Advertise on podcast: Texas Agriculture Today

*There will be some dryland cotton harvested in the Southern Plains and the Panhandle, but not much.   *The first case of New World screwworms in wildlife has been confirmed in Pecos County.   *Texas corn and sorghum harvests are over 90% complete.   *Winter wheat in the Texas South Plains is off to an encouraging start.  *Wheat planting is underway on the Texas Rolling Plains.  *Work continues on a full five-year Farm Bill.  *Ranchers in the Rio Grande Valley are keeping an eye out for the screwworm. *Texas A&M is working to create parasite resistant sheep.

*The midterm elections could have a big effect on the cattle industry.   *Four Texas corn farmers will help guide the National Corn Growers Association in the coming year.     *This has been a tough economic year for Texas High Plains corn farmers.  *The Brazos Valley Fair and Rodeo is opening soon. *The Trump administration announced an $8 billion dollar Harvest Fuel Relief Program.   *More farmers are using drones than ever before. *Hay prices and demand remain strong in Texas.  *There are some concerns when vaccinating horses for equine strangles.

*The Texas Cattle Feeders Association’s annual meeting has wrapped up.   *The National FFA Convention is this week in Indianapolis.   *Another Mexican border port will open next week for livestock imports.   *Improved research can help in the fight against feral hogs. *This has been a bad year for the Texas High Plains corn crop.  *USDA wants input from Texas farmers about their experiences in buying equipment.   *Central Texas welcomes the recent rainfall.   *Prussic acid can cause livestock deaths this time of year.

*New screwworm cases are popping up.   *This could be a good year for Texas quail hunters.   *A Texas ranch received the Certified Angus Beef Ambassador Award.   *U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was back in Texas last week.   *Feral hogs continue to take a toll on Texas farms and ranchers.  *A Texas wheat industry leader is making a big change. *USDA is investing in Texas specialty crops.  *Recent rains in the Texas Southern Plains are causing some trouble as cotton harvest gets underway.  *This is the time of year when prussic acid can be deadly for livestock.

*Texas cotton growers are ready to get this season over with.   *There’s good news for tomato and pepper growers.   *How long will it take to rebuild the U.S. cow herd?   *The drought monitor map looks better for the Texas High Plains.   *October brings agritourism to Texas pumpkin patches.  *The IRS made an important announcement regarding dyed diesel use on federal highways.   *Hurricanes have brought a lot of rainfall to dry U.S. soils.   *Knowing your horse’s body temperature is important when checking them for sickness.

*Texas cotton harvest is ahead of schedule.   *Sales of tractors and combines declined last month.   *The Texas Cattle Feeders Association’s annual meeting kicks off this weekend in Oklahoma City.   *What’s ahead for the Texas High Plains cattle industry?  *The Texas Coastal Bend had a decent sorghum and cotton harvest this year.  *The president has struck a deal with Russia on diesel. *Fall has arrived in East Texas, but more rainfall is needed.  *Pregnancy toxemia in sheep and goats is common.

*Texas High Plains rains are causing harvest issues.   *Recent rains have finally put a dent in the statewide drought.   *The Texas Animal Health Commission is releasing more screwworm infested zones.     *Cattle and hog futures trading will soon be available in New York.   *These are very challenging times for Texas cattle feeders.  *Pasture mealybugs continue to spread across Texas.  *The Farm Service Agency is now processing ARC and PLC payments.  *Leptospirosis can be a hidden disease in cattle.

*A USDA report shocked the corn market.    *Cotton harvest is getting close on the Texas Southern Plains.    *The United Sorghum Checkoff Program has selected Clint White to be the next Executive Director.       *Smart ear tags are expected to be studied at the new West Texas A&M research feedlot.  *Agricultural awareness is a priority at the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo.   *USDA has awarded more than 1.5 billion dollars in CRP payments, and farm debt may be higher than previously thought.  *It’s time to winterize Texas turf grass.  *There are some non drug treatments for gastric ulcers in horses.

New cotton varieties were showcased last week.   West Texas A&M University in Canyon received a 9.5 million grant to build the most advanced cattle feedlot research facility in the world.    Another Texas livestock auctioneer has qualified for the World Championship contest.  The State Fair of Texas wraps up this week. Dairy Margin Coverage program enrollment is now underway.  With the recent rainfall across much of Texas, conditions are good for planting cool season winter forages. There are some non-drug treatments for horses with ulcers.

*There’s a new partnership to help develop future Texas farmers and ranchers.   *Farmer sentiment of the economy fell last month due to high input costs.   *The drought map looks much better after the recent rains in the Texas High Plains. *A Texan is now vice-chairman of National Sorghum Producers. *USDA has launched an initiative to protect plant genetics.  *Preparations are underway for the Texas legislature to meet in January.   *Pregnancy checking is an important procedure in a cow-calf herd.

*Recent rains were too late to help the nation’s cotton crop.   *Cattle prices have dropped in the second half of the year, but they will still remain high.   *Changes are coming to the crop mix in Randall County. *The Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo is underway in Waco.  *USDA and the Federal Trade Commission have launched a public inquiry into issues with agricultural equipment manufacturing and distribution. *Preparations are underway for the Texas legislature to meet in January. *Probiotics are promoted for horses.  But do they really need them?

*The pasture mealybug is spreading, but work continues to fight it.   *Two bonding companies lost their fight against Hansen Mueller in the company’s bankruptcy case.   *High cattle prices should continue.   *Changes are coming to Texas High Plains agriculture.   *Cooler weather has arrived just in time for the State Fair of Texas.  *The president has signed an executive order allowing dyed diesel on the nation’s highways.   *It’s a busy time for agriculture in the Central Texas Blacklands.  *Veterinarians in Kansas are investigating a mysterious eye disease in stocker calves.

*Cattle producers could use less help from Washington.   *The Farm Bill has now expired, and that has stopped CRP enrollment.    *Another case of screwworms was confirmed in Brewster County.   *The beef checkoff is building demand for beef.  *Recent rains across the Texas High Plains have meant a lot for the drought ravaged region.   *Potash from Belarus is making its way to the U.S.   *USDA wants to know what you think about the US Mexico Canada trade agreement.  *The Texas Southern Plains received some much-needed rainfall, but the results weren’t all good. *Club foot can be somewhat common in horses.

*When will cow herd rebuilding begin?    *Texas farmers are holding more grain in storage this year.   *Strong consumer demand continues to support the beef industry.   *NASA has shown an interest in Texas High Plains agriculture.  *The beef checkoff expands marketing opportunities.  *The House and Senate have adjourned until after the November election. *Fall weather has arrived in East Texas.   *A club foot is not uncommon in horses.

*We could see more wheat acres in Texas this year.   *Texas hunters have a good opportunity to bag wild turkey and whitetailed deer this year.    *Summer crop harvest continues to make progress across the state.     *Recent rains have boosted the potential for Texas High Plains wheat.   *Fall weather has finally arrived in Texas.   *USDA is making it easier to find agricultural data.  *Agricultural leaders in the Texas Coastal Bend are educating young students about agriculture.  *The way calves are handled at the ranch determines how they will perform in the feedlot.