panhandle.  *Governor Greg Abbott made six appointments to the Texas Agriculture Finance Authority. *Winter meeting season is underway across Texas.  *It’s time for spring livestock shows and rodeos.  *Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins unveiled plans to tackle farm labor costs. *Planning and organizing an agricultural conference takes a lot of work.  *Researchers have found new issues with equine asthma. 

*Screwworms continue to affect the cattle market.*Fed cattle prices have been mostly steady over the past month.  *The Cattle Industry Convention is just a couple of weeks away.  *Additional farm aid may be needed this year.  *This weekend's snow and ice could damage warm season forages.*With calf prices so high, it’s important that every cow in your herd has a calf.  

*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 could be an issue for Texas peaches and pecans.  *There are many different causes for open cows in your herd.  

*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, sheep and goats.  

*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 has experienced a winter heat wave. *Vitamin A is important for cattle.  

*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 addressing the rest of the Farm Bill.*Cotton gins continue running on the South Plains of Texas.  *Equine Herpes Virus showed up in Texas recently.  

*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 Herpes Virus is often misunderstood.  

*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 this week. *January is junior livestock show time in the Coastal Bend.  *New traceability rules went into effect about a year ago. 

*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 released new dietary guidelines for Americans.  *The U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is up for review in 2026.*Culling some ewes may benefit your sheep operation.  

*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 apply for specific disaster relief. *Stringhalt is a neuromuscular disease in horses.  

*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.  *Shivers is an equine disease common in larger horses. 

*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-round control program.  *Keeping water sources flowing can be a major task during the winter.  

*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.