Texas farmers are looking forward to planting cotton, despite the awful year they had last year. Texas cattle feeders are working on a cattle traceability program. Winter wheat may influence spring planting on the Texas High Plains. Neutral weather conditions are expected to begin for our area of the country in the next couple of months. Spring is around the corner and Texas gardeners are getting ready for the warmer weather. After 50 years, a Texas state park has closed....
Mar 08, 2023•23 min•Ep. 657
Next week, the House Ag Committee will hold a farm bill listening session in Waco. U.S. sheep numbers have hit a record low. Is an end to La Niña on the horizon? Congress is taking aim at a bad SEC proposal that impacts farmers and ranchers. We’ll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Mar 07, 2023•23 min•Ep. 656
More big winds moved through Texas last week. The Texas AgriStress Helpline is saving lives. A new organization in Amarillo is trying to elevate the city’s position as a global food leader. Seed and crop protection companies are spending billions of dollars to bring farmers the latest technology and traits. Spring is bringing a lot of activity to Texas agriculture. A study looks at feeding flax to female sheep prior to breeding. Nature lovers can now sign up for the largest bird watching tournam...
Mar 06, 2023•23 min•Ep. 655
*There will be no irrigation water available from the Colorado River for Texas rice farmers this year. *Texas High Plains farmers are rethinking their planting intentions due to the drought. *A switch from grain production to forage production is a trend that we’ve seen in the Texas High Plains recently. *Wild hogs are still running wild in Texas, and farmers and ranchers are asking the state legislature for help controlling them. *Another focus of the Texas Legislature this session is protectin...
Mar 03, 2023•23 min•Ep. 654
*We continue our coverage of the big wind and sand storm that hit the Texas High Plains over the weekend. *Littlefield farmer Brad Heffington gives us an update on what the storm did to his farm, and we check in with Laramy Friemel of Hereford. *FFA members across Texas celebrated National FFA Week last week, highlighting the benefits of FFA membership. *Farmers and ranchers in East Texas are welcoming the newest technologies in agriculture. *Shortening the calving window in a beef cow herd has ...
Mar 02, 2023•23 min•Ep. 653
A big wind and sand storm took a toll on farmers in the Texas Panhandle and Southern Plains Sunday. With high cattle prices, many Texas ranchers will be tempted to rebuild their herds this year. March is a transition month for weather. The West Texas winds are drying out fields fast. We are in the middle of foaling season. Texas anglers continue to reel in massive largemouth bass.
Mar 01, 2023•23 min•Ep. 652
The latest Cattle on Feed Report shows placements continuing to drop while marketings are increasing. Big winds took a toll on Texas Panhandle agriculture over the weekend. Fighting predators in sheep herds is a big challenge. Spring calving season is getting underway in Texas. Last year’s drought can have big effects on this year’s crop. It is time to plant corn in Central Texas. If you’re in the cow calf business, you will be raising orphan calves from time to time. The public can now comment ...
Feb 28, 2023•23 min•Ep. 651
Brazil has temporarily suspended beef exports to China due to a case of mad cow disease. New wheat variety development continues in Vernon, despite last year’s disaster. The Texas Department of Agriculture teamed up with the US Meat Export Federation to promote Texas meat exports. Farmers in the Coastal Bend area of Texas have been busy getting corn and milo in the ground. Spring calves are now hitting the ground. Texas teens can now apply to attend one of several outdoor summer camps....
Feb 27, 2023•23 min•Ep. 650
Texas farmers are bouncing back from last year's drought as the 2023 crop season gets underway. Protecting the right to farm is a top priority for agriculture in the current Texas state legislative session. The Texas A&M AgriLife facilities near Vernon were damaged last year by a tornado, and the recovery is coming along slowly. Extreme South Texas planters are rolling as temperatures are hitting the low 90s. Low Somatic cell counts are an indicator of milk quality and udder health. The publ...
Feb 24, 2023•23 min•Ep. 649
We should see a rebound in lamb prices this year. A truth in labeling bill is being considered in the current state legislative session. Texas High Plains farmers may consider alternative crops this year. When is the best time to fertilize warm season pastures and hay meadows? Scours and respiratory disease are the top two dangers for dairy calves. A highly contagious fatal rabbit disease has been found in Texas.
Feb 23, 2023•23 min•Ep. 648
We may see the first ever trillion-dollar Farm Bill this year. Feedlot inventories in Texas are shrinking. Texas corn farmers will have two new crop protection products at their disposal. U.S. farm exports set a dollar value record last year. Insulin resistant horses must be fed low carbohydrate feeds to prevent laminitis. There are a few areas in Texas where spring turkey hunting is likely to be better than others.
Feb 22, 2023•23 min•Ep. 647
The economy is affecting the cotton market. Things are looking positive for Texas High Plains cattle feeders at the moment. Hay has become a very expensive commodity in Texas. The recent storms we’ve experienced in Texas have taken a toll on landscapes. Five people have been treated for rabies after being exposed to a cow in Cooke County. Spring t urkey season is just around the corner.
Feb 21, 2023•23 min•Ep. 646
Beef wins the fight for consumer dollars in the meat case. The horse market has been strong over the past year. Spring planting is still a couple of months away on the Texas High Plains. This year’s first case of equine herpes virus has been detected in Hood County. Equine infectious anemia is also showing up. A major event in American agriculture is occurring this month. Combatting harmful plants and wildlife is an ongoing battle in Texas.
Feb 20, 2023•23 min•Ep. 645
The Texas wheat crop can't catch a break. Providing farm labor and stopping illegal immigration is a delicate balancing act. The Texas House of Representatives has made some changes in committees important to agriculture. One Texas producer took an unusual route to become a High Plains farmer. Texas farmers and ranchers are benefitting from a new right to repair memorandum of understanding with John Deere. When hind hooves are out of balance, horses can have poor posture. Texans are being asked ...
Feb 17, 2023•23 min•Ep. 644
A bill in the legislature will protect Texas ranchers from liability caused by illegal immigrants. Corn planters are rolling in deep South Texas. Water issues are front and center in this year’s Texas legislative session. Getting into farming is not an easy task. East Texas farmers and ranchers are waiting on Mother Nature to make her next move. We’ll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Feb 16, 2023•23 min•Ep. 643
We have a short time to finish the 2023 Farm Bill. Hay supplies are tight as we reach the coldest time of winter. Interest rates are causing headaches for Texas farmers as they plan for the year ahead. Texas cotton farmers will have new pest control technology available for the 2023 growing season. The Coastal Bend dodged the big ice storm that hit most of Texas recently, the area still needs moisture. New research may have found a cost-effective way of preventing EPM in horses. Relocating black...
Feb 15, 2023•23 min•Ep. 642
A Texan will lead the National Cotton Council in the coming year. The NCC released its annual planted acreage survey. Texas High Plains corn farmers may have a better year in 2023. The sale of a ranch can have big effects for tenants with leases on that ranch. Farmers in deep South Texas are rolling the corn planters. It is difficult to know if a calf on pasture has received enough colostrum. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is working with landowners to prevent human conflicts with black...
Feb 14, 2023•23 min•Ep. 641
Texas cattle feeders hope the new Cattle Contract Library will benefit them. Cotton prices are expected to be mostly steady this year. Choosing the right cotton variety is very important. Renewing hunting and grazing leases can be a challenge. Burning pastures or hayfields is a good way to rejuvenate grasslands. A recent study looked at the effect of blanketing on hair coat length and diameter in horses. A new study is underway in far West Texas to learn more about the black bear....
Feb 13, 2023•23 min•Ep. 640
Higher cattle prices are coming sooner than expected. We could see a cut in cotton acreage in the Texas High Plains this year. Texas lawmakers are considering a bill that would strengthen farmers right to farm. As we get rolling in 2023, there’s some good news and some bad news for Texas farmers and ranchers. Can dogs sniff out BRD infection in cattle? A new report highlights some interested facts about U.S. and Texas deer hunters.
Feb 10, 2023•23 min•Ep. 639
Will 2023 be a rebuilding year for Texas cow herds? State legislators are working to improve rural broadband connectivity. New herbicide technologies for sorghum are making a big impact on the crop. Last week’s ice storm hit Central Texas, but the impact wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Studies are underway to develop new tools and tests for detecting Covid virus in wild and domestic animals. We should start seeing a lot of new state parks and natural areas over the next decade or so....
Feb 09, 2023•23 min•Ep. 638
The Texas wheat crop is struggling after a very slow start. The cost of production remains high for farmers all across Texas. The 2022 crop season was one that most Texas farmers want to forget. Chicken wings are expected to score big this weekend. Tendon injuries are fairly common in horses. Legislation would add funding for feral hog control efforts. We'll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Feb 08, 2023•23 min•Ep. 637
The Texas Cattle Feeders Association would like to improve fed cattle pickup times. Input costs could play a significant role in the cropping decisions of Texas farmers this year. We’re getting close to kicking off the 2023 crop year in South Texas. Last week’s winter ice storm took a toll on much of the state. We'll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Feb 07, 2023•23 min•Ep. 636
Texans shined at last week's Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans. There are a lot of new sorghum varieties on the market. The drought causing La Nina weather pattern should go away sometime this year. What is insulin resistance in horses? We'll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Feb 06, 2023•23 min•Ep. 635
This is our final show from the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Arthur Uhl recaps his work at the convention. Texas sheep and goat raisers were working overtime this past week to keep their animals safe during the winter storm. We’ll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Feb 03, 2023•23 min•Ep. 634
Sustainability is a major focus for cattle producers, and it’s a big emphasis of the Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans. This week’s ice storm across much of Texas was a challenge for cattle producers. This week’s ice storm across much of Texas was a challenge for cattle producers. Central Texas is still way behind on rainfall. We’ll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Feb 02, 2023•23 min•Ep. 633
Our coverage of the Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans continues with a discussion on the recent Lesser Prairie Chicken’s listing under the Endangered Species Act. We’ll have our monthly check-in with National Weather Service Meteorologist Tom Bradshaw. The winter wheat crop in Texas still has a long way to go. We’ll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Feb 01, 2023•23 min•Ep. 632
All segments of the U.S. cattle industry are in New Orleans this week for the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. It may not be easy for Texas High Plains farmers to decide which crops to plant this year. There are a lot of decisions to be made before spring cotton planting begins in South Texas. Farmers and ranchers in East Texas are watching the weather closely. We’ll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Jan 31, 2023•23 min•Ep. 631
Texas sheep producers are optimistic about the upcoming year. Farmers in the Texas High Plains have welcomed the recent snowfall. Stock show season provides millions of dollars in scholarships to Texas youth. Sandburs are one of the worst weeds to have in Texas pastures and hayfields. We’ll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Jan 30, 2023•23 min•Ep. 630
Texas feedlot inventories are dropping. For Texas High Plains farmers, some good conservation practices could lead to new pest control issues. Senate committee assignments have been made in the Texas legislature. Some horses can develop a lack of pigmentation on their skin. We’ll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Jan 27, 2023•23 min•Ep. 629
Talks continue on the Mexican GMO corn ban. High feed costs are putting pressure on Texas High Plains dairies. It is stock show season in Texas. Water availability is a growing issue across Texas, but that’s no surprise to Texas farmers and ranchers. We’ll have those stories and more on this episode of Texas Ag Today.
Jan 26, 2023•23 min•Ep. 628
